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ORIGIN AUSTRALIAN DIAMONDS FIND THEIR SPARKLE WITH MY LITTLE PONY
TL Bureau, Fitzroy
The Origin Australian Diamonds are delighted to announce they have partnered with My Little Pony to celebrate kids finding their sparkle. Since launching almost 40 years’ ago, My Little Pony has become a significant part of pop culture, transcending both age and gender, and is beloved by fans worldwide. Partnering with My Little Pony aims to encourage kids to celebrate being proud of their individuality and the value of coming together as a team. The partnership’s key message will be led by the inspirational ‘Find Your Sparkle’ campaign which empowers young children to find their special uniqueness and champion teamwork. To help ‘Find Your Sparkle’ oncourt, My Little Pony and the Origin Australian Diamonds have teamed up to create a series of virtual content with campaign
ambassador and Origin Diamonds goal attack, Gretel Bueta. Bueta said she was delighted at the opportunity to work with My Little Pony and saw the partnership as a positive influence for existing netball players, as well as those new to the sport. “If you’re young with energy to burn, netball is the perfect game to participate in,” Bueta said. “As well as providing important physical and social benefits, netball gives kids a chance to be part of a team, work together, push themselves and each other. By training together, winning together, and losing together, children learn teamwork and a sense of belonging.” The range of virtual content to come from this partnership is suitable for all Diamonds-in-the-making and features a virtual training session comprised of six drills, a video of Gretel Bueta sharing how she finds her sparkle on and off the court, and a playful Q&A with
Bueta run by young fans. There will also be an exclusive online session with Bueta for NetSetGO participants. Details will be sent to participants in the coming days. Jessica Murphy, SVP Entertainment Brand Marketing and AMPAC Entertainment One, welcomed the new relationship between My Little Pony and the Origin Australian Diamonds. “My Little Pony embraces the uniqueness of the individual and encouraging kids to explore their passions and reach their full potential,” Murphy said. “We are thrilled to partner with the Origin Australian Diamonds on our family-first campaign, energising kids everywhere to ‘Find Your Sparkle’ with the Diamonds.” Diamonds fans will be able to actively engage with this new partnership on the Origin Australian Diamonds’ website on the new Fan Zone page, and social media channels.
11th Annual ‘NFL Honors’ to be Broadcast on ABC from YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 10
Awards Show Saluting Top NFL Players and Performances from the 2021 Season Will Be Simulcast on ESPN+ & NFL Network TL Bureau, California The 11th Annual NFL HONORS – the primetime awards special that recognizes the NFL’s best players, performances and plays from the 2021 season – will air LIVE Thursday, February 10 at 9:00 PM ET on ABC from YouTube Theater at the SoFi Entertainment District in Los Angeles, it was announced today. In addition to airing on ABC, the two-hour award show will be simulcast on ESPN+ and NFL Network. “Every year, NFL Honors
celebrates the NFL’s brightest stars and greatest moments, bringing the sports and entertainment worlds together for a special night,” said Mark Quenzel, Senior Vice President, Head of Content for NFL Media. “We are thrilled to work with a new partner in ABC, ESPN and The Walt Disney Company to bring this annual event and the star power associated with it to even greater and higher levels than ever before.” NFL Honors debuted in 2012 and features the announcement of such awards as THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS’ annual accolades, the prestigious WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY NATIONWIDE and the newest PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME class the week leading up to the Super Bowl. On Thursday, February 10, NFL Honors Red Carpet Show presented by Invisalign airs at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network leading up to NFL Honors. Further details regarding this year’s NFL Honors, such as host and award presenters, will be announced at a later date.
FIBA boosts basketball’s presence in Canada by signing deal with market leader Sportsnet
TL bureau, MIES (Switzerland) The world basketball governing body FIBA has expanded its media presence in North America with the announcement of a longterm broadcast rights agreement with the multiplatform Canadian network, Sportsnet. Through this new partnership, Sportsnet becomes the exclusive broadcast rights holder for FIBA’s major events through to 2025. Canada has a passionate basketball fan base that is rapidly growing. The national teams for both women and men played at the previous FIBA Basketball World Cups in 2018 and 2019, and Canada won the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2017. Both the men’s and women’s Canadian national teams will be on court a lot over the next four years with main events like both FIBA Basketball World Cups, the FIBA AmeriCups and their respective qualifiers. Sportsnet is looking to help build a legacy for basketball in the country by becoming FIBA’s exclusive rights holder in Canada. Basketball is already part of Sportsnet’s programming as they are the NBA’s broadcast partner. The company is also the official Canadian NHL ice hockey national multimedia rights holder, and it is the Canadian leader in Major League Baseball television
broadcasts.“This is great news for basketball fans in Canada,” FIBA Media and Marketing Services Director General, Frank Leenders said. “The passion for the sport in this part of the world is evident and this partnership with Sportsnet allows for the creation of new synergies and increased levels of commitment which will provide fans with unprecedented coverage and access to FIBA competitions in the years to come.” “As the home of extensive basketball coverage in Canada, Sportsnet is proud to partner with FIBA to bring Canadians front-row access to the country’s brightest stars on the world stage,” said Bart Yabsley, Sportsnet President. “Complementing our network’s NBA, WNBA and Canada Basketball content, today’s partnership with FIBA reinforces our ongoing commitment to building a basketball legacy for players and fans alike in Canada. We look forward to collaborating with FIBA to make these international games available as part of Sportsnet’s industry-leading portfolio of the basketball games that fans want.” One of the first chances for fans to watch national team basketball on Sportsnet will be in late November when the men’s team competes in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers.
YOG Education Programme accessible to youth sports event organisers with a single click
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made the educational content offered to young athletes during the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) available to the Olympic Movement. TL Bureau, Beijing The “YOG Education Programme @ Youth Sporting Events” can now be freely accessed from the IOC website by International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and organisers of sports events and championships. The toolkit is free and easy to download for these organisers, who can make use of the whole programme during sports events. The content has been designed specifically for elite young athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 who are eager to
learn how to become champions on the field of play and in life. According to the Olympic Charter, “Olympism is a philosophy of life (…) blending sport with culture and education.” More than a century after the Charter was first published, education remains one of the fundamental pillars of Olympism and the YOG. Since the YOG Singapore 2010, nearly 10,000 young athletes, plus local young people during the various Games editions, have had access to educational programmes delivered in parallel with the sports competitions.
“With this programme, all sports event organisers can now offer their young athletes a fun, educational and engaging programme that covers the most important topics for this age group: athlete safeguarding, improving performance, and assistance outside sport and with career transition,” said Christophe Dubi, the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director. “This is precisely what makes the Youth Olympic Games so successful. The content is now accessible digitally and is easy to use on site.” A programme to coach,
support and safeguard athletes The content of the YOG Education Programme @ Youth Sporting Events has been put together under the leadership of the IOC. It contains three areas of focus: athlete protection, performance, and assisting athletes outside sport. The activities are self-explanatory and just need to be downloaded onto a computer or tablet by event organisers. The content is varied and can be tailored to all situations and formats. Athletes can watch videos, download apps with immersive scenarios, take quizzes, play computer games,
access online learning platforms, learn about exercises to prevent injuries and even explore various opportunities for a smooth transition from competitive sport into the workplace. The first section includes content created and produced by the IOC, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Testing Agency (ITA). The “Play True” quiz teaches young athletes how to protect themselves. The Athlete365 videos raise awareness about the importance of athletes taking care of their mental health to be at their very best in sport.
