Shorts: Channel 4, British Gymnastics, London Stadium
Channel 4 has teamed up with YouTube to broadcast all of its Paris 2024 Paralympic Games coverage on the video sharing platform.
Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel will boost the reach of Channel 4’s coverage and aim to play a key role in ‘positively shifting public perceptions around elite Parasport and disability more wisely’.
Pete Andrews, Head of Sport, Channel 4, said, “We’re thrilled to have teamed up with YouTube so audiences will have more ways to watch the Paralympians when they take centre stage at Paris. We know how popular YouTube is with the younger audience and it’s this sort of partnership and innovation that will help promote the Paralympics to people of all ages all across the UK.”
British Gymnastics has announced a new partnership with global software provider JustGo.
As part of the collaboration, JustGo will deliver a new membership platform for British Gymnastics clubs and members.
JustGo’s new membership system ‘marks the first phase of a journey to modernise the support British Gymnastics provides to its registered clubs and members’ following the Leap Without Limits strategy launched last year.
Phil Robinson, Commercial Director at JustGo, said, “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to partner with British Gymnastics and their Home Nations. Their team and sporting culture are exceptional, and I have full confidence in JustGo’s ability to meet all of their goals and requirements. We eagerly anticipate the go-live of this project!”
The London Stadium has announced a new multi-year partnership with London Stansted Airport.
The deal will see a direct coach route from the London Stadium transport customers to Stansted in 37 minutes, with four Stansted Express trains per hour from nearby Liverpool Street.
This transport enables ‘easy and affordable access’ to those visiting London Stadium.
Graham Gilmore, CEO of London Stadium, said, “It is a great pleasure to announce this partnership and welcome London Stansted Airport, a nearby major international airport with excellent transport links to our home in Stratford. We have a shared vision to do more, do things differently, and do them better, while providing the best possible experiences for our visitors. It is an incredibly exciting time to add London Stansted Airport to our growing list of premium partners, with the Stadium summer events just around the corner.”
England Netball has partnered with business advisory and accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael.
The partnership aims to ‘support the growth of grassroots netball in the North East region’ through focusing on three areas of investment.
Johnston Carmichael will also invest in Bee Netball to reach more children, create a Development Fund to aim North East clubs, and provide a training fund for grants covering officiating and coaching courses.
Maisie Jackson, Head of Partnerships at England Netball, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Johnston Carmichael as a partner and are excited to work together to support the growth of community netball in the North East region.
“Johnston Carmichael shares our ambition to open the game for new audiences and ensure that netball is a sport for all at every stage of life. This partnership presents an exciting opportunity to make a real impact on grassroots women’s sport in the North East and we are looking forward to working with Johnston Carmichael to empower and equip those delivering community netball in the region to create outstanding experiences for all involved.”
Quadrant, the gaming, apparel and entertainment brand, has extended its partnership with its official headset partner, JBL Quantum.
The deal will see JBL Quantum continue to support the production of Quantrant’s content creation, by ‘utilising Quadrant’s extensive pool of creators and maximising reach and impact through their own channels.’
Callum Upchurch, Group Business Development Director at Quadrant, said, “With the renewal of this partnership, we are committed to delivering outstanding value that aligns with JBL Quantum’s strategic vision. We are incredibly proud of the content we produced together last year, and are excited to continue this journey, pushing the boundaries of gaming with the help of JBL Quantum’s sound technology.”
Gurleen Oberoi, Senior Marketing Manager for JBL UK, added, “Our partnership with Team Quadrant marked a milestone for JBL Quantum. Together, we’ve seamlessly integrated our cutting-edge Gaming Headsets into Quadrant’s impactful and hugely successful content. Here’s to continued success and elevating gaming experiences together!”
Ballerz, the immersive football experience brand, has officially launched its first venue at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.
Ballerz delivers a mix of training, gaming, and entertainment, with specially developed pro pitch technology and immersive effects. The multimillion-pound, 30,000 sq ft football dome is home to a tech-loaded 5G pitch, developed specially for Ballerz.
As well as the state-of-the-art 6-a-side stadium pitch, Ballerz has a SkillZone, which challenges players to seven football fitness games that test technical, physical and mental skill. Performance is tracked by Ballerz QR wristbands – so players can challenge their own personal bests.
Ballerz has been launched by former pro footballers Rio Ferdinand, Bobby Zamora, Roberto Carlos and Mark Noble, alongside a team of sport and hospitality industry specialists.
Rio Ferdinand, commented, “We’ve developed a tech-loaded pitch and immersive atmosphere for those who love to play and watch the beautiful game. There’re loads of unique touches that are creating a space to socialise, compete and have fun.”
Global tennis league UTS has partnered with international payments specialists Finseta as its official currency partner in a multi-year deal.
Finseta, which has its headquarters in the UK, will support UTS with multi-currency accounts and assist with international payments for UTS events around the world, with its global roster of players.
The 2024 UTS season comprises events in Oslo (which took place in February), New York in August, Frankfurt in October and a Grand Final in December in a city yet to be announced.
UTS – which stands for Ultimate Tennis Showdown – features the best male players from around the world playing a new fast-moving format.
At last year’s UTS Grand Final in London, champion Jack Draper of Great Britain enjoyed the biggest payday of his career, taking home $546,800 USD for five matches in his home city.
Andrey Rublev is the current 2024 UTS Tour leader, having triumphed in Oslo. Other players competing in 2024 include Australians Nick Krygios and Alex de Minaur, Denmark’s Holger Rune, Norway’s Casper Ruud, Frenchmen Gael Monfils and Benoit Paire, Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik and American Francis Tiafoe.
UTS founder Patrick Mouratoglou, said, “The success of UTS and its growth into a major international tennis league means that we need a foreign exchange partner which delivers fantastic advice and world class service. Finseta and UTS really is the perfect match.”
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