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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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ACR Poker
MONSTER VENOM TOURNAMENTS ON ACR POKER AWARD OVER $11 MILLION IN PRIZE POOLS TO PLAYERS AND DELIVER BIG POKER ACTION
ACR Poker has wrapped up its flagship Dual Mystery Bounty Venom tournaments, delivering more than two weeks of high-octane online poker action and awarding over $11 million in total prize pools to players from around the world.
The hugely popular series once again surpassed expectations, smashing guaranteed prize pools and cementing the Venom brand as one of the biggest and most exciting events on the online poker calendar.
The Venom No-Limit Hold’em (NLH) event comfortably exceeded its $8 million guarantee, generating a massive $9,182,500 prize pool, with $4,591,250 allocated to mystery bounties. Meanwhile, the Venom Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) tournament surpassed its $2 million guarantee, creating a $2,092,500 total prize pool, including $1,046,250 in bounties.
In the NLH event, 28-year-old Portuguese poker professional Pedro “MatasSembolas” Neves emerged victorious after outlasting a formidable field of 3,673 entrants. Following a three-way deal with ‘BALDOUS’ and ‘basaboy’, Neves captured the Venom title and secured a total payout of $728,281, made up of $630,327 in prize money and $97,953 in bounties.
Reflecting on his victory, Neves said:
“It feels great to win such a big tournament. The Venom is one of the most well-known events on the schedule, so finishing in first place is very satisfying and something I’m really happy about.”
Despite finishing runner-up, UK player ‘BALDOUS’ claimed the largest overall payday of the tournament. By landing the top $500,000 and $150,000 mystery bounties, ‘BALDOUS’ walked away with $510,378 in prize money and an incredible $729,931 in bounties, totaling $1,240,310.
In the PLO Venom, ‘StickyMinaj’ topped an 837-player field, earning the $209,860 first-place prize along with $104,062 in bounties to cap off an impressive performance.
ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker praised the series, saying:
“The Mystery Bounty Venoms had it all — huge fields, nonstop action, and unforgettable moments — and showed why it’s one of the most exciting formats in online poker. Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who landed those incredible bounties — now bring on the next one!”
Fans looking to relive the action can catch a full recap of the NLH final table on ACR Poker’s Twitch channel, featuring commentary from ACR Pros Chris Moneymaker and Jon Pardy, alongside ACR Team Online member Svitlana Dryha.
While the Dual Venom tournaments have concluded, the action on ACR Poker continues. Players can now take part in the $1 million guaranteed Moneymaker Mystery Million, the popular weekly high-stakes tournament Phil’s Thrill, and a packed schedule of additional events.
The post MONSTER VENOM TOURNAMENTS ON ACR POKER AWARD OVER $11 MILLION IN PRIZE POOLS TO PLAYERS AND DELIVER BIG POKER ACTION appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
DBET
Immense Group appoints Marcus Adler as Nordic Director for DBET
Immense Group has appointed Marcus Adler as Nordic Director for DBET, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its sports betting footprint across Sweden and other regulated European markets.
DBET is Immense Group’s first dedicated sports betting brand. Launched in August 2024, the brand has quickly established itself in the Swedish market by delivering a sports betting experience focused on popular sporting events, international pools and jackpots. DBET is available online and on mobile devices, while also boasting a strong retail presence through an extensive nationwide network of betting shop terminals.
Over the past year, DBET has significantly increased its brand visibility by forming strategic partnerships with key Swedish sports organisations, including the Swedish Bandy Association and the Swedish Basketball Association. These collaborations have strengthened DBET’s ties to local sport and helped position the brand as a trusted and recognisable name in a highly competitive landscape.
Based in Sweden, Marcus Adler brings extensive experience in commercial leadership, digital growth and sports gaming. He most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer at RoninSport.io, a Swedish sports TV data and digital engagement provider working with media companies, iGaming operators and sports platforms to deliver real-time sports content solutions. Prior to that, Adler led Online Acquisition at LeoVegas and held several senior commercial roles across the sports media and digital entertainment sectors.
Adler’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Immense Group as it continues to invest heavily in its sports betting capabilities. In 2025, the company selected Altenar as its global sportsbook partner, enabling scalable, localised and compliant sports betting operations across its portfolio of brands in regulated markets.
Commenting on his new role, Marcus Adler said:
“I am very pleased to join Immense Group at a time when the company is making significant investments in sports betting and DBET is gaining real traction in Sweden. The brand already has strong foundations, from its product offering to its partnerships within local sport. My focus will be to provide clear strategic direction for the Nordics, prepare DBET for its next phase of growth, and ensure we deliver a sports betting experience that feels trusted, intuitive and genuinely competitive for players in Sweden and across the wider region.”
The post Immense Group appoints Marcus Adler as Nordic Director for DBET appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Animo
Elantil and Animo Unite to Redefine Live Casino Gaming
Innovative platform solutions provider collaborates with specialized Live Casino supplier to offer clients real-time games featuring a pop culture flair.
Transforming the industry for operators through its cutting-edge technology and adaptable multi-currency choices, leading platform solutions provider, Elantil, has revealed the integration of a revolutionary studio into its online marketplace with Animo.
Centered on the commitment to employ actual dealers and genuine equipment to provide extraordinary experiences, Animo has revolutionized live entertainment by merging real-time table games with virtual broadcast production, resulting in an immersive format that harmoniously blends pop culture and iGaming.
Animo is presently providing various roulette versions and will expand into additional live gaming formats over the year, utilizing professional dealers in high-quality casino environments and applying its innovative technology to convert them into customizable virtual avatars that meet operators’ needs.
This opens the door to thrilling commercial collaborations that can enhance engagement; Animo’s product is anticipated to attract crypto operators, making the integration especially pertinent as Elantil will showcase at SiGMA Eurasia this month.
Due to the new collaboration, all Animo games will be highlighted in Elantil’s Marketplace, allowing customers to reach out to the supplier directly to establish their own tailored agreements; this eliminates any intermediary expenses and guarantees they receive the ideal package for their requirements.
After terms are settled, they will receive login credentials to access their games directly from Elantil’s Marketplace, while the company manages all technical aspects to ensure they are operational.
John Debono, Chief Technical Officer at Elantil, said: “As anyone who’s visited an Elantil stand at ICE will know, we’re a company that embraces the unconventional and loves to get creative. With this in mind, Animo is the perfect addition to our marketplace, and we believe their unique approach to Live Casino will prove incredibly popular with partners – especially those in the crypto space.”
Harley Fresh, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Animo, said: “Like Elantil, Animo has forged its own path in the iGaming industry, the interactive experiences we provide are unlike anything else. By blending the real world and the virtual, we create a new level of engagement that supports both player acquisition and market penetration. We can’t wait to hear how our line-up can be tailored to Elantil’s customers’ needs and are excited to bring more brand IP to life.”
The post Elantil and Animo Unite to Redefine Live Casino Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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