Key Insights:

• ICC and NEAR Foundation unite for a groundbreaking Web 3.0 fan platform.
• Fans can strategize in batting, bowling, and fielding, influencing real-world team points.
• The partnership aims to immortalize fan memories on the blockchain until 2025.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the NEAR Foundation have embarked on a strategic partnership, marking a significant stride in sports and technology. This alliance aims to develop a Web 3.0 fan engagement platform, leveraging the NEAR Foundation’s innovative blockchain technology to offer fans a more interactive experience with their favorite cricket teams and players.

Innovative Fan Engagement Platform

The NEAR Foundation, renowned for establishing the NEAR protocol blockchain, operates as a community-driven cloud computing platform. This collaboration is set to unveil a groundbreaking Web 3.0 fan engagement platform during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, starting October 5. The platform, developed on NEAR’s Blockchain Operating System (B.O.S), will allow fans to choose from batting, bowling, and fielding, with the respective teams earning points based on the real-world performance of the chosen players.

*chirp chirp* 

Hear that? That’s the sound of crickets ?

Oh never mind, we got mixed up. 

That’s the sound of a new era of fan engagement in cricket as the NEAR Foundation partners with the International Cricket Council (@ICC) to usher in the next level of fan engagement ? pic.twitter.com/xIh6nQ1iqE

— NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) September 27, 2023

This initiative will feature a leaderboard to track each fan’s performance, with weekly winners receiving prizes, including match tickets, exclusive events, and official merchandise. This approach fosters a deeper connection between fans and the sport, enhancing the cricket-watching experience.

Enhanced Global Reach and Interaction

Chris Donovan, the Chief Executive Officer at NEAR Foundation, highlighted that this partnership with the ICC is poised to usher in a new era of sports engagement through the Web3 industry. Cricket, a sport revered in India and numerous global markets like Australia and the United States, offers a substantial audience.

“The potential exposure of the NEAR ecosystem to hundreds of millions of cricket enthusiasts provides an opportunity for fans to understand NEAR Foundation’s commitment to promoting the adoption of an open web. It allows fans to explore and interact with Web3 use cases built on our Blockchain Operating System,” Donovan noted.

The collaboration is not transient; it is expected to extend until the end of 2025. The ICC and the NEAR Foundation are enthusiastic about developing more web3 use cases to facilitate robust fan engagement. A notable project in the pipeline is the conceptualization of a fan passport, enabling fans to immortalize their memories and actions on the blockchain.

Finn Bradshaw, the Head of Digital at the ICC, expressed his anticipation and excitement about leveraging NEAR Foundation’s technology and extensive talent network to cultivate enhanced fan engagement globally.

“We are eager to harness their technology to create richer and more immersive fan interactions across the globe,” said Bradshaw.

Market Response and Future Prospects

Following the announcement of this strategic partnership, there was a slight uptick in the NEAR price, which edged 1 percent higher to trade around $1.08 on Thursday. This collaboration indicates the transformative potential of integrating advanced technology with sports, offering fans a more enriched and interactive experience.