Marketing & Sponsorship

Globe Soccer Awards to launch ‘Road to Dubai’ Intercontinental Series

Globe Soccer, the UAE-based organisers of the prestigious Dubai Globe Soccer Awards that annually attracts some of the most recognisable names in world football, on Tuesday confirmed plans to expand the concept internationally with five new ceremonies across four continents in 2024.

Billed as the ‘Road to Dubai’, the new Globe Soccer Intercontinental Series will feature a quintet of standalone award editions covering Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East next year, with specific details of each territory’s seasonal awards set to be revealed in the coming months.

The winners of each of the continental main awards – for example Best Men’s Player, Best Women’s Player, Best Club, Best Agent – will automatically qualify as finalists for the annual Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, in partnership with Dubai Sports Council.

“For 13 years, the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards has helped bring the football world to the emirate,” said Tommaso Bendoni, the founder and CEO of Globe Soccer, which is headquartered in Dubai.

“In recent years, we have seen huge growth in terms of the number of awards, and also the number of fan votes and media coverage. We believe now is the time for us to take the show – and Dubai – to the world.

“The Intercontinental Series will provide greater opportunities for those operating in global football, as well as allowing us to engage with even more fans. The year-long ‘Road to Dubai’ programme has been designed to ensure the ultimate focus remains on the emirate, while also enabling us to recognise clubs, players, coaches and managers, agents, directors, scouts, and other stakeholders from every corner of the world.”

An annual celebration of the beautiful game, the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards provides a voice to worldwide soccer fans, who vote to shortlist players, coaches, clubs and more. Since the inaugural event in 2010, the number of awards distributed has increased from three to 21, with recent additions including the Power Horse Emerging Player of the Year, Best Youth Team, and Best Transfer Deal. Last year, more than 33 million fan votes decided the shortlisted nominees, before a judging panel of experts crowned Karim Benzema and Alexia Putellas as the Best Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively.

Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, said: “We are proud of our partnership with the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. This partnership commenced with the inauguration of the event as a significant occasion rooted in Dubai, but with global reach. Today, it has become one of the most prestigious events in world football, serving as a gathering for football stars and decision-makers.

“The new ‘Road to Dubai’ awards format enables us to acknowledge and honour a greater number of stars from various continents, thus highlighting their achievements. Moreover, it offers the winners a chance to take part in the main ceremony in Dubai. This development aligns with the award’s growth, evolution, international reputation, and influence in global football.”

Ferran Soriano, the CEO of European champions Manchester City and the City Football Group, sits on the event’s judging panel. Soriano believes having the winners of the five new standalone events automatically shortlisted for the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards will provide timely recognition of talents operating in regions often neglected by such awards and organisations.

“The Globe Soccer Intercontinental Series will recognise all manner of professionals working in the game, including those operating in underrepresented regions,” said Soriano.

“As CEO of City Football Group, which operates in a range of international markets from Uruguay to China, I have seen first-hand the wealth of talent working in football around the world. In acknowledging the work of these people and providing them the chance to travel to Dubai and network within the industry, Globe Soccer can directly and significantly benefit the careers of these people and, indirectly, further globalisation of the game.

Previous attendees at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards reads like an elite gathering of the world’s most prominent football stars, from Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Robert Lewandowksi to Pep Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho, and the late Diego Maradona.

Marketing & Sponsorship

Airtel, Casio Join Array Of Sponsors As 10th Access Bank Lagos Marathon Holds 15 Feb

Runners are gearing up for the physical demands of the race, journalists are scrambling for accreditation, and fans are eager for the electrifying experience that has defined the event over the years.

As the 10th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon approaches, excitement is at an all-time high already.

First Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Solomon Ogba, emphasized the race’s growing reputation, attributing its success to the organizers’ consistent innovation and commitment to excellence.

Beyond its name sponsor, Access Bank, the marathon continues to attract high-profile corporate backing.

Casio has been named the official time partner, while Airtel will serve as the official telecommunications partner.

Other major sponsors and partners include the Lagos State Government, World Athletics, 7Up, Rexona, Unilever, ROBB, Premier, Brila Media, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, FINERGE, and Aquafina, among others.

In the lead-up to the main event, fans will first enjoy the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon EXPO from February 3-13, running daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

The excitement will then culminate on February 15th, when athletes take to the streets for the highly anticipated race, further cementing the marathon’s status as a premier global sporting event.

Marketing & Sponsorship

Improving Galloper Can Put Fire Back In Yip’s Heart

SURELY nothing can be more disheartening for a stable, and one that are in the middle of a purple patch at present, suddenly to find their star galloper is being transferred to another yard.

That has happened to trainer Dennis Yip, who has saddled winners at three out of the last four meetings but has lost last season’s Hong Kong Derby hero Massive Sovereign to up-and-coming trainer David Eustace.

Unfortunately, that is trait in HK racing, where loyalty has little or no meaning to those closely connected within the sport, and it’s a matter of taking it on the chin and moving on.

Former champion trainer Yip, who has held a licence for over 20 years, is experienced enough to shrug his shoulders and get on with the job of training winners, and he will look to his handful of gallopers lined-up at the Valley to put a smile back on his face.

It is interesting that champion jockey Zac Purton is aboard three of his contenders, and all can be given strong chances.

Former Australian galloper and Group Two placed Noisy Boy will relish stepping up to 11 furlongs in the Mars Handicap (11.10am), while View Of The World may appreciate the step back in distance for his first foray at the city track in division two of the Jupiter Handicap (12.40pm) over six furlongs.

The Yip and Purton partnership will surely be confident that the improving NORTHERN FIRE BALL can finally deliver in the first division of the Jupiter Handicap (11.40am), over the same trip.

The Australian-bred speedster has been hindered by a series of double-figure draws in recent races, and it probably cost him success when just denied in the closing stages over the course and distance last month.

This time the gods have been kind, allocating him gate two, which should allow him to bounce out in front and hopefully not see another rival.

Marketing & Sponsorship

Mayor Khan: London Will Be Capital For Women’s Sport In 2025

London will be the “undisputed global capital for women’s sport” next year, the city’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has said.

The Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham on September 27 will round off an exciting series of events in the city.

England go into that tournament hoping to topple world champions New Zealand, and will tune up in the Six Nations in the spring. Their concluding match in that competition will also be held at Twickenham, on April 26.

The World Cup final in London is set to have a world-record attendance for a one-day women’s rugby event.

England’s footballers will warm up for their Euros defence in the summer by facing world champions Spain in a Nations League match at Wembley on February 26, while in June, Queen’s Club in west London will host a women’s tournament prior to Wimbledon for the first time in more than 50 years.

England’s cricketers take on India in a T20 international on July 4 at The Oval and a one-day international on July 19 at Lord’s. The Oval will also host finals day of the new women’s T20 Blast on July 27.

Khan said: “I’m so excited that London is set to be the undisputed global capital for women’s sport in 2025, with some of the world’s biggest events coming to our city next year.

“I am delighted that we will be playing host to the Women’s Rugby World Cup, while we will also see the historic return of women’s tennis to the Queen’s Club. This is in addition to world-class women’s cricket, football, netball, hockey, basketball and athletics in the capital.

“I would urge Londoners to take up the opportunity to attend some of these amazing events, cheering on our top athletes and sportswomen. Ensuring London hosts many of the world’s leading sporting events is an important part of our work building a better London for everyone.”

The Netball Super League Grand Final will be played at the O2 Arena on July 6 while female stars will also feature prominently at the London Athletics Meet on July 19.