Digital Sport’s Weekly Wash-up 20/11/2015

November 20, 2015 Adrien Danjou

My ATP: Tennis launches its own social media network

As part of the ATP World Tour Finals in London (15-22 November), the ATP launched its own bespoke social media app: My ATP.

The app looks like a mini Twitter, but is adapted to Tennis fans. Users have their own profile (user name, photo, description etc) and they can follow accounts according to their needs: player pages, tournament highlights, a fan forum, ATP news etc

Like any other social media, you can like, comment or share each post.

My ATP represents a place where all tennis fans can be connected and customise their ATP experience.

The Top 8 singles players help launch our new social #tennis app, MyATP. Read More: https://t.co/jN17oU09Jv #ATP pic.twitter.com/LcgQoGzNiF

— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) November 13, 2015

Mathieu Flamini strikes oil… Kind of

In 2008, current Arsenal FC player Mathieu Flamini founded the company GF Biochemicals with his friend and business partner Pasquale Granata. Specialising in the production of Levulinic Acid, it is set to become the first company in the world to mass produce the acid using 100% natural processes.

The organic compound is a suitable substitute for oil in all its forms.

The Arsenal midfielder said “I invested a lot of money in this project, it was a great challenge. The production started last Summer. We engaged 80 employees and a total of 400 people work thanks to our activity in Italia. We are proud to open this new market!”

Proud of GFBiochemicals contribution to fight the climate change????#arsenal #environment #sustainable #GFBiochemicals pic.twitter.com/womfvqwVow

— Mathieu flamini (@Matflam) November 17, 2015

Grassroots Rugby officially comes to the USA

A new Rugby Union championship is coming to the USA which is set to change the face of the sport in the country. Named “PRO Rugby”, the cities that have joined the championship so far include Philadelphia and San Francisco and Sacramento with Denver and New York set to follow.

CEO of PRO Rugby Douglas Schoninger said “we are trying to Americanize rugby for American values”.

Today in the US, only 110 000 people play amateur Rugby in a club.

It's official: Sacramento will get team in nation's first pro rugby league https://t.co/uZZigMe1sy

— Sac Business Journal (@Sacbiz) November 18, 2015

La Liga launches fan zones across the world for El Clásico

As part of the game between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona on Saturday in Madrid, La Liga will roll out a fan zone-of-sorts around the world. In Partnership with BeIN Sports and PPTV, several fan zones with big screens will be implemented in some places outside Spain including Shanghai, Miami and the Spanish military base in Lebanon. La Liga ambassadors will be present at each site like Christian Karembeu in Shanghai.

It’s all apart of La Liga’s desire to become international brand with this initiative part of its international marketing strategy that included the launch of a personal lounge in Doha last month.

On a final note…

We’d like to recognise sporting great Jonah Lomu who passed away aged 40 at his home in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday.

Redefining the sport during his time in Rugby Union, he was not only recognised as the first real rugby superstar but he was an example on and off the rugby field.

Our thoughts go out to Jonah Lomu's family, @AllBlacks, and the Rugby community. A legend of the game. #RipJonah pic.twitter.com/kiflMkpEjh

— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) November 18, 2015

Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a great Pacific hero and #UNICEF champion for #children. RIP Jonah Lomu. pic.twitter.com/hZqqcq1333

— UNICEF Pacific (@UNICEFPacific) November 18, 2015

I am so, so devastated to hear of the passing away of @JONAHTALILOMU The greatest superstar and just a fabulous human being. Deeply saddened

— Jonny Wilkinson (@JonnyWilkinson) November 18, 2015