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Author: Duncan Hughes

Get to Know Henley Royal Regatta

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With a huge summer of sport already underway, the events are coming thick and fast. The start of July marks the return of the annual Henley Royal Regatta. The historic rowing event will take place in Henley-on-Thames from the 2nd to the 7th July with thousands of spectators expected to flock to the river banks. We take a look at what you can expect from the event as well as some of the wonderful hospitality Engage have to offer!

What is Henley Royal Regatta?

Taking place in Henley-on-Thames, Henley Royal Regatta is the world’s most famous rowing event. As part of the prestigious occasion, spectators can expect six days of thrilling racing action. Established in 1839, it takes place annually finishing on the first weekend of July. The event has attracted some of the world’s best in the past including Steve Redgrave, Helen Glover, Jack Beresford and Katherine Grainger to name a few. This year will certainly be no different as athletes will look to use Henley as a warm up for the Olympic Games in Paris! This year’s regatta will take place from the 2nd-7th July.

What to wear?

There is a formal dress code for the event with visitors tending to wear blazers, collared shirts, caps, dresses and hats. Shorts, jeans and trainers are strictly prohibited in the hospitality enclosures.

What to expect?

With an astonishing 300-plus races for crowds to enjoy all week, the action is non-stop! Races will begin at 9am Tuesday-Friday, 10am on Saturday and 11am on Sunday lasting until approximately 7:30pm each day. Sunday’s finale will be the only outlier, coming to an end at 4:30pm. The most famous race at the regatta is the Grand Challenge Cup which is a competition for men’s eights.

This race has taken place every year since the regatta’s inception in 1839 and is widely regarded as the most prestigious event, open to all rowing clubs. The heats, semis, and final of the Grand Challenge Cup take place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. Trust us, you will not want to miss this one!

Aside from the never-ending list of racing, spectators can look forward to celebratory rowpasts, flypasts from the RAF, live music and more. There is something for everyone to enjoy, so why not come down to cheer the rowers on and soak up the incredible atmosphere in the summer sun?

Hospitality that Engage Offer

If you’re going to come along to the regatta, why not treat yourself and check out Engage Hospitality’s brilliant range of offers for you to watch the action? Engage are offering the best hospitality on show including our famous ICON facilities and the Temple Island Enclosure!

Experience the exhilarating action from our world class ICON facilities. Venture to the riverside and expect a delicious four-course lunch menu designed by the wonderful Michelin-Star chef, Angela Hartnett. Enjoy Hartnett’s wonderful culinary skills while sipping on a range of champagne, wine, beers, spirits and soft drinks from the complimentary bar in ICON’s very own private garden area. Listen to talks from special ICON guests while feasting on a traditional afternoon tea with all the action only a whisker away. There will also be a live DJ and saxophonist throughout the day to keep you entertained away from the competition!

What about the famous Temple Island Enclosure? Located in the middle of the river, this island creates a unique opportunity to watch the action up close while indulging in mouth-watering food and drink. Check out the private chalets for up to 100 guests as well as the option of partaking in a 90 minute river cruise along the course with an array of refreshments to satisfy your needs. What better way to watch the races?

So which option will you choose? Henley Royal Regatta is a great day out and it is a wonderful opportunity to experience boat racing like never before. Fancy a day on the riverside with Engage Hospitality? Enquire about our hospitality packages now before it’s too late!

Engage Hospitality’s Best London Venues

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

London has always been renowned for its range of world class facilities, hosting sporting events, theatrical performances, musical shows and much more. Some of London’s state of the art facilities have witnessed some of the greatest events in history including the London 2012 Olympics, the Ashes, the Brit Awards and much more. Here at Engage we offer hospitality in a whole host of London venues so you too can experience history and events like no other, from the best seats in the house.

With an incredible range of options on offer, Engage Hospitality provide packages across London with something for everyone. Catering for music, comedy, football, rugby and cricket fans, you will not be disappointed. Venues on offer include The Oval, Lord’s, Twickenham and The O2 Arena.

The Oval

With summer well underway, what better way to spend it than watching the cricket at The Kia Oval. Choose from a range of different formats including The Hundred, T20, Test Matches and more. Experience an atmosphere like no other as the ground plays host to the Oval Invincibles, Surrey and England. With some of the world’s best cricketers expected to play here this summer including the finale of an England vs Sri Lanka Test Series! What better way to witness it than with Engage Hospitality and our ICON facilities?

Lord’s

Perhaps you would prefer to watch England at the Home of Cricket? Or maybe you’re a Middlesex fan? Don’t worry, Engage have got you covered. We also offer brilliant hospitality packages at Lord’s Cricket Ground so you can watch London Spirit, Middlesex and England at the most iconic cricket ground in the world. After the controversial Ashes series last summer, Australia will be back on English soil for the first time in 2024 and you can watch it live from Lord’s with Engage Hospitality!

Twickenham

More of a Rugby fan? Check out Engage Hospitality’s range of rugby games as England compete in both the Autumn Nations Series and the Six Nations at Twickenham. Watch England from our ICON facilities as they face Japan, Australia, New Zealand and, World Cup Winners, South Africa amongst others. Experience an England side challenge for their first Six Nations title since 2020!

The O2 Arena

If you’re not a sporting fan, check out Engage Hospitality’s range of events taking place this summer at The O2 Arena including The Killers, Peter Kay and The Girls Aloud Show. The O2 is one of the most famous venues in the capital and is a great opportunity to see your favourite performers with some of the best hospitality on offer. The venue has seen some of the greatest entertainers ever including Elton John, Madonna, Prince and more. So why not see it for yourself?

Other Venues in London

These venues are not all Engage have to offer in London. Engage provide hospitality for Wembley Stadium, one of the UK’s most iconic sporting venues hosting international and domestic football. Not to mention presenting annual NFL games as well as a range of performing artists including Green Day, AC/DC and Bruce Springsteen. Engage Hospitality also provide packages at The Royal Albert Concert Hall, The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and more!

Here at Engage we offer something for everyone in London and beyond. Don’t hesitate to enquire about our hospitality options on show. Be quick though, the packages will sell fast! Check out Engage Hospitality for all the latest offers and decide which event you would like to watch from the best seats in the house across London!

Can Alcaraz Win The Cinch Championships?

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The conclusion of the French Open on Sunday marked the end of the second tennis Grand Slam of the year. Carlos Alcaraz took victory over Germany’s Alexander Zverev, as the Spaniard claimed his 3rd Grand Slam. The next Grand Slam of the year, and perhaps the most famous, will be Wimbledon; where Alcaraz will look to defend his 2023 title. However, before that, the Cinch Championships will take place with some of the world’s best expected to attend as they make their final preparations for Wimbledon.

What are the Cinch Championships?

The Cinch Championships, or more commonly known as ‘The Queen’s Club Championships’, is one of the most famous events on the men’s ATP World Tour and is the longest running tournament on the circuit. The tournament takes place every year and is hosted at The Queen’s Club in West Kensington, London. The famous venue has played host to an array of different sports over the years including athletics, rugby, football and even staged the 1908 Olympics. Now predominantly a tennis venue, The Queen’s Club has hosted the championships since 1890.

Winners of the competition include Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal, and to win would put you amongst impressive company. Taking place from the 15th-23rd June, tennis fans can expect a stellar entry list with world renowned names expected to attend the West End venue. But who will add their name to the Roll of Honour this year?

Contenders

Winner in 2023 and having recently won his 3rd Grand Slam, Carlos Alcaraz will be back to defend his title. The World Number 2 will be keen to defend his title in front of a British crowd as he will be looking to put himself in good stead for Wimbledon in a few weeks time. At only 21 years old, the Spaniard’s win at Roland Garros made him the youngest player to have won a Grand Slam on all three surfaces. Roland Garros was also his second tournament win of the year after victory at Indian Wells back in March defending his 2023 title. Alcaraz will be looking to bolster his confidence for the third Grand Slam of 2024.

Alcaraz will be challenged by Grigor Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur all of whom pose a real threat to the Spaniard’s title hopes. Dimitrov is World Number 10 and he will be hoping to cause an upset in London, while Taylor Fritz also looks to challenge. Alex de Minaur may be Alcaraz’s most dangerous opponent. The Australian has wins this year against Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andrey Rublev as well as both Fritz and Dimitrov. Keep an eye on the 25-year old to see if he can raise some eyebrows before Wimbledon.

British Names to Look Out For

In terms of the British contingent, Cam Norrie and Jack Draper are both set to take part. Norrie is yet to reach the heights of his 2022 season where he reached the Wimbledon semi-final and the World Top 10. Currently, ranked 39th in the world, can he turn his season around just in time?

Draper is ranked just one place behind Norrie at the moment in 40th place. The 22-year old made a name for himself at this competition in 2021, defeating Janik Sinner and reaching the quarter-finals before being defeated by Norrie.

Dark Horses

Carlos Alcaraz is the favourite to defend his title at the Queen’s Club next week but could we see an underdog beat the Spaniard to the trophy? Tommy Paul could be an unlikely winner after claiming his second title at the 2024 Dallas Open as well as reaching the semi-finals in the Italian Open and the Masters 2024 BNP Paribas Open. Can the American cause an upset with only his third ever title?

Sebastian Korda could also spoil Alcaraz’s plans of a win. Korda was the 2023 semi-finalist and will be looking to make amends for his defeat last year. Korda won the men’s doubles title at the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open with Jordan Thompson claiming his first ATP level doubles title, while also performing well at the Dubai Tennis Championships, knocked out by World Number 6, Andrey Rublev, in the quarter-finals. His confidence will be high when he travels to London this weekend.

A very strong entry list and one that could produce an unlikely winner, who do you think will be crowned champion? Can Alacaraz continue his impressive form and defend his title? It is an opportunity for players to give themselves confidence before Wimbledon next month and it is a great opportunity to see the world’s best in action. Want to watch your favourite players from the best seats in the house? Check out Engage’s range of hospitality options for tennis including the Queen’s Club Championships, Wimbledon and the Olympic Games!

Blast Off in the T20 – The Vitality Blast is here

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

Summer marks the beginning of the 2024 domestic cricket season as players up and down the country return from their overseas duties over the winter. There are three domestic competitions that the county sides will compete in, including the traditional County Championship, One-Day Cup (50 overs) and the T20 Blast. We take a look at the start of the T20 Blast campaign and who might be emerging as early favourites to win the competition!

Get to know the T20 Blast

The T20 Blast is the shortest format in English County Cricket. Characterised by its high intensity, big-hitting and fast-paced action, it is beginning to become England’s most popular format attracting thousands of fans at cricket grounds across the country. Promoted by its atmosphere and interactive crowd engagements in an attempt to mirror the success of the Australian Big Bash League, the format offers something for everyone allowing you to get up close to the action. The T20 Blast has attracted some of the world’s best players over the years including AB De Villiers, Mitch Santner and Shahid Afridi to name a few. This season will be no different.

Teams compete in two groups, North and South. Upon completion of these groups, the top four sides in each group will advance to the quarter finals, where they will battle it out for a place at Finals Day. Finals Day consists of two semi-finals, before the grand finale with fans enjoying three top class games of cricket, and not to mention the all important Mascot Race!

Who won the T20 Blast in 2023? The South Group

It was Somerset who came out on top last year in an all South group final, defeating Essex at Edgbaston. After setting a target of 145 courtesy of a Sean Dickson 53 runs off 35 deliveries, Essex battled hard but ran out of wickets. They saw their tenth man fall on 131 runs, as a Matt Henry 4-for handed the South West club the trophy.

The sides have already faced each other in the 2024 format with a not too dissimilar outcome with Somerset coming out on top again. A 4 wicket victory for Somerset was enough to take the win in Essex, however, the champions haven’t had a perfect start to their title defence. Last year’s semi-finalists, Surrey, were dominant winners by 57 runs when they hosted Somerset at The Oval. It’s Surrey, the only team with a 100% record this year, who top the South group, closely followed by Kent Spitfires while Gloucestershire round off the top 3 based on run-rate.

The North Group

Meanwhile in the North group Lancashire Lightning have emerged as the early leaders. Thumping victories over Derbyshire and Durham, Lightning look to be early favourites, however, defeat to Worcestershire Rapids suggest they’re certainly not untouchable. There were no teams from the North present on finals day last year but in 2022, Lancashire were runners-up to Hampshire in a thrilling contest, losing by just one run. The last northern team to be crowned champions were Nottinghamshire Outlaws in 2020 beating Surrey in a rain-interrupted contest. The Outlaws have made a winless start to the campaign alongside Durham as they occupy the bottom two North group places.

Elsewhere, Birmingham Bears have made the perfect start to the campaign with wins over the Outlaws and Durham. The Bears are building a strong case for a trip to Finals Day this year for the first time since they won the competition back in 2014. Meanwhile Yorkshire Vikings and Northamptonshire Steelbacks also boast 2 wins with 1 defeat each.

Who’s going to win in 2024?

At this stage of the season, it’s far too early to predict a winner, but the favourites are appearing to top their respective groups. With Finals Day not until September 14th, there is plenty of time for teams to have a massive turn in form. Who do you think will be at Edgbaston in September? And who will lift the coveted Blast trophy? Find out from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality, check out their range of hospitality options for Old Trafford, Lords and of course Finals Day!

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What is the T20 World Cup?

The tournament in the West Indies and USA gets underway on Sunday 2nd June, with the American hosts taking on neighbours Canada in the opening fixture. England will also be facing local rivals in their first game and there will no doubt be plenty of sun cream in use as they face Scotland in Barbados.

Buttler and co. will also play Oman and Namibia in the group stage, as well as old rivals Australia, who won the 50-over World Cup last year. Meanwhile, Pakistan will face hosts USA, India, Canada and Ireland.

They’re targeting their second T20 World Cup win, having claimed the trophy in the competition’s second edition, beating Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s back in 2009. They’ve lost twice in the final, including against England last time out.

Should England progress through their group, they’ll need to navigate their way through the Super 8s group, followed by the semi-finals. The final takes place on Saturday 29th June.

Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Team GB Swimming Hopes

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the season of Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, we can start looking forward to what will be an enthralling year of sport. The big event of the Summer for sports fans will be the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Team GB expected to enter teams in most events.

It is a chance for fans of all sports to come together and watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head to win what is arguably the most historic title on the planet in their respective sports. Here at Engage we will be doing a mini series of what to expect as the Olympics approach.

Team GB look like they will shape up well on dry-land in their hunt for gold medals, but what about in the pool? Team GB’s swimming team have enjoyed plenty of success in the Olympics over the years with 16 Olympic golds as well as 55 silver and bronze medals in total. Famous names involved in British swimming success include Anita Lonsbrough, the first woman to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Rebecca Adlington, Adam Peaty and Duncan Scott.

Swimming was introduced to the Olympics in 1896, originally with races taking place in a natural environment until 1908 where they moved to a pool. With only freestyle to begin with, backstroke and breaststroke were added in 1904 before butterfly was added in 1956 to complete the four swimming actions of the sport. Over the years, USA have famously dominated the sport owing much of that credit to Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 28 medals.

Athletes can expect to perform in the state of the art Paris La Defense Arena in 2024. Opened in 2017, the venue has hosted rugby matches, performing artists, conventions and more. Fans can watch the action on the world’s largest interactive screen (it is the size of seven tennis courts!). It is located in the La Defense business district, easily accessible via public transport and up the road from the iconic Arc De Triomphe.

So who can we expect to see on the podium for Team GB? Undoubtedly, the biggest name in GB swimming in recent years and one of the greatest breaststroke swimmers of all time, Adam Peaty will return to defend his Olympic title.

Three time Olympic Champion, he is on the hunt for his third consecutive Olympic breaststroke gold. He has broken the World Record 14 times, currently holding the 50m and 100m breaststroke records, and is also 8-time World Champion. After a 2-year battle with mental health, he is now on the comeback trail for Paris and is more eager than ever to win three in a row.

Duncan Scott will also be on the plane to the French capital. The Scotsman made history in Tokyo becoming Britain’s most decorated athlete at a single Games taking home 4 medals (3 silver, 1 gold) while also becoming the most decorated British Olympic swimmer in history. Scott will be keen to retain GB’s 4x200m freestyle title, while also gunning for individual success in the 200m freestyle and 200m medley where he was beaten to the gold by fellow Briton Tom Dean and Chinese swimmer Wang Shun in 2021.

Dean, Tokyo 2020’s double Olympic Champion, will also be back to defend his title while fellow double Olympic Champion James Guy is also in the 33-strong GB Team hoping to play a part in the medal effort. Matt Richards will also be on the plane, the fourth man in the 4x200m freestyle team alongside Scott, Dean and Guy.

Kathleen Dawson, Anna Hopkin and Freya Anderson have also been selected. Olympic Champions in the mixed 4x100m medley in Tokyo, the trio will hope to contribute to yet another gold medal.

Freya Colbert will also be a medal contender after becoming World Champion in the 400m medley in Doha earlier this year. A breakthrough year for the 20-year old, could she make it even better by winning gold in Paris?

In other events, Team GB will field a strong swimming team in the marathon events with Hector Pardoe, Leah Crisp and Toby Robinson taking part. Crisp and Robinson make their debuts in the 10km swim, with Pardoe hopeful of turning his 2024 World Championship bronze medal to gold in Paris.

So with such a strong team, can we see one of Team GB’s best medal hauls yet in Olympic swimming? It certainly looks possible and has the promise to be a very successful Games for the British team. Why not be part of their success? Watch the pool action in person from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality with the swimming events taking place from the 27th July to the 4th August.

Olympic Games Swimming

FA Cup Final Preview – Another Manchester Derby at Wembley

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The weekend saw the end of a thrilling Premier League campaign with a title decider on the final day. Manchester City won their fourth consecutive title, snatching the trophy from Arsenal’s grasp by two points. For 18 of the Premier League clubs that is the season complete as far as they are concerned, however, for the two Manchester clubs there is still silverware to play for.

A repeat of last year’s final, Wembley will host another Manchester derby as Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United will try to prevent Manchester City from winning a second consecutive FA Cup over them. City are targeting yet another trophy at Wembley while a defeat for United would put the lid on a very mediocre season and unveil further questions about Ten Hag’s future as head coach.

An 8th place finish in the league, knocked out in, what seemed, a comfortable Champions League group and no European football on the cards for next year, unless they win the FA Cup; it has been bleak for the Red Devils. Questions over Ten Hag’s tenure at the club have been raised, however, two wins to complete the season over Newcastle and Brighton may provide momentum for Ten Hag to redeem himself under the Wembley Arch.

City, on the other hand, have been ruthless once again this season. Narrowly knocked out of the Champions League on penalties to Real Madrid, they are unbeaten (excluding penalties) since December helping them storm to their eighth Premier League title; their sixth in seven years. At the moment they seem unstoppable, with 9 Premier League wins on the bounce and 20 goals in their last six games, any team will fear Guardiola’s side at the moment. Can they also claim their eighth FA Cup?

The 2023 FA Cup final was also a Manchester Derby and one in which City came out on top. Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring in just 12 seconds as City took an early lead, before Bruno Fernandes levelled the scoring from the penalty spot just after the first half hour.

However, it was Gundogan again who ultimately grabbed the winner just after half-time as City were 2-1 winners. Gundogan’s opening goal was the fastest goal in FA Cup final history, surpassing Louis Saha’s record goal by 13 seconds from 2009.

Treble winners last year, City will be determined to add to their Premier League trophy after the disappointment of not being able to defend their Champions League title. The Blue side of Manchester will go into this one as strong favourites. With that said, City will need to be on their A game with the added pressure of a derby and a final, anything is possible as Ten Hag’s men will be keen to rain on City’s parade.

So who do you think will win this famous fixture and add another piece of silverware to their illustrious collection? An underdog win for United, or do Manchester City win yet another major trophy? It will certainly be a thrilling spectacle and has the possibility of a classic Wembley final.

Want to watch it live from the best seats in the house? Check out Engage’s hospitality offers to watch the FA Cup finale!

Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Gymnastics

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the season of Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, we can start looking forward to what will be an enthralling year of sport. The big event of the Summer for sports fans will be the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Team GB expected to enter teams in most events.

It is a chance for fans of all sports to come together and watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head to win what is arguably the most historic title on the planet in their respective sports. Here at Engage we will be doing a mini series of what to expect as the Olympics approach.

Can Team GB flip their way to the podium in gymnastics? Artistic gymnastics was introduced in the first games of the modern era in 1896 and has been a feature in every Olympic Games since then. Only men competed for the first 32 years, before the introduction of the women’s competition in 1928. As of 2024, there are eight events for the men and six events for the women with four events that are the same.

Trampolining was introduced in the Sydney 2000 games with both a men’s and women’s event. Since its inception at the Olympics in 2000, 14 of the 36 medals awarded have gone to athletes from the Republic of China. A women’s only event called Rhythmic gymnastics is the other event rounding up the gymnastics discipline entering the games in 1984.

At Paris 2024, athletes can expect to perform at the famous Bercy Arena. Built in 1984, athletes will perform in a venue that has hosted the Paris Masters as well as Madonna and Paul McCartney concerts. Easily accessible for fans via the ‘Gare De Lyon’ Metro stop, it is the perfect place for athletes to make history in a place with so much legacy attached to it.

So who will be competing for Team GB? Team GB have had good success in recent years in gymnastics, with Paris 2024 expected to be no different. Max Whitlock, Britain’s most successful gymnast, will return for one last Olympic Games as the 31-year old announced he will be retiring after Paris. The 3 time Olympic Champion looks to defend his pommel horse title in Paris one more time after doubts over his career after Tokyo 2020. Can the greatest ever Briton do it one more time?

The 2022 and 2023 World Champion on the pommel horse, Rhys McClenaghan, will pose a threat for Whitlock. The Irishman’s impressive form at only 24 years old makes him a strong favourite for the Olympic title in 2024, while runner-up in 2023, Khoi Young will also be eager to get his hands on an Olympic gold.

Two-time European Champion in the floor exercise, Luke Whitehouse, will also be targeting Olympic success. The 21-year old won gold in Rimini a few weeks ago defending his European title from 2023 after Whitlock didn’t travel due to injury. Could it be success for the Leeds man in Paris?

Jake Jarman is another youngster who is a medal contender in Paris after gold in the vault in Rimini as well as World Championship gold the year before. A possible medal haul from the British team is prominent.

Beth Tweddle was the first ever British woman to win an individual Olympic medal in 2012, winning bronze on the uneven bar. Four years later Amy Tinkler repeated the feat in the women’s floor exercise at Rio 2016. In 2021, in the women’s team event, the team consisting of Alice Kinsella, Amelie Morgan and Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova made it three medals in three Olympics for Team GB women’s artistic gymnastics.

Meanwhile, there has also been success in the women’s trampolining with Bryony Page winning consecutive medals in 2016 and 2021. After World Championship Gold in 2023 in Birmingham, she will be looking to improve on her silver and bronze medals and become Olympic Champion in Paris.

Bronze medal winner on the horizontal bar in Rio in 2016, Nile Wilson, will not be competing at Paris 2024 after announcing his retirement in 2021 before Tokyo. Unlike Whitlock, Wilson decided not to return to the sport after a decorated career, and instead has made a successful career in YouTube. The former World Silver medallist also opened up about the reason for his retirement in a very interesting TED Talk about his battles with mental health in elite sport.

Will we see a British medal haul in gymnastics? There is certainly a strong possibility. With Max Whitlock and Bryony Page returning and a considerable amount of new talent coming through, we could see Team GB’s best Olympic Gymnastics team yet. Want to see how they get on live from the best seats in the house? Enquire with Engage Hospitality to find out their Olympic Games offers for gymnastics.

Olympic Games Gymnastics

Olympic Games Paris 2024: Team GB Athletics

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the season of Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, we can start looking forward to what will be an enthralling year of sport. The big event of the Summer for sports fans will be the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Team GB expected to enter teams in most events.

It is a chance for fans of all sports to come together and watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head to win what is arguably the most historic title on the planet in their respective sports. Here at Engage we will be doing a mini series of what to expect as the Olympics approach.

Arguably one of the most popular Olympic Sports, Athletics will again be a prominent feature for Team GB at Paris 2024. With medal hopes across the majority of disciplines, the British team will be hoping to come away with a considerable amount of success. With a plethora of events on show, who will shine for Great Britain under the Stade De France lights? We take a look at Britain’s medal hopes for 2024.

For the majority of the team, athletes will have to compete at the UK Athletics Championships on the 28th-30th June as part of the Olympic trials as well as gaining the qualifying standard with final selection taking place on the 1st July 2024.

There are a number of athletes who have already booked their plane ticket to Paris including a strong men’s marathon lineup. 3rd and 4th at the London Marathon in 2024 Emile Cairess and Mahamed Mahamed lead the line as serious medal contenders while Cairess’ fellow Leeds City teammate Phil Sesemann is the third member of the team. A very strong lineup for Team GB in the marathon, could we see the first medal in the event since Charlie Spedding in 1984?

Dropping down the distances, Britain’s relay sprint teams booked their places in Paris at the weekend in all 5 relay events competing at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas.

Team GB will be looking to improve their relay results from Tokyo after only one bronze medal in 2021 in the women’s 4x100m relay. Team captain for the championships in the Bahamas, Zharnel Hughes, will also be gunning for individual success. National Records in both the 100m and 200m last year sees him mixing it with the World’s best. As we know from previous years, he will be met by fierce competition including World Champion Noah Lyles and defending Olympic Champion Andre De Grasse.

Other medal hopes for Team GB include Keely Hodkingson as she takes on the world at 800m. The 22 year-old burst onto the scene as a junior becoming the first junior women to break the 2 minute barrier in the 800 as well as winning British 800m gold in 2020.

Announcing herself to the World in 2021, she won Olympic silver, running 1:55. World Silver in 2022 and 2023, she will be determined to get the better of Athing Mu and Mary Moraa who have both snatched gold from her grasp in recent years. Fellow Briton Jemma Reekie has shown fine form over the 800 as well with silver in the World Indoors in 2024.

In the men’s middle distance events Ben Pattison will be looking to improve on his World 800m bronze in his first Olympic outing while the names of Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman will haunt defending champion Jakob Ingebritsen.

Runner-up to the two Brits at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships in almost equivalent fashion, the superstar Norwegian will be determined to not see a repeat of events in Paris. There has been a lot of ‘trash talk’ from Josh Kerr throughout the year, can he back it up with a win?

In the Women’s 1500m, Olympic Silver Medallist, Laura Muir, will be eager to upgrade to gold in 2024 but will have to contest Faith Kipyegon, unbeaten at the Olympics and World championships since 2021 in the 1500m.

World Heptathlon Champion, Katarina Johnson-Thompson has been deprived of Olympic success throughout her career, she will be eager to add an Olympic medal to her astonishing CV. Team GB will also be hopeful that the women’s pole vault team will be amongst the medals with Molly Caudery and Holly Bradshaw. Bronze for Bradshaw in Tokyo as well as golf for Caudery at the World Indoor Championships in 2024, could we see two medallists in the women’s pole vault for the first time?

So, Paris 2024 is only just around the corner and with one of Britain’s strongest athletics teams in years, you will not want to miss this. With the possibility of one of Britain’s most successful Olympics yet, athletics could play a huge part in contributing to the medal haul. Want to see Britain mix it with the very best? Check out Engage Hospitality’s offers to watch the athletics in Paris from the best seats in the house.

Olympic Games Athletics

NBA Playoffs 2024

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

The 2024 NBA playoffs are well underway after the close of the regular season. The best teams from each conference will battle it out in a four-round, best of seven format in order to be crowned NBA champion.

Excitement surrounds basketball particularly in 2024 in the build-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics after the announcement of the USA team’s star-studded line-up. A less developed sport in other countries, basketball is becoming a lot more popular here in the UK and Europe, but what are the NBA playoffs all about?

The NBA playoffs is a tournament that is played at the end of the regular season between the best teams from both the Western and Eastern Conference. It is a tournament that decides who is crowned champion of the NBA with the top 6 teams from each group automatically advancing to the tournament. The latter two spots are decided via the play-in tournament between teams placed 7th-10th in each conference.

Teams will battle it out for the famous Larry O’Brien Trophy using a best of seven series. The first team to win four games advances to the next round with the other team eliminated. The teams will advance to play another team from the same conference until all but one team from each conference are eliminated. The teams left from each conference will battle it out in the final for the Championship.

Fans spectate at The O2 Arena during the NBA London Game in 2018

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Who to look out for this year?

After the USA announced a stellar men’s team for the 2024 Olympics including Lebron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, there has been plenty of talent on show this year in the NBA. In the regular season it was Oklahoma City Thunder who topped the Western Conference while Boston Celtics topped the Eastern Conference. It’s the Boston Celtics who are the earliest favourites for the trophy while Denver Nuggets, last year’s champions, are second favourites.

The Celtics have made a strong start in their bid to overthrow the Nuggets. After a victory on Tuesday against last year’s runners-up, Miami Heat, they are 3-1 up with only one more victory needed to eliminate the Florida-based club. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are well on their way to defend their Championship title after defeating the Lakers 4 games to 1 in the first round. They will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round after they also defeated the Phoenix Suns in a whitewash.

Will it be a Celtics vs Nuggets final? Well the Thunder will have something to say about that. With the same amount of wins as the Nuggets, they have certainly made a strong case for a title challenge this year. A 4-0 whitewash of New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the playoffs suggest they are a team to be feared in 2024.

Runners up in the Eastern Conference, New York Nicks, will be keen to get their hands on the Larry O’Brien trophy. With three wins so far against the 76ers after 5 games, they will be looking for one more victory to advance to the next round of fixtures.

So who do you think will take the title? Plenty of teams will be gunning for victory in what is going to be a blockbuster final no matter who is taking part. A litter of talent on show is exciting basketball fans across the globe in the preparation for the 2024 Olympics.

As the NBA expands across the world, overseas matches are becoming more popular with games taking place in Europe. Check out NBA Paris and watch your favourite stars from the best seats in the house in 2025 with Engage Hospitality.

Olympic Games Paris 2024: Tennis

Posted on by Duncan Hughes

With the season of Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, we can start looking forward to what will be an enthralling year of sport. The big event of the Summer for sports fans will be the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Team GB expected to enter teams in most events.

It is a chance for fans of all sports to come together and watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head to win what is arguably the most historic title on the planet in their respective sports. Here at Engage we will be doing a mini series of what to expect as the Olympics approach. 

Can Team GB find success in tennis on Parisian turf? Britain will be looking to regain their medal success from London 2012 and Rio 2016 after a medal drought in Tokyo. Britain boasts the earliest of success in Olympic tennis with John Pius Boland’s victory in the men’s singles and doubles events back in 1896, when the sport was introduced to the Olympics.

After a break from the Olympic programme between 1924 and 1984, the sport was reintroduced for the Seoul Olympics in 1988 with Team GB picking up four medals (2 gold and 2 silver) since it was brought back.

Perhaps more successful in the earlier Olympics, picking up 33 medals before 1924, Team GB do have work to do to match the form of previous team members. With that said, Scotsman Andy Murray has revitalised British men’s tennis, winning gold at London 2012 before defending his Olympic title in Rio in 2016. Murray hasn’t ruled out one more shot at Olympic Gold revealing he wants to play in one more Olympic Games before he retires from tennis.

The former Wimbledon Champion will have to face the clay courts of Roland-Garros while competing against a new era of up and coming stars in the tennis world. The World Rankings will determine 56 of the 64 players selected for the singles competitions, with a maximum of 4 players from each National Olympic Committee. Players Andy Murray will face may include Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and reigning champion Alexander Zverev.

It’s hard to call at the moment. The younger generation are beginning to turn heads but as World Number 1, many believe it is Djokovic’s gold medal to lose. With only one bronze medal in his career, is a gold medal what the Serbian needs to cement his position as the greatest ever? Or can Andy Murray find one more world-beating performance?

Fellow Briton Cameron Norrie may also be involved in Paris as well as Jack Draper. They will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Murray and spur Britain towards more Olympic success.

What about the women? Can any of the Brits repeat the incredible achievements of Charlotte Cooper back in 1900? In Paris back at the 1900 Olympics she became the first female Olympic tennis champion as well as the first individual female Olympic champion, not to mention, five Wimbledon single’s titles.

Medals have been few and far between for British women in tennis in recent years with Laura Robson winning a medal in the mixed doubles in 2012, with the previous woman’s medal in 1924. Katie Boulter will be Britain’s best hope of a medal, currently ranked 28th in the world. Emma Raducanu will also look to book her place in the Olympic team. The 21 year old burst onto the scene in 2021 winning the US Open but has been plagued by injuries since.

World Number One Iga Swiatek will be gunning for another title to add to her honours, while Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will be hoping to bring medals home for the US. However, there won’t be a title defence this year; reigning champion Belinda Bencic will not be in Paris to defend her title after she announced her pregnancy 5 months ago. The opportunity opens up for a new Olympic Champion, but who will take it?

How do you think Britain’s tennis team will get on in Paris? Can Andy Murray pull it out of the bag one more time? There is plenty of excitement in the tennis world at the moment with some sensational young talents emerging, making the competition for the top spot some of the fiercest it has been in years. It is no doubt that Paris 2024 will be an exhibition of world class tennis as well as a great advert for the game.

Want to watch the Olympians in action? Check out Engage Hospitality’s range of world class events where you can watch your favourite players from the best seats in the house.

Olympic Games Tennis
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