Shorts: Man City, FA Of Wales, Bucs
Manchester City has outlined proposals for 10,887 solar panels to be installed across the club’s City Football Academy training complex, and at the women’s team’s Joie Stadium home.
The Premier League club is seeking planning approval from the Manchester City Council, as the Citizens aim to become carbon neutral by 2030.
If given the green light, the panels will be ‘fully operational’ by the end of the year, and will be managed by renewable energy firm Clearvolt.
Peter Bradshaw, Manchester City’s Director of Sustainability, commented, “Over many years, we have adopted increasingly sustainable practices across the Club, ranging from the removal of all single-use plastic on a match-day to reusing rainwater and recycling more than 70% of our waste.”
“As we look ahead on our roadmap to being net carbon zero by 2030, we know that the production and consumption of renewable energy has an incredibly important role to play, which is why we are delighted at the prospect of installing over 10,800 solar panels at our home in Manchester.”
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has extended its partnership with Destination Sport Travel.
The renewal comes ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 Championships this summer and will see the agency continue to manage travel requirements for the Wales men’s and women’s national teams.
This deal was first signed in 2019, and includes flights, accommodation, and logistics services.
Destination Sport Travel will offer ‘specialist support’ for individual travel requirements for players, as well as FAW football and commercial staff.
Commenting on the extension, Managing Director of Destination Sport Travel, Rob Slawson said, “With busy international calendars across men’s and women’s senior teams, plus age grade teams and business travel across the wider organisation, FAW embark on a significant amount of travel.
“We’re acutely aware of the fine margins within professional support and would like to hope that our assistance in delivering a best-in-class travel provision makes a small difference to FAW’s efforts both on and off the field.”
British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), the governing body for higher education sport in the United Kingdom, has announced a new three-year deal with SIS Pitches.
The agreement will see the playing surface specialist attend BUCS events to support the sporting ambitions of organisations in higher education.
Joe Shaw, SIS Pitches Commercial Director, said, “We have seen first-hand the benefits of high-quality sports facilities, having worked with some of the country’s most esteemed colleges and universities. Our partnership extension with BUCS will continue that great work and open up all types of sport to thousands of students across the country. The next three years are about innovation and scale, working with the BUCS team to promote a healthy, sociable and active approach to education.”
British Canoeing, the sport’s national governing body in the UK, has rebranded as Paddle UK.
According to a statement from Paddle UK, the change has been made in order to capture ‘more fully the breadth of paddling activity that falls under our responsibility, including kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding and paddlesport.’
Professor John Coyne CBE, Chair of Paddle UK, said, “Following a robust process to consider if our previous brand was fit for purpose, I am delighted to confirm that the organisation will become Paddle UK.
“As an NGB Plus, our development and growth in recreational paddling has continued to be on more places to paddle, better, cleaner spaces to paddle and the promotion of safer paddling. These key areas of work continue to develop alongside supporting our competition disciplines and performance programmes, who we are incredibly proud of.
“All of our members paddle, but not everyone does the sport. So Paddle UK aims to be representative and inclusive of all paddle activities and sports. I look forward to seeing Paddle UK develop as we commence this new chapter for the organisation and very much hope we will represent every paddler, every craft, for every type of water.”
UK clothing brand Dryrobe has been revealed as an official partner of the 2024 ISA World SUP & Paddleboarding Championships, which will take place in Copenhagen from 16th to 22nd September.
Dryrobe founder, Gideon Bright, said, “We’re delighted to partner up with this fantastic competition. We were a brand born from surfing, but it’s been amazing to watch Paddleboarding and SUP enthusiasts take to Dryrobe after spending time on the water. These championships will see the best compete against each other, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it”.
Headphone brand Shokz has named British ultrarunner Tom Evans as a brand ambassador.
In 2023, the former British Army Captain became the second European to win the Western States Endurance Run, a 100.2-mile ultramarathon in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.
On signing with Evans, Daisy Cong, Shokz’s International Marketing Director, said “We’re delighted to welcome Tom as an ambassador. He’s an incredibly inspiring and talented individual that aligns perfectly with our values and ethos. Tom has some big aspirations this year and we look forward to supporting him along the way.”
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