Sports

Mattel’s “Team Barbie” initiative, timed for International Day of the Girl, spotlights four female rugby players (Ilona Maher, Ellie Kildunne, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Nassira Konde) as role models to inspire confidence in young girls. Barbie will release a doll modeled after Ilona Maher in 2026. Research shows girls withdraw from sports due to body image issues and lack of role models. Mattel is donating to girls’ sports organizations to address these challenges and empower girls in sports recognizing the impact of team sports.

VIP Play, Inc. and Vokol are partnering to introduce AI-driven, personalized audio experiences for sports fans. The collaboration will be showcased at the AI4 Conference in Las Vegas on August 13th, with a live demonstration by VIP Play CEO Les Ottolenghi. Vokol’s AI audio platform aims to revolutionize sports content creation, enabling rapid production of high-quality audio. This partnership aims to redefine fan engagement by blending AI technology with authentic storytelling.