Category: Accessories

Handball federation changes uniform rules after pressure over ‘sexist’ bikini rule | Sport

Bella
Handball federation changes uniform rules after pressure over ‘sexist’ bikini rule | Sport

The International Handball Federation has responded to widespread accusations of sexism by changing its rules around women’s uniforms to allow bike shorts and tank tops instead of bikini bottoms and crop tops.

The sport’s global governing body has been the subject of international pressure since July, when the European Handball Federation made headlines for imposing a €1,500 fine on the Norwegian women’s beach handball team for wearing shorts like their male counterparts during the Euro 21 tournament in Bulgaria. At the time, the EHF described the shorts as “improper clothing”.

At some point over the past month the IHF has quietly altered its regulations for beach handball, which now stipulate that “female athletes must wear short tight pants with a close fit”. Male athletes can still wear regular shorts as long as 10cm above the knee “if not too baggy”.

It follows a campaign by Norway-based Australian activist Talitha Stone, whose petition – supported by gender equality organisation Collective Shout – attracted 61,000 signatures.

“I hope this is the beginning of the end of sexism and objectification of women and girls in sport,” said Stone, who led Collective Shout’s 2012 campaign against the Lingerie Football League. “And that in future all women and girls will be free to participate in sport without fear of wardrobe malfunctions and sexual harassment.”

Comparison of the former women’s beach handball uniform (left) and the current one.
Comparison of the former women’s beach handball uniform (left) and the current one. Photograph: International Handball Federation

In July, US pop star Pink threw her support behind the Norwegian team, tweeting her pride in them “protesting the very sexist rules” and offering to pay their fines. The country’s minister for culture and sport, Abid Raja, described the ruling as being “completely ridiculous” and women’s sports associations across Europe also called for the resignation of the presidents of both the IHF

… Read More

World Series Special: 5 Watches and Accessories Inspired by Baseball | WatchTime

Bella
World Series Special: 5 Watches and Accessories Inspired by Baseball | WatchTime

The 2021 World Series is in full swing as America’s Pastime takes its place at the top of the United States’ national sports pyramid at the end of October. Tapping into baseball’s historical mystique as well as the star power of its greatest players, several watchmakers have produced timepieces that celebrate this uniquely American game. Here are four watches (and one really cool watch-adjacent accessory) that speak to baseball’s enduring appeal.

The Oris Roberto Clemente Limited Edition pays homage to legendary Pittsburgh Pirates player and renowned humanitarian Roberto Clemente. Its white dial with black-and-gold accents is inspired by Clemente’s Pirates uniform colors, and its 40-mm stainless steel case with screw-in security crown has a solid engraved caseback with a relief image of the Hall of Famer along with the watch’s limited edition number out of 3,000 pieces inspired by Clemente’s historic achievement as the first Latino player with 3,000 hits. Equipped with the automatic Caliber 754, which powers a GMT function, the watch is mounted on a brown leather strap with double stitching similar to that used on baseballs. More details here.

Oris Roberto Clemente Limited Edition

The Pennsylvania Series 801 “Baseball in Enamel,” launched in 2014 by Lancaster, PA-based RGM Watch Company, takes its cues from a rare 1892 American Waltham Watch Co. pocketwatch with a special baseball-themed enamel dial that Watch Company founder Roland Murphy discovered while touring the National Watch and Clock Museum. After a three-year search, Murphy found an expert craftsman to re-create the grand feu enamel dial, depicting miniature baseball players at the hour positions, for a wristwatch. Behind that masterfully executed enamel dial is RGM’s in-house Caliber 801 movement, with classically shaped bridges, polished and blued steel components, and an array of hand-finishes and decorations. The polished steel case, with its Keystone-shaped winding crown,

… Read More

BUSINESS BRIEFS: Open house at Kenver; PS21 adds four to board; Salisbury Bank holds 14th annual food drive

Bella
BUSINESS BRIEFS: Open house at Kenver; PS21 adds four to board; Salisbury Bank holds 14th annual food drive

Kenver, Ltd. will hold an open house on Thursday, Nov. 4 from 4-6 p.m. The public is invited to meet the shop’s new owners while enjoying light refreshments. Illustration courtesy Kenver

SOUTH EGREMONT — On August 31, longtime South Egremont sportswear boutique and outdoor retail hub Kenver, Ltd. was sold to OvareVentures, which is headquartered in Glendale, California.

On Thursday, Nov. 4 from 4-6 p.m., the public is invited to meet Kenver’s new owners at an Open House. The South Egremont Spirit Shoppe will supply the beer and cheese, and Rubiner’s Cheesemongers & Grocers will bring the charcuterie.

Founded in 1959 by the late sportsman and skier Ken Vermeulen, Kenver specializes in best-in-category sports equipment, including skis, bikes, snowboards, and ice skates. Kenver also sells seasonal designer sporting apparel and footwear, and features a dedicated bootery cellar with fitting specialists as well as a curated collection of artisan wares and home accessories.

Kenver’s historic building at 39 Main Street was built in 1731 as a stagecoach stop, and it maintains its ambiance with fireplaces and antiques. Kenver has twice been named “Best of New England” in the Ski, Snowboard and Cross-Country Shop Awards presented by New England Winter Sports Representatives, Inc.

—A.K.

 *     *     *

PS21 welcomes four new board members

PS21’s new board members, L to R clockwise: Judith Albert, Sarah Chalfant, Leslie Lassiter, and Louis Hedgecock. Photos courtesy PS21

CHATHAM, N.Y. — PS21 has welcomed Judith Albert, Sarah Chalfant, Louis Hedgecock, and Leslie Lassiter to its board of directors. Distinguished professionals in the fields of architecture, finance, law, and literary agency, they all share PS21’s commitment to expanding the audiences for original contemporary performing arts and artists in the Hudson Valley and beyond.

Judith Albert is board chair of Cornerstone Capital Group, which develops and manages

… Read More

BSN Sports Swim Team of the Month: SwimAtlanta

Bella
BSN Sports Swim Team of the Month: SwimAtlanta

While swimming around the world still looks a lot different than normal due to the effects of COVID-19, we’re still highlighting and celebrating swim teams from across the country. This month, we’re taking a closer at SwimAtlanta, a year-round USA Swimming club based out of Atlanta, GA. Founded over forty years ago, SwimAtlanta serves the Atlanta area by providing everything from learn-to-swim instruction to specialized training for some of the top club athletes in the nation. Consisting of roughly 2000 swimmers across seven locations, SwimAtlanta is a perennial USA Swimming gold medal team that last year ranked #11 across the nation in the Club Excellence program.

SwimAtlanta alumni including Olympians like Hans Dersch, Doug Gjertsen, Kathleen Hersey, Eric Shanteau, and Amanda Weir. The team continues to produce swimmers who shine on the national, college and international levels, including 2019 World Junior Championships gold medalist and 4:06 500 freestyler Jake Magahey and blue-chip prospects like Jack Aikins and Sebastien Sergile.

Coach Chris Davis was one of the founders of SwimAtlanta back in 1977, and he still leads the club over 40 years later. We spoke with Chris to help readers get a sense of what makes Swim Atlanta special, as well as some of his reflection on over four decades on the pool deck.

Despite being a large, multi-site group, the SwimAtlanta coaches focus on the individual, something that’s reflected in Davis’ explanation of his coaching philosophy.

To make the sport fun for the athlete and to help each individual understand their potential as a swimmer. Additionally to create a road map for them to follow should they choose to realize that potential.

By keeping the focus on the individual, SwimAtlanta’s coaches are able to help swimmers develop both in and out of the pool.

… Read More

Marucci Sports Tightens Its Grip On Baseball, Buying Lizard Skins For Almost $50 Million

Bella
Marucci Sports Tightens Its Grip On Baseball, Buying Lizard Skins For Almost Million

Baseball equipment company Marucci Sports today announced the acquisition of Lizard Skins, a manufacturer of grip tape used in baseball, hockey and other sports, as part of a bid to expand its position in the industry and test the waters in new markets. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. However, according to people familiar with the matter, the deal is worth nearly $50 million.

Since being founded by former major leaguer Kurt Ainsworth and a pair of partners in 2004, Marucci Sports has grown into a baseball-bat powerhouse. More than 25% of MLB players used Marucci bats on opening day this year, according to Bat Digest, the single highest share of any brand. Another 15% used Victus, a subsidiary of Marucci that the company acquired in 2017. That type of dominance is part of what led investment holding company Compass Diversified to purchase Marucci for $200 million in April 2020. Albert Pujols, Buster Posey, David Ortiz and several other active and retired MLB stars previously invested in Marucci, although the company would not disclose who is still actively involved. (Both brands are also featured as equip-able apparel in Sony Interactive’s MLB The Show video game franchise.)

But the major leagues are just a small fraction of Marucci’s business; Ainsworth says MLB accounts for “probably less than 2% overall sales.” Marucci posted a profit of $28 million on $99 million in revenue for the trailing 12 months ending on June 30. In addition to producing wood and aluminum bats from T-ball all the way to the pros, Marucci makes uniforms, batting gloves, bags and “pretty much everything right

… Read More