Houston Rockets Games Dropped By Chinese TV Following GM Comments

China’s State Broadcaster has dropped Houston Rockets games from its network following comments on Twitter from the NBA franchise’s GM in support of Hong Kong.

Rockets GM Daryl Morey has been forced to apologise for any offence he may have caused to Chinese fans, with the NBA distancing themselves from his Tweet’s content.

The Rockets have a huge following in China after drafting basketball hall-of-famer Yao Ming in 2002, where he spent his entire NBA career until retirement in 2011, making the NBA’s All-Star game eight times within that period.

Morey’s original tweet contained an image with the caption: “Fight for freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.”

Two Chinese brands, sportswear company Li-Ning and sponsor Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPD Bank) Credit Card Center, have also suspended working with the franchise in addition to the games being dropped from TV.

Morey offered this statement on Twitter following the criticism.

BBC Secures World Athletics Championship Broadcast Rights Until 2023

The BBC has announced that they will continue to broadcast the World Athletics Championships until at least after the 2023 event.

Following its coverage of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha over the past ten days, the BBC has announced it will also be broadcasting the next two events in 2021 and 2023.

In 2021 the World Championships will head to Oregon in the United States of America, before the event returns to Europe in 2023 where it will be held in the Hungarian capital of Budapest.

Barbara Slater, BBC Sport Director, said the corporation will “provide audiences across the country with the best coverage of our British athletes and world superstars”.

She added: “After the medal-winning performances from Dina Asher-Smith, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and our relay teams, this is fantastic news for the BBC that we can continue to broadcast world-class athletics free to air.”

This is another commitment to athletics from the BBC, just nine months away from the broadcaster’s coverage of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The Hundred Criticised for KP Snacks Sponsorship

KP Snacks’ partnership with the ECB for the upcoming inaugural ‘Hundred’ tournament next year has come under scrutiny.

Following the kit reveal ahead of the competition, the ECB has been forced to defend its shirt sponsorship with a company which produces unhealthy snack foods.

All of the new sides created for The Hundred will wear a KP Snacks brand on the front of their shirt, with some saying this is contradictory to the message of being healthy and active that sport should be getting across to young people.

KP is supposed to have assured the ECB of reducing the amount of salt and fat within their products, however health campaigners are unhappy with the decision.

“Companies that produce fatty, sugary and salty foods often seek partnerships with sports events to create an association with healthy activity and their unhealthy food products,” said Caroline Cerny, according to the Daily Telegraph, before adding “This is contributing to the relentless tide of junk food marketing and promotion that makes it harder for families to be healthier and is driving high levels of obesity.”

The Hundred is a new format created by the ECB in the mould of Australia’s Big Bash and the Indian Premier League, which will comprise of franchise teams separate from the normal county sides.

More on this can be found via – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2019/10/03/exclusive-hundred-attacked-health-groups-go-nuts-junk-food-sponsorship/

The Japanese Footballers Helping LaLiga Clubs To Grow Internationally

With the closure of the transfer window, teams are looking to make the most of their new additions. There are many footballers who from day one amaze fans with their skills while others need more time to adapt. Some players also carry significant off-field appeal which can help their clubs. This is certainly the case with the Japanese players who have arrived in Spain this summer.

The passion in Japan for LaLiga is huge and the number of Japanese fans who follow the Spanish top flight is increasing. That’s why the LaLiga clubs have seen major impact following the recruitment of Japanese footballers who bring followers to their social networks, boost TV audiences and, of course, offer their talents on the pitch.

Read the full story here.

Member Report: How Did the UK’s Summer of Sport Shape Up?

2019 has been a memorable summer for sport in the UK, with a plethora of events encompassing different sports and attracting fans from around the world.

Arguably, since 2012, never has the UK been such a focal point for summertime sports with the country hosting two World Cups (netball and cricket), two Major League Baseball fixtures and the Ashes contest, alongside the all-time British classics of The Open, Wimbledon, Ascot and the Grand Prix.

Fundamental to the success of this year has been the locations. Whilst M&S Bank Arena, Royal Portrush and the London Stadium aren’t exactly new, they have yet to acquire the international renown enjoyed by the iconic venues of Wimbledon, Lords, Ascot and Silverstone; that said, they all delivered unequivocally.

Probably the venue facing the biggest challenge was Royal Portrush; not only did it have the weight of expectation of being the first Northern Irish host to The Open in 70 years, bringing its infrastructure in line with the expectation of tournament stakeholders and 237,750 sophisticated golf fans for the four-day spectacle was quite some task.

The expectations inherent amongst stakeholders using a venue are not to be underestimated; organizers, sponsors, the media, athletes and fans have widely varying and exacting needs. These can vary from state-of-the-art media centres and broadcast facilities, a selection of corporate hospitality options, a range of fan food and beverage concessions, fan entertainment areas (to meet the ever-growing demands of social media) and impressive player facilities – spanning discrete warm up areas, treatment rooms, changing facilities and lounges. With established grounds, there is often the need to retrofit technology – hence the historic issues with services such as WiFi – but even modern venues face unexpected challenges, as anyone who has hosted VVIP guests or completely new sports can attest.

Whilst the results of home nations teams were varied, the summer has been hailed as a great success. Even a quick look at the figures behind the fixtures show what a mammoth task it was and with this in mind, the UK sports sector can probably take a moment, with a lot of pride, to reflect on what it has achieved.

EventVenueAttendanceAverage Ticket PriceParticipating AthletesHours of Sporting ActionDuration
ICC World CupBristol, Cardiff, Durham, Edgbaston, Hampshire, Headingly, Lords, Old Trafford, Taunton, The Oval, Trent Bridge, 800,000£86150384 hours41 days
MLB London SeriesThe London Stadium118,718£168526 hours2 days
Netball World CupM&S Bank Arena, Liverpool125,000£3919260 hours10 days
Royal AscotAscot Racecourse292,719 £56509 horses          

 

94 jockeys

2 hours, 15 minutes5 days
The AshesEdgbaston, Lords, Headingly, Old Trafford, The Oval483,800£10031130 hours23 days
The OpenRoyal Portrush237,750£6815650 hours 4 days
WimbledonAll England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club500,397£99864 1092 hours, 45 minutes13 days

*Figures calculated based on price brackets and averages not volumes

About the Author: Nuno Guerreiro is a Principle at HOK Sport and Entertainment. Nuno has worked on a wide range of sporting venues including the First Direct Arena, Leeds and Dubai’s World Expo. He is a graduate of the University of Lisbon and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

William Hill Becomes NBA Partner

The National Basketball Association and William Hill have announced a new partnership that will make William Hill a Proud Partner and an Authorized Sports Betting Operator of the NBA in the United States.

As part of the agreement, William Hill will have the right to use official NBA betting data and league marks across its mobile platforms and in its sports books throughout the United States. Additionally, William Hill will be promoted across the NBA’s digital assets including NBA.com, the NBA app, and the NBA’s social media platforms.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that overturned PASPA in 2018, William Hill has led United States expansion of sports betting and now has operations in 10 states. The company currently accepts one out of every four bets placed in the U.S.

“William Hill is a globally respected brand that has set an early standard for sports betting in the U.S. market,” said Scott Kaufman-Ross, Senior Vice President, Head of Fantasy & Gaming, NBA. “We are delighted to partner with William Hill as they grow their business throughout the U.S. and are excited to work together to provide a world-class experience to our fans.”

“We are proud of this creative partnership that benefits our customers and our partners nationwide while promoting legalized wagering on NBA events. The NBA has been a leader in recognizing the benefits of a legal sports betting market,” said Dan Shapiro, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development of William Hill US. “We expect this to be the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the league and its teams.”

CNN Confirmed As Partner For SportAccord Events

SportAccord is pleased to confirm CNN as the Top Media Partner for SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2020 in Beijing, China, and the inaugural Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations), said: “This is a most welcome development for this inaugural staging of Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019. The creation of this new Pan-American gathering is an opportunity for the sports ecosystem across the region to come together, and the addition of CNN’s reach and standing only solidifies the status of this new event.”

Corinna Keller, Vice President, CNN International Commercial, said: “CNN is delighted to be the Top Media Partner for these SportAccord events. As the world’s leading news network, we value the opportunity to be associated with two major dates on the global sporting calendar. CNN is looking forward to our involvement in this inaugural Regional SportAccord Pan America event and welcoming the world of sport to the region.

“Sport and its governance throughout the Americas will undoubtedly benefit from this new event, where important topics such as social responsibility, the protection of athletes and esports will be discussed. CNN is proud to share in the conversation as we strive to grow our connectivity between sport and our audiences.”

CNN Worldwide is the most honoured brand in cable news, reaching more individuals on television, the web and mobile devices than any other cable news organization in the US. Globally, CNN International is the most widely distributed news channel, reaching over 380 million households.

SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2020 will take place at the China National Convention Center from 19-24 April 2020. The annual World Sport & Business Summit is a six-day event attended by leaders of the global sports community. It is the only global sports business event attended by all the international sport federations and their stakeholders, who host their Annual General Assemblies during SportAccord.

Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will bring together the Pan American, Olympic and international sport federation communities in one location, with the inaugural event set to attract sports commissions, regional, national and international governing bodies, sports ministries, rights-holders, cities and regions, commercial entities and agencies. It will be held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center from 10-12 December 2019.

CNN en Español is the No.1 news network in Latin America and is regularly named as the most trusted news source in the region by the syndicated study TGI Latin America.

Welcoming the partnership, Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, said: “SportAccord is delighted to announce CNN as Top Media Partner for our forthcoming events. The involvement of the world’s most recognised news organisation is very encouraging for SportAccord, and a further signal of the importance of our new Pan-American event for sport across the region. CNN’s standing and reach in the Americas and beyond is unparalleled and will enable us to further engage with key decision-makers inside and outside of sport.”

Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will feature networking opportunities, an exhibition and a conference with a theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’. Leading sports administrators, business executives and iconic names from the sporting world will participate in panel sessions, keynote addresses, fireside chats and workshops. Those already confirmed include Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF, and Jason Jenkins, Senior Vice President, Communications and Community Affairs, Miami Dolphins.

Registration is open for the event, hosted by SportAccord in partnership with Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sports Foundation, International Sports & Health Associates and MGO.

For information about becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, request a brochure or contact the sales team via info@regionalsportaccord.sport or +1 954 204 3081.

 

2019 FIBA World Cup Reaches Over Three Billion People

The 2019 FIBA World Cup has been announced as the biggest ever after reaching more than three billion people across the world.

FIBA teamed up with over 70 broadcast partners to deliver coverage in 190 territories, resulting in a total cumulative average TV audience increase of over 80% compared to the last World Cup in 2014. The final alone had a total global reach of 160 million. In Spain, with a market share of 46% for the final, over 10 million tuned in while 6.2 million watched the full game, making it the country’s most successful basketball game ever.

This led to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 breaking records with a TV audience reach of over 3 billion and generating a further 1.5 billion video views on social media ensuring the flagship event secured more global coverage than ever before.

Chinese basketball fans were at the heart of the special atmosphere throughout the tournament, with the interest in the host nation resulting in the World Cup generating the two highest live ratings of the year on CCTV: China vs Poland with a total reach of 68 million, and China vs Korea with a total reach of 60 million. The most-watched games on Tencent were China vs Venezuela which generated 52 million live views and China vs Poland with 50 million people following live on Tencent.

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said: “The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 has been the World Cup of a new era and of new records. On the court, players set new standards and off the court we saw our largest ever audience reach on TV and social media. These record statistics are more than just numbers, they tell the human story of how globally-loved basketball is. They demonstrate that more fans than ever are watching and engaging in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which has evolved into a successful major sporting event.”

Read FIBA’s full release about the event here: http://www.fiba.basketball/news/biggest-ever-fiba-world-cup-reaches-record-breaking-three-billion-people

 

 

F1 Launches News Content Series With Complex

Formula 1 has announced a new partnership with leading youth culture brand, Complex, to host a five-part content series, entitled ‘The Pit.’ The series will consist of F1 themed challenges, hosted by US rapper A$AP Ferg (in photo above with driver Carlos Sainz, and below). ‘The Pit’ premieres tomorrow (Friday, October 4) on Complex.com with weekly episodes airing until the US Grand Prix on November 1.

The new partnership, developed in collaboration with Wavemaker, will provide a greater insight into the world of Formula 1, as Ferg takes viewers on a literal ride through the mechanics of the sport, with each episode featuring a current F1 driver and team, including Sainz, Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and 2007 world-champion Kimi Räikkönen. Viewers will see Ferg get his first taste of all things F1 and riding shotgun with Carlos Sainz in Budapest, as he learns to master the track whilst writing bars at high speed, in a McLaren 720S.

Watch ‘The Pit’ trailer here: https://fom.sharefile.com/d-s1ff53c5f7f34164a

Ellie Norman, F1 Director of Marketing & Communications, said: “Partnering with Complex gives us the perfect platform to wow and engage new fans in the US. We want to showcase Formula 1 in a different way and getting A$AP Ferg’s unique perspective on the sport with some of the world’s best drivers is a brilliant way to immerse new fans into the sport. Securing a partnership with Complex ensures we are talking to a new audience in a way that’s right for them and we are really excited to see how the series progresses.”

Edgar Hernandez, CRO, Complex Networks, said: “This partnership provides millennial audiences a way of experiencing Formula 1 like they’ve never seen before. Complex was able to contextualize the sport through best in class storytelling and the most relevant talent that hits with this hard to reach audience. Formula 1 is the perfect partner as they understand the importance to find the intersection of diverse audiences and bring that interesting convergence to life.”

Adam Puchalsky, Wavemaker Global Head of Content, said: “Partnerships are at the core of successful marketing today. And Formula 1’s partnership with Complex is another strong step in their strategy to celebrate the unique heritage of the brand while making it accessible and relatable to a new generation of fans. We’re proud to support this journey of growth.”

Beijing SportAccord Will Focus On Breaking Down Barriers

The Summit conference programme at the SportAccord 2020 World Sport & Business Summit will focus on the theme of ‘Breaking Down Barriers in the Ever-Expanding World of Sport,’ offering organisations that are seeking to expand their footprint in Asia a chance to learn from the sector’s most influential figures.

With sport’s No.1 global gathering taking place from 19-24 April 2020 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China, numerous big-name speakers from the host country are being lined up to provide unmissable insights on the Summit conference programme.

John Sun, the CEO of Alibaba Group-owned AGTech – an integrated technology and services company engaged in the lottery, mobile games and entertainment market with a focus on China and selected international markets – is the first speaker to be unveiled for the Summit. During the Summit conference on Wednesday, 22 April, Sun will provide a technology update from the heart of an ever-changing industry, while several other conference sessions will give delegates the inside track on making an impact in China and across the continent.

Reflecting on the session, Sun said: “I am honoured to be invited by SportAccord, a not-for profit global organisation that is focused on driving positive change internationally. AGTech shares common value and vision, a commitment to social and corporate responsibility, and to be recognized as a global leader in supporting our stakeholders, partners, & athletes to achieve their dreams in the sports community.”

Technology plays a key role in the evolution of sports. We have seen the long-awaited legalization of sports betting in the United States, nano-chips embedded as wearable device to enhance biometric analysis, and we are witnessing an exciting era where technology, driven by data, is evolving around individuals. AGTech’s focus in utilising data to transform the traditional lottery business, supporting 400,000 shop owners to run a more intelligent lottery business; supporting sports IP development through effective commercialization; engaging millions to the national fitness campaign, and most importantly motivating our future generation to live happy and healthy.

We share Alibaba’s mission “To make it easy to do business anywhere in the digital era”. AGTech will continue to influence through lottery and gaming to propel sports communities towards digitalization and intelligence, and most importantly, to make technology more enjoyable.”

The morning after the Summit conference sessions, Sun will be among the hosts of a number of Hub Breakout Sessions on Thursday, 23 April, giving delegates the opportunity to engage with expert speakers and gain valuable insights about the topics discussed the previous day on a personal basis in a relaxed, roundtable setting.

With SportAccord lining up further speaker announcements in the coming weeks, the Summit will feature a Keynote Address on China’s role in the ever-expanding world of sport, as well as a plenary panel session on future trends and their impact on sport and business internationally and within Asia. There will also be sessions dedicated to exploring the ultimate fan engagement tools and the social media landscape within Asia – and specifically how to identify, reach and engage with fans in an evolving landscape.

A new approach to commercial partnerships, including those in Asia, will also come under the microscope, while further sessions will explore crowdfunding and supporting athletes through technology and esports growth in Asia.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, said: “We are thrilled with the calibre of speakers that will participate in the Summit conference at SportAccord, with more big names coming in the next couple weeks. Prestigious speakers like John Sun will undoubtedly provide crucial learnings for any delegates who want to make a greater impact across China and Asia as a whole.

“The Hub Breakout Sessions are an excellent engagement tool, and we are delighted that Mr. Sun, as well as a number of other leading decision-makers who are experts in their field, will follow up their sessions during the Summit by providing delegates with the opportunity to engage with them on a more personal basis.”

The SportAccord Summit will run alongside four other dedicated conference streams: LawAccord, CityAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord, against the backdrop of a bustling exhibition, high-level meetings and a host of social gatherings to enable networking in a relaxed environment.

Click here to register as a delegate and here to find out more information about attending.

To find out about becoming an official partner or exhibitor, contact sales@sportaccord.sport.