Zurich Insurance’s Post

🩷 Celebrating International Women’s Day 🃏 It’s #InternationalWomensDay and in a change from our usual focus on Rugby and the #RedRoses, this year it’s Stevie Nicks. …and the reason? Well it’s just that she’s Stevie Nicks! 🩷 🃏 #QuintessentialMarketing #DigitalMarketing #SocialMedia #socialmediamarketing

Just Read: A Golden Slam winner (Wheelchair Tennis Grand Slam + Paralympics Gold in the same year, 2021), Wheelchair Basketball Paralympics gold medallist (2008), Australian of the Year (2022), Logie Award Winner (2019) … and the list goes on. Dylan Alcott’s trophy cabinet is either very large or very full. Probably both. His book ‘Able’ is in part the story behind the rise of an elite athlete, and across two sports - basketball and tennis. That includes intense rivalries, such as that with the US’s David Wagner on the tennis court. But it is, of course, also the story of a person born and living with a disability, and becoming a leading disability advocate. Someone passionate about normalising / mainstreaming disability and giving people living with a disability the opportunity to fulfil their full potential - including employment - and to achieve their own dreams, as he has done. Someone committed to promoting the wider inclusion and representation of people with a disability, including a better recongition across Australian society of their needs and capacity. To that end, ‘Able’ explores the awakening in Alcott of this potential role and ambition, and as his sporting success and public profile grew. These two themes are interwoven throughout the book, ranging from the ingredients for success in the sporting arena through to the unrelenting pursuit of enjoying life to its fullest, from crowd surfing at music concerts, adventures in Southeast Asia, public speaking and media commentary. But ‘Able’ is also a story of considerable vulnerability, and how Alcott stared into those challenges - including bullying - as well as highlighting the many figures that have shaped and influenced his success, no group more so than his immediate family. But also others such as Craig Tiley at Tennis Australia in building the profile and opportunity for wheelchair tennis. It is also an account of many amusing tales (not to mention the Roger Federer locker room ‘encounter’), all written with Alcott’s trademark humour and candour. #disabilityinclusion #disabilityawareness #eliteathletes Dylan Alcott Foundation #bookreview #advocacy #leadership

Paris 2024 - Comité d'organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 2024 will be the first Olympic Games to have an equal number of male and female medalists. "Sport has long been a male-dominated affair. Things are evolving, but there’s still a lot of ground to cover," says LAURA FLESSEL OLY, France’s sports minister and most famous female fencer, who competed in five Olympics and was a coach at her sixth consecutive games. "Paris 2024 will show a new image of women’s sport and female athletes. The image of women who are both mothers and champions," says Laura, whose first Olympics was in Atlanta 1996 and her last in Rio in 2016: in total she won two gold medals and three further medals in the épée events. Laura became France's Sports Minister in 2017 and was instrumental for France winning the bid to host the 2024 Games. "Many women still see sport as a purely curative activity. With the Games, they'll realise that it's much more than that. Paris 2024 will highlight female champions, but also coaches and referees." https://lnkd.in/ersfMgV9 #Diversity #Inclusion #DiversityAndInclusion #InclusionAndDiversity #DiversityNetwork #GenderParity #Paris2024

### Newsletter: Spanish Paralympics Basketball Team – When Cheating Hits Rock Bottom Hey everyone, Get ready for a scandal that’ll make your jaw drop. It’s one thing to cheat in sports, but to fake an entire disability to win gold? That’s next-level messed up. During the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, the Spanish basketball team pulled off one of the biggest cheats ever. The head of the Spanish Federation of Sports People with Intellectual Disabilities, Fernando Martin Vicente, cooked up a scheme so outrageous it sounds like a bad movie plot. They recruited players who didn’t actually have intellectual disabilities. These impostors went on to win gold by a huge margin, and Spain was celebrating like there was no tomorrow. But here’s where it gets wild – one of the players was actually an investigative journalist. Carlos Ribagorda blew the whistle on the whole scam, exposing the fraud to the world. As a result, the team was disqualified, and Vicente had to resign. This whole mess shows us that cheating isn’t just a problem in sports; it’s a major issue in life, too. Whether you’re on the court or just going about your day, being honest and playing fair is crucial. Don’t let the temptation to cheat cloud your integrity. #CheatingSucks #FairPlay #ParalympicsScandal #HonestyMatters #IntegrityFirst

Are you a property owner with a property in and around the Wimbledon area looking to capitalise on the buzz surrounding the Wimbledon tennis tournament? With just 100 days to go until the 137th Championships, now is the perfect time to strategise and maximise your rental income during this exciting event. The All England Lawn Tennis Club has announced record ballot entries, indicating unprecedented interest from both local and international attendees. As excitement builds, hospitality packages are selling out fast, with 95% already snapped up by eager fans. So, how can you tap into this demand and boost your rental income? Consider offering short-term lets during the Wimbledon Fortnight. With visitors flocking from around the world to experience the tournament, your property could be in high demand. With the right strategy, you can turn the Wimbledon excitement into a lucrative opportunity for your rental property. Don't miss out on the chance to maximise your income during this prestigious event! For more information on how to make the most of your rental property during Wimbledon, DM ME. #Wimbledon2024 #ShortTermLets #RentalIncomeOpportunity

#thisdayinhistory Hey, Tennis Enthusiasts and Sports Lovers! Did you know that exactly 150 years ago, on Feb 23, 1874, what we now cherish as lawn tennis received its patent? This moment marked the beginning of a journey to see tennis evolve from a leisurely garden activity to a global professional sport packed with excitement and skill. How much do you know about the sport you love? Are you ready to test your tennis quotient? Let's sample a few milestone events: 1. THE INAUGURAL WIMBLEDON It all began in London in 1877, with Spencer Gore clinching the men’s singles championship, setting the stage for what would become the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Do you know who won the first Wimbledon women’s singles? 2. THE MODERN TENNIS NET In 1891, a game-changer was introduced – the woven cord net, standing 3 feet tall at the center. Remarkably, this design remains a standard in tennis courts worldwide. 3. A TECHNICOLOUR MILESTONE Wimbledon in colour! In 1967, the BBC broadcast Wimbledon in colour for the first time, bringing the vibrant greens of the grass to life in viewers' homes. 4. THE DAWN OF THE OPEN ERA 1968 marked a pivotal year with the beginning of the Open Era, allowing professionals to compete with amateurs. This revolutionised the sport, paving the way for tennis to grow professionally. 5. THE BRIGHT YELLOW BALL To enhance visibility for television audiences, the IFT introduced a new yellow tennis ball, replacing the traditional white ball. 6. EQUALITY IN PRIZE MONEY Fast forward to 2007, a landmark year when the WTA succeeded in campaigning for equal prize money for male and female singles winners at Wimbledon. A massive win for equality in sports! 7. HAWK-EYE TECHNOLOGY Also, in 2007, tennis embraced technology with the introduction of Hawk-Eye, allowing players to challenge umpire decisions. By 2022, the US Open had fully transitioned to relying on Hawk-Eye Live, bidding farewell to line judges. How many of these incredible tennis facts did you know? #News18Creative has compiled a list of 15 milestones for each decade of lawn tennis. These milestones are just the tip of the iceberg in the rich 150-year-old tennis history. Many others could have been on this list. Share your tennis stories and trivia (not part of our list) that should have made it into the top 15 milestones. The court is yours!

🔝This is incredible ! 🤩 Leaders like Michele Kang investing in Women's Football and supporting Women's Sports like Rugby is the kind of news that I love to hear about everyday. 🚀 Also, if you are into Women's Football Industry and it's growth, you must follow Kynisca and Kynisca Innovation Hub. Big and impactfull projects are coming soon. ⬇️ Check it out #football #womenfootball #invest #innovation #leaders #womeninfootball #growth

A Lions Tour. Great news for women's rugby - let's hope they forge their own identity. A carbon copy of the men's Lions tours would not be good for the women's Lions tour. I wrote this article about the possibility of a women's Lions in 2019 (among other things). I still think my opinion stands: "As the game grows – and there is now talk of a women’s Lions tour (Lionesses?), I hope they do not feel obliged to follow the men’s format to South Africa and Australia, where women’s rugby is not so strong. They can create something new – why not a rotation between France, Canada and New Zealand? There’s no reason to copy what’s been done just because the men do it. It’s a chance to forge an identity." The more I think about it, the more epic a Lions tour in France would be. Imagine the travelling support from the UK!

As the Australian Open unfolds its thrilling spectacle on the courts, my mind takes an introspective detour to a different kind of tennis battlefield—the Annual Parent Tennis Tournament at the kid's primary school. Picture this: a lively, friendly competition dominated by 99% women, each wielding a tennis racket with enthusiasm, camaraderie and occasionally, a strategic aim. It was during one of these spirited matches that the infamous inner thigh shot became etched in my tennis chronicles. The opponent, a mum, determined and perhaps a tad too competitive, made it her mission to unleash powerful shots to me whilst I was at the net, blocking as many as possible. Alas, the inner thigh fell victim to a well-aimed missile, leaving a mark both physically and deep in my memory and an eternal dislike for that particular mum! But here's where the story takes a teeny detour into innovation. While the creation of Boob Armour isn't the central theme, it's worth a nod in this reflection. The Parent Tennis Tournament, predominantly a celebration of sportsmanship and camaraderie, inadvertently contributed to the broader dialogue on the unseen risks that come with playing sports. As I sit immersed in the Australian Open today, surrounded by the skill and finesse of professional athletes, I can't help but appreciate the diverse nature of the sports journey. It's not just about the matches on the grand stage but also about the countless courts where parents, amateurs, and enthusiasts engage in their own versions of tennis battles. So, here's to the Annual Parent Tennis Tournament, where 99% women wield their rackets with joy and friendly competition, inadvertently weaving a narrative that extends beyond the visible rallies. And, yes, to those strategic shots that sparked a moment of reflection and perhaps a tiny touch of innovation in the form of Boob Armour. 🎾💪 #TennisJourney #SportsReflection #AustralianOpenChronicles #BoobArmourInnovation #ParentsTennisTales #GameOnCourt #MemoriesOnCourt #SportsMoments #TennisDetours #AustralianOpenMagic #ao Tory Archbold Pip Stocks Elise Elliott Elise Hedley Dale Alexis Daish Australian Open Alex Mallen Pip Stocks Katherine Bishop Katherine McIntosh Laura Burton

🎾 🎾 For the Love of Tennis 🎾 🎾 I watched Wimbledon as a little girl living in London and watch it still 30 years later, living in Hong Kong. It is, without a doubt, my favourite sport. Here is why I love tennis: 🎾 There is no one on that court but you and the problem on the other side of the net. During crucial moments that count, you've got to figure it out all on your own. Everything you've learnt up until this point helps you do so. 🎾 The rest of the time, players who value success lean into their dedicated support team, from coaches and agents to family and friends. 🎾 The game is tight - all it takes is a few bad points for the tide to turn (anyone watch the insane 5-setter where American Taylor Fritz beat Germany's Sasha Zverev after being two sets down?). 🎾 It is deeply psychological - players use a variety of tactics to improve their mental state and undermine that of their opponent (how unfortunate that negative self-talk keeps getting in Ons Jabeur's way; to be contrasted with Carlos Alcaraz's positive body language). 🎾 No matter how good you are one year, next year is a whole different ball game (right, Ms Vondrousova?). Tennis is a perfect metaphor for so many things in life: to stay on top like Federer, Serena Williams, and Djokovic you have to keep working on your game, keep exercising to keep yourself nimble and healthy, keep reacting to new circumstances. You don't stop when you get good; you keep going. Continued success requires consistency, work, and love for what you’re doing. And on that last point: have you ever noticed that top tennis planners seldom mention the enormous prize money (Alcaraz and Krejčíková each walked away with GBP2.7 million after winning Wimbledon this year)? No, because it’s not their primary motivation. They compete because they love the game, despite the back-breaking work, despite the injuries, despite the heartbreak of loss. The money is just a collateral benefit. Why are you any different? #coachingmatters #fortheloveofthegame #tennis #careersatisfaction #careerchange