• Batonbearers in West Midlands confirmed to ‘Take It On’ and carry Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton

    The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has today confirmed the inspirational people from communities across the West Midlands who will take on the role of Batonbearer in the Queen’s Baton Relay this summer. The Queen’s Baton will return home to the West Midlands on 18 - 28 July, in the final ten-day countdown to Birmingham 2022. The successful Batonbearers have been specially selected to represent the West Midlands and carry the Baton through local communities.

  • Battle of the Giants awakens toothless Elephants as Cape continue to fly

    Hosts Ivory Coast eliminated reigning champions Senegal in a penalty shootout to book their place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after extra time of this 'Battle of the Afcon Giants' in Yamoussoukro.

  • BBC boss apologises after sport disruption in Gary Lineker row

    BBC director general Tim Davie apologised to licence fee payers after a day of disruption for sports programming on the network.

    Football shows were pulled at the last minute when presenters and commentators walked out in support of Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker. The host was suspended on Friday after he criticised the government's controversial asylum policy.

  • BBL and WBBL gear up for May Madness Play-Offs

    May Madness is ready to take over the best British basketball teams with all eyes on the prize of reaching the showpiece finale of the Play-Offs.

    And this year sees an exciting change as the BBL and WBBL series sees 20 games across two weeks and three venues with Week 1 of the series featuring doubleheader action every day between Saturday 1 May and Friday 7 May. All games will also be broadcast by Sky Sports which sees for the first time all WBBL playoff games broadcast.

    The three central venues hosting the Play-Offs are Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, University of Worcester Arena, and the Morningside Arena in Leicester. The series tips off on Saturday 1 May at the Vertu Motors Arena with the WBBL quarter-finals and Round 1 of the BBL quarter-finals before moving to University of Worcester Arena for Round 2 of the BBL quarter-finals and the WBBL semi-finals. The Morningside Arena will host the BBL semi-finals and the WBBL and BBL finals on Sunday 16 May.

    The change in format was in response to the ongoing requirements of the Covid 19 protocols. With fans unable to return to indoor sporting events and the regular season stretched due to rearranged fixtures, condensing not only the timetable but also the venues allowed the best chance of finishing the season with a bang. Andy Webb, COO of BBL, said

    "The 2020/21 season has been challenging but ultimately rewarding as all teams have stepped up to meet these challenges and play one of the most exciting and unpredictable seasons we've seen. Basketball fans will be treated to a fantastic end to the season and we're delighted to bring all the games to them with Sky Sports."

    Sky Sports will be showing all 20 games for free on their YouTube channel for fans in the UK with the BBL semi-finals and the BBL and WBBL Finals also aired live on Sky Sports. Fans in the UK and overseas will also be able to watch free on BBL Player.

  • BBL announces exciting partnership with WSC Sports to provide more content than ever before

    BBL announces exciting partnership with WSC Sports to provide more content than ever before. The British Basketball League (BBL) are thrilled to announce a three year partnership with WSC Sports, the automated AI based video company who will ensure British Basketball fans see more content from the league than ever before.

  • BBL appoints its new Commercial Director

    The British Basketball League (BBL) have announced the appointment of Elliot Stein as the League’s new Commercial Director. He joins the BBL with exceptional experience within the sports business sector, having most recently held the position of Director of Business Development at B+A. During this time he cultivated relationships with clients such as Nike, Pinterest, Foot Locker, Ubisoft, Meta and many more, where Stein was intrinsic in generating new business and increasing revenue.

  • BBL appoints new Chief Content Officer

    The BBL (British Basketball League) have announce the appointment of Jose Garnes as its new Chief Content Officer.

    Garnes joins the league having most recently spent three and a half years as Head of Content at SailGP, where he led the competitions content team. He was responsible for overseeing all aspects of SailGP’s content, including the production of the ground-breaking documentary series ‘Racing on the Edge’.

  • BBL calls on Government for immediate support

    Following the Government announcement on September 22 that fans will not be allowed back to sporting events, the BBL (British Basketball League) are currently assessing the impact this will have on professional basketball in the UK.

     

    The UK is a great sporting nation and the positive impact that sport has on communities and on physical and mental health can be seen at all levels from grassroots through to elite levels.

     

    As such, it is no exaggeration to say that the impact of this decision will be deeply felt by all 11 BBL clubs and the communities they operate in.

     

    They say that they recognise that the Government is taking these measures in the interests of the nation’s health and we fully support them in that.

     

    However, to remove the possibility of such a vital source of income only a week before they were due to start their season means they have no option but to call on the Government for immediate support at this crucial time.

     

    “The viability of the league, the only professional men’s basketball league in the UK, is predicated on the ticket income as thousands of fans show their support each week,” a spokesperson said.

     

    “And without this support we are in danger of losing clubs who work in the heart of their communities, as well as the current and future generations of talented sportspeople.”

     

     

  • BBL Cup Semi-Finals format to be amended

    Following consultation with the league office, the four BBL Cup Semi-Finalists have come to an agreement to amend the format for the BBL Cup Semi-Finals due to fixture pressures due to COVID-19 implications.

    The changes are:

    · Moving from two-legs to single-leg.

    · Playing both games in one central venue

    · Playing both games on the same day

    Therefore the BBL Cup Semi-Finals have been agreed as follows:

    Date: Tuesday 12 January 2021

    Venue: National Basketball Performance Centre, Manchester

    Game 1: Leicester Riders v Newcastle Eagles – 5:00pm

    Game 2: London Lions v Manchester Giants – 8:00pm

    Both games will be broadcast live via BBL Player.

  • BBL Final to host show-stopping action as Lions and Riders go head-to-head

    Anticipation is building as a star-studded line up of talent heads to Birmingham’s Utilita Arena for the first showpiece event of the British Basketball calendar, the WBBL/BBL Cup Finals. Fans will be treated to two electrifying match ups and local pride is at stake as London Lions clash with Leicester Riders in both the men’s and women’s matches on Sunday January 29th. 

  • BBL has funding confirmed in latest round of Sports Winter Survival Package

    The British Basketball League (BBL) and its women’s equivalent, the WBBL, have had significant funding confirmed in the latest round of funding from the Sports Winter Survival Package.

    This is the second tranche of funding to be announced from the Government’s £300 million Sport Winter Survival Package that is focused on helping those major spectator sports severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions survive the winter.

    The funding package has allowed the BBL and WBBL to undertake the 2020/ 21 season, with the leagues playing consistently since early November behind closed doors, with the outcomes of the BBL and WBBL Cup Finals, already determined. In addition, the respective Championship campaigns are already proving evidence they will be amongst the most competitive and exciting ever.

    Sir Rodney Walker, chair of the BB said: “We were very pleased with the outcome from our negotiations, which will go a very long way to sustaining the top flight of our great game, and to sustaining our associated community programmes.”

    “We know the Government recognizes the impact of basketball, and the work of many BBL WBBL Clubs, through their Foundations and Community Interest Companies, goes well beyond sport. These activities by our Clubs go to the heart of the challenges faced by our young people in our disadvantaged communities, including related to physical activity, healthy eating, education related, social cohesion and mental health.”

    “This support will be very important in sustaining these programmes when the Covid pandemic is behind us. The BBL would also like to thank the hard work by various DCMS and Sport England staff, who we know worked tirelessly to get to a position that the funding provided could be properly justified.”

    Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: "We are committed to helping our treasured sports through these challenging times. And today’s announcement is more evidence of our support for them. This targeted funding will enable sports to keep playing and inspire many more stars of the future.”

    Sir Ian Cheshire, Chair of the independent Board, said: “Following thorough conversations with each party to assess their individual needs, the Independent Board is pleased to be able to confirm a substantial package of survival funding for netball, badminton, basketball and women’s football, totalling over £10 million.

    “For those confirmed as recipients of support as part of this second tranche, this funding is vital in helping keep their respective clubs and leagues operational at this time.”

     

  • BBL launches “Know Our Name” campaign ahead of big season tip off

    The British Basketball League gets underway this Friday and it is set to be the most thrilling season ever, as old rivalries are renewed, scores will be settled and the passionate fans will roar on their teams.

    To celebrate the talent, culture and excitement around the league, the BBL and clubs have launched the “Know Our Name” campaign to ignite fans' passion ahead of the start of the new season.

  • BBL welcomes Joe Edwards as new Head of Marketing & Communications

    The British Basketball League (BBL) have announce the arrival of Joe Edwards as the league’s new Head of Marketing & Communications. Edwards joins the BBL with a wealth of experience within the sport having previously held similar roles at Reading Rockets and most notably FIBA.

  • BCCI say World Cup could be moved to United Arab Emirates

    This year's Twenty20 World Cup could be moved to the United Arab Emirates if India continues to suffer with a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The tournament is due to begin in October, but the Covid death toll in India has passed 200,000, with at least 300,000 new infections every day in the past week. Last week, India joined the UK's travel red list - effectively banning travel to and from the country. Other countries - including Australia - have also closed their borders to India.

    Dhiraj Malhotra, general manager for game development with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said he is hopeful India could still host the T20 World Cup. "I've just been named one of the tournament directors, so I'm doing everything we can to make sure it happens.

    "We will be doing normal scenario, and worst-case scenario, so with all that we're talking to the ICC at the moment." Australia will host a T20 World Cup in 2022, postponed from last year due to the pandemic.

    When asked whether there is a country earmarked as the contingency, Malhotra said: "It would be the UAE. We're hoping again that it would be done by the BCCI. So, we'll take the tournament there, but it'll still be done by the BCCI." Meanwhile, Malhotra says India's cricket governing body will go with "common sentiment" on whether the Indian Premier League continues.

    The IPL - the world's richest Twenty20 league - is currently taking place in India with the final set for 30 May. Australia cricketers Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson have withdrawn from the IPL and the tournament has faced calls for a suspension.

    Malhotra added: "There's not been any clear implication of any clear directive that it is bad to host the IPL, or good to host the IPL."

  • BCC official announceme Azerbaijan Grand Prix postponement

    Baku City Circuit (BCC) has taken the decision to postpone the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2020 due to take place on June 5th – 7th.

    The postponement was agreed upon after extensive discussions with Formula 1 as well as the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Government of the Azerbaijan Republic. This comes as a direct result of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and has been based entirely on the expert guidance provided to us by the relevant authorities.

    In coming to this conclusion, BCC’s primary concern throughout has been the health and well-being of the Azerbaijani people as well as all visiting F1 fans, staff and championship participants.

    BCC say they share their fans disappointment at not being able to experience the pinnacle of motorsport race through the streets of Baku this June. To that end, they will continue to work closely with Formula 1, the FIA and the Government of the Azerbaijan Republic to monitor the situation with a view to announcing a new race date later in the 2020 season.

    All tickets for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2020 will continue to be valid, without any additional formalities required. As soon as the new date of the Grand Prix is confirmed, all spectators will be informed accordingly about the available options, both for those who have purchased their tickets through the Baku City Circuit’s website (www.bakucitycircuit.com) and through other channels.

    The thoughts of everyone at Baku City Circuit during this challenging and unprecedented situation go out to all those directly and indirectly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

     

  • BCFA partner with Pledgeball as grassroots clubs make pledge for sustainable future

    Birmingham County FA (BCFA) have just announce that its ‘Save Today, Play Tomorrow’ project has teamed up with Pledgeball for the 2021/22 season to enable all clubs, teams and supporters to sign up to the first-ever County FA Sustainable Football Pledge and make a difference. When clubs affiliate with BCFA for the forthcoming season they will be asked to sign the Sustainability Pledge, which is linked to simple and small lifestyle changes that collectively make a huge impact on the planet.

    For many, climate change is a difficult and complex subject to connect with – it is hard to know what to do and whether, as individuals, we can make a difference. Pledgeball offers a mechanism by which behaviour change can be brought about in a fun and easy way, empowering individuals by demonstrating the potential impact we can have by making small lifestyle changes, particularly in association with our football clubs.

    Pledgeball already offer the facility for football fans to support their professional club and have recently announced partnerships with Huddersfield Town Supporters' Association and Bristol City Football Club. Football offers an unparalleled platform to bring about this change and Pledgeball offers a means by which to do this. 

    Katie Cross, Founder of Pledgeball, said: “As a member of Bristol-based Misfits WFC, I am well aware of the potential for teams and clubs to make change happen. The football community is a unique place from which to initiate transformational change, with the regular fixtures, the unity, the wide-reach and the emotion that accompanies the sport. I am delighted about the partnership with Birmingham County FA – our potential to have a real impact, both in reducing our footprints and in spreading this much further afield, is huge.”

    Richard Lindsay, Business Insights Manager at Birmingham County FA and Project Lead for Save Today, Play Tomorrow, added: “We are excited to have partnered with Pledgeball for the forthcoming season. To be able to bring our clubs on this journey of change is fantastic, and through their digital platform they have developed a really engaging way for football to consider lifestyle alternatives and to be able to visualise the positive impact this has had on our environment.”

    By its very nature football is competitive and for those clubs that sign up to Pledgeball they will be able to see in real-time a Birmingham County FA league table showing how their club or team is performing based on the Carbon emission saving activities they pledge to complete. Success will be celebrated and for those clubs involved Birmingham County FA has ringfenced grant funding available to help support infrastructure changes.  

    Birmingham County FA will formally launch the Save Today, Play Tomorrow sustainability project this month.

  • Beach volleyball courts open as part of Games legacy

    Three new beach volleyball courts have opened as part of Birmingham's Commonwealth Games legacy as twins Javier and Joaquin Bello, who won bronze last summer, opened the community courts at Moseley Rugby Club in the city.

    On the opening, Clare Francis from Volleyball England said: “There had been a gap in the West Midlands for these types of courts.

    “And, for the players here today, this is their first time on the sand." Ms Francis said, as she went on: “Many people usually play indoors and this is great for players to experience beach volleyball, on sand used in the Commonwealth Games.”

    The nets and the balls have also come from last year's Games. Robin Johnson, Birmingham Moseley rugby director, said: "Birmingham 2022 was such a phenomenal event for our city, so we were only too delighted to get involved in this legacy project. 

    "We already have very strong links with the local community and people in our local area, and this will enable us to spread our reach further and help even more people get active and try a new sport." The courts are available for members of the public to hire out.

    Last year, the former site for Birmingham's wholesale markets, Smithfield, erupted when the Bello brothers made history by winning England's first beach volleyball medal at the Commonwealth Games. As well as officially opening the courts, the twin's also exhibited their skills for the public to see.

    Kara Griffiths, Chair of the West Midlands Volleyball Association, said: “I’m delighted that the courts have finally been installed. It's a year after the Commonwealth Games that inspired everyone across the region to play more volleyball."

  • Beach Volleyball match schedule published as Commonwealth Games countdown continues

    Following the recent announcement of the pools for both the men's and women's tournaments, the full match schedule has now been unveiled for the Birmingham 2022 Beach Volleyball competition.

    Host nation Team England will start the men's competition with the Bello brothers facing Tuvalu in the opening match. Reigning Commonwealth champions, Australia, will also get their campaign underway on 30 July when they take on the Maldives in the second session of the day.

  • Bear & Ragged Staff charity t-shirt designed by Jim Troughton on-sale

    Warwickshire County Cricket Club has reinforced its fundraising plans for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and the NSPCC Childline service in Birmingham by releasing a new Bear & Ragged staff t-shirt, which is based on a design from men’s First Team Coach Jim Troughton.

    Available in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes, the t-shirts are priced at £15 each with all proceeds raised being donated to the two charities.

    Bears fans can now pre-order one of the special edition Bear & Ragged Staff charity t-shirts online at Store 94. However, please do bear in mind that all deliveries will take place once the current Government working guidelines are amended and staff can return to Edgbaston.

    The charity t-shirts follows on the commitment from Warwickshire CCC and Edgbaston staff to raise funds for both charities through the 2.6 Challenge; a series of exercise-related challenges undertaken individually before the end of May. These challenges include Safety Manager David Clarke cycling 260 miles, Executive Membership Account Manager Heidi Smith undertaking 26 minutes of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on 10 consecutive days, and Head of Conference & Events Sales Maria Clune running 2.6 miles each day.

    Donations to the team’s fundraising efforts can be made at: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Bears4

    The Club has also promised to use one of its Vitality Blast fixtures to celebrate the efforts of NHS staff later in the summer, whilst its home of Edgbaston has been donated for use as a COVID-19 drive-through testing centre, which is used to support the Government’s testing of key workers.

  • Bears and Vestel launch Six4Schools community programme for T20 season

    Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Vestel Visual Solutions, a leading manufacturer of professional display solutions for schools and colleges, have launched the new Six4Schools community programme, which is designed to make Birmingham Bears Vitality Blast games even more accessible for families and to give back to local schools.

    Now open for registrations from across Birmingham and Warwickshire, every school that registers for theSix4Schools programme will receive a unique discount code that allows the parents of pupils to secure adult tickets for a Vitality Blast T20 fixture at Edgbaston Stadium for just £12; a saving of £13 on the match day price. Alongside this, parents can secure free tickets for all children aged under 16.

    What’s more, each school will receive £6 cashback on every ticket sold through its unique code and the school that sells the most tickets will receive an interactive screen from Vestel, designed to help deliver more engaging and collaborative lessons.

    Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We recognised how tough the pandemic has been for families and schools and in response Six4Schools is a brand-new initiative that we’ve launched with Vestel and the Warwickshire Cricket Board, which is working closely with more than 250 primary and secondary schools across the region. However, any school can register online, obtain a unique code for parents and gain the benefits of our cashback programme; selling 200 tickets would bring a £1,200 reward.

    “There’s just over nine weeks until the first game at Edgbaston and, in the build-up, we’re planning a programme of special coaching sessions at schools and competitions across the county with our Bears squad. We can’t wait to get underway.”

    Launched at Kingsland Primary School in Kingstanding, Bears players George Furrer and Marie Kelly joined Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street to deliver a special T20 coaching session for the pupils and gave an insight of what it takes to make it as a Bear.

    “We‘re proud to partner with Warwickshire CCC to launch the Six4Schools initiative, supporting efforts to give back to local schools while at the same time making cricket more accessible,” said David Flintoft, Sales and Marketing Director, Vestel.

    “We know through our work with schools across the country just how difficult the past year has been, for staff and pupils alike. The relationship between sport and education has always been closely aligned, so it’s great to be involved in supporting the return of both to UK life, while also putting money back into the pockets of schools, which can then be reinvested into the learning experience.”

    Launched at Kingsland Primary School in Kingstanding, Bears players George Furrer and Marie Kelly joined Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street to deliver a special T20 coaching session for the pupils and gave an insight of what it takes to make it as a Bear.