Estudo global da ASICS mostra a ligação entre o exercício regular na adolescência e o bem-estar mental positivo na idade adulta

ASICS State of Mind Study
Moving your body as a teenager will also move your mind as an adult
Moving your body as a teenager will also move your mind as an adult
  • Estudo global da ASICS com 26 000 pessoas reafirma a ligação entre o movimento e a mente, e revela uma ligação direta entre a atividade física na adolescência e o bem-estar mental na idade adulta
  • Todos os anos adicionais nos quais um adolescente pratica exercício físico estão associados a melhores avaliações de estado de espírito na idade adulta, sendo as idades entre os 15 e os 17 anos identificadas como os anos mais críticos para se manter ativo
  • No entanto, as gerações mais jovens estão a deixar de fazer exercício mais cedo e em maior número, o que pode afetar o respetivo bem-estar mental agora e nos próximos anos

LONDRES, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hoje, a ASICS anuncia os resultados do seu segundo estudo Global State of Mind, o qual reafirma uma ligação positiva entre o exercício físico e o bem-estar mental e revela uma ligação entre ser fisicamente ativo na adolescência e o bem-estar mental positivo na idade adulta.

O estudo com mais de 26 000 inquiridos de 22 países concluiu que quanto mais as pessoas praticam exercício físico, mais elevadas são as suas avaliações de estado de espírito1. Em todo o mundo, os inquiridos que são regularmente ativos2 têm uma avaliação média de 67/100 de estado de espírito, enquanto as pessoas inativas3 têm uma avaliação muito inferior de apenas 54/100 de estado de espírito.

Além disso, o estudo revelou que ser fisicamente ativo na adolescência tem um impacto direto na mente numa fase posterior da vida. Os participantes que praticaram exercício físico durante a adolescência apresentam níveis de atividade e avaliações de estado de espírito mais elevados na idade adulta. Os resultados indicam que manter-se ativo na adolescência é fundamental para estabelecer bons hábitos de exercício que perduram na idade adulta e têm um impacto positivo no bem-estar mental dos adultos.

De facto, o estudo conseguiu identificar as idades entre os 15 e os 17 anos como os anos mais críticos para se manter ativo e quando deixar de fazer exercício afeta significativamente o estado mental durante anos. Verificou-se que as pessoas, entre os 15 e os 17 anos de idade, que praticavam regularmente exercício físico tinham mais probabilidades de se manterem ativas mais tarde na vida e de apresentarem avaliações mais elevadas de estado de espírito na idade adulta (64/100 vs. 61/100) do que as que não eram ativas durante estes anos.

Em comparação, os inquiridos que deixaram de fazer exercício antes dos 15 anos apresentaram os níveis de atividade mais baixos e as avaliações mais baixas de estado de espírito na idade adulta. 30% continuam inativos na idade adulta e revelam ser 11% menos concentrados, 10% menos confiantes, 10% menos calmos e 10% menos serenos em comparação com os que fizeram exercício durante a adolescência.

De facto, todos os anos que um adolescente permanece envolvido em exercício regular estão associados a melhores resultados de estado de espírito na idade adulta. As pessoas que deixaram de fazer exercício antes dos 15 anos apresentam uma pontuação média de estado de espírito 15% inferior à média global, enquanto uma diminuição da atividade física entre os 16 e 17 anos e antes dos 22 anos reduziu as avaliações médias em 13% e 6%, respetivamente.

É preocupante que o estudo tenha também revelado um fosso entre gerações no que respeita à prática de exercício físico, sendo as gerações mais jovens cada vez menos ativas. 57% da Geração Silenciosa (com mais de 78 anos) afirmou ter sido ativa diariamente na infância, em comparação com apenas 19% da Geração Z (com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 27 anos), o que revela uma tendência preocupante de as gerações mais jovens abandonarem a atividade física mais cedo e em maior número do que as gerações anteriores.

Globalmente, os membros da Geração Z têm as avaliações mais baixas de estado de espírito, com uma média de 62/100, em comparação com os 68/100 dos Baby Boomers e os 70/100 da Geração Silenciosa.

O Professor Brendon Stubbs, um dos principais investigadores no domínio do exercício físico e da saúde mental do King’s College de Londres, afirmou: “É preocupante ver este declínio nos níveis de atividade dos inquiridos mais jovens numa idade tão crítica, especialmente porque o estudo revelou uma associação com um menor bem-estar na idade adulta”.

Por todo o mundo, a Geração Z já está a mostrar as avaliações mais baixas de estado de espírito (62/100) em comparação com a Geração Silenciosa (70/100), pelo que isto poderá ter um enorme impacto no futuro bem-estar mental em todo o mundo.”

Tomoko Koda, Diretor Executivo da ASICS, afirmou: “A ASICS foi fundada com base na crença de que o desporto e o exercício beneficiam não só o corpo, mas também a mente. É por isso que nos chamamos ASICS: “Anima Sana in Corpore Sano” ou “Mente Sã em Corpo São”. Os resultados do nosso segundo estudo global sobre o estado da mente mostram como é importante que os jovens se mantenham ativos e o impacto que isso pode ter nas suas mentes durante anos. Na ASICS, estamos empenhados em apoiar e inspirar as pessoas a movimentarem-se para um bem-estar mental positivo ao longo da sua vida.”

Para saber mais, visite:
https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/mk/stateofmindstudy2024

NOTAS PARA O EDITOR

Sobre o estudo da ASICS “2024 State of Mind”
O estudo “2024 State of Mind” foi realizado entre 17 de novembro e 21 de dezembro de 2023, e explorou a relação entre o exercício e o estado de espírito por todo o mundo.

Foram inquiridas mais de 26 000 pessoas em 22 mercados, incluindo Austrália, Brasil, Canadá, Chile, China, Colômbia, França, Alemanha, Índia, Itália, Japão, Malásia, Países Baixos, Arábia Saudita, Singapura, África do Sul, Espanha, Suécia, Tailândia, Emirados Árabes Unidos, Reino Unido e EUA. Cada amostra de mercado era representativa a nível nacional em termos de idade e género.


1A avaliação do ASICS State of Mind é de 100, calculada com base nas avaliações médias cumulativas de dez características cognitivas e emocionais – positivo, satisfeito, relaxado, concentrado, sereno, resiliente, confiante, alerta, calmo, estimulado.

2150 minutos ou mais de atividade física por semana (segundo a definição da Sport England).

3Menos de 30 minutos de atividade física por semana (segundo a definição da Sport England).


“Anima Sana In Corpore Sano”, que significa “Mente Sã em Corpo São”, é uma antiga frase em latim da qual a ASICS deriva e a plataforma fundamental sobre a qual a marca ainda se mantém. A empresa foi fundada há mais de 60 anos por Kihachiro Onitsuka e é atualmente um dos principais criadores e fabricantes de ténis de corrida, bem como de outro calçado, vestuário e acessórios de desporto. Para mais informações consulte www.asics.com.

O design stripe apresentado nas laterais dos ténis ASICS® é uma marca registada da ASICS Corporation.

Uma fotografia que acompanha este comunicado está disponível em http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25d28040-7b04-44cb-a421-97418e91c297

CONTACTOS PARA OS MEIOS DE COMUNICAÇÃO SOCIAL:
Para mais informações ou para a organização de entrevistas, contactar através do endereço [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000933726

Une étude mondiale menée par ASICS démontre le lien entre la pratique régulière d’une activité physique à l’adolescence et le bien-être mental à l’âge adulte

ASICS State of Mind Study
Moving your body as a teenager will also move your mind as an adult
Moving your body as a teenager will also move your mind as an adult
  • Les réponses des quelque 26 000 personnes interrogées permettent d’établir le rapport entre l’activité physique et mentale, et soulignent le lien direct entre la pratique d’une activité physique à l’adolescence et la sensation de bien-être mental ressentie à l’âge adulte
  • Chaque année supplémentaire de pratique sportive à l’adolescence converge vers l’enregistrement de meilleurs scores à l’âge adulte à l’échelle de l’étude State of Mind (ou État d’esprit) conçue par ASICS, à savoir que la tranche des 15-17 ans est la plus critique en matière d’activité physique pour les jeunes
  • Or, les jeunes générations se détournent de plus en plus de l’exercice plus tôt, ce qui pourrait nuire à leur bien-être mental, aujourd’hui et demain

LONDRES, 09 avr. 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ASICS publie ce jour les résultats de sa deuxième étude State of Mind (ou État d’esprit) mondiale, qui confirme le lien positif entre l’exercice physique et le bien-être mental, tout en soulignant le rapport entre l’activité physique pratiquée au cours de l’adolescence et le bien-être mental ressenti à l’âge adulte.

Le périmètre de l’étude concerne plus de 26 000 répondants originaires de 22 pays différents, et les conclusions de l’étude dressent le parallèle entre la pratique physique et l’enregistrement de scores élevés1. Parmi les personnes interrogées à travers le monde, celles pratiquant une activité physique régulière2 affichent un score State of Mind moyen de 67/100, tandis que le score des personnes inactives3 est inférieur et se mesure à 54/100.

L’étude a par ailleurs révélé que le fait d’être physiquement actif à l’adolescence a un effet direct sur l’état d’esprit plus tard dans la vie. Les répondants ayant pratiqué l’exercice tout au long de leur adolescence affichent des niveaux d’activité et des scores State of Mind plus élevés à l’âge adulte. Les résultats démontrent qu’il est essentiel de rester actif à l’adolescence pour prendre de bonnes habitudes en matière d’exercice physique. Celles-ci perdureront à l’âge adulte et auront un effet positif sur le bien-être mental.

En effet, l’étude a permis de déterminer que la tranche des 15-17 ans a le plus de mal à rester active et que l’abandon de l’exercice affectait de manière significative leur future santé mentale. Il a été déterminé que les individus qui pratiquaient une activité physique régulière entre 15 et 17 ans étaient plus susceptibles de rester actifs plus tard dans leur vie et d’enregistrer des scores State of Mind plus élevés à l’âge adulte (64/100 contre 61/100) que les inactifs du même âge.

En données comparées, les répondants ayant cessé de faire de l’exercice avant l’âge de 15 ans ont affiché les niveaux d’activité les plus bas à l’âge adulte, ainsi que les plus médiocres scores. 30 % d’entre eux sont toujours inactifs à l’âge adulte et sont pour 11 % moins concentrés, pour 10 % moins confiants, pour 10 % moins calmes et pour 10 % moins sereins que ceux qui ont pu faire de l’exercice tout au long de l’adolescence.

En effet, chaque année de pratique physique régulière à l’adolescence correspond à un meilleur score à l’échelle de l’étude State of Mind à l’âge adulte. Ceux qui ont cessé de faire de l’exercice avant l’âge de 15 ans affichent un score State of Mind moyen inférieur de 15 % à la moyenne mondiale, tandis qu’une activité physique en recul constatée à 16-17 ans ou avant l’âge de 22 ans ramène leur score moyen de 13 % et de 6 %, respectivement.

Fait inquiétant, l’étude a également mis en évidence un fossé générationnel en matière d’exercice physique, les jeunes générations étant de moins en moins actives. 57 % des membres de la génération silencieuse (ou les plus de 78 ans) ont déclaré avoir pratiqué une activité physique quotidienne dans leur enfance, contre seulement 19 % des membres de la génération Z (âgés de 18 à 27 ans). Ce constat tend vers une tendance préoccupante à l’abandon de l’activité physique par les jeunes générations plus tôt et en plus grand nombre que les générations précédentes.

À l’échelle mondiale, les membres de la génération Z affichent les scores State of Mind les plus bas, avec une moyenne de 62/100, contre 68/100 pour les baby-boomers et 70/100 pour la génération silencieuse.

Pour le professeur Brendon Stubbs, éminent chercheur en matière d’exercice physique et de santé mentale au King’s College de Londres : « Il est inquiétant de constater cette baisse des niveaux d’activité chez les plus jeunes répondants à un âge aussi critique, d’autant plus que l’étude dresse le parallèle avec une santé mentale moindre à l’âge adulte. »

Les membres de la génération Z affichent déjà les scores State of Mind les plus bas (à savoir 62/100) par rapport à la génération silencieuse (à savoir 70/100), ce qui pourrait avoir un effet néfaste considérable sur la santé mentale des adultes de demain dans le monde entier. »

« ASICS a été fondée sur la conviction que le sport et l’activité physique apportent autant de bienfaits corporels que spirituels » remarque Tomoko Koda, Directrice exécutive de ASICS, avant d’ajouter : « ASICS est née de la locution ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’, qui signifie ‘Un esprit sain dans un corps sain’. Les conclusions de notre deuxième étude State of Mind mondiale révèlent à quel point il est primordial que les jeunes restent actifs, et démontrent l’impact potentiel sur leur esprit pour les années à venir. Chez ASICS, nous nous engageons à accompagner les individus et nous les incitons à bouger pour qu’ils puissent maintenir leur santé mentale au beau fixe tout au long de leur vie. »

Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site :
https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/mk/stateofmindstudy2024

NOTES À L’ATTENTION DES RÉDACTEURS

À propos de l’étude State of Mind 2024 menée par ASICS
L’étude State of Mind 2024 s’est réalisée entre le 17 novembre et le 21 décembre 2023, et s’est intéressée au lien existant entre l’exercice et la santé mentale à travers le monde.

Les quelque 26 000 participants provenaient de 22 pays différents, parmi lesquels l’Afrique du Sud, l’Allemagne, l’Arabie saoudite, l’Australie, le Brésil, le Canada, le Chili, la Chine, la Colombie, l’Espagne, les Émirats arabes unis, les États-Unis, la France, l’Inde, l’Italie, le Japon, la Malaisie, les Pays-Bas, Singapour, le Royaume-Uni, la Suède et la Thaïlande. Chaque échantillon national était représentatif en termes d’âge et de genre.


1Le score State of Mind ASICS s’établit sur une échelle de 100 points, et se calcule sur la base des scores moyens cumulés de dix critères cognitifs et émotionnels, à savoir positivité, satisfaction, détente, concentration, sérénité, résilience, confiance, vigilance, calme, et énergie.

2150 minutes ou plus d’activité physique par semaine (selon la définition de Sport England).

3Moins de 30 minutes d’activité physique par semaine (selon la définition de Sport England).


« Anima Sana In Corpore Sano », qui signifie « Un esprit sain dans un corps sain », est une ancienne locution latine qu’ASICS s’est appropriée, et qui constitue la valeur de référence de la marque. Fondée il y a plus de 60 ans par Kihachiro Onitsuka, la société est aujourd’hui l’un des principaux concepteurs et fabricants de chaussures de course ainsi que d’autres modèles de chaussures, vêtements et accessoires de sport. Pour plus d’informations, consultez le site www.asics.com.

Les rayures latérales des chaussures ASICS® sont une marque déposée d’ASICS Corporation.

Une photo accompagnant ce communiqué est disponible à l’adresse suivante : http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25d28040-7b04-44cb-a421-97418e91c297

CONTACTS MÉDIAS :
Pour obtenir de plus amples informations ou pour organiser un entretien, veuillez contacter [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000933726

AI-Media Unveils Enhanced Lexi Tool Kit at NAB 2024

World Leader in AI-Powered Captioning Solutions Introduces the new LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded

AI-Media Launches LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) Captioning Solution

World Leader in AI-Powered Captioning Solutions Introduces the new LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded at NAB Show 2024

NEW YORK, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  AI-Media, the global leader in AI-powered captioning, is set to unveil two new products at the prestigious NAB Show 2024, scheduled from 14-17 April in Las Vegas USA. Renowned for its cutting-edge innovations serving the broadcast industry, AI-Media’s latest offerings; LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded are poised to revolutionize the captioning market.

In addition to showcasing numerous updates on products such as LEXI and our IP and SDI range of encoders, AI-Media is most excited to showcase the new LEXI DR product, a groundbreaking solution that ensures uninterrupted captioning delivery even in the face of cloud and connectivity disruptions. With LEXI DR, broadcasters can rest assured that their captions will always remain on air with minimal interruption, thanks to seamless caption workflow integration, on-premises redundant servers and flexible setup options via virtual machines or hardware. This solution offers 99.99% caption uptime, scalability with up to 10 instances available per LEXI DR unit plus the confidence that data is secure with robust encryption and security measures. LEXI DR exemplifies AI-Media’s commitment to providing reliable, resilient, and secure captioning solutions for the broadcast industry.

AI-Media will also introduce LEXI Recorded, designed to streamline the captioning process for recorded content. The solution offers unprecedented turnaround speed and cost efficiencies making it perfect for time-sensitive news clips, highlights, and promos. LEXI Recorded boasts features such as bulk processing, accuracy above 98%, flexible file output types, multilingual options, plus can be integrated into the caption workflow so files can be captioned without leaving the media management system. With LEXI Recorded, broadcasters can ensure fast, cost-effective captioning of their recorded content with unmatched precision and ease.

“At AI-Media, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said James Ward, Chief Sales Officer at AI-Media. “We are thrilled to unveil LEXI Recorded and LEXI DR at NAB Show 2024, showcasing our relentless pursuit of excellence in captioning technology. LEXI DR represents the ultimate component in achieving full captioning automation. LEXI DR completes the automation of the captioning process. Previously, human intervention served as a backup, but LEXI DR revolutionizes this by eliminating the need for manual oversight.”

In addition to the product launches, AI-Media will feature an “Innovation Station” at their NAB booth, where attendees can explore exciting new technologies that are part of the company’s product roadmaps. Previews will showcase advancements in generative AI and its application in crafting topic models, also referred to as custom dictionaries. These topic models enhance accuracy by offering contextually relevant word suggestions and pronunciations based on themes, topics, and subject matter. Additionally, previews will feature innovations such as speaking subtitles or dubbing, as well as automated audio description. AI-Media is able to leverage decades of broadcast experience to ensure their captioning solutions are interoperable across different workflows, video standards and regions. As a leading innovator in the captioning industry, AI-Media remains committed to driving progress and shaping the future of accessible media worldwide.

For more information about AI-Media and its groundbreaking captioning solutions, visit:

AI-Media: AI-Media.tv

LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery): https://hubs.ly/Q02rWtMD0

LEXI Recorded: https://hubs.ly/Q02rWtLS0

About AI-Media:

Founded in Australia in 2003, AI-Media is a pioneering technology company specializing in innovative captioning workflow solutions. As a global leader, AI-Media provides high-quality AI-powered live and recorded captioning and translation technology and solutions to a diverse range of customers and markets worldwide. For the first time in February 2024, AI-Media was able to unveil groundbreaking data showcasing the superiority of its AI captioning product, LEXI, over traditional human workflows. This milestone further solidifies AI-Media’s position as the foremost AI technology leader in live and recorded captioning workflow solutions. With a commitment to utilising our deep industry experience and sophisticated AI technology to create solutions which streamline and simplify processes, AI-Media empowers leading broadcasters, enterprises and government agencies globally to ensure seamless accessibility and inclusivity in their content. Ai-Media (ASX: AIM) commenced trading on the ASX on 15 September 2020.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0fde5af3-8765-4882-abaa-03746dcde8af

Media Contact: Fiona Habben – [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9086266

U.S. Polo Assn. Achieves $2.4 Billion in Global Retail Sales in 2023, Targets $3 Billion Milestone and 1,500 Total Stores

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / USPA Global has announced that U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), has delivered a record $2.4 billion in global retail sales in 2023.

The global sports brand’s record growth is the result of expanding its existing sizeable footprint across all regions around the world. U.S. Polo Assn. has seen a balanced growth strategy with significantly increased market share in more mature markets, such as North America and Western Europe, while delivering exponential growth in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and India. In fact, the brand is targeting to become a billion-dollar business in India alone, as U.S. Polo Assn. is an international power brand and the top-selling casual menswear brand in the country.

The brand’s footprint is a fast-growing presence across 190 countries, with over 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores and thousands of wholesale locations spanning department stores, sporting goods channels, and independent retailers, as well as e-commerce. U.S. Polo Assn. continues to climb the retail ranks as one of the largest global licensed sports brands in the world, ranking in the top five alongside the NFL, MLB, and NBA, according to License Global.

U.S. Polo Assn.’s strong execution has relied on a global focus regarding the brand’s worldwide store expansion. The brand has grown its global fleet to more than 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. stores, targeting over 1,500 in the next several years. For 2023, new stores and existing strategic stores around the world have been enhanced with a more elevated brand and sports concept, providing consumers with an authentic experience when engaging with the brand.

U.S. Polo Assn. also built on its successful digital strategies to generate record growth in e-commerce with some 50 brand sites in 20 languages in 2023. U.S. Polo Assn. continues to grow its digital presence and global momentum on social media, with some 8 million followers worldwide.

"Our global team and strategic partners around the world delivered another record financial performance in 2023 while also achieving many major milestones across our product lines and global expansion efforts," noted J. Michael Prince, President & CEO of USPA Global. "We continue to execute our aggressive product, store, digital, and international growth strategies to further expand our global footprint in key cities and markets worldwide, while also increasing the overall interest in the sport of polo."

Prince added, "Despite the many challenges over the past several years facing global retail, U.S. Polo Assn. was able to exceed our goal of $2 billion three years early and has set a target to hit $3 billion and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. stores in the near future."

True to the heritage of the brand, U.S. Polo Assn. maintains a strong connection to the sport of polo. By signing a recent landmark multi-year global deal with ESPN, the thrilling sport now has exposure to a massive global audience, extending to many parts of the world with reach to millions of households and multiple digital channels. The sport’s iconic U.S. Open Polo Championship®, which is broadcast by ESPN, now sits alongside the elite company of The Masters and Kentucky Derby as one of the country’s most prestigious spring sporting events.

In addition, the USPA now owns the USPA National Polo Center (NPC), the sport’s premier destination in North America. The 2024 American High-Goal Polo Season has brought record crowds and sellout Sundays, with the best polo in the world from January-April. Nestled in beautiful Palm Beach County, Florida, this outstanding venue spans 160 acres, encompassing multiple grass polo fields, fine dining, tennis courts, stadium seating, a swimming pool, and the NPC Retail Shop. Exciting updates to the world-class facility are slated for 2025.

"We continue to seek avenues and partnerships to expand into new global markets, as well as new and innovative areas of business. The combination of these factors, alongside our authentic connection to the sport of polo and outstanding global brand marketing, is the key to our global success," Prince adds. "I am optimistic about the U.S. Polo Assn. global business maintaining its leadership position among its industry peers while gaining market share and our ability to reach over $3 billion in worldwide sales and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores in the coming years."

"Today, I am proud to say that our U.S. Polo Assn. global ecosystem is comprehensive of both the brand and the sport, with our $2.4 billion global sport-inspired brand, a global sports content platform with ESPN, and ownership of NPC, one of the sport’s most beautiful and prestigious venues," concludes Prince.

About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the governing body for the sport of polo in the United States and one of the country’s oldest sports governing bodies, founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. A recent, multi-year deal with ESPN to broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., has made the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time.

U.S. Polo Assn. has consistently been named one of the top global sports licensors alongside the NFL, NBA, and MLB, according to License Global. In addition, the sport-inspired brand is being recognized around the world with awards for global growth, expansion, licensing, and digital growth. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, particularly in the last five years, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Modern Retail, and GQ as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world.

For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn.

USPA Global is a subsidiary of the USPA and manages the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand, providing the sport with a long-term source of revenue. Through its subsidiary, Global Polo Entertainment (GPE), USPA Global also manages Global Polo TV, which provides sport and lifestyle content. For more sports content, visit globalpolo.com.

Contact Information

Stacey Kovalsky
VP Global PR and Communications
[email protected]
+001.561.790.8036

Kaela Drake
PR & Communications Specialist
[email protected]
+001.561.461.8596

SOURCE: USPA Global Licensing Inc.

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View the original press release on newswire.com.

Eskom’s interventions to improve energy supply commended


Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has commended the interventions implemented by Eskom, which have contributed to improvements in the country’s energy supply security.

‘These interventions come on the back of the Energy Action Plan… It is [like] an accumulation of these efforts over a period, which is now going close to two years,’ Ramokgopa said on Tuesday.

Briefing media on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan, Ramokgopa said some of Eskom’s interventions include the improvement of plant conditions, the establishment of the War Room, increased governance controls, aggressive cost cutting, environmental compliance, and achieving coal stock days, amongst others.

Ramokgopa attributed the ramping up of planned maintenance to Eskom’s leadership, and those who have volunteered their skills and services to serve the country.

‘The ramping up of planned maintenance is very important. If you look at the period December 2023, going into January of 2024, we
took out 18% of the total generation capacity – about 9 000 megawatts at a go, for planned maintenance.

‘We are beginning to see these machines coming back into service. They are coming back on load and adding to the capacity of the grid, and this is helping us to address the demand. More of these machines would come on stream as we go towards the winter period,’ Ramokgopa said.

The Minister said the establishment of the War Room was to ensure that Eskom can focus on dealing with planned maintenance.

On addressing the issues of inadequate capacity, the Minister re-emphasised that Eskom is not a “silver bullet”, and that the country’s problems with loadshedding will not be solved by Eskom alone.

‘Eskom is a major player in the short-term, and I think [we] need additional generation capacity, hence the need to expedite that engagement with independent power producers to the extent that Eskom can make a contribution [and] we are able to get them on stream, [and] on loan, as soon as possible.’

Ramokgopa stre
ssed the importance of ensuring that the entity gets the right people into the right positions.

‘We also accepted that there’s a need, from time to time, to draw from external experts in areas of deficit in relation to expertise. We… also [have] to ensure that there [is] a culture of accountability and consequence management, whereby when people commit to a certain target, and if those targets are not met, first we try to assist, then [we] need to ensure [we] introduce consequence management,’ the Minister said.

Highlighting some of the success achieved so far, Ramokgopa reported that National Treasury has relaxed some requirements, which will speed up procurement.

‘The allocation of outage budgeting has improved, leading to improved outage readiness. We are receiving a lot of collaboration among external stakeholders with a willingness to assist Eskom,’ Ramokgopa said.

Medupi Unit 4 is on track to be commissioned in August

Meanwhile, Ramokgopa announced that Medupi Power Station Unit 4 is on track to
be commissioned in August 2024, following the delivery of a second-hand generator stator last month.

‘The second-hand generator stator was delivered to Medupi Power Station on 5 March 2024. The unloading from the multi-axle vehicle was successfully executed on 11 March 2024.

‘Koeberg unit 2 is on track to return to service in September 2024, and Kusile unit 6 is planned to synchronise in September 2024. Kusile remains on track with units synchronising between November 2024 and April 2025,’ the Minister said.

The Minister also noted that the coal stockpiles are at healthy levels and none of the stations are below compliance required levels.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Roaming Katima Mulilo lions killed three cows

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism on Tuesday confirmed that the two stray lions observed in the surrounding areas of Katima Mulilo killed three cows on Monday.

The lioness is still at large, but her mate was shot and killed by nature conservation officers on Monday.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, told Nampa on Tuesday that the ministry will pay an amount of N.dollars 3 000 per cow to the farmers as per the human-wildlife conflict (HWC) policy.

He also revealed that the ministry is awaiting a report and recommendations from officials in the Zambezi Region, to make a determination about payment to Likando Mamba, who was allegedly attacked by one of the lions on Monday.

‘We do not compensate, however our policy provides for offset or assurance to victims of HWC. Amounts are pre-determined in the policy, whereas injuries are paid at N.dollars 10 000, loss of body parts at N.dollars 30 000, disability at N.dollars 50 000 and funeral assistance at N.dollars 100 000,’ Muyun
da said.

‘Lastly, we just want to urge members of the public to not crowd scenes where nature officials are conducting similar operations given the risk and danger this presents. We have noted with concern that people stand and spectate at close proximity during these operations. We strongly discourage this,’ Muyunda said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency