The International Cricket Council (ICC) is teaming up with the NEAR Foundation to develop a blockchain-powered mobile app that aims to enhance fan engagement for the upcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. This collaboration is expected to reach millions of cricket enthusiasts over the next six weeks.
The ICC’s head of digital, Chris Donovan, and NEAR CEO, Finn Bradshaw, shared insights into the Web3 app in an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph. The application is designed to drive fan engagement before, during, and after matches during the global cricket event.
This isn’t the ICC’s first venture into the realm of Web3 technology. In 2022, the organization launched an NFT platform called FanCraze, which enabled fans to own highlights of historic moments from previous ICC tournaments. According to Donovan, the success of FanCraze paved the way for further exploration of Web3 applications to strengthen fans’ love for cricket.
The Web3 app will provide fans with the opportunity to participate in prediction games that involve making strategic selections for matches throughout the competition. Fans will earn points based on the accuracy of their predictions, with these points contributing to leaderboards and rewards.
Donovan emphasized the shared vision between the ICC and NEAR in leveraging Web3 technology to enhance fans’ digital experiences. He highlighted NEAR’s Blockchain Operating System’s interoperability with other networks as a critical factor in choosing the partnership. This interoperability allows for seamless communication and integration with other blockchain ecosystems.
Although NEAR is currently a layer-1 blockchain, it offers scalable infrastructure that supports smart contracts and transactions with other blockchain networks. Bradshaw mentioned that this feature could prove valuable as the partnership explores more use cases until its conclusion in December 2025.
The integration of cryptocurrencies and Web3 technology in sports marketing and advertising has been gaining momentum. Bradshaw believes that hosting the Cricket World Cup in India presents an excellent opportunity to showcase blockchain technology’s potential. He anticipates the tournament to serve as a demonstration of what a mass-market Web3 application can achieve.
NEAR Foundation’s business development team worked closely with the ICC for four months to research and identify suitable use cases for the Cricket World Cup. The tournament is set to commence on October 5, with the final scheduled for November 19.
The partnership between the ICC and NEAR Foundation marks a significant step forward in leveraging blockchain technology to enhance fan engagement in cricket. With the upcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup on the horizon, cricket enthusiasts can look forward to a more interactive and immersive digital experience that could potentially shape the future of sports fan engagement.
