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Children’s sports to defeat pandemic: 2020 Football for Friendship Forum presents most successful projects to support children’s football
Over 25 successful projects to adapt children’s football to the 2020 pandemic were presented during the Eighth International Forum, which was held on November 30 – December 3 as part of the Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship.
The International Football for Friendship Forum was held for the 8th year in a row, for the first time in the online format. The Forum is a unique platform for exchanging views on the development of children’s football in various countries around the world. At the Forum, coaches, athletes, public figures, and heads of sports organisations identify the best practices for supporting children’s sports and discuss the most effective ways to promote the key values of Football for Friendship in the world. The best practices are published with open access and become the basis for the free courses of the Football for Friendship Coaches Academy.
“Football is a social game that teaches important values. These include respect, honesty, fairness and devotion to a set task”, pointed out Frank Ludolph, UEFA Head of Football Education Services, Head of the Expert Council of the 2020 International Football for Friendship Award. “The idea behind Football for Friendship is to promote innovation in online learning, emphasize the social role of football and promote local community building to inspire more children around the world”.
In 2020, projects include successful application of organising online classes using video communication services, messengers, and social media. The SLSFA Sri Lanka Schools Football Association and the Sri Lanka Ministry of Education presented an online concept of competitions and contests for children of all age groups. The Brazilian Football Confederation launched several social projects, including those aimed at training goalkeepers, providing social services, and supporting a highly active lifestyle during the pandemic-related period of self-isolation. In total, over 100 football academies and federations submitted applications to participate in the Football for Friendship Forum. Projects were presented in the following nominations:
- Changing the World: Educational Activities
- Stadium Is Where I Am: Improving Football Skills
- Earth is a Ball: Providing Football to Everyone
- Driving the Planet: Building Football Community
All the projects were evaluated by the International Expert Council, which included world experts in the field of football education: Frank Ludolph, Germany, UEFA Head of Football Education Services, Head of the Expert Council of the 2020 International Football for Friendship Award; Pablo Cesar Torres, Uruguay, President of Youth Football and Scouting at Club Atlético Peñarol, Mike Puig, Spain, CEO of the Soccer Barcelona Youth Academy; and three Football for Friendship Young Ambassadors: Ananya Kamboj, India, Mohammad Yusuf Moazzam, Pakistan, and Sheqayli Ascencion, Aruba.
For the first time in the history of the world football movement, children assessed “adult” projects on equal terms.
“All the projects followed the values of Football for Friendship. And each of them has benefited children in uncertain conditions due to the coronavirus pandemic”, noted 15-year-old football player Yusuf Moazzam, a member of the jury, Young Ambassador from Pakistan. “Judging several projects at the international level was amazing, I really enjoyed it!”
All the projects presented at the International Football for Friendship Forum are open to the public on the programme’s official website https://footballforfriendship.com/experts-forum/. Those who initiated the projects hope that the best practices will be replicated in different countries, benefiting as many children around the world as possible.
On December 9, during the live broadcast of the 2020 Football for Friendship Season final, the best projects in the four nominations will be announced and given the Football for Friendship Award.
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John O’Reilly
John O’Reilly Joins UK Tote Group Board as Non-Executive Director
The UK Tote Group has announced the appointment of John O’Reilly as a non-executive director of its Board, effective from 1 May 2026.
John has over 35 years’ experience in the horseracing, betting and gaming sectors, having most recently served as CEO of the Rank Group PLC – the UK’s largest casino and bingo operator. He was formerly a non-executive director of William Hill plc and, between 2011 and 2015, Managing Director of Coral’s digital business. Prior to joining Gala Coral, John was an executive director on the board of Ladbrokes Plc. He has served as a non-executive director of Telecity Group Plc and Chair of the digital design and development business Grand Parade Ltd. He currently serves as Chair of Weatherbys and a trustee of the New Bridge Foundation, alongside his new position as a UK Tote Group board member from next month.
John Williamson, Chairman of the UK Tote Group, said: “We are pleased to welcome John to the UK Tote Group Board. As one of the most experienced and respected leaders in the betting industry, John will provide valuable support to the Tote team, particularly in relation to product development and customer experience. We are delighted to have John join the team, alongside Andrew Weir who joined the UK Tote Group board earlier this month.”
John O’Reilly said: “Like so many people deeply involved in gambling and horseracing, I have had many connections with, and fond memories of the Tote over the years. While the Tote has a century of history, I believe it has a very valuable role to play in the future of horseracing, both in the UK and Ireland and around the globe. The Tote has an impressive story to tell of innovation and growth in recent years, and through further enhancements to the pool product, alongside developing deepening international partnerships, I believe the Tote has its best days ahead of it. I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the UK Tote Group board and to support the Tote’s future success.”
The post John O’Reilly Joins UK Tote Group Board as Non-Executive Director appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
Reflex Gaming Releases “Piggies Prize Party”
Reflex Gaming, the UK’s largest independently owned omni-channel game supplier, has released its latest video slot “Piggies Prize Party”.
Powered by Yggdrasil, this vibrant video slot reimagines the arcade hit into a highly engaging digital experience designed to drive repeat play with broad player appeal.
Bursting with character and colour, Piggies Prize Party centres around a cheerful piggy bank party theme, combining low-to-medium volatility with frequent wins and smooth, accessible gameplay. Built on a familiar 5×3 reel layout with 25 paylines, the game delivers constant activity on the reels, while layering in a series of feature-driven moments that keep players firmly engaged from spin to spin.
At the heart of the game are four distinct Piggy Bank features, each linked to coloured coins that build anticipation in the base game before unlocking their full potential. Red Coins feed into Red Free Spins, where collected spins accumulate before being awarded in a burst of action. Green coins trigger Elimination Free Spins, stripping symbols from the reels to improve win potential and reshape gameplay. Blue coins power Prize Pot Free Spins, introducing increasing pots that enhance reward opportunities while maintaining a clear and familiar flow.
Adding another dimension, Yellow coins build towards the Wheel feature, where collected Piggies are transformed into a fortune wheel spin offering a mix of multipliers, Free Spins combinations or both. Designed to create standout moments, the Wheel cannot be triggered alongside Free Spins, ensuring each feature lands with its own distinct impact.
For players looking to accelerate the action, Bonus Buy options provide direct access to the Fortune Wheel, with Standard, Mystery and Super Free Spins configurations available depending on player preference and jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Golden Bet can be activated to increase the stake by 50%, boosting the chances of triggering one or more features while keeping all wins aligned to the base game paytable.
Mat Ingram, CPO at Reflex Gaming, said: “Piggies Prize Party has already proven itself as a standout performer on the land-based side, so we’re excited to bring it online.
“The different piggy bank mechanics give the game real variety, while the Wheel adds those big, memorable moments. It’s fun, it’s engaging and it’s built to keep players coming back.”
The launch of Piggies Prize Party further strengthens Reflex Gaming’s omni-channel strategy, delivering consistent, high-performing experiences across both land-based and online environments through its continued partnership with Yggdrasil.
The post Reflex Gaming Releases “Piggies Prize Party” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BetConstruct
BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026
The deal includes a fee waiver across its core suite plus setup and third-party integration discounts for the first three months.
BetConstruct AI has launched a World Cup 2026-focused commercial offer that waives fees for operators across its sportsbook and other core products for three months.
Under the terms published in the release, the company is offering “Complete fee waiver for the first 3 months across Sportsbook, CreedRoomz, Popok, Pascal, Choice, Virtual Sports, and Poker Network,” alongside a “SETUP DISCOUNT (50%)” for “all global market entry setups.” It is also applying a “3RD PARTY INTEGRATION (51%)” discount to “all 3rd Party Game Providers for the first 3 months.”
BetConstruct AI also included two complimentary add-ons it said would be available at “€0 cost” to partners. “Powerfull (Pre-Tournament)” is scheduled to run “8–10 weeks before kickoff” and is positioned around “weekly turnover challenges,” with prizes including “Free Bets (€1–€1,000) or a World Cup Final ticket,” which the company said are “100% funded by BetConstruct AI.”
The second product, “Bet on League (In-Tournament),” is described as an iFrame-based tournament hub that “requires no UI rebuilds,” with features including “an integrated module resembling a prediction market and personalized bet suggestions driven by AI.”
The company framed the campaign around operators preparing for what it called “the highest-concentration betting opportunity of the next four years,” referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
More data as follows:
- BetConstruct: https://www.betconstruct.com/ Official company site for product and commercial context referenced in the offer.
- FIFA World Cup 2026: https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canada-mexico-usa2026 Authoritative tournament reference to support the timing and context of the World Cup 2026 campaign.
- BetConstruct AI: https://www.betconstruct.com/ Use for verification of the ‘BetConstruct AI’ naming and related product descriptions if published on the company domain.
The post BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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