APAC Insider- Business Awards 2023 Emily Ashton and Captain of the New Zealand Long Black women’s team, Phillis Meti. In the same vein, the IGANZ Kids brand allows for children passionate about the sport to hone their craft early, hopefully affording them the necessary skills to one day compete in the men’s or women’s tournaments. Since operations on the XDL commenced, the desire for global expansion has only grown stronger, and Olna has received recognition from sports authorities across the 8 countries that have played host to events, with each celebrating her commitment and investment to the sport. In 2020, long drive received formal recognition from the New Zealand Sports Minister, before XDL was proudly named as the first national sports organisation in the world for long drive at an amateur level, and the professional league was set up that too bares the XDL name. When two international competitors in one such tournament hit balls down the grid at record-breaking speeds and exceptionally long distances, attention was turned to these “big hitters” and long drive was catapulted back into New Zealand’s mainstream. Now, the Xtreme Drivers League is 36 events down and has been played host to by 8 countries, with the upcoming 2024 season set to take things to the next level. Over the next few years, the success of the league only continued to grow, with a player receiving a Queen’s Honour for being a top athlete in 2022 and a Halberg nomination earlier in 2023 for Team of the Year. XDL’s 2024 season is set to be the most exciting yet, thanks to the implementation of a new technology system that will hopefully take long drive participation and awareness to that all important next level. With all this to boot, Olna explains, “one could say that XDL is seeking to be the next big thing in the sport globally.” As well as being a pioneer of the sport, Olna is in possession of the intellectual property around the Xtreme Drivers League and embodies the passion for its expansion across the board, with these initiatives set to launch concurrently with the 2024 season. This plan will see XDL branding proudly displayed on everything to do with the sport, ranging from training zones and entertainment lounges to balls and drivers that grace the field in a competitive environment. Moreover, XDL’s DRIVE trailers aim to literally take the sport on the road, simultaneously boosting participation in the sport and heightening awareness of the brand through the use of these mobile and multi-use trailers. Furthermore, IGANZ consistently aims to do good in the community, with this ethos reinforced by a list of strategies focusing on giving back and simultaneously growing the sport. Following on from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic a few short years ago, Olna and the team have been determined to break through the struggles that lockdowns brought to the industry, and hype for the 2024 season is off the charts, with fans and players across the world counting down the days to the host of events that are being held across New Zealand and beyond. This worldwide initiative is key for expanding the business and
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