SportAccord Reveals Wide Agenda For First Regional Event

SportAccord has confirmed that esports, governance and re-branding strategies, protecting athletes and social responsibility will be among the key topics on the Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 conference programme.

In announcing the theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas,’ SportAccord has also revealed several influential decision-makers as speakers at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, from 10-12 December 2019.

More leading sports administrators, business executives and iconic names from the sporting world will be unveiled over the coming weeks as participants in panel sessions, keynote addresses, fireside chats and workshops, ready to offer unique perspectives of the opportunities and challenges in relation to the Pan American region.

The tone of Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will be set by an opening Keynote Address on The Changing Landscape of the International Sports World by Francesco Ricci Bitti, President, ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations).

A Panel Session on The Future of International Sports Governance will then feature Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations); Stephan Fox, President, AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport), Vice President, GAISF; Sarah Lewis OBE, Secretary General, AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations); and Andrew Ryan, Executive Director, ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations)

With the topics of anti-doping and protecting athletes set to be tackled in separate sessions, esports will also come under the spotlight, during an Esports 101 Scene Setter delivered by Vlad Marinescu, Vice President, IESF (International Esport Federation), President, UESF (United States eSports Federation), followed by his participation in a panel session with Philippe Gueisbuhler, Director, GAISF and other industry representatives.

International Sports Federation viewpoints will also be provided by the likes of Marius L. Vizer, President, International Judo Federation (IJF), and Ivo Ferriani, President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) and Executive Board Member, International Olympic Committee. Representatives of sports organisations and governing bodies in the Americas will focus on how ‘win-win’ relationships can be nurtured with athletes.

A Panel Session on Social Responsibility in Sport will focus on equality, diversity and inclusion and will be joined by Jason Jenkins, VP Community Relations, Miami Dolphins.

The industry’s sharpest commercial brains will also be on hand to offer advice about rebranding opportunities joined by Jim Scherr, CEO, World Lacrosse, while a workshop will provide ‘Panam Tools for International Federations’.

Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF, said: “As a gateway to the Americas, Regional SportAccord will equip International Sports Federations and sports entities with the knowhow and connections required to engage the region.

“The conference programme theme underlines the importance of the international sports movement working collaboratively to explore new horizons.”

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, said: “The conference programme is at the heart of the drive to connect sport’s key decision-makers and exchange knowledge in the context of Pan America and its vast and varied population of one billion people.

“The theme reflects the inspiration behind the creation of Regional SportAccord and we are thrilled to have secured so many first-class speakers already, with many more to be unveiled in the coming weeks.”

Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will bring together the Pan American, Olympic and non-Olympic 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.

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.

Follow Regional SportAccord via Twitter @sportaccord using #RSA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.

 

Bayern Munich: “In-Stadium Digital Technology Adds Value For Our Partners”

The Bundesliga champions of Bayern Munich opened their 2019-20 campaign at home in the Allianz Arena on Friday. The club is in the very fortunate position of almost always packing out their 75,000-capacity home ground. To ensure an enjoyable experience for so many fans on a match day it is a leader in using data and location-based services. Benjamin Steen, Bayern Munich’s Head of Customer Care, speaks to iSportconnect TV about the challenges of keeping demanding fans happy and how investment in digital technology has changed the game on match days.

The Future Of Watching Sport: “What Has Happened With Netflix Will Happen Here”

In just a few years, the world of entertainment has been transformed by online platforms. Driven by the likes of Netflix, over-the-top (OTT) services have made TV content accessible on demand, transportable and personal. For content providers, entering this new world is key to securing a new generation of fans. The sports industry is no exception.

Fans of Spanish sport now have the opportunity to discover and follow more than 20 competitions through LaLigaSportsTV, the OTT platform launched by LaLiga earlier this year. But this is just the beginning of an innovation process that the country’s sports leaders are making, using data and new technologies to create the best entertainment product possible.

Read the full story here.

Hookit Rankings: Cricket Tops Social Media Chart

The International Cricket Council was the world’s top sports rights owner in social media during July, thanks to the ICC Cricket World Cup, which ended July 14. The latest survey by sponsorship analytics and evaluation platform Hookit puts the NBA in second place, even though it’s the off-season for that league. See the whole TOP 10 on iSportconnect TV.

AC Milan Launches New App With Live Friendly

AC Milan has released a new mobile application, exclusively on the iOS platform, with streaming of a club match tonight (Monday 19 August) at 8:30 PM CET of the club’s friendly at Cesena. The match will be available for free via the new app with live commentary in English.

Available for free in Italian and English, the App offers an all-round immersive experience with live events, exclusive content, daily news and updates, as well as integrated ticket and merchandise stores.

After the exclusive, the app will be launched on Android for the Serie A season start on Saturday August 24.

One of the main features of the app has been designed to be the best matchday live experience for all AC Milan supporters, providing them with official line-ups, player stats, live blogging and up-to-the-second updates and alerts. This feature also gives fans the opportunity to vote for the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the match.

The App also delivers exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access from Milanello, Casa Milan, Vismara and San Siro, giving supporters an insight into the Club and its players.

The new app is also a direct gateway to the social media accounts of all players and influential club personalities with its ‘Daily Best of’ feature, which includes the best and most popular content shared on Instagram and Twitter.

The App also provides quick links for fans to buy matchday tickets and official merchandise through direct access to the Club’s online store.

To celebrate the launch of the new mobile application, supporters will have the opportunity to watch the friendly match between AC Milan and Cesena through the App on August 17th at 8.30pm CEST. The match will be available for free with live commentary in English.

Casper Stylsvig, the Club’s Chief Revenue Officer, said: “The launch of the official AC Milan App is an important step towards the Club’s digitalization process. There will be further developments over the coming months that will allow the Club to improve the level of service and satisfaction for both fans and commercial partners.”

Lamberto Siega, Marketing & Digital Director, added: “The new AC Milan App completes the Club’s B2C digital ecosystem. The key focus is to provide our fans with a hub that offers an immersive and exclusive experience. This will allow us to know our fans better through data, which in turn means offering them a more relevant and personalized experience.”

Tokyo 2020 Unveils Live Sites For Local Fan Engagement

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has finalised its selection of 30 Live Site venues in nine prefectures across Japan, including a new venue in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture.

The Live Sites are an integral part of Tokyo 2020’s plan to bring the excitement of the Tokyo 2020 Games to local communities. This will allow everyone the chance to be closer to the Games and be part of a shared experience.

All are located in areas hosting Tokyo 2020 competitive events and in the Tohoku and Kumamoto regions, which were hit by natural disasters in 2011 and 2016.

At the live sites, visitors can enjoy live broadcasts of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on huge screens, watch exciting on-stage performances, and participate in various events. This unique atmosphere in live site venues will surely create a memorable Tokyo 2020 Games for everyone.

Operated in conjunction with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and other organisations, the Live Sites will welcome visitors and spectators from around the world allowing them to join in the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The official Live Site logo was also unveiled today with a design that embodies the sense of unity with the Games venues.

Why CD Leganés Launched Its Season Ticket Campaign In The Philippines

The municipality of Leganes, in the province of Iloilo in the Philippines, could not be much further removed from the town near Madrid that shares its name. But LaLiga Santander club CD Leganés was determined to bring them together through football.

With a reputation for creative marketing and communication strategies, CD Leganés has earned admiration from supporters and opposition fanbases alike through bringing humour and passion to its work. But travelling 18,000 kilometres to launch its new season ticket campaign was ambitious even by its own high standards.

Read the full story here.

Betfred Becomes Main Sponsor Of RCD Mallorca

Betfred marks its launch in the Spanish market by becoming the main sponsor of LaLiga club RCD Mallorca.

As primary club partner, Betfred benefits from front-of-shirt exposure, the main presence at Estadi de Son Moix and access to a tailored package of rights featuring digital activation opportunities to engage with football fans across the country.

The following update comes courtesy of Betfred partner Sportradar:

The United Kingdom-based bookmaker has been established for over 50 years, operates over 1600 retail outlets and enjoys a burgeoning online and mobile presence. Betfred has recently been granted a license to operate in Spain and the Mallorca deal coincides with the granting of this license.

Copa del Rey winners in 2003, RCD Mallorca boast a rich history in Spanish football and count four-time African Player of the Year Samuel Eto’o and Real Madrid star Marco Asensio among their former players. Following their promotion from the Segunda Division via the play-offs in June – the club marked their return to the top flight with a 2-1 win against Eibar on Saturday.

Fred Done, Co-Founder of Betfred said: “The agreement with RCD Mallorca is the first partnership we have made outside of the United Kingdom. The deal to be the principal partner of the Spanish Club is one we believe will assist our planned expansion both in Spain and internationally. I’m delighted with the agreement and I feel that we are joining a club that continues to grow and look forward to being part of an exciting season ahead.”

Maheta Molango, CEO of RCD Mallorca, said: “We are thrilled to have Betfred utilise RCD Mallorca as a vehicle to achieve its strategy of international expansion. In addition to this, we recognise our goals and this is also a strategic partnership for RCD Mallorca within an important context of the British, Spanish and international markets.”

How The Arrival Of Wu Lei Has Boosted LaLiga’s Digital Presence In China

January 28th, 2019 was significant for LaLiga’s relationship with football fans in China. The day that RCD Espanyol de Barcelona completed the transfer of Wu Lei from Shanghai SIPG saw the arrival of a new hero to Spanish football, who could form a central part of the league’s strategy for growth in the country. The subsequent increase in followers and levels of engagement that LaLiga has seen suggests that its approach is paying off.

After the arrival of Wu Lei, LaLiga began a digital content strategy that would create a series of memorable events for Chinese fans throughout the season. In order to keep fans up to date with the striker’s progress in Spain, every event involving the player, from his first start to his goal on the final day of the season, was promoted via posts on all of LaLiga’s Chinese social media profiles, on Sina Weibo, WeChat, Toutiao and Douyin.

To find out more, click here.

LaLiga Kicks Off New Season On ITV

LaLiga Santander is back on British television. LaLiga and UK have confirmed the continuation of their broadcast partnership in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The season starts this evening (Friday 16 August) with live coverage of Athletic Club versus. FC Barcelona on ITV4 as well as ITV Hub LIVE.

A game from each of the first three matchdays of the new season will be shown live, featuring all the passion and colour of Spanish professional football.

Weekly highlights of all the LaLiga Santander action will also be shown on both ITV and ITV4 following each matchday.

The new season on ITV follows ITV4’s successful coverage of LaLiga during the final months of the 2018-19 season.