Shorts: Aj, Reading, Bristol City
The BBC has announced that Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder’s heavyweight fights will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The fights take place on Saturday 23rd December in Saudi Arabia at the Kingdom Arena.
British boxer Anthony Joshua faces Otto Wallin of Sweden in the main event, while American Deontay Wilder faces Joseph Parker.
Dai Yongge, owner of English Football League (EFL) League One football club Reading, has been fined £20,000 by the EFL for failing to deposit required wages.
According to a statement by the EFL, in September, Dai was charged with misconduct after failing to comply with the order of an independent Disciplinary Commission which required him to deposit an amount equal to 125% of the club’s forecast monthly wage bill in a designated bank account.
The EFL suggested he should be banned from all football activity for a year however an independent board opted against this form of punishment.
The EFL made it clear that it did not feel a sporting sanction against the Royals was appropriate due to the case being direct action taken against the owner.
Reading FC have already been deducted 10 points this season for further financial breaches.
The independent regulator felt a disqualification would not achieve the immediate objective of sourcing the required funds for the deposit account.
The conclusion was that Dai be fined £20,000 with a further £50,000 suspended and to be activated on 12 January 2024 unless the required deposit is made in full. In addition, Dai is required to maintain the deposit at the levels set out previously until, at the earliest, 31st August 2024.
EFL Championship football club Bristol City has partnered with Eleven Sports Media to drive local business growth in Bristol and the South West.
The deal will see the community partner programme allow local small-to-medium sized businesses the opportunity to align themselves with the club and the Bristol community, through a combination of branding, experiential, and activation services.
As per the agreement, community partners will be featured on pitch side LEDs and enjoy the benefits of Eleven’s StatTV fan engagement platform.
The partnership will also see Eleven feature on Bristol City Women’s warm-up shirts.
Sarah Farrar, Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We are excited about this partnership. Eleven are the global leader in community-driven sports partnerships and will further connect the club and the Bristol business community, using Ashton Gate as a focal point.
“The relationship will also include enhancing our fan engagement technology on matchdays. StatTV will deliver live real-time stats to in-stadium TVs on matchdays, keeping fans entertained before and throughout the game as well as providing brand visibility for our partners.”
Jordan Wilson, Commercial Director of Eleven Sports Media, added, “We are delighted to partner with Bristol City and bring our community focused model to the Bristol area. In addition to supporting local businesses, our StatTV platform will also benefit Bristol City’s fans helping to enhance the matchday experience at Ashton Gate stadium.”
“We are thrilled to expand Eleven’s presence in women’s football by featuring the Eleven brand on Bristol City Women’s warm-up shirts.”
The World Athletics Indoor Championship Glasgow 2024 has announced SPAR Scotland as an official event supporter.
The event takes place in Glasgow for the first time from 1st to 3rd March 2024.
Colin McLean, Chief Executive Officer of SPAR Scotland, said, “As one of the biggest and highest profile events in the sporting calendar to be held in Scotland next year, SPAR Scotland is thrilled to be announced as one of the official event supporters of the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.
“SPAR is already synonymous with athletics across the globe and through our support locally as SPAR Scotland, we hope millions of consumers will watch the televised broadcasts and see our global brand supporting this high-profile sporting event.
“We are delighted to support this event and we look forward to seeing some exciting athletics and perhaps discover new, home-grown athletic talent from the communities our stores serve across Scotland.”
Billy Garrett, Director of Tourism, Culture, and Events at Glasgow Life and joint Chair of the Local Organising Committee, added, “We are delighted to welcome SPAR Scotland as our first official event supporter for this prestigious event. Their strong links to athletics internationally, complemented by their extensive network of stores in Scotland, makes them an ideal partner.
“We are excited about their ambition to help promote the Championships across the country, and the strong community values we share, and we look forward to working closely with them.”
The Hexagon Cup has announced Slazenger Padel as its official ball supplier for the event.
The inaugural Hexagon Cup padel tournament will be held at Spain’s Madrid Arena, from 31st January to 4th February, 2024.
Enrique Buenaventura, Founder and Member of the Hexagon Cup Advisory Board, said, “We are a brand new tournament and are excited about the impact we can have in growing the sport, but we are also fully committed to respecting the traditions of padel, so we are thrilled to be joined by one of the most iconic and well respected brands in racquet sport.”
Niclas Rodin, Chief Executive Officer of Slazenger AB, added, “Being named the official ball for the upcoming Hexagon Cup is a tremendous honour for Slazenger Padel. This marks a key investment in establishing our ball as the top ball for padel players.”
In 1902, Slazenger was appointed the official tennis ball supplier to the Championships at Wimbledon, and it remains the longest, unbroken sporting sponsorship in history.
Nasima Hussain has been appointed as the newest trustee of the Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) board.
Nasima takes over after Kate Clayton stepped down after a three-year term during the board’s September meeting earlier this year.
Ed Warner, Chair of GBWR, said, “Nasima’s passion for inclusivity and her track record of affecting positive change in the sports domain align perfectly with our mission at GBWR. We are confident that her strategic insights and communication expertise will contribute significantly to our ongoing initiatives.”
