ICC partners with NEAR Foundation to engage fans via Web3

ICC has announced a multi-year partnership with the NEAR Foundation. The objective is to deepen engagement with cricket fans during the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which India will host. Following the tournament’s conclusion, the ICC and NAR Foundation will work to strengthen the loyalty of fans toward the sport.

The International Cricket Council has emphasized that it will leverage the capabilities of the Web3 mechanisms developed by the NEAR Foundation to build a contest. The partnership is expected to run until 2025, with a chance of expansion depending on how the response rolls out. For starters, the first event built on the Foundation’s Blockchain Operating System tests cricket fans’ knowledge.

Winners will be selected every week per the ICC’s leaderboard. They will then stand a chance to win rewards like match tickets, access to exclusive events, merchandise, and other similar benefits. All they have to do is form a perfect combination of three segments: fielding, bowling, and batting. The performance will be tracked in association with the event to allocate the total points then. Meaning that the players’ real on-field performance will affect the participants’ digital scores.

ICC has chosen to build the project on the Foundation’s Blockchain Operating System, also known as BOS, for its reliability. Other benefits that BOS offers to its partners are scalability, security, and being community-centric. No matter the kind and level of Web3 strategy ICC drafts in the future, the NEAR Foundation will be all ears to make it happen. The ICC is attempting to establish a direct connection with fans across the world for increased engagement and loyalty toward cricket.

NEAR Foundation and ICC are also working to introduce Fan Passport, a section that will store fans’ memories and actions digitally.

Finn Bradshaw, the Head of Digital at ICC, has said that they are now looking forward to exploring more ways to leverage the technology to offer a better experience to fans. Finn has also expressed excitement about their partnership with the NEAR Foundation, stating that it will use their talent network and technology to create deeper and better engagement across the world.

Chris Donovan of the NEAR Foundation has expressed his enthusiasm, and it seems to be mutual. The chief executive officer has expressed excitement about collaborating with ICC under the multiyear partnership agreement. Chris has stated that their agreement with ICC is one of the most significant announcements of a partnership to date.

Donovan anticipates greater exposure to millions of fans, with the hope that the brand will be able to raise awareness of its operations and mission to accelerate the adoption of an open web and Blockchain Operating System.

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 begins on October 5, 2023, with England and New Zealand scheduled to play the opener at Narendra Modi Stadium.