The International Cricket Council (ICC) celebrated the start of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 by unveiling its most ambitious programme of digital innovation to date. Including predictor app Fanscore, Fantasy gaming, Twitter emojis, personalized Twitter DMs, Facebook Live and a mobile app that has had close to 10 million overall downloads, cricket fans can get closer to the game than ever before.
 
At the heart of the fan experience is the Champions Trophy mobile responsive, widget based website which has had more than two million unique visitors since its launch last month. The website gives fans an unrivaled online match day experience including live blog coverage, in match highlights with interactive scorecards, predictive analysis and live audio commentary of every game.
 
Supporting the website is the ICC app available on Apple and Android, giving fans exclusive content on their favourite teams. FanScore, the official ICC predictor game which is part of the ICC Champions Trophy app, pits fans around the world against each other in an easy to play predictor game. Fans also have the chance to vote on the MRF Tyres Player of the Match through the app and play in global and national predictor leagues as well as private leagues against friends.
 
Day one of the Champions Trophy saw more than 100,000 Fantasy teams created via the ICC Fantasy game and fans can still sign up to both the Classic and Super6 game. The Classic game allows users to pick their starting XI and use their managerial skills to make transfers throughout the tournament. Super6 is a daily play fantasy game where users pick six players per fixture with ICC memorabilia up for grabs every day.
 
In a first for global sports federations, fans can get a personalised experience via Direct Messages on Twitter with @ICC. They can do this by simply tapping on the ‘Message’ button on ICC’s profile on Twitter. The experience will help them keep up with tournament information and the latest videos from the event. There’s even a special surprise to unlock when fans pick their team within this experience.
 
Fans can also jump straight into the conversation around the Champions Trophy by Tweeting with #CT17 and unlocking a new Twitter Emoji of the trophy. They will also have the opportunity to receive a personalized video reply from a commentator when they Tweet with #CT17 and tag @ICC in their Tweet.
 
For fans who might miss out on the day’s action from the Champions Trophy, @ICC will have Twitter Moment for every match with a daily recap of the best photos, videos and Tweets in an easy-to follow swipe-able format.
 
ICC commercial partners are also supporting the ICC’s fan engagement with the ever popular Nissan Play of the Day returning via both the ICC Website and App. Fans can vote for key plays each day of the tournament. The Oppo Selfie gives fans the chance to upload their selfie to become part of a photo mosaic on the website
 
Matches from the Champions Trophy will be live streamed in most countries in Continental Europe and Japan and fans globally will continue to enjoy rich content across the ICC Facebook page including Facebook Lives with the leading commentators and players, including some masterclasses by the team of #ChampionCommentators. Fans also get a chance to watch post-match reactions via the live streaming of press conference on ICC’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
 
The other social media accounts, Instagram and Snapchat, continue to provide wall-to-wall behind the scenes coverage, taking fans closer to the game than ever before.
 
ICC Head of Media Rights, Broadcast and Digital Aarti Dabas said: “This is undoubtedly our most exciting and innovative approach to an ICC tournament yet. Everything we have put in place is focused on bringing tens of millions of fans closer to the players and the game whether that’s via involvement in our classic fantasy game or a fun one off predictor game, there really is something for everyone.
 
“We are committed to growing cricket around the world via innovation in the digital space and our partnership with various digital innovators and leading social media organisations enables us to do that building personal connections with our fans globally. We’re thrilled to celebrate the Champions Trophy by being the first global sports federation to launch a personalized Direct Message experience for fans on Twitter to catch up with the latest videos and bringing our broadcast, commentators and players closer to the fans.”
 
ENDS
 
FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT
 
Claire Furlong
ICC General Manager – Strategic Communications
UK Mobile: +44 (0) 07768 793273
Dubai Mobile - +971 50 640 1106
Email – claire.furlong@icc-cricket.com
 
ABOUT THE ICC
 
The ICC is the global governing body for cricket. Representing 105 members, the ICC governs and administrates the game and is responsible for the staging of major international tournaments including the ICC World Cup and Women’s World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Men’s and Women’s World T20.
 
The ICC presides over the ICC Code of Conduct which sets the professional standards of discipline for international cricket, playing conditions, bowling reviews and other ICC regulations. The Laws of the game remain under the auspices of the MCC.
 
The ICC also appoints the umpires and referees that officiate at all sanctioned Test matches, One Day International and Twenty20 Internationals. Through the Anti-Corruption Unit it coordinates action against corruption and match fixing.
 
The ICC Development department works with associate and affiliate members to improve the quality of international cricket, build better cricket systems, get more people playing cricket and grow the game.
 
 
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