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Basketball Africa League Names PUMA as League’s Official Outfitter Ahead of 2026 Season

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The collaboration, which will begin with the 2026 BAL season that tips off on Friday, March 27 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, will see PUMA supply all official BAL team, fan and referee apparel

Our collaboration with PUMA reflects our shared commitment to elevating the African sports industry and basketball in particular

DAKAR, Senegal, March 17, 2026/APO Group/ —
  • ​PUMA to Supply Official BAL Team, Fan and Referee Apparel
  • Sixth BAL Season Tips Off on March 27 in South Africa; Tickets on Sale Now

 

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://BAL.NBA.com) and PUMA, one of the world’s leading sports brands, today announced a multiyear collaboration that makes PUMA the Official Outfitter of the BAL.

The collaboration, which will begin with the 2026 BAL season that tips off on Friday, March 27 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, will see PUMA supply all official BAL team, fan and referee apparel, including game uniforms, warm-up gear, practice wear, accessories, and branded tops for participants in the league’s social impact and player programming.

The fanwear, which reflects the energy, diversity and creativity of African basketball culture, will be available this season at BAL arenas, the BAL’s e-commerce store at https://BALStore.NBA.com, PUMA’s e-commerce store at https://za.PUMA.com, and at the three NBA Stores and two PUMA stores in South Africa.

“Our collaboration with PUMA reflects our shared commitment to elevating the African sports industry and basketball in particular,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall.  “PUMA’s innovation, creativity and deep connection to the continent’s sports ecosystem and our game make them an ideal partner to help us continue to raise the standard of African basketball, enhance the experience for teams, players and fans, and drive the BAL’s continued growth.”

“The collaboration with the BAL is an important step in PUMA’s brand commitment to growing the game worldwide,” said PUMA Vice President Sports Marketing & Sport Licensing, Johan Adamsson. “We look forward to bringing our performance technology to the forefront of the game and connecting with the many BAL fans globally.”

PUMA joins the BAL’s roster of partners that also includes Foundational Partner Rwanda Development Board and Official Partners Afreximbank, Air Senegal, Amazon Web Services, Castle Lite and RwandAir.

Tickets for the Kalahari Conference group phase are on sale now at Ticketmaster.za (https://apo-opa.co/4db9e95). Tickets for Playoffs and Finals are on sale at BAL.NBA.com/Ticket (https://apo-opa.co/4uxRMBF). Fans who purchase tickets will also have free access to the BAL Fan Zone at each arena.

Additional information about the 2026 BAL season will be announced in the coming days.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).

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Many happy returns as Kai Tak Sports Park celebrates first anniversary

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Over 120 event days in first year of operation
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 March 2026 – Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) celebrated its milestone first anniversary on Sunday (1 March), successfully hosting nearly 50 major events and delivering over 120 international and local sports and entertainment days since its grand opening.

KTSP has established a unique identity as the city’s new “Home Venue” for major sports and entertainment events. Highlights have included the Hong Kong Sevens (rugby), the Hong Kong Football Festival featuring top teams such as Liverpool, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as concerts by British rock band Coldplay, Mandopop rock band Mayday, singer Jay Chou and global pop icons BLACKPINK.

Sports activities at the Park have welcomed more than 840,000 participants so far. In terms of sports activities, the three major facilities—Kai Tak Stadium, Kai Tak Arena and Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground—together with the bowling centre, outdoor sports facilities and open spaces in the precinct, are expected to surpass 200 event days from the Park’s opening through to the end of March 2026.

In the past year, the utilisation rates of the Kai Tak Stadium and Kai Tak Arena have reached close to 90%. Kai Tak Stadium has already attracted over 1.8 million attendees, rapidly becoming a powerful new driving force in advancing Hong Kong’s sports industry, events economy, and tourism development.

“Our first anniversary is not only a major milestone for Kai Tak Sports Park, but also a moment of pride for Hong Kong. Over the past year, we witnessed athletes’ determination, outstanding performances from artists, and the unforgettable energy of cheering audiences. Each event has touched and inspired us.

“As Hong Kong’s largest integrated sports, leisure and entertainment landmark, we are committed to bringing the community together while strengthening Hong Kong’s connection with the Greater Bay Area and the international stage,” said a spokesperson for KTSP.

The centerpiece 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium was ranked third in the world and top in Asia for total ticket sales in 2025 just nine months after its debut, according to Pollstar’s 2025 year-end stadium charts (published mid-December 2025). Pollstar also ranked Kai Tak Stadium No.5 worldwide and No.1 in Asia for total gross revenue (1.25 million passes worth US$191.34 million). Meanwhile, the 10,000-seat Kai Tak Arena, was ranked Asia’s No. 8 in terms of total gross revenue.

“Seeing the Park evolve over the past year into a major sports destination for Hong Kong has been incredibly inspiring,” said Hong Kong, China karatedo team former representative, Lee Chun Ho. “Every time I walk in, I can feel the energy. The professional facilities not only support large-scale events but also make it easier for the public to access different sports, whether they’re beginners or experienced enthusiasts.”

 

With an expanding line‑up of exciting events, enhanced visitor experiences and an increasingly compelling programme of global attractions, KTSP will further advance the integration of culture, sports and tourism, ushering in an even brighter and more vibrant chapter for Hong Kong.

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China’s Dairy Serves Overseas Winter Olympics for the First Time Mengniu’s “World-Class Quality” Nourishes Global Athletes’ Drive to Excel

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MILAN, ITALY – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 February 2026 – From February 7 to 23, 2026, during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, Mengniu Group, as a Worldwide Olympic Partner (TOP), has introduced three specially crafted dairy products—pure milk, yogurt, and butter—into the Milan Olympic Village. These products provide high-quality nutritional support to athletes, coaches, and staff from around the world. This marks the first time China’s dairy industry has served an overseas Winter Olympic Games. Mengniu is the only Chinese dairy enterprise supplying products for this Winter Games, once again demonstrating its world-class product quality and its strong capability to lead China’s dairy industry onto the global stage.

The second “China Night” event, hosted by Mengniu Group and guided by the Chinese Olympic Committee, was held in Milan

Notably, during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, the second “China Night” event, hosted by Mengniu Group and guided by the Chinese Olympic Committee, was held on the evening of February 7 in Milan. The event, themed “China Night, Light of the Five Rings,” aimed to unite Chinese sports culture, promote the Olympic spirit, and foster international cultural exchange and mutual learning. Speeches were delivered by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Coventry, Chinese Olympic Committee Deputy Secretary-General and Director of Market Development Yu Jianyong, and Mengniu Group President Gao Fei. Attendees included IOC Executive Board Member and Chinese Olympic Committee Vice President Li Lingwei, IOC Member Zhang Hong, Asian Olympic Council Athletes’ Commission Chair Ding Ning, TCL Technology CEO Wang Cheng, Alibaba Olympic Marketing Department General Manager Xie Long, as well as representatives from sports, culture, business, and media sectors.

“‘China Night’ has become a bridge for promoting sports and cultural exchange, which is the essence of the Olympic Games: bringing people together and building mutual understanding,” said Bach in his speech. Coventry added that her 2025 visit to Mengniu deeply impressed her with their shared values. Looking ahead, he expressed his commitment to continue partnering with Mengniu to advocate the Olympic spirit through healthy products, sustainable development, and a passion for sports and culture, and he looks forward to the next “China Night” event at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Mengniu Group President Gao Fei stated that sports and milk are natural allies. Mengniu’s corporate spirit of “Born to Excel” resonates perfectly with the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger—Together.” Mengniu aims not only to bring healthy, nutritious products to the Olympic arena but also to extend its corporate responsibility and commitment worldwide, further promoting the Olympic spirit.

As the world’s first dairy TOP partner, Mengniu leverages its solid product strength and outstanding quality to provide comprehensive nutritional support for the Olympics. At the Milan Olympic Village, Mengniu Group offers three dairy products—milk, yogurt, and butter—ensuring high-quality nutrition for athletes, coaches, and staff from around the globe.

Mengniu’s three products (whole milk, lactose-free simple yogurt, butter) serving the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games

Mengniu has supplied three products to the Olympic Village: whole milk, lactose-free simple yogurt, and butter. These three complementary dairy categories cover athletes’ basic nutritional needs while also catering to the personalized requirements of special groups, fully realizing the goal of “drinking milk, drinking good milk, and drinking the right milk” for athletes. When China’s dairy innovation meets the Olympic spirit of striving for excellence, a mutual journey of “breakthrough” shines brilliantly on the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games stage.

This cultural expression through paper-cutting art aligns perfectly with Mengniu’s brand story told to the world. On the occasion of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games opening, Mengniu released the opening theme film “Opening” under the slogan “Crossing Thousands of Mountains and Seas, Together for the Winter Olympics.” The film invites billions of viewers worldwide to experience the warmth of Chinese New Year reunions on the global stage of ice and snow sports, jointly witnessing the mutual pursuit of “excellence” and “togetherness.” The “Opening” film uses the snowy landscape as paper and ice sports as the carving tool to create Chinese paper-cut art. With lively morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) and throat singing, it features Mengniu brand ambassadors—Eileen Gu, Jia Ling, Xiao Zhan, and Jackson Yee—conveying the spirit of “Born to Excel.” The film cleverly connects scenes of the grasslands, the Great Wall, the Leaning Tower, and the sports venues, symbolizing Mengniu’s journey from grassland cattle and Chinese cattle to world-class cattle in its pursuit of excellence. Released at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games opening, this theme film once again showcases the style and responsibility of Chinese brands to the world. “Born to Excel” shines like a radiant spiritual totem, adding a moving Eastern echo to the long history of the Olympics.

The Milan chapter of “China Night” concluded successfully, while a new chapter of dialogue between Chinese brands and the world has just begun. Looking ahead, Mengniu will inspire perseverance through the light of sports, connect hearts through the light of culture, and illuminate the future through the light of sustainability. With this warm and powerful “Light of China,” Mengniu aims to contribute even greater strength to the global development of the Olympic movement.

 

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National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa and Senyorita to Launch NBA’s First University Basketball Tournament on the Continent and Largest Jr. NBA/Jr. Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Tournament Ever in Egypt

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Lion joins existing partners Allianz and Maven Developments as Official Partners of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA tournament in Egypt, which this year will expand to include nearly 150 boys’ and girls’ teams

CAIRO, Egypt, January 16, 2026/APO Group/ —
  • NBA REC University Tournament Will Feature Men’s and Women’s Teams from 40 Public and Private Universities Across Five Cities in Egypt
  • Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Tournament Will Expand to Include Nearly 150 Boys’ and Girls’ Teams from More than 50 Private Schools in Alexandria and Cairo

 

NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) and Senyorita For Food Industries, a leading manufacturer of snack foods in Egypt, through its chip brand Lion, yesterday announced a collaboration to launch the NBA’s first university basketball tournament on the continent and the largest Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA tournament ever in Egypt.

 

The announcement was made by Senyorita Chief Operating Officer Sherif El Nokaly and Head of NBA Egypt Mohamed Motaleb-Abdel Soliman at a signing ceremony in Cairo.

 

Our collaboration with Senyorita is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to create more opportunities for Egyptian youth to learn and play basketball

The NBA REC University Tournament will feature 3-on-3 competition between men’s and women’s teams from 40 public and private universities across five cities: Alexandria, Assyiut, Cairo, Giza and Mansoura.  Operated by Events Plus, the league will tip off in April and conclude with the playoffs and finals in Cairo in May.

 

Lion joins existing partners Allianz and Maven Developments as Official Partners of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA tournament in Egypt, which this year will expand to include nearly 150 boys’ and girls’ teams of youth ages 14 and under from more than 50 private schools in Cairo, and for the first time, Alexandria.  The expanded tournament – also operated by Events Plus – tipped off in Dec. 2025 with the Eastern Conference in New Cairo and the Western Conference in New Giza and will culminate with the playoffs in February and finals in April.

 

“Our collaboration with the NBA aligns perfectly with our mission to bring people together,” said Nokaly.  “Whether it’s families, fans, or young athletes, we’re proud to support and inspire athletic communities through both great snacks and great moments.”

 

“Our collaboration with Senyorita is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to create more opportunities for Egyptian youth to learn and play basketball,” said Soliman.  “The NBA REC University Tournament and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA tournament will provide structured environments for aspiring players across the country to progress in their development while learning important values like teamwork, leadership and respect.”

 

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills and core values of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.  Last year, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programming reached more than 390,000 youth in more than 40 countries across Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

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