Category Archives: Sport

AFTNews, Olympics, Sport

New dates announced for Tokyo Olympic Games 2021

Video

On 24 March 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 agreed to postpone Olympic Games due to COVID-19 pandemic. IOC President Thomas Bach and the Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo, held a conference call to discuss the constantly changing environment with regard to COVID-19 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

They were joined by Mori Yoshiro, the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee; the Olympic Minister, Hashimoto Seiko; the Governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko; the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission, John Coates; IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper; and the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, Christophe Dubi.

President Bach and Prime Minister Abe expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant impact it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.

Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan today agreed new dates for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, in 2021. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be celebrated from 23 July to 8 August 2021. They also agreed on the new dates for the Paralympic Games, which will be celebrated from 24 August until 5 September 2021.

The leaderships of the key parties came together via telephone conference earlier today, joined by IOC President Thomas Bach, Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshirō, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko and Olympic and Paralympic Minister Hashimoto Seiko, and agreed on the new schedule.

This decision was taken based on three main considerations and in line with the principles established by the IOC Executive Board (EB) on 17 March 2020 and confirmed at its meeting today. These were supported by all the International Summer Olympic Sports Federations (IFs) and all the National Olympic Committees (NOCs):

1. To protect the health of the athletes and everyone involved, and to support the containment of the COVID-19 virus.

2. To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.

3. The global international sports calendar.

These new dates give the health authorities and all involved in the organisation of the Games the maximum time to deal with the constantly changing landscape and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new dates, exactly one year after those originally planned for 2020 (Olympic Games: 24 July to 9 August 2020 and Paralympic Games: 25 August to 6 September 2020), also have the added benefit that any disruption that the postponement will cause to the international sports calendar can be kept to a minimum, in the interests of the athletes and the IFs. Additionally, they will provide sufficient time to finish the qualification process. The same heat mitigation measures as planned for 2020 will be implemented.

In a call on Tuesday 24 March 2020, based on information provided by the WHO at the time, IOC President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō concluded that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would be held in their complete form and not later than summer 2021. The Prime Minister reiterated that the government of Japan stands ready to fulfil its responsibility for hosting these successful Games. At the same time, IOC President Thomas Bach stressed the full commitment of the IOC to successful Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Following today’s decision, the IOC President said: “I want to thank the International Federations for their unanimous support and the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees for the great partnership and their support in the consultation process over the last few days. I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission, with whom we have been in constant contact. With this announcement, I am confident that, working together with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and all our stakeholders, we can master this unprecedented challenge. Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel.”

Andrew Parsons, the President of the IPC, commented: “It is fantastic news that we could find new dates so quickly for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The new dates provide certainty for the athletes, reassurance for the stakeholders and something to look forward to for the whole world. When the Paralympic Games do take place in Tokyo next year, they will be an extra-special display of humanity uniting as one, a global celebration of human resilience and a sensational showcase of sport. With the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games 512 days away, the priority for all those involved in the Paralympic Movement must be to focus on staying safe with their friends and family during this unprecedented and difficult time.”

The President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, Mori Yoshirō, said: “IOC President Thomas Bach and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee held a conference call today to discuss in detail the revised dates of the Tokyo 2020 Games. Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Hashimoto Seiko and Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko joined the call. I proposed that the Games should be hosted between July and August 2021, and I really appreciate that President Bach, having discussed this proposal with the various international sports federations and other related organisations, kindly accepted my proposal. A certain amount of time is required for the selection and qualification of athletes and for their training and preparation, and the consensus was that staging the rescheduled Games during the summer vacation in Japan would be preferable. In terms of transport, arranging volunteers and the provision of tickets for those in Japan and overseas, as well as allowing for the COVID-19 situation, we think that it would be better to reschedule the Games to one year later than planned, in the summer of 2021. Notwithstanding the postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time in history, and various other issues that have already been highlighted, the event schedule is the cornerstone of future preparations, and I am convinced that taking this decision promptly will help speed up future preparations. I would like to thank all the stakeholders, including the host city Tokyo and the Government of Japan, for their hard work during this short period. The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will continue to work hard for the success of next year’s Games.”

Governor Koike Yuriko said: “In consideration of the global coronavirus outbreak, we need a certain timeframe before we fully prepare for the delivery of Games that are safe and secure for the athletes and spectators. Also, the preparation for the new dates will go smoothly, as the dates match with same timeframe as the original competition dates, corresponding with ticketing, venue staffing, volunteers and transport. Therefore, I believe that celebrating the opening of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 on 23 July 2021 is ideal. The athletes, volunteers, torchbearers and local municipality governments have been concerned about the situation. Since we now have concrete new dates to aim for, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will commit all its resources, and work closely with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the national government and other stakeholders to fully prepare for the delivery of Games that are safe and secure.”

It has previously been confirmed that all athletes already qualified and quota places already assigned for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will remain unchanged. This is a result of the fact that these Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, in agreement with Japan, will remain the Games of the XXXII Olympiad.

AFTNN/PRNews/GIG

AFTNews, Olympics, Sport

Statement by Olympic Council of Asia Director General Mr Husain Al-Musallam

Kuwait City, Kuwait, 24 March, 2020 (AFTNN/OCA) – The Olympic Council of Asia would like to express its total support for the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games until next year.

The OCA appreciates that this must have been an extremely difficult decision to make, but the rapidly deteriorating situation around the world due to COVID-19 has made this postponement a necessity. The health and wellbeing of athletes and all Olympic stakeholders must be the top priority.

The IOC, along with Japanese authorities, have tried to delay this decision as long as possible in the hope that the situation might improve in the coming weeks and months but, sadly, this has not been the case. Now is the time for the Olympic sports movement around the world to show unity and solidarity and to work as one team in preparing for a brighter future.

At this time, we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Organising Committee of Tokyo 2020 for all the work, planning and preparation they have put in over a number of years – only for this completely unforeseen pandemic to intervene and change the course of Olympic history. We know Japan will recover from this setback and put on an even greater show to mark the coming together of humanity after finally defeating this virus.

We would also like to send our gratitude and appreciation to the athletes of Asia for all their efforts in qualifying – or attempting to qualify – for the Olympic Games. Although you must be disappointed at this time, the dream is not over. The Olympic Games will come back stronger and with even more passion – and so will you. The OCA has always championed the interests of the athletes and it did its best to ensure that the preparations of the Asian Athletes were not affected when this pandemic was at its peak in Asia. The OCA will continue to create the best possible environment for our athletes to train and participate in the Olympic Games which is an amalgamation of human spirit, culture and sports.

Our National Olympic Committees have worked tremendously hard behind the scenes in preparing the best conditions possible for their athletes. You have followed every guideline and met every deadline in guaranteeing a smooth build-up not only for your athletes and officials but also for the Organising Committee in Tokyo. The athletes and organisers will need you again and rely on you to bring together all aspects of management and operations in the future.

The OCA also commends the efforts of our International/Asian sport federations, for the way you have gone about amending your qualification schedules in an effort to be fair to all athletes from all corners of Asia. This has been a near-impossible task in recent weeks due to the ever-changing picture of the pandemic around the world and this postponement will now give you time to reassess the situation and, hopefully, make new and concrete plans.

AFTNews, Airsports, Sport

FAI World Air Games moved to 2022

Following a statement released on 20 January 2020, the Federation Aeronautic International (FAI) and Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK) have announced that the FAI World Air Games in Turkey have been moved from 2020 to September 2022.

In a statement signed by FAI President Robert Henderson and THK President A. Bertan Nogaylaroğlu both organisations committed to “supercharging” the FAI World Air Games to provide an “exciting, engaging, professional and safe global event”.

The statement added: “We will combine all aspects of the FAI World Air Games to provide a strong legacy for future air sports and aviation activities in THK and the FAI.”

The FAI World Air Games is a multi-sport air sports event held every few years. The last FAI World Air Games was held in Dubai, UAE in 2015.

The FAI World Air Games in Turkey 2022 will be the fifth edition of the Games.

FAI President Bob Henderson said: “This has not been an easy decision to make. However it has been taken with all interests at heart and with a long-term and strategic view. The FAI World Air Games is the flagship event of the Federation and, as such, we must make sure that it be held in optimal conditions. The FAI will take this opportunity to discuss internally the future of the Games taking all FAI stakeholders’ best interests in consideration. “Since the start, the FAI, including the FAI Office and the Sports Commissions, has been working hard on the preparations for the event with our esteemed Member THK. We are grateful to our Turkish friends and thank them for all their efforts.”

Information about the future FAI World Air Games events will be communicated in due course.

AFTNN/PRNews/GIG

AFTNews, Rugby, Sport

World Rugby Statement: HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series postponed

World Rugby has taken the decision to postpone the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series tournament that was due to be played in Stellenbosch on 28 and 29 March in response to the continued COVID-19 situation.

The health and safety of participating teams, tournament event staff and spectators is our highest priority. This proactive decision has been taken to help protect the global rugby community and the wider public and was taken based on the World Health Organisation and relevant public authority travel and health guidelines. The decision is fully supported by stakeholders, including unions and commercial partners.

Further details in relation to the rearrangement of the Stellenbosch women’s HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series event will be communicated in due course.  

AFTNews, Olympics, PRNews, Sport

IOC Boxing task force suspends European Qualifier in London and all remaining events until May

17 March 2020, AFTNN // PRNEWSGIG – The IOC Boxing Task Force (BTF) has announced that the boxing Road to Tokyo European Qualifier in London and subsequent qualifiers worldwide scheduled to take place in May are to be suspended until further notice.

The European qualifier, which started on 14 March and was planned to run until 24 March, will be closed after today’s evening session.

Safeguarding the well-being of the athletes, officials and all other participants is a top priority for the BTF. Since the preparation phase of the event, the BTF has been working in close cooperation with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) – the delivery body of the competition – as well as its stakeholders, its own medical experts and the national health authorities, to set up the necessary precautionary measures.

The BTF eventually took the decision to suspend the event today, amid increasing global travel restrictions and quarantine measures, in order to allow the participants from over 60 countries to adjust their travel plans and return home.

The BTF will continue to evaluate the situation daily, aiming to complete the distribution of the remaining Tokyo 2020 boxing quota places in May and June. The BTF’s priority remains the qualification of athletes on the field of play, and it will inform all stakeholders as soon as more information is available.

At the same time, the IOC is fully committed to the success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, as was recently outlined again in the following statement.

The BTF would like to thank the host nations, the organising committees and all the participants involved for their support and tremendous efforts in dealing with this extraordinary situation.

Ends.

Events, Fitness, Sport

Reach The Finish Line In Style With IRONMAN® At One&Only Desaru Coast

The iconic IRONMAN® competition is coming to the shores of Desaru Coast in 2020, and One&Only Desaru Coast has launched a curated wellness programme for fitness enthusiasts and triathletes taking part in the competition. 

Available from 17 – 19 April 2020, guests of the resort will be able to take advantage of bespoke physical activities and culinary options to complement and elevate their individual training plans, as well as join the resort’s inaugural Bonfire Legends event and vibrant pre-race party at Ember Beach Club. 

IRONMAN® is one of the most challenging endurance races in the world and triathletes taking part in the Desaru Coast course on 19 April will tackle a 1.9km swim in the clear sea waters, a 90km bike ride along the coast and a 21.1km run around the perimeter of The Els Club Golf Course. Racegoers that book the Ironman programme at One&Only Desaru Coast will be able start race day with a healthy breakfast, specially tailored to cater to specific nutrition plans, and supplies of house-made protein bars and electrolyte water for energy and hydration. Family and friends supporting the participants can cheer athletes on from the One&Only Pit Stop throughout the day, which will include seating areas, refreshing drinks and music sets by the resident DJ. 

The weekend will also see the launch of One&Only Desaru Coast’s inaugural Bonfire Legends sessions, a series of intimate, quarterly events that will bring together the biggest names in every industry from health to sustainability, to inspire and ignite conversation around a variety of topics. A convivial evening set around a bonfire alongside canapes and drinks, the interactive discussion on 17 April will be hosted by Malaysian Ironman triathlete Ng Seow Kong and sports psychologist Dr. Jay-Lee Nair who will facilitate a lively discourse on competitive training and how athletes can optimise their regime for a healthy mind and body. 

To celebrate the inaugural race with the community and their supporters, Ember Beach Club will be hosting the biggest pre-event party on the coast, featuring dynamic DJs, live entertainment and a delicious menu of expertly grilled prime meats and fresh seafood with Asian flavours prepared by acclaimed Chef Andrew Walsh. With two infinity pools overlooking the sea, Ember Beach Club’s shady cabanas are perfect for those seeking a leisurely afternoon, fresh juice in hand, whilst water sports are available for adrenaline-pumping action on the beach. Taking place from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday, 18 April, the pre-race party will include a dedicated carbohydrate–loaded set menu and special non-alcoholic beverage to energise race goers alongside the beats of the live DJ set. Whilst open to the public, 

One&Only Desaru Coast guests will be given priority reservations for a table or cabana. The world-class fitness facilities at One&Only Desaru Coast are a haven for athletes, providing a diverse array of options; from the indoor and outdoor gym featuring top-of-the-line Technogym® equipment, to the Pilates studio for alignment-based training, and personal trainers poised to devise a bespoke workout on the beach or provide a lesson in the ancient Malaysian martial art of Silat Melayu. The resort boasts a tennis academy and tennis courts as well as Malaysia’s first Padel courts, as well as offering other activities to vary training programmes, including water sports such as paddle boarding and wakeboarding, kayaking, yoga, tree climbing and jungle trekking. 

To restore and recover post-race or training, guests can choose from a selection of bespoke treatments available at the resort’s Chenot Spa. The sanctuary-like spa is home to 10 private consultation rooms with adjourning forest-facing treatment rooms, a relaxation pavilion, hot-and-cold pools, steam and sauna facilities and a professional hair salon. 

The revolutionary spa takes wellness to the next level with a unique scientific and holistic approach to health and wellbeing, developed in partnership with Chenot, leaders in wellness with nearly 50 years in practice. Offering the benefits of select elements of the Chenot Method® – a rigorous and research-driven framework for achieving optimum health, the spa integrates the latest scientific advances in Western medicine and diagnostics such as Body Composition Analysis and Cardio Respiratory Fitness Assessment with the best in Chinese and alternative medicines, the menu of research-led and holistic wellness programmes is designed to reset the body, strengthen resilience and improve metabolic efficiency. 

Guests are encouraged to enjoy spa treatments depending on their physical needs, and highlights include the Chenot Detox Body Massage to drain away deep toxins, Chenot Connective Tissue Massage to release tension due to muscle inflammation and Chenot Regenerating Treatment designed to stimulate deep breathing and relieve stress. Those looking to accelerate their fitness journey can also opt for the signature three-day Chenot Fitness Programme, which includes nutritional consultations, a full physical and biochemical assessment as well as deep tissue massages and personal training sessions. 

The Ironman Desaru Coast offer is available from 17 – 19 April 2020, starting from MYR7,000/SGD$2,315 per suite for two nights and includes a daily healthy tailored breakfast, exclusive Ironman welcome amenities, specialist snacks including protein bars and electrolyte water, resort credit of MYR 500/ SGD$164 per suite per night and an invitation to Bonfire Legends evening hosted by a panel of esteemed speakers (terms and conditions apply). 

One&Only Desaru Coast will begin welcoming guests on 23 March 2020. For more information on the resort, please visit: oneandonlydesarucoast.com 

Rugby, Sport

World Rugby sets four-year blueprint to develop future stars of the emerging unions

World Rugby has announced details of the new strategy for its High Performance Combine in the Pacific Islands, focusing on identifying, developing and investing in domestic Pacific Island talent to participate at Rugby World Cup 2023 and 2027.

Launched in 2018, 51 players have graduated from the High Performance Combines in the Pacific Islands of which 13 players were prepared for international rugby with Frank Lomani (Fiji) and James Faiva (Tonga) progressing to star at Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

The World Rugby-funded programme gives emerging talent access to some of the world’s best coaches and strength and conditioning experts, preparing players for the modern elite rugby environment. The programme is delivered in cooperation with the Pacific Rugby Players who assist to deliver wellbeing and personal development workshops.

Players are assessed and evaluated at the conclusion of the Combine by World Rugby’s High Performance consultants with the programme’s elite being offered an opportunity to be placed within the world’s elite competitions. World Rugby’s Scholarship programme has seen players placed into teams with the Gallagher Premiership, Global Rapid Rugby, Mitre 10, Major League Rugby, PRO14, Superliga Americana de Rugby and Super Rugby.

The new four-year cycle begins with the Pacific Combine in Suva, Fiji, on 15-18 March, which is hosted immediately after the World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2020 (6-14 March). The programme will run annually with the aim to nurture test-level talents and reflects World Rugby’s wider commitment to support Pacific Islands unions.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaummont said: “Greater depth of competition at Rugby World Cup is dependent on robust strategies to lift high performance and the Pacific Challenge, combined with the Pacific Combine, is a proven developer and enabler of Pacific Island talent, creating a pathway to international rugby. I would like to wish everyone involved in this project the very best of luck.”

WATCH PACIFIC COMBINE WORLD RUGBY FILM >>

A twin programme in the Americas

A twin project will offer a similar long-term vision on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. Working closely with Rugby Canada and USA Rugby, the North America Combine will aim to identify prospective talents and invite them to participate in both unions high-performance academies, the Pacific Pride (Canada) and the USA Rugby National Academy (USA).

Following the North America Combine, which is scheduled for 21-27 June in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, selected players will be offered full-time scholarships in their unions high performance academy system.

The immersion and exposure of academy level players into high performance environments will fast track the development of targeted players, while increasing the domestic North American player pool available for Major League Rugby (MLR) teams. By increasing the competitiveness and quality of the MLR, the programme will enhance the high-performance outcomes of both Canada and the USA national teams.

World Rugby Vice-Chairman and Americas Rugby President Agustín Pichot said: “The development of a truly global game requires a global vision for the development and promotion of the best emerging talent from unions where a high performance programme is hard to access.

“The North America Combine is an innovative and exciting programme that does not just identify talent. It nurtures and supports players on and off the field, providing a club and a community that supports a player in being the best they can be as a person and as a player.”

World Rugby General Manager High Performance Peter Horne said: “The High Performance Combine programme is an amazing opportunity for Pacific Islands and North America to identify and develop the most promising talents in their region.

“The Combine has proven its effectiveness with successful alumni making it to the highest level and we are delighted to renew our commitment with a long-term vision that will increase unions’ competitiveness.”

Rugby, Sport

New research links Japan’s Rugby World Cup hosting with national pride and excitement boost

Rugby World Cup hosting was a catalyst for national pride growth in Japan, capturing the imagination, growing rugby interest and leaving a positive legacy for the sport, according to a major new study.


Japan 2019, which was won by South Africa, saw the best-ever performance of the Japanese Brave Blossoms as the hosts became the first team from Asia to reach the quarter-finals during a tournament that broke viewership, engagement, match and fan-zone attendance records.

GAME-CHANGING RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019 IS A RECORD-BREAKER >>

Another major endorsement of the significant positive impact of Rugby World Cup as a high return on investment proposition for host nations and unions, the Nielsen Sports DNA study immediately after the tournament determined:

  • 78 per cent of the general public thought that Rugby World Cup hosting in a so-called “non-traditional” rugby market was positive for the future of the sport
  • 46 per cent of the general public thought Rugby World Cup was the most exciting sporting event of 2019 (70 per cent in Japan), compared to 25 per cent who disagreed, demonstrating the value of hosting to international marketing and national pride
  • The level of Rugby World Cup interest almost doubled from 26 per cent in 2018 to 44 per cent in 2019, representing more than 50 million people
  • Nine out of 10 people in Japan believed that Rugby World Cup hosting captured the imagination, boosting national pride, excitement and engagement
  • Nine out of 10 people in Japan got behind the national team on their run to the quarter-finals, reflecting a 33 per cent increase in ‘niwaka fans’ or new fans during the tournament
  • 83 per cent of people in Japan believe that hosting Rugby World Cup generated a positive legacy for rugby, delivering future major rugby event hosting opportunities for Japan
  • 50 per cent of those in Japan who followed Rugby World Cup had become interested in the sport in the last year, highlighting the significant legacy opportunity for host nations
  • 54 per cent of those in Japan who followed the tournament were doing so for the first time
  • 74 per cent of Japanese who were aware of Rugby World Cup believe that the tournament will encourage more children to play the sport

Almost half the population – a staggering 54.8 million – tuned-in on national free-to-air broadcaster NTV to watch Japan’s decisive pool match against Scotland, representing a single market audience record for rugby, while a record 1.2 million people visited fan-zones the length and breadth of the nation.

Another record was set with a 99.3 per cent of available tickets sold across the 45 matches, reinforcing Rugby World Cup as one of the must-see events. More than 400,000 international visitors travelled to Japan, many for the first time, to witness a unique celebration of rugby and Japanese culture.


Importantly, a dedicated partnership between World Rugby, Asia Rugby and the Japan Rugby Football Union saw 2.27 million new participants get into rugby in Asia since 2016 (1.17 million in Japan) through an innovative participation model.

A dual selection process for 2027 and 2031

The research comes as World Rugby prepares to announce details of the host selection process for Rugby World Cup 2027 and 2031.

The dual selection process, which will launch later this month, will enable World Rugby to select an optimal combination of hosts, as achieved for England 2015 and Japan 2019. The process will give successful candidates a longer preparation time that will optimise deliver and cost management.


World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We believe that Japan 2019 was one of the great Rugby World Cups and this latest study proves that hosting is of significant value to the host nation.


“Rugby World Cup is not just a six-week world-class sporting event, it is an attraction, a driver of sporting, social and economic growth and a low-investment, high return-on-investment proposition for host nations and host unions.


“Japan was a model of that statement. It maximised the hosting opportunity with full buy-in from national governments, host cities and the wider public. It was a unique shop window for the whole of Japan, its culture, tourism and business.”

AFTNews, Sport

Thai League hosts Sportradar integrity workshop

The Thai League has just concluded its 2020 Integrity Workshop, conducted by Sportradar Integrity Services; the world’s leading supplier of sports integrity solutions.

The integrity workshop was held at the Thai League 2020 Team Managers’ Meeting on 16 January at Alexander Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. In attendance were team managers at all clubs from Thai League 1 through to Thai League 4. This integrity workshop featured interactive learning and real-life situations to highlight the common threats to sports integrity, such as match-fixing and misuse of inside information, and the risks of being involved in such schemes.

Underpinned by a focus on prevention, team managers were informed of relevant rules and regulations, and best practices to help adhere to them, and are now ready to transmit this information to their players and staff members ahead of the 2020 season. This will ensure that all Thai football clubs are equipped and ready to uphold their responsibilities to integrity during the year ahead. As outlined in the workshop, any integrity concerns can be reported in confidence to the following email address: integrity@thaileague.co.th

After the integrity workshop, a separate meeting was also held with the Thai League’s integrity team, with positive discussions on industry best practices and how integrity measures in the Thai League can be enhanced. This was not the first time the two have worked together, as Sportradar Integrity Services, the AFC, and the Thai League previously collaborated on a 2017 match-fixing investigation which led to 12 arrests including referees and players for match-fixing in the Thai leagues.

Speaking about the workshop, Andrew Whittingham, Head of Education, Integrity Services,said: “The Thai League are a valued and proactive partner of ours, and have showcasedtheir commitment to integrity through preventative measures such as this integrity workshop. Team managers throughout Thai football are now armed with the knowledge to transmit to their teams about the integrity risks they face, and how to overcome them in today’s football environment. We look forward to continuing to support the Thai League on integrity mattersthroughout the rest of this season and into the future”.

Benjamin Tan, Thai League Deputy CEO added: “Sportradar have demonstrated their commitment to keeping Asian sport clean throughout the past decade, and it was this track record which made them the clear and obvious choice to help deliver integrity education to our teams. Team managers are the loudest voice in the dressing room, and by equipping them with the most up-to-date knowledge of integrity risks and how to respond to them, players throughout the country will now be ready to uphold their responsibilities to the Thai game ahead of the new season”.

AFTNews, Rugby, Sport

Rugby World Cup 2021 set to break new ground as tournament dates are announced

  • The dates for RWC 2021 have been announced as tournament heads to Southern Hemisphere for first time
  • Matches to be played at Waitakere Stadium, Northland Events Centre and Auckland’s Eden Park from 18 September to 16 October 2021
  • Tournament brand unveiled symbolising the power and growth of women’s rugby
  • World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont praises preparations
  • Spark Sport announced as host broadcast rights holder for RWC 2021

With just over 18 months to go, World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby have today marked another exciting milestone on the road to Rugby World Cup 2021 (RWC 2021) with the announcement of the tournament dates and the unveiling of the tournament brand in front of a special gathering at the venue for the final, Auckland’s Eden Park.

With the draw to be undertaken later this year, RWC 2021 matches will be played across three world-class venues – Waitakere Stadium, Whangarei’s Northland Events Centre and Auckland’s Eden Park – in what will be a significant milestone for women’s rugby in the southern hemisphere.

The pool stage of the competition will be contested across three match days – Saturday 18, Thursday 23 and Tuesday 28 September – and will be hosted at Waitakere Stadium and Whangarei’s Northland Events Centre.

The quarter-finals, which are a new addition to the women’s competition for RWC 2021, will take place on Sunday 3 October at the aforementioned venues. Eden Park will host the semi-finals on Saturday 9 October before the bronze match and RWC 2021 final will be held on Saturday 16 October. For New Zealand viewers, all games will be broadcast live and on demand by official RWC 2021 host broadcast rights holder Spark Sport, with selected games televised free-to-air.

The tournament brand unveiled today has been developed by World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby in close consultation with local cultural advisors. The RWC 2021 brand has the vitality and connectivity of the ocean’s waters at its heart and features the ‘Ngaru’ – a symbol of the ocean’s waves that surround New Zealand and the many shores that teams will travel from to compete in this ground-breaking tournament. Watch the brand video here.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont, Rugby World Cup 2021 Tournament Director Alison Hughes and General Manager of Women’s Rugby Kate Sadleir are in New Zealand for venue visits to help the host venues and host cities prepare for the southern hemisphere’s first hosting of the showcase tournament.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Women’s rugby is the single-biggest opportunity to grow the global game, and we are confident that New Zealand 2021 will be one of the great Rugby World Cups, attracting a new fan and player base for the sport.

“RWC 2021 follows a hugely successful 2017 event in Ireland which broke attendance and broadcast records, having a hugely positive impact on women’s rugby. Last year we successfully launched ‘Try and Stop Us’, a campaign that aims to drive increased participation and engagement among fans, audiences, players and investors in the women’s game.

“It is a privilege to be here in New Zealand and to see the huge amount of work that has already gone into ensuring this will be another spectacular tournament for the world’s best women’s teams.”

NZR Chief Executive Mark Robinson welcomed the World Rugby officials to Eden Park today, marking a key milestone in the logistical preparation required for hosting one of World Rugby’s pinnacle events.

“This is an event we are very excited to be hosting and we can’t wait to have the world’s best women’s teams play here. The Black Ferns love playing at home and I know they are excited at the prospect of retaining the Rugby World Cup at home.

“Together with the support from Central Government, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, and Whangarei District Council we are committed to working alongside World Rugby to deliver an exciting event that continues to grow the game and deliver benefits for rugby in New Zealand and globally.

“As part of the bid team that presented to World Rugby in Dublin in 2018, it is now a real privilege to continue to be involved in the delivery of the tournament and to see preparations come to life.

“We share World Rugby’s global ambition of getting more women and girls involved in rugby and RWC 2021 is a great way to showcase women’s rugby at an elite level and provide inspiration for boys and girls to get involved in our game,” Robinson said.

RWC 2021 will be the first RWC to adopt a gender-neutral naming approach after World Rugby announced last year that its flagship 15s and sevens RWC properties will no longer include gender in their titles, furthering its commitment to equality and brand consistency across its portfolio.

Beaumont added: “We are proud that RWC has adopted a gender-neutral naming approach to its properties – a bold and important move – and we are looking forward to seeing this come to life following the unveiling of the tournament brand here in Auckland today.”

RWC 2021 Organising Committee Chair Dame Julie Christie said: “New Zealand Rugby is highly experienced in the operational planning and delivery of world class events with sustainable commercial returns and plans are already well on track to make RWC 2021 an outstanding event.”

The event was held at Eden Park with Black Ferns Kendra Cocksedge, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Charmaine McMenamin, Ruahei Demant and Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu running a skills and drills session with children from Birkdale Primary, Ahuroa School, Horizon School and Woodhill School.

The RWC 2021 supports World Rugby’s Women’s Plan 2017-25, NZR’s Women’s Rugby Strategy and the New Zealand Government’s Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy.