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Industry News
The Lawn Tennis Association ( LTA ) has been named as the title sponsor of the 2017 Business of Tennis Forum . Following the success of the last two events organised by the Tennis Industry Association , the LTA has agreed to be the title sponsor for the 2017 event with reserved rights to renew as title sponsor for 2018 . With a focus on commercial and business activity , TIAUK offers the LTA a means of adding value to its drive to increase participation and a practical way of engaging with the wider tennis industry . The annual Business of Tennis Forum offers a unique and important platform to highlight innovative solutions , provide current business insight and identify best practice as well as sharing new products and services to enhance the sport . “ TIAUK has worked hard to develop the Business of Tennis Forum into a valuable vehicle to learn from those within - and outside - the business of tennis , and to provide a platform for companies with innovative and exciting products and services to improve the tennis experience ,” said TIAUK Business Development Manager Phil Sandilands . “ Ultimately the Business of Tennis Forum is about tools and processes to improve the overall sustainability of tennis and this is why the LTA is very keen to support us .” The LTA will help promote the event to clubs and to British Tennis members and intend to have a number of LTA staff attending the event . The 2016 Business of Tennis Forum , held at the Queen ’ s Club in West London , saw LTA ’ s Head of Insight and Strategy Paul Burditt present the keynote speech , “ Growing the Game : Challenges , Opportunities ” and address the barriers to participation and identify potential areas of growth . As a further indicator of the improved engagement between the industry and the LTA , for the fi rst time the LTA is hosting a briefi ng meeting with the major equipment brands on October 10 . The meeting will enable the LTA to set the narrative on the state of British tennis , review its strategic plan for participation and open up discussion around issues and opportunities that are facing the tennis industry in Britain . The briefi ng meeting is expected to become a regular occurrence as part of an ongoing dialogue between the LTA and the tennis industry and the TIAUK . The Business of Tennis Forum will be held in April 2017 – week commencing April 3 – with the exact date and location to be confi rmed . For further information go to : www . tiauk . org
Monica Puig received the Association of National Olympic Committees Award for Best Female Athlete at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games . Puig won the gold medal in women ’ s singles , becoming the fi rst athlete — male or female — to win a gold medal for Puerto Rico , and the fi rst Puerto Rican female to medal at the Summer Games since the nation ’ s fi rst appearance in 1948 .