Haier Europe’s Post

Last week we had the second stage of the UTS Tour in Frankfurt and I loved everything I saw there. As mentioned in this interview dedicated to the takeaways of UTS Frankfurt by Builder.ai, we know that the format is working, both for the players, for the fans and for the broadcasters. Los Angeles and Frankfurt : two different locations, surfaces, crowds, and yet the same energy and feeling that something incredibly special was happening. My exact quotes, recorded just when the final finished : "Now we’ve experienced many matches, several events, and it’s just great. I think the crowd loves it. The atmosphere is incredible and very different from the usual atmosphere at a tennis match. That’s really the way we want it and I think that – I don’t think, I know – the players also love it. I will never say that it’s perfect because nothing is, and we have a list like this of things we can improve. But we know that it’s the right format." "You can have two players fighting like crazy on a court and hugging before entering the court because they’re all friends and fight like crazy, but also dance, and it’s because they really wanted to win so badly, and it was very obvious. So we had the combination of the two that we are looking forward to having: the incredible fight of the players to win and a super entertainment at the same time, an event. If it’s too much fight and not enough entertainment, that is classical tennis: we are exactly in the middle of that." Thanks to our team and partners to make it possible. Baptiste Kern Emilien Bordet Builder.ai ZENITH Watches VOSS Water Erazer #tennis #sports #sportsbusiness #uts #utstour The full interview is available here :

Back from the Euros: #4 - Stadium Selection & Transport Resilience: England's match in Gelsenkirchen yesterday afternoon will (just about) be remembered positively. As well as the jubilation at the last-minute equaliser and a winner AET, fans seem to have got away OK post-match too. 🎉 By contrast, the opening win against Serbia took place at 9pm local time, and after the game fans reported unacceptably long waits both for the tram back into Gelsenkirchen and then for onward trains. ⌛ When I went to Gelsenkirchen a few days later for Italy-Spain, again for a 9pm k.o., the situation was identical. (Photo from Hbf). 🚉 Some delays are to be expected on matchdays, but there were reasons why, despite DB being a main tournament sponsor and fans having free local travel, logistics have been repeatedly difficult: - Gelsenkirchen's is one of several German stadia built on the edge of cities, outside walking distance from fan zones / arrival points 🚶♀️ - The transport networks connecting the stadia to the city centre are often of limited capacity e.g. Gelsenkirchen's tram which, by definition, can't deviate from its tracks to enable multiple vehicles to load quickly 🚋 - This also reduces resilience (if the track becomes blocked, there's no Plan B) ⛔ - A repeated refrain is 'If the Bundesliga manages it every week, why can't it work at the Euros?' Match timing is one reason - few German games kick off as late as 9pm local, meaning that fans are more likely to wander back into town on foot. If it's closer to midnight, everyone will need to pile onto the last train. ⏲ A couple of simple changes to the scheduling and logistics would likely have made things run a bit smoother: - Selecting the out-of-town stadia e.g. Gelsenkirchen for afternoon games, and inner-city stadia for night matches 🗺 - Laying on extra buses to supplement trams - lower-tech but sometimes needs must... 🚎 #Euro2024 #Transport #Stadia #Events

BMW Group Announced as Official Sponsor and Mobility Partner of Erste Bank Open BMW has been unveiled as the official sponsor and exclusive mobility partner of the Erste Bank Open, a premier tennis event in Austria. This exciting announcement was made at today’s Erste Bank Open press conference in Vienna, marking BMW’s continued commitment to supporting world-class tennis. “The Erste Bank Open stands for top-class tennis. The outstanding performances of the athletes as well as the euphoric atmosphere in the Wiener Stadthalle are impressive. This joy is contagious — which is why we are very proud to be able to support one of the biggest sporting events in Austria,” said Christian Morawa, CEO […] - https://lnkd.in/gsh8HqTh #automotive #evs #ev #electricmobility #emobility #ebikes #fleets #evfleet #evnews #autonews #electricvehicles #electricvehicle #automotiveindustry #automotivejobs #cleantech #cleanenergy #hydrogen #lithium #evbattery #sustainability #climatechange #activemobility #austria #bmw #europe #partnership #sustainable

The European Football Championship kicks off in Munich today! ⚽ The UEFA EURO 2024 runs from June 14 to July 14, 2024, starting with the opening match between Germany and Scotland. However, Bavaria does not only excel at hosting the European Championship matches... With renowned research institutions, top-tier universities and global players headquartered in Bavaria, the location offers a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. The vibrating start-up landscape and the immense potential for cross-industry innovation make Bavaria a magnet for future-oriented companies. What's more, with 1,855 hours of sunshine in 2023, Bavaria also has the most sunshine of all the German federal states.☀ Bavaria proves time and time again that it is at the forefront - not only on the match schedule, but also as a business location.🌍 Find out more about the advantages of Bavaria as a business location: https://lnkd.in/d6ZD_MXU DFB #successinbavaria #bavaria #crossindustryinnovation #uefaeuro2024

🏟️ EURO 2024: Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr Region Shows Potential for Single-Region Tournament Hosting 🌍 ⚽ Could a single region host the World Cup? With increasing concerns over travel distances impacting the environment and players' health, the solution might lie in smaller, more compact tournament locations. 🌆 Qatar aimed to be the most compact World Cup in 2022, but the extensive construction and "white elephant" stadiums left environmental concerns. London, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires are potential candidates, but Germany's Rhine-Ruhr region stands out in Europe. 🏟️ The Rhine-Ruhr region, part of North Rhine-Westphalia, boasts four host cities for Euro 2024: Cologne, Dusseldorf, Gelsenkirchen, and Dortmund. This area, home to several top Bundesliga clubs, could host more games, supported by stadiums like Mönchengladbach’s Borussia Park. Fans can base themselves in one city and use public transport to attend matches in nearby cities, although there were some transportation issues that need addressing. 🔄 Dortmund's Westfalenstadion, with its famous "Yellow Wall," and Gelsenkirchen's Veltins Arena are notable venues. However, limited accommodation and transport options in Gelsenkirchen meant many fans stayed in nearby Essen or in tourist-friendly Cologne and Dusseldorf. 🌍 By concentrating games in a small region, Germany has allowed fans to experience more of the tournament, beyond just their own country's matches. This model could offer a sustainable solution for future tournaments, provided transportation and accommodation logistics are improved. 📸: One of the key stadiums in Rhine-Ruhr region that host EURO 2024 matches - Westfalenstadion, Borussia Dortmund Stadium / UEFA #EURO2024 #RhineRuhr #SustainableHosting #Soccer #Germany #TournamentHosting #Football #SportsNews

News Flash: As the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships concluded last weekend, both Germany and I finished with the same number of medals: ZERO! 🙄 The subtle difference? I was enjoying the competition from the comfort of my couch in Eindhoven, 🍿 while Germany fielded a team of 70 athletes! 💪 This outcome isn't an isolated incident. Consider the performance of Germany's men's football team, which was eliminated in the first round of both the 2022 and 2018 World Cups, losing to Japan and South Korea respectively. Similarly, the German women's football team made a first-round exit from the most recent World Cup this month. The decline in German sports is becoming increasingly hard to overlook, and sad to see happening to such a powerhouse! 😟 Three-time World Championship discus gold medalist Robert Harting voiced his concerns in a social media post last Sunday, pointing to "mistakes by decision-makers" and a "lack of investment in know-how" as contributing factors. 🤐 With the Paris Olympics just a year away, Germany has some serious soul-searching and refocusing to do if they aim to regain their status on the global sports stage. This situation serves as a poignant reminder for all of us, regardless of job, industry, or country: Complacency, loss of focus, and an unwillingness to adapt can yield disastrous results. #powerhouse #germany #decisionmaking #timetochange In the photo, Julian Weber, was the German athlete closest to getting a medal, finishing 4th in the javlin throw competition. (Photo Source: AP, Matthias Schrader)

🎾 **Exciting News from the Australian Open!** 🇦🇺 In a groundbreaking move, the Australian Open is all set to extend its duration to 15 days in 2024, marking a historic moment in the tournament's storied history. Starting on a Sunday, this strategic decision aims to tackle the persistent issue of late match finishes, often caused by the extended nature of five-set battles. As Tournament Director Craig Tiley aptly puts it, "We've listened to feedback from the players and fans and are excited to deliver a solution to minimise late finishes while continuing to provide a fair and equitable schedule on the stadium courts." **So, what's in it for everyone?** 👉 An additional day means more exhilarating tennis, entertainment, delectable food, and family fun for fans. The first round now spans three days, providing an extra day of sporting enjoyment. 👉 With an increase in sessions from 47 to 52 across the three main arenas, the tournament remains action-packed. 👉 Night sessions stay consistent with at least two matches, and day sessions on the Rod Laver Arena and the Margaret Court Arena will now feature a minimum of two matches, ensuring a balanced and enjoyable experience for all. This extension represents another step in the Australian Open's commitment to offering an event that continues to evolve and excite, solidifying its status as the world's premier annual sporting spectacle every January. Let's celebrate this exciting development for the world of tennis and sports entertainment! 🎉🎾 #AustralianOpen #Tennis #SportsNews #Innovation #SportsBusiness

As the French Open unfolds, I'm transported back to the day I stepped onto its iconic red clay courts at Roland Garros, fueled by a dream of qualifying for the main draw. The sunbaked clay court caused the ball to move swiftly, and my serve had a powerful bounce. The crowd of French tennis enthusiasts was electric, buzzing for their French countryman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a young, up-and-coming promising player poised to make big waves on the ATP tour. As a tour veteran, I was determined to spoil Tsonga’s day playing an explosive brand of tennis. Despite every spectator rooting against me, except my coach, I played with determination, ultimately defeating one of the most promising young talents in years. (Tsonga ended up being top-10 in the world a few years later.) Winning this match at Roland Garros was one of the most memorable victories of my life and taught me profound lessons about ↳Focus ↳Toughness ↳And the sheer will to compete With Rafael Nadal bowing out early this year, leaving us all wondering if he will ever grace the courts of the French Open again, I can’t help but acknowledge the remarkable journey of a true champion, exemplifying how dedication, skill, and an unwavering will to win can pave the way to monumental achievements. One of the most remarkable records of our time is Nadal's 14 French Open victories, showcasing his mastery of consistent performance under pressure, year after year. This journey of excellence isn't confined to the world of sports— It is equally relevant in high-stakes business environments and in the everyday challenges we encounter. Entering our Zone of Excellence means leveraging a unique blend of our passions and skills to achieve peak performance. This zone is where we operate at our highest capacity, fueled by → Meticulous preparation → Ongoing personal development → And a steadfast commitment to our goals By adopting this mindset, we ensure that we are always prepared to face and overcome the toughest challenges, continually pushing the boundaries of what we believe is possible. Let's draw on the discipline and dedication of top performers in every field. Together, we can: → Elevate our standards → Exceed our previous limits → And continuously foster growth and innovation Commit to operating in your Zone of Excellence, and watch as everyday challenges turn into extraordinary achievements.

Here's to more #Austrian success stories!

🔥 Guess which Olympic team this Ryan Giggs jersey belongs to? 🏆 Spoiler: It's not Wales. 😉 Tonight marks the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, although some sports, like football, have already kicked off. Among the teams, there's one with a particularly fascinating and unique Olympic history: Great Britain 🇬🇧 Comprised of talents from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, Team GB represents a rare example of unity in football, a sport where they usually compete separately. With 🥇🥇🥇 Olympic gold medals (1900, 1908, and 1912), Great Britain stands as the most successful football team in Olympic history, alongside Hungary. 🏟️ Here's a historical tidbit: In 1900, football made its Olympic debut right here in Paris, and Great Britain won the tournament, represented by Upton Park FC. This pioneering event marked the beginning of a long tradition of Olympic football. ⚽️ However, after their participation in 1960, the team was absent from the Olympics for 52 years due to political and administrative complications between the football associations of the four nations. It wasn't until the 2012 London Olympics that the team made a comeback, motivated by the opportunity to compete on home soil. 🎡 The British team remains one of the most decorated in Olympic football history and will continue to hold this distinction at least until the next Olympics, as Hungary will not be competing in Paris either. 🗼 So, you've guessed it right—the jersey in the photo is from the London 2012 Olympics, representing the last British football team to compete internationally so far... As we await the potential reformation of this winning team, embodying Olympic ideals of sportsmanship, unity, and fair play, we wish all Olympic fans an exciting and inspiring Games! 🌟 #Paris2024 #Olympics #Football #Sportsmanship #Unity #FairPlay #Olympicgames