May 2, 2019
Media Release
30 April 2019
New era for European cricket begins with the official launch of the Euro T20 Slam
- League launched by legendary cricketers Wasim Akram and Dilip Vengsarkar
- Leading global cricketers to play in inaugural event
- Bollywood star Yami Gautam unveils the logo
Dublin – Details of the new Euro T20 Slam cricket tournament were unveiled today, including some of the marquee players that will play in the inaugural tournament and the event logo, at a star-studded ceremony in the Westin Hotel.
The details were revealed by Pakistan’s former cricket legend Wasim Akram, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar and Bollywood star Yami Gautam. The ceremony was also attended by who’s who of the three participating cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands.
Woods Entertainment and GS Holding Inc (promoters of the league) staged a launch event that unveiled the names of three icon players set to be involved:
- Shane Watson from Australia
- Brendon McCullum from New Zealand
- Rashid Khan from Afghanistan
In addition, three marquee players were also announced:
- Chris Lynn from Australia
- Babar Azam from Pakistan
- Luke Ronchi from New Zealand
The launch event also saw cricket stars from host nations participate in a Q+A session: Kevin O’Brien and Gary Wilson from Ireland, Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer and Richie Berrington, and Netherlands’ legends Peter Seelaar and Ben Cooper.
A centrepiece of the launch event was the dramatic unveiling of the new tournament logo, with Bollywood star, Yami Gautam, breaking a glass panel to reveal the design.
The logo’s colour scheme is inspired by colours associated with Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands, while the swashbuckling batsman in the logo signifies the vibrant nature of T20 cricket.
The tournament will get underway from 30th August and will culminate on 22nd September. Six teams will participate in the inaugural event, playing in Dublin, Edinburgh and Amsterdam. Both Wasim and Dilip were announced as members of the Euro T20 advisory committee.
Warren Deutrom, Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, said:
“We are very excited that nearly 20 months of planning has brought us to this day. Speaking from an Irish perspective, one of the prime motivators for the Slam is to provide greater opportunities for Irish players to play top quality T20 cricket. The opportunity for all of our players – as well as coaches and officials – to operate alongside some of the best in the world will only benefit both our established and emerging talent for at least the next decade. Our colleagues at Scotland and Netherlands view this the event the same – and collectively we view the event as an opportunity to help properly popularise the game of cricket in our 3 nations through the vehicle of T20 franchise cricket.”
Wasim Akram said:
“It’s an honour to be a part of the launch of Euro T20 Slam and I want to congratulate all the cricket boards and the promotors to start a league like this in this part of the world. Over the years, I have seen immense talent emerging out of this continent and to see them getting a platform like this is nothing but a great opportunity.”
Dilip Vengsarkar added:
“The rise of T20 cricket leagues around the world is surely a sign of the growth of this beautiful game. What sets the Euro T20 Slam different from other leagues, is the fact that it is taking cricket in the most entertaining form to these soccer crazy nations. I hope the local players will make full use of this opportunity and aim to bring their countries laurels in the near future.”
Bollywood actor Yami Gautam said:
“Cricket is a religion in our country and to promote the same in this part of the world is an honour. It’s also a privilege to launch the logo of the most anticipated Euro T20 Slam in front of the Irish crowd. India has seen the impact of marrying Bollywood with cricket, and I am sure Europe will witness the same. I wish all the best to all the players and I promise that they’ll have a permanent Indian fan applauding their performance.”
Woods Entertainment and GS Holding Inc have also inaugurated the official site of the league – www.et20s.com
Mr. Prashant Mishra, Woods Entertainment, said:
“We have been planning this day for a long time along with the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands. We are glad that we have found a window right before the Ireland vs England ODI series to launch this tournament. In this World Cup year, the awareness and excitement around cricket will be immense. The Euro T20 Slam will be a perfect culmination for the most enthralling cricket season in the region.”
Minister Shane Ross, said:
“It’s a pleasure to be part of the launch of the Euro T20 Slam today in Dublin. This is an exciting time for cricket in Europe. The hard work done by the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands has come to fruition and this new league promises to be a great addition to the cricketing calendar. I wish all our cricketers the best of luck”.
The opportunities for franchises are open and enquiries can be sent to: info@et20s.com
For all the news & updates; log onto www.et20s.com;
Instagram – @et20official;
Twitter and Facebook – @et20s.
Media contact:
Radhika Mehta, Media consultant, Woods Entertainment – mobile: +91 9899 143 566
Lindsey Holmes, LHP, Lindsey@lhpublicity.ie – 00 353 87 2562835
Apr 26, 2019
Ireland boys international Tom McKibbin won the prestigious Peter McEvoy Trophy in sensational fashion at Copt Heath, England on Thursday, 18 April.
The Holywood golfer, 16, holed his third shot for a dramatic winning birdie during a playoff for the trophy. McKibbin finished in a three-way tie at the top, alongside fellow Ulster boy Aaron Marshall and Melun Dhaubhadel of England, after 72 holes of stroke play.
All three players returned to the course in a bid to settle the outcome but the first playoff hole could not bring a resolution as all three made par at the 18th. On the second extra hole, McKibbin came up short with his approach shot from the bunker and left himself a challenging pitch over another trap.
A par from that position would have been a good result but the Belfast teenager had bigger ambitions, and managed to hole out for a magical birdie. His opponents were unable to match that three and so McKibbin took the title, following in the footsteps of Dubliner Gavin Moynihan, who won the event in 2012, and Kilkenny’s Mark Power, who triumphed in 2016.
Overall, it was an excellent week for the Ireland players. Lisburn’s Aaron Marshall shared second place with Dhaubhadel and Connemara’s Luke O’Neill was one shot behind the leading trio.
Apr 24, 2019
VENUE: Dublin City University
DATE: 23 May 2019
THEME: SPORT – THE MOST INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF ALL?
The Federation of Irish Sport’s annual conference returns on May 23rd and this year we are challenging the world of sport on just how inclusive it is.
The ever-evolving world of technology has meant we live in a world that has never been more connected. And yet the reality is that people have perhaps never felt more disconnected. Problems of alienation, isolation and a sense of not belonging abound.
Sport has perhaps never been more important in bringing people together whether as participants, volunteers or simply fans. But is sport doing all it can do to bring people closer together? That is the question we pose as the theme for this year’s conference.
At the conference a line-up of national and international speakers will be looking at the role of sport in building more inclusive communities. They will explore what sport is doing both in Ireland and abroad to ensure real inclusivity taking in people with disability; ethnic minorities; the ageing population; the LGBT community; while also looking to see how sport is encouraging more women and children to participate. In addition, we will examine the importance of sport in building cross border community in Ireland.
A full programme for the day will be confirmed over the coming weeks.
Tickets are available from https://www.irishsport.ie/tickets/
Limited number of early bird tickets on sale now!
Apr 16, 2019
News Release 16 April 2019
RTÉ and TG4 partner to bring FIFA Women’s World Cup to Irish screens for the first time
RTÉ and TG4 announced today (Tuesday 16 April, 2019) that they have reached agreement with FIFA for live coverage of every game in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France this summer.
Beginning on Friday 7 June with the Opening Ceremony and the Group A meeting of hosts France and Korea, RTÉ and TG4 will share coverage throughout the duration of the tournament with all games free-to-air for Irish viewers.
RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player will broadcast 23 matches including three of the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final on Sunday 7 July.
TG4 will broadcast 29 matches in total including the opening match, one quarter-final, one semi final, the match for 3rd place and highlights of the final.
Declan McBennett, RTÉ Group Head of Sport said: “RTÉ are delighted that alongside TG4 we can, for the first time ever, bring the FIFA Women’s World Cup in its entirety free-to-air to Irish viewers. It is particularly fitting to be making this announcement exactly six months on from the launch of the 20 x 20 initiative to create a cultural shift in our perception of girls and women in sport.”
Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, Head of Sport TG4 said: “TG4 has been a proactive supporter of Women’s Sport for many years. This new collaboration is another step in the right direction and ties in well with the very important 20×20 campaign. It is also a great example of how Public Service Media outlets can collaborate to bring the best of television content, free to air, to loyal audiences.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
RTÉ
Fergus McCormack, RTÉ Sport Press Officer /Fergus.mccormack@rte.ie / 086 8674751
Sharon Brady, Senior Communications Manager RTÉ /Sharon.brady@rte.ie / 087 685 8975
TG4
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Communications Manager TG4 /trevor.o.clochartaigh@TG4.ie / 087 2476624
Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, Head of Sport, TG4 /ronan.o.coisdealbha@TG4.ie – 087 2472841
Apr 16, 2019
World Para-Swimming Allianz European Championships recognised as Sporting Event of the Year – Irish Sports Industry Awards
Orreco awarded ‘best sports business’ and Uppercut awarded ‘best new sports business’
Garrett Fitzgerald, Munster Rugby Honoured with Outstanding Contribution Award
Other winners include the 20×20 campaign and SoftCo’s sponsorship of Hockey Ireland
Last night (Monday, 15 April) saw the fourth annual Irish Sports Industry Awards take place in the Crown Plaza, Blanchardstown.
The sports industry in Ireland supports 40,000 jobs, stimulates €1.9 billion in household spending and generates €1 billion in tourism receipts each year. The award ceremony, hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport, seeks to recognise and reward excellence in the sporting industry, while simultaneously highlighting the contribution sport makes to the Irish economy, both directly and indirectly.
The World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships was recognised as ‘Sporting Event of the Year’. The week-long event held in the National Aquatic Centre brought over 500 athletes from 40 countries to Dublin. This was the fifth ever hosting of the competition and its first time being hosted in Ireland. It saw a total of 548 medals awarded and 22 new World Records set, with Irish athletes taking home a gold silver and bronze medal.
Thriving business innovation
Irish sports tech company Orreco received the ‘Sports Business of the Year’ award and Gary Keegan’s high-performance consultancy, Uppercut received the ‘New Sports Business of the Year’ award. SoftCo’s sponsorship of the Irish Women’s Hockey Team, who reached the World Cup Final last August, was recognised as ‘Best Sponsorship’. 20×20, an all-inclusive movement to shift Ireland’s cultural perception of women’s sport, won the Sporting Innovation of the Year.
Munster Rugby Chief Executive Garrett Fitzgerald received the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award in recognition of his leadership role in transforming Munster Rugby from newly-professionalised representative side to one of the most successful professional rugby franchises in Europe.
The Irish Times’ Mary Hannigan received the ‘Jimmy Magee Sports Journalist of the Year’ award and The42.ie was recognised as ‘Sports Outlet of the Year’.
Award winners in full
A total of 14 award categories were recognised on the night. The full list of winners is as follows:
Outstanding Contribution: Garrett Fitzgerald, CEO Munster Rugby
Sports sponsorship of the year: SoftCo and Hockey Ireland
Sporting Event of the Year: World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships
Sporting innovation of the year: 20×20
Sports business of the year: Orreco
New Sports Business of the year: Uppercut
Sports Media Outlet of the year: The42.ie
Jimmy Magee Sports Journalist of the year: Mary Hannigan, The Irish Times
National Governing Body of the year: Cricket Ireland
Local Sports Partnership Initiative of the year: Cork Local Sports Partnership for Staying Fit for the Future
20×20 Award: Waterford Local Sports Partnership and FAI Soccer for Girls
Inclusivity Award: GymAble by Gymnastics Ireland
Programme to increase participation: Cork Local Sports Partnership Sports Schools Programme
Social media: AIG
There was also a special recognition award presented to Sara McFadden in honour of her achievements as Ireland’s first visually impaired rally car navigator.
The Federation of Irish Sport is the representative body for 102 sporting organisations. It works on behalf of its members to create a greater awareness of the importance of sport across a wide number of areas including business, tourism, health, community, diversity and the economy.
Speaking at the awards, Mary O’Connor, CEO, Federation of Irish Sport, said: “It is a privilege to recognise and celebrate the incredible contributions made by individuals, businesses and Irish sporting associations to the continued vitality of the Irish sports industry and its impact on the wider Irish economy.
“The sports industry in Ireland supports 40,000 jobs, stimulates €1.9 billion in household spending and generates €1 billion in tourism receipts each year, not to mention the vast health, social and community benefits it delivers in Irish society on a weekly basis.
“Recognition nights like tonight are incredibly important in highlighting the significance of sport to Irish society and the economy.”
Apr 12, 2019
Pitchero is a team management system, a communication hub for players and a sharing platform for members to post the latest club news, Pitchero provides everything you need to run your sports club online. Pitchero are partners of the Federation of Irish Sport.
Website:https://www.pitchero.com/
AIG has been offering Ireland quality insurance for car, home, travel and more for the last 40 years. AIG’s love of Sport has been seen through there multiple sports sponsorships in recent years including all codes and age grades of Dublin GAA, The All Blacks, The Irish Open Ladies Golf and many more. AIG are proud supporters of the 20×20 campaign and are committed to supporting women in sport.
Website: https://www.aig.ie/
JLT is one of the world’s largest providers of insurance, reinsurance and employee benefits related advice, brokerage and associated services. JLT has been a proud partner of the Federation of Irish Sport for a number of years and works with our members to ensure their needs are met when it comes to all things Insurance for our sporting bodies.
Website: https://www.jlt.ie/
Future Ticketing is a global provider of cloud-based, digital ticketing for events, sports organisations and venues selling from 1,000 to 1,000,000 plus customers. Future Ticketing are at the heart of sport in Ireland with clients including Connact Rugby, Shamrock Rovers Football Club, Gymnastics Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, Punchestown, The Curragh and much much more. Future Ticketing are Irish owned and run.
Website: https://www.futureticketing.ie/
The social investment fund, Clann Credo helps organisations achieve their potential by providing loans to community organisations, charities and social enterprises that make a social impact. Clann Credo are proud partners of the Federation of Irish Sport.
Website: https://www.clanncredo.ie/
CORE Sponsorship falls under the One Core brand and offers tailored sponsorship advice, plans and tracking to brands large and small. They work to magnify the commercial value of sponsorship for brands and rightsholders, they collaborate across the full CORE offering and seek out the best sponsorship opportunities for their clients.
Website: https://onecore.ie/sponsorship/
As one of Ireland’s largest national banks AIB offers a full range of personal and corporate banking services. Their involvement and investment in sport to date has been huge. Their support of the GAA has seen them rewarded on the sponsorship stage for their #TheToughest campaign. AIB are past winners of the Irish Sport Industry Award Category for Best Sports Sponsorship and we are delighted to have them on board this year as sponsors.
Website: https://aib.ie/
Conroy Consulting is a business consultancy with a very strong involvement in sport. They have worked within many sporting environments including athletics, rugby and football both nationally and internationally. Conroy Consulting led the successful Irish bids bringing both the Europa League Final 2011 and 4 games in next year’s UEFA European Championships to Dublin.
Leman’s Solicitors are a legal firm based in Dublin City Centre. The firm, founded in 2007, has gone from strength to strength over the last ten years and specialises in areas including corporate, real estate, employment and dispute resolution. As long standing partners of the Federation of Irish Sport Leman’s solicitors have worked with many of our members in the area of dispute resolution and have added huge value via advice and assistance across the sporting sector.
Huge thanks to all our sponsors who make it possible for us to recognise and reward the people, programmes and organisations that add such value to the Irish economy via their tireless work in Sport.
