SPORT Cardiff set to host 2017 CL final


Welsh capital Cardiff will host the biggest game in European club football, the final of the UEFA Champions League (UCL), in 2017. The UK Government


worked closely with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to bring the match to the Millennium Stadium and the game is expected to provide the city with a tourism boost. A 2014 study by the IPAM


Marketing School estimated the 2014 Champions League final in Lisbon, Portugal, provided the city with an economic boost worth €45m (£32m). Around 54 per cent of the impact generated came from overnight stays in Lisbon, while restaurants generated 22 per cent of the total worth. In 2013, 100,000 German fans arrived


in London to watch the UCL final – played between German teams, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich – without tickets, boosting London’s economy by an estimated £44m.


Travelling fans will provide Cardiff’s hospitality operators with a boost Cardiff will also benefit from added global


exposure, as the UCL final is broadcast to 400 million people in 200 countries. Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen


Crabb, said: “The FAW’s bid has had the full backing of the UK Government and we should be rightly proud of all the efforts that have gone into securing this pinnacle match.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=T4j7N_O


Northern Ireland invests in Giro legacy


Sport Northern Ireland is looking to build a lasting legacy on the back of its recently-forged relation- ship with the famous Italian cycling race Giro d’Italia. Last month, Northern


Ireland organised a Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia event – a spin off of the famous race – which followed on from the region hosting the “Big Start” for Giro d’Italia 2014. Ten grassroots commu-


nity projects will share a total of £85,000 of funding – part of a strategy to improve opportunities for cycling par- ticipation in Northern Ireland. Projects receiving funding include an ini-


Te Big Start of the 2014 Giro d’Italia was held in Northern Ireland


tiative looking to get more women taking up road cycling, a group cycling pro- gramme targeting ‘hard to reach’ teenagers from marginalised communities and a pro- gramme promoting cycling-related activities to improve mental health and wellbeing. Sport NI director of participation Nick


Harkness said: “Tese ten projects are doing fantastic work. As well as enabling people


© CYBERTREK 2015


across Northern Ireland to enjoy and engage in cycling, particularly underrepresented groups such as women and people with disabilities, they are also using use the sport to promote more cohesive and inclusive communities.” “Te tremendous success of last year’s Big


Start, and the mounting excitement for the Gran Fondo event demonstrate the huge interest in and enthusiasm for cycling in Northern Ireland.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=T4j7N_O


Twitter: @leisureopps Te Scot is eager to expand his portfolio


Andy Murray to target sporting investments


Andy Murray has entered into a partnership with London-based equity crowdfund- ing platform Seedrs, which will see the tennis star advise on health, sport and wearables as well as investing in start-ups. The Scot has a long-held interest in


investment. He owns the Cromlix luxury hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, and is eager to expand his portfolio by investing in start- ups and other businesses through Seedrs. The new tie-up sees Murray join the


Seedrs Advisory Board to offer guidance to the firm with respect to businesses working in the health, sport and wearable technology spaces, although he won’t advise individual investors or recommend specific campaigns. He will also help Seedrs to grow its brand in the UK and internationally. “I’ve always been interested in investment,


and being able to get involved in an inno- vative way to help support British start-ups really appealed to me,” said Murray. “Equally as important was working with


people I trusted and who understood the responsibility of handling people’s money.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=D3v7a_O


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 3


Wearable tech measures crowd reactions at SW19


Spectators’ emotional response to every ace, missed backhand and disputed line call will be measured at this year’s Wimbledon, thanks to wearable tech provided by Jaguar. Throughout the tournament, Jaguar


– the official sponsor of this year’s event – is selecting spectators to wear biomet- ric wristbands that capture heart rate, movement and location around the ground. Atmospheric, in-ground sensors will also


monitor the energy around the courts by collating data on crowd movement, audio levels and infrared. Te highs and lows during matches will then be captured and analysed – in real time – using social media. Details: http://lei.sr?a=c4B3k_O


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