Shorts: ITV, Tour of Britain, Darren Campbell
ITV has secured the rights to the men’s Scotland and senior men’s Northern Ireland national team’s Nations League fixtures this week, following a deal with Viaplay.
The last minute agreement will see Scotland v Poland air live and free to air on ITV4 and ITVX on Thursday 5th September.
Scotland’s second match in League A of the Nations League, Portugal v Scotland, will air live on ITV4 and ITVX on Sunday 8th September with Northern Ireland v Luxembourg live on ITV3 and ITVX on Thursday 5th September. Bulgaria v Northern Ireland follows Sunday 8th September.
Viaplay had initially acquired rights to Nations League games across the UK before it left the UK market earlier this year to focus on its core markets.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said, “We are delighted to air the Men’s Scotland and Northern Ireland national team’s upcoming Nations League fixtures. The games will be free to air across ITV and ITVX, ensuring fans can enjoy watching these matches live as the new league begins.”
As the 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men continues this week, the impact of community investment from ‘Places to Ride’ has been revealed.
Delivered in partnership between British Cycling, Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Places to Ride has invested more than £15m of funding in 150 facilities nationwide since 2019.
With all investment now allocated, a new report has now been published to highlight its impact in communities nationwide. In total the programme supported, six skateparks, 49 BMX and pump tracks, 10 closed road circuits, 23 mountain bike trails, 17 learn-to-ride projects for beginners, 44 equipment and storage solutions and seven clubhouse units.
The Place to Ride programme set out to address inequalities in participation and create new opportunities for under- represented groups in cycling. As a result, 83% of projects focused on children and young people, 41% on women and girls, 35% on low socio-economic groups and 41% on participants with disabilities or long-term illnesses.
British Cycling CEO, Jon Dutton, said,“Hosting major events, like the Men’s and Women’s editions of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain, has the potential to inspire and impact communities throughout our nation.
“At British Cycling, we want everyone to experience the joy of cycling. We’re really proud of what our athletes have achieved in Paris this summer, but rather than that being the final outcome, for us it’s about what now happens at home.
“By working closely with clubs, local authorities, schools, and facility operators who have benefitted from the fantastic Places to Ride investment that came from hosting a major championship on these shores, we believe these facilities can become true cornerstones of their communities for many years to come.”
Feldspar, the UK-based technology company, today announced that Darren Campbell, MBE has been appointed as Global Track Strategy Director, effective immediately.
In this newly created role, the Olympic Gold medallist sprinter will oversee real-time testing of Feldspar’s next-generation smart running track prototype, complimentary to his role as Head of Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays at UK Athletics.
Campbell, commented, “I’m excited to join Feldspar at such a pivotal moment for athletics. With Team GB achieving an all-time-high by bringing home 10 medals from Paris on the running track, we all feel the energy, but I strongly believe the opportunity is there to inject more excitement into the sport and that the industry is ripe for innovation. I’m looking forward to collaborating with Feldspar and helping to bring athletics to the digital age.
“Feldspar’s sensor-enabled running track is a groundbreaking innovation that has the potential to revolutionise not just how athletes train and compete, but also how fans experience live events. Furthermore, from a broadcast standpoint, incorporating real-time data and engaging insights post-race could enable an unprecedented level of analysis. This deeper level of insight has the potential to enhance the viewers’ understanding and draw them closer to the action on the track.
Netball Super League club London Mavericks have announced Nike as their new official kit partner.
As per the agreement, KitQueen, Nike’s teamwear partner for Great Britain and Ireland the world’s first multi-sports teamwear specialists for women, will share the designation with Nike.
Mavericks will work closely with KitQueen to ‘craft a custom kit for the 2025 season that embodies the team’s values and drive for success.’
London Mavericks, co-owner Lucy Wray, said, “We are thrilled to partner with KitQueen and Nike, two brands that share our passion for excellence and innovation. Together, we’re not just aiming to win on the court, but to make a lasting impact off it—empowering the next generation of female athletes to believe in themselves and achieve their dreams.”
Birmingham City Women have signed their first partner for the 2024/25 season, UK-based digital and power infrastructure Landways.
As per the agreement, Landways branding will feature on matchday advertising and via social media content.
The company will also aim to improve the matchday experience at St. Andrews stadium by delivering ‘new digital and power infrastructure and technology services.’
Landways’ core focus is based on delivering energy-efficient solutions for industrial and commercial sites and communications, audio, and security services for sports and venues.
Sam Sherratt, Partnerships Manager at Birmingham City said, “Having spoken in depth with Landways over the summer regarding the commercial options we have available for the new season, it was refreshing to hear the passion and the commitment shown by Landways to support and grow the exposure to the Women’s game.”
Sports streaming platform DAZN has announced a global multi-year broadcast deal with World Downhill Skateboarding Championship (WDSC) which will see it broadcast all skateboarding events live globally.
Coverage of WDSC will be live on DAZN for the next stage of the 2024 International Series which takes place from 5th September. Throughout this competition, DAZN will give fans unparalleled access to all events at championship, including live broadcasts of each race, with additionally highlight and VOD content releases.
All content will be available to all registered DAZN users for free worldwide.
Prostate United has unveiled a new shirt as its aims to hit its £1m milestone for this season.
After launching in 2018 by performance coaches at Rotherham United, Stephen Gilpin and Ross Burbeary, over 60 clubs and hundreds of staff and fans have raised money during the month of October to save men’s lives across the UK and this year those taking part can raise £500 to get the newly released shirt.
Former England icon Viv Anderson gave his support to the nationwide fundraising launch to highlight the ambition of Prostate United this season.
Viv Anderson said, “I love football kits, and I’ve played in some crackers myself, many which provoke strong memories of my playing career, from my debut for Man United in 1987 and the history-making Nottingham Forest shirt I played in when we won the European Cup for the first time.
“This Prostate United shirt is special too and it comes with a serious message which all men of a certain age need to hear and it’s one I’m very proud to share. I’m also aware black men are at double the risk of prostate cancer as other men, so for me personally this is an important cause to support.”
In six years, the campaign has raised over £500,000 to help men from a disease which claims the lives of one man each half of a football match.
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