Tag Archives: Sports

News

Hospitality leaders Les Roches commit to specialised education in sports management and events

Les Roches, one of the world’s leading hospitality management institutions, is launching a new specialised program in sports tourism, the Master’s in Sports Management and Events, starting in September 2024.

The global sports tourism industry was valued at $323,420 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $1,803,704 billion by 2030, according to the international consultancy Allied Market Research, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1% over the next six years.

This year alone sees two of the world’s most spectacular sporting events, the UEFA European Foootball Championship in Germany, and the Olympics Games in Paris, which will make them among the most sought-after destinations this summer.

In response to this growing demand, Les Roches has announced the Master’s in Sports Management and Events.

Spanning 12 months, students will delve into the global sports and events industry, gaining essential skills for administrative and managerial roles. This includes analysing the industry’s economic aspects on an international scale and planning and executing events.

As part of the program, students will embark on business field trips to Abu Dhabi, a premier destination renowned for hosting prestigious events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and NBA Games. Additionally, they will visit Switzerland, home to major European sports organisations.

These trips offer invaluable opportunities for students to immerse themselves in real-world settings, network with industry leaders, and gain practical insights into sports management practices on a global scale.

The international sports and events industry offers exceptional professional opportunities, as various destinations, regions and even countries utilise sports to diversify their economies while reinforcing their tourism and hospitality sectors. However, the sports-driven tourism industry is not solely focused on entertainment. The profile of vacationers has also shifted towards a healthier lifestyle. As a result, there has been an increased demand trend for hotel accommodation with attractive sports offers.

Carlos Díez de la Lastra, Les Roches Global CEO, said: “Faced with a changing global demand, tourism companies must prepare for a decade filled with new expectations from travellers. Sports tourism is one of them. Over the past years, it has shown very positive growth figures, and we are confident it will continue this trend. Sports is a universal language known to all, which is why companies need to anticipate future trends, aiming to offer their customers excellent service and exquisite experiences. The implementation of this Master’s program represents a firm commitment to education in a field that gains more aspirants each year and requires highly-qualified and specialised personnel.”

 

Currently, Les Roches boasts a global network of over 16,000 alumni holding managerial positions in more than 140 countries worldwide. Of these, 67% secured their first job through school contacts, and 33% successfully launched their own ventures. Upon graduation, students receive an average of five offers from top hospitality, luxury tourism and related services companies and graduates typically triple their pre-degree salary within 12 years.

 

With a 70-year history, Les Roches is at the forefront of innovation in the hospitality sector. Its students gain access each semester to job and internships placements at over 200 leading companies in the hotel, luxury tourism and related industries, such as Louis Vuitton, Accor Hotels, IHG, The Ritz-Carlton, Soho House & Co, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott International, Silversea, Qatar Airways and Hublot, among others.

 

In addition, numerous Les Roches alumni already hold successful positions and have made significant contributions in sports management and events in some of the biggest sports brands and businesses such as Formula 1, FIFA, Nike, Netflix and the Olympic Committee.

News

Surge in extra-curricular sports at top 5 school could lead to fall in absenteeism

A SECONDARY school has experienced a surge in pupils taking part in extra-curricular sport.

Learners at Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay have engaged with football, rugby, basketball, dodgeball, badminton, hockey, volleyball, netball, and gymnastics sessions more than 5,000 times since September.

Cooking and Health and Wellbeing activities have also proven popular, ensuring learners pick up independent living skills such as how to plan, prepare and cook a meal.

It is hoped that providing these opportunities will have a knock-on effect for overall school attendances, a nationwide issue following the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Welsh Government statistics, prior to the pandemic overall absenteeism figures in Wales stood at 5.7%. Provisional data for the 2022/23 school year revealed that number had risen to 10.5% nationally.

Additionally, figures show persistent absence amongst pupils eligible for Free School Meals more than doubled from 8.4% of pupils in 2018/19 to 18.8% of pupils in 2022/23.

The positive news comes as Eirias celebrates national success, with its Year 10 rugby team and under-18’s football squad both reaching the last 16 of the Welsh Cup in their respective sports.

Assistant Headteacher Alex Metcalfe said the after-school sessions have led to children being on-site from the first bell of the day, which is “heartening” given the pressures they and their families have faced in recent times.

“To have this many pupils attend this many sessions in just a few months has been incredible and testament to our amazing teachers and the support we’ve had from parents, carers and the local community,” said Mr Metcalfe.

“We have a new system which can track who is attending, what session they are participating in, and we can align that with overall attendance, which has been a game changer.

“Attendance at extra-curricular activities has a direct impact on learners’ health and wellbeing, social and physical attributes and builds the relationship even more between staff and learners as they are interacting in a different setting.”

He added: “The more pupils we have taking part in sport not only provides opportunities for all, it gives us an even wider selection of players to choose from when it comes to the teams that represent the school for competitive or recreational fixtures.

“An example is the success of our rugby and football squads, which are competing with the best schools in their age groups nationwide, an amazing achievement.”

Head of PE Neil Wilkinson hopes the upward trend at Ysgol Eirias continues and is confident it will, given the positive response from pupils, parents, and carers.

“Tracking attendances enables us to run a programme rewarding the higher attendees and those who have experienced a significant shift in their overall presence at school,” said Mr Wilkinson.

“Our main aim is to get as many learners physically active as often as possible which will hopefully lead to lifelong habits being formed to benefit not only they themselves but the community and future generations.

“As well as competitive fixtures and participation in after-school activities, we will be continuing to organise more recreational fixtures against schools in the area, giving learners the opportunity to compete against other pupils in their age groups.”

He added: “We have some very enthusiastic members of staff who have been delivering football sessions to children in our primary school clusters, which will be extended to rugby and a summer camp later this year.

“There are a lot of other plans in the pipeline – including fun matches between past and present students – so we encourage people to watch this space and thank everyone who has shown us so much support.”

For more information on extra-curricular activities at Ysgol Eirias, visit www.eirias.co.uk and follow the social media channel at @experienceeirias.

 

News, Sport

AvaTrade becomes official trading partner of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ team

AvaTrade, the award-winning, established and renowned online trading broker, is thrilled to announce its exciting new partnership with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team (AMF1). The Silverstone-based racing team is competing in the most prestigious automotive racing series in the world and is in year three of a journey aimed at establishing its position at the front of the grid.

AvaTrade’s partnership with AMF1, one of the famous brands in racing, is built on speed and innovation, as well as advanced technology and precision. AvaTrade is committed to revolutionising the online trading industry by providing a trustworthy and user-oriented trading environment that empowers users to invest and trade with confidence.  Like the bespoke racing cars built and developed by AMF1, the AvaTrade platform offers advanced technology and innovation, in  addition to providing full scale support for all its traders – the same way in which the pit crew at AMF1 supports the drivers in their aim for success. AvaTrade and AMF1s partnership is based on the core values that can make a successful trader as well as a competitive Formula One™ team  like AMF1: constant excellence in every aspect, pushing the boundaries of speed and innovation, advanced technology, and success.

Dáire Ferguson, CEO at AvaTrade, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with AMF1. Traders and sports teams competing at the highest levels require a number of similar characteristics. They need to be driven, opportunistic and dynamic, whilst availing of professional support to get to the top of their game. This is why we’re so excited to be working alongside AMF1, a team which shares our views and outlook on what is required to achieve success.

“As a global leader in online trading, we thrive to achieve success through calculated moves, efficiency, and ground-breaking technology , all of which are embodied by AMF1. We are dedicated to empowering our loyal traders to reach the top of their game, just like the talented  racers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, do for AMF1.

“As one of the most regulated and trusted brokers in the industry, we are delighted to have AMF1 representing our brand and working with us to promote our commitment in providing traders with cutting-edge technology and the highest level of regulation to ensure they reach financial goals and lead the rest of the field in the race.”

Jefferson Slack, Managing Director – Commercial & Marketing, AMF1 added: “It is hugely exciting to welcome AvaTrade as the Official Trading Partner of AMF1. As a racing team, we strive to improve ourselves continuously and stay ahead of the competition. But we cannot do this alone, we are supported by leading engineers,  an expert pit crew, cutting-edge technology, and state-of-the-art tools which allow us to compete at the very pinnacle of motorsport. This draws parallels with the team at AvaTrade, which provides its traders with skilled expert advisors and personal account managers to guide them to maximise their full potential in their trading journey. As we seek to maximise our driving potential, AvaTrade seeks to drive investors trading potential.”

Sean Ryan, CEO, Pan Sports commented: “Congratulations to these two powerhouse brands. This really is the joining of two companies that have so much in common – from integrity and history, to brand alignment and exciting plans on the horizon. We cannot wait to see what the future brings for both AvaTrade and Aston Martin F1 Team.”

This partnership with AMF1 will enhance AvaTrade’s position as a gold standard, world-leading online broker, which is focused on providing its clients with the best training, technology, risk management tools, and educational guides needed to be successful, ensuring this is with speed, efficiency and innovation.

Please see the official announcement video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJeOH3OJOFI

For further information, please visit www.avatrade.com or www.astonmartinf1.com

About AvaTrade

AvaTrade is a leading online trading broker that supports investors of all kinds through a range of platforms, including MT4/5, AvaTradeGO mobile app, WebTrader, AvaOptions, DupliTrade and others. Traders benefit from tight spreads, a personal account manager, multilingual support, 1000+ instruments, and market-leading risk management tools such as AvaProtect, alongside real-time market access and immediate execution. Accounts are totally segregated and transactions fully encrypted. AvaTrade is regulated in the EU, Japan, Australia, Abu Dhabi and BVI, while holding a strong presence in Canada through a partnership with Friedberg Direct, a member of Canada’s Investment Industry Regulatory Organisation.

About AMF1

The legendary Aston Martin marque first raced in Formula One in 1959 and returned to the sport in 2021 under the leadership of Canadian entrepreneur Lawrence Stroll. With a team of passionate people at its heart, and a talented squad of drivers – including double World Champion Fernando Alonso and Canada’s Lance Stroll – this is a team with both a rich heritage and a fresh perspective. Alongside collaborative and strategic partners, the Silverstone-based team is bringing new energy to the sport with a determination to shake up the order and compete at the sharp end.

 

News, Sports Tech

Consumer experience takes centre stage as sports broadcasters’ investment budgets bounce back from pandemic lull

The new research, in partnership with IABM, found that while the number of companies making low level investments was still higher than pre-pandemic levels, mid-range and high levels of investment are on the rise

Tuesday 24th May, Oslo, Norway — Appear, the global leader in media processing and delivery technology, has launched its latest 360° report, The impact of COVID-19 on sports broadcasting technology investments.

The report, produced in partnership with IABM, investigated the monetary investments sports broadcasters made before and during the pandemic and found that in 2022, 73% of sports broadcasters stated that they expect their investment budget to increase compared to 2021, while none expect their budgets to decrease. Following healthy levels of investment in 2019, 2020 saw budgets frozen or reduced for over half (53%) of sports broadcasters. 2021 then saw significantly more broadcasters investing over $501K in new technology to make up for lost ground.

Surveying broadcasters across the US and UK, the report found that while 2019’s most significant investment for sports broadcasters was in production equipment, the most popular investment in 2020 was predictably in remote production equipment. 2021 saw investments in lightweight compression take the top spot, and for 2022 we see cameras being touted as the top technology broadcasters are looking to upgrade.

Given the complications in getting staff on the ground because of the pandemic, the research points to the fact that investment in 2020 and 2021 was about firming up sports broadcasters’ infrastructure. Ensuring consistent access to content was the first priority, hence the strong investment in remote production equipment and lightweight compression tools. With cameras taking the top spot in 2022, the trend now seems to be about improving the quality of services having invested in robust infrastructures.

When asked explicitly about the main drivers behind these investments sports broadcasters said that they were to support the delivery of content to more viewers, and to enable new capabilities that would maintain competitive edge. The increased investments in cameras and encoders certainly aligns with these drivers.

Speaking on the research Thomas B. Jørgensen, CEO of Appear, said, “This research highlights a consistent theme we see with our customers, while there was a rush to adopt new technologies to keep the ship afloat among the troubled waters of 2020, there is recognised need to not just deal with today’s problems but to invest in tackling tomorrow’s.

“Sports broadcasting is a fiercely competitive field. Maintaining a distinct competitive advantage is key to thriving in it. Consumers don’t just want variety, they demand quality. Deloitte found that the single most important factor for sports fans is the quality of the broadcast or stream. Investments in 2020 and 2021 were about getting that content to viewers, while 2022 looks to be all about improving the quality and experience for audiences.”

“The report on sports broadcasting technology investment, produced by Appear in partnership with IABM, shows an industry that is back to natural evolution after the exceptional innovation driven by pandemic-induced disruption,” said Lorenzo Zanni, Head of Knowledge at IABM. “Investment in technologies such as new image capture has returned, but the report also shows that the big shift to remote production necessitated by the pandemic has become permanent and fundamentally changed some technology investment priorities.”

The full 360° report, The impact of COVID-19 on sports broadcasting technology investments, is now available to download here: https://content.appear.net/appear360_lp-sport

Charity & CSR, Midlands News, News

Kings Norton Rhinos start season in style thanks to Bellway’s sponsorship

A junior rugby team is now playing in brand-new kit thanks to local housebuilder Bellway.

Kings Norton Rhinos Under 13s received a donation of £1,400 from the housebuilder – which is building new homes at The Oaks in Kings Norton – and the money funded new kit for the team to start the season.

The U13 Rhinos are part of Kings Norton RFC, which was founded almost 100 years ago and now has members aged from six upwards. The club is based at Hopwood Park, off Ash Lane, Hopwood.

Bellway West Midlands is building a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes at The Oaks, located off Parsons Hill, approximately four miles from the club’s ground.

Jake Morris, lead coach for the U13 Rhinos, said: “All the boys on the team are 12 years old from Kings Norton and surrounding areas, from different schools and backgrounds.

“I reached out to Bellway as I know they were building in the local area, and I felt it important that all the boys had a matching unified kit. We wanted to enable everyone to look the same, play as one and enjoy themselves, no matter their background.

“The boys were really excited when they got the kit and were inspired to come back and play rugby again after a turbulent year of cancelled training due to Covid restrictions.

“We are really pleased that Bellway was able to support us. It’s great to see a large housebuilder support the local community in which they build.”

The team is run by four coaches, including Jake, all of whom are volunteers and also have sons playing in the team.

There are 24 members of the U13 Rhinos and around 230 players in the Kings Norton RFC junior section. Each team is run entirely by volunteers.

Marie Richards, Sales Director of Bellway West Midlands, said: “We are pleased the team were happy with their new kits and excited to start the new season.

“It has been a rocky year for lots of young people involved in clubs such as this one, being unable to be involved in group activities due to Covid-19 restrictions. So we are happy these kits will enable them to come together and play as one again.

“Clubs like this one rely on funding and donations and are run entirely by volunteers, so we are glad to be able to show our support.”

Bellway is selling the final nine homes at The Oaks, where prices currently start at £257,500 for a two-bedroom house, with other three and four-bedroom properties also on the market.

For more information about the properties available at The Oaks, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/west-midlands/the-oaks or call the sales office on 0121 756 2091.

Captions:

  • The Kings Norton Rhinos showing off their new kit, featuring Bellway West Midlands sponsorship