Doing good is now part of doing business: Why every sports brand and athlete needs to help society in order to find commercial success March 2, 2021 The influence and social media reach of sports women and men is incredible – and growing. But who is using it to greatest effect, both for their own benefit and that of society? Cristiano Ronaldo has 263m followers on Instagram and Lionel Messi has over 100m on Facebook. Manchester United, widely regarded as the biggest [...]
Boris Johnson backs Britain to host Euro 2020 and 2030 World Cup March 2, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has thrown his weight behind British efforts to host Euro 2020 and the 2030 World Cup. Johnson said Britain was “certainly on for” staging more games at this summer’s delayed European Championship, if required. And the PM confirmed government support – expected to be £2.8m – for a joint bid from [...]
Sam Torrance: Megastar Collin Morikawa sharpening his game with saw grip; plus Viktor Hovland, Branden Grace and Tiger Woods March 2, 2021 I remember one of the first times I saw Collin Morikawa play, he was going head to head down the stretch with Matthew Wolff. Both were fresh out of college – this was Morikawa’s fourth start on the PGA Tour and Wolff’s third – so it was fairytale stuff. And although Wolff won the 3M [...]
Exclusive: Formula E champions DS Techeetah take gamble on stock market-linked £1m sponsorship deal with investment platform eToro March 2, 2021 Formula E champions DS Techeetah have struck a £1m sponsorship deal with social investment platform eToro that could see the team not receive a penny. Instead of receiving a flat fee, DS Techeetah will have the seven-figure sum placed in their eToro account for them to invest on the stock market. If their portfolio grows [...]
Gareth Bale is back for Tottenham – so is this another Jose Mourinho managerial masterstroke? March 1, 2021 Just a few weeks ago, Jose Mourinho did not want to talk about Gareth Bale. On 4 February, he sniped at a reporter for asking why Bale was left on the Tottenham bench during a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea. Eight days later, Mourinho publicly rebuked him for implying, via social media, that he was fit and [...]
FC Barcelona offices searched by police ‘in connection with Barcagate scandal’ March 1, 2021 Catalan police searched the offices of FC Barcelona this morning, the football club have confirmed. Spanish media said the search related to last year’s Barcagate scandal, in which senior figures at the club were accused of ordering social media campaigns against enemies. Local reports also said former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and current chief [...]
EP: 41 Kempton, Newcastle & Hong Kong February 26, 2021 We look forward to another great weekend of racing where Kempton stage no less than three Grade 2 races on Saturday. It’s the annual marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle with the usual strong field of contenders Trainer Caroline Bailey travels up from her Northamptonshire base to the north-east with her 11 year old Crosspark, who [...]
Ollie Phillips: I still think they’re poor, but belligerent Wales can beat fragile England – even without a Principality Stadium crowd February 26, 2021 Don’t underestimate the magnitude of Wales v England in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday. With France’s position uncertain due to a Covid-19 outbreak, this is a big match in the context of the title and, for Wales, possibly a Grand Slam. And anyway, this is Wales v England: a great clash full of [...]
Bellator: MMA promotion’s head of Europe David Green on its new deal with the BBC, wooing the UK and Ireland and why it has a strong female following February 26, 2021 Question Time. Antiques Roadshow. Songs of Praise. To that list you can now add cage-fighting organisation Bellator. This month the BBC became the home of the American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the UK, meaning it now sits alongside some of the most traditional shows in British broadcasting. While it might rile the “Disgusted [...]
United States may boycott 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing February 25, 2021 The White House has not made a final decision on whether the US will participate in the Winter Olympics in Beijing, a decision that could see the United States boycott the games in 2022. “There hasn’t been a final decision made on that and of course we would look for guidance from the U.S. Olympic [...]