Match Poker Brings Something New To The Table |
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Many sports have been forced online as a result of the pandemic, presenting huge challenges to rights holders. However, it has also created opportunity, particularly for youthful start-up sports that are agile and able to adapt.
This week, I've taken a closer look at one such example.
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Founded in April 2009 in Lausanne, Switzerland, home of the IOC and FIFA, the International Federation of Match Poker (IFMP) champions poker as a 'mind-sport of strategic skill', alongside chess, bridge, draughts and Go.
The game is played completely digitally, on mobile devices, and free of conventional cards or chips. “Our sport is all about data and analysis, ensuring luck is not a deciding factor in crowning our Champions.” Said Patrick Nally, President of the IFMP.
Whilst it’s best played as a live sport (similar to an esports event), IFMP responded to the unprecedented circumstances of 2020 by hosting its Nations Cup event virtually - using Cisco’s Webex and their unique Match Poker gameplay software to recreate the live experience.
The success of this event confirmed Match Poker as currently the only recognised fully ‘digital sport’. This is significant because it gives the IFMP advantages over other sports who are constrained by physical barriers and costs. And it also provides a roadmap for other sports to embrace technology and adapt to a digital-first world.
IFMP has evolved from its original seven member nations to over 60 national federations across 6 continents. Now running both live and digital Match Poker events, the number of participants will only increase. As such, other governing bodies should consider how they can similarly embrace digital to make themselves more inclusive and to keep their fans engaged.
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The NFL London Games has done wonders to increase the popularity of American Football in the UK, as well as other key markets such as Germany. However, the Super Bowl kicked-off at 11.30pm in the UK, and 00.30am in Germany (and much of Europe). Which raises the question, is the NFL really serious about global expansion?
The showpiece event of the NFL calendar has done little to accommodate to this emerging new fanbase they are trying to build. Is there a case to move the Super Bowl to earlier in the day, or maybe Saturday instead? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter.
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The Super Bowl obviously dominated the narrative of the past week, but there was plenty going on elsewhere, too. Here are a few of the best articles I've read across the industry...
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- FOS Essentials: A series of complimentary, interactive courses designed to help professionals stay on top of today's ever-changing sports landscape - Front Office Sports.
- Super Bowl's status as marketing bellwether diminished as brands play it safe - Marketing Dive.
- Nike’s disappearing boot deals – why they’re no longer sponsoring lots of top players - The Athletic.
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- CBS Marketing Chief on How the Network Will Utilize the Super Bowl to Rebrand for the New TV Age - Variety.
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- Soccer looks to AI for an edge: Could an algorithm really predict injuries? - ESPN.
- SoundCloud Will Host a Gaming Tournament Inside Fortnite - Rolling Stone.
- As FIFA Game Passes Sales Milestone, EA Sports Seeks New Markets And To Clear Up Image Rights ‘Misunderstanding’ - Forbes.
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- FIFA's head of professional football: "Clubs have historically relied on TV rights, owner financing and overspending, but it's time to rethink the way the overall football system is functioning" - Off The Pitch.
- From Marcus Rashford to Maro Itoje, Jay Z’s Roc Nation is re-inventing celebrity teams? - Evening Standard.
- A whole new ball game: Navigating digital change in the sports industry - Deloitte.
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The Importance of Sustainability in the Fitness Industry. |
Photo Source: Volcanic Clothing |
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Did you know? Big name clothing brands burn 12 tonnes of unsold clothes per year!?!?
Enter, Volcanic Clothing.
Their mission is to eliminate fast fashion, faster than it can be made.
They want all of their activewear to be made from 100% sustainable materials by next year. These include organic cotton, recycled plastic and even bamboo! (They are already at 90%!)
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