Chinese sportswear brands, such as Li Ning and Anta Sports Products, have lost favour with Chinese consumers who prefer foreign brands or casual clothes.

In recent years, Chinese consumers have shown a preference for the Western brands that have been cutting their prices while remaining fashionable.

High profile sponsorships such as Nike’s deal with  NBA player Jeremy Lin, who has a large fan base in China also benefit foreign brands.

Eugene Mak, an analyst for Research and investing company, Core Pacific-Yamaichi, said: “Because they do less on research or advertising, Chinese sports brands have lost touch with what consumers want. Foreign brands are more popular with China’s growing middle classes who can afford pricier and trendier products.”

Annual reports of Chinese sports brands showed inventory levels had increased from 36 percent to 58 percent between 2010 and 2011. The brands have also over expanded. Between 2007 and 2010, Anta and other Hong Kong-listed Chinese sports brands­— Li Ning, Xtep Int’l Holdings and China Dongxiang— opened a combined 9,900 stores in China.{jcomments on}

The New York Mets’ Citi Field will host Major League Baseball’s 2013 All-Star Game.

The 2013 All-Star Game will mark the second time that the Mets, who are commemorating their 50th anniversary in 2012, will host the Midsummer Classic.  Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 All-Star Game, a 7-4 National League victory that featured 21 participating Hall of Famers, including Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson, as well as MLB’s Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations, Joe Torre.

Commissioner Bud Selig said: “As we celebrate the franchise’s golden anniversary this year, I am pleased to award the 2013 All-Star Game to the New York Mets and their loyal fans.  We are delighted to bring the Midsummer Classic to Citi Field, a wonderful ballpark that has carried on the remarkable National League tradition in New York City.  The Mets will be superb hosts to next summer’s greatest sporting event.”

“Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Selig, it’s a great honor for everyone at the Mets to host the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field,” Wilpon said. “Mets fans and all people in the New York tri-state area and beyond will have the opportunity to take part in the events that Major League Baseball will bring to New York.”

“Next year’s All-Star Game is going to demonstrate once again that there’s no place like New York for world-class sporting events,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Major League Baseball clearly recognizes this, since they’re bringing the All-Star Game back to New York for the second time in just five years.” 

The 84th All-Star Game is scheduled to be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16, 2013.  Further details on the history of the Mets and the Midsummer Classic are available in the accompanying Fact Sheet.

USA Team Handball and Pilatus Sports Management SA today announced that the Switzerland-based company has signed a multi-year contract for the BURRDA SPORT brand to be the Official Apparel Provider to USA Team Handball.  The announcement comes at conclusion of the 22^nd Men’s Handball World Championship.

Beginning this spring, order all USA Men’s and Women’s teams will wear BURRDA SPORT during official competitions, link training sessions and travel.  The broad partnership includes apparel for players, stomach coaches and training staff – with plans in the works for options for lifestyle line, shoes and handballs in the years to come.  The initial partnership includes a significant cash sponsorship by BURRDA SPORT and thousands of articles of merchandise.  BURRDA SPORT will also join the USATH Board of Directors.

General manager Steve Pastorino stated: “We have sought a partner like BURRDA SPORT for more than two years. BURRDA SPORT is a fast-growing brand seeking performance excellence and innovative partnerships.”

Indeed, Pilatus Sports Management SA announced its intentions for BURRDA SPORT to become a global player in sports with its sponsorship of the Qatar Football Association more than four years ago.

Pilatus Sports Management SA general manager Charles Diab stated: “We’re pleased to support the foundation of American handball. To make a brand relevant in the global fashion industry, you need to be in the USA.  We’re excited that USA Team Handball provides a platform for us to demonstrate our corporate mantra:  Challenge Yourself – and the status quo.”

World leader in Human Resources Solutions, advice Adecco will return to become the international sponsor of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, joining Fed Cup by BNP Paribas in the process. The agreement will begin on 4 December and will run through until 2013.

Adecco have previously sponsored the Davis Cup between 2002-2007 and will be reinstated as the Official HR Partner of Davis Cup and Fed Cup. In addition to on-site banners and hospitality, the company will now sponsor the on-court speed serve package for both competitions.

“It is always good news when a top sponsor like Adecco chooses your competition. It is even better news when they decide to come back,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. “This shows a real vote of confidence for both Davis Cup and Fed Cup and reinforces the current strength of both competitions. We are delighted to welcome Adecco back. They are both friends and colleagues and we know, from experience, that they are a great fit for Davis Cup and Fed Cup.”

Adecco Group CEO, Patrick de Maeseneire commented on the decision to sponsor the Davis Cup: “We are proud to partner with the International Tennis Federation in what is the world’s largest international annual team competition in sport. By also acting as the Official HR Partner, we will be showcasing our top-class abilities in recruiting for large scale international sporting events.”

NPower League One English soccer club, Huddersfield Town have had a proposal to build a state-of-the-art training facility approved, at an estimated cost of US$7.8m.

The club will become the new owners of Syngenta Sports and Fitness Centre as opposed to the development of the new Canalside project in a 98.3 per cent landslide of votes decided by members of the Galpharm Stadium club.

The project will see the Huddersfield Town first team and academy squads inherit the complex currently known as ‘The Rec Club’ which will be renamed as Canalside.

Huddersfield Town chairman and majority shareholder Dean Hoyle will eventually take control of the entire premises. The Syngenta Sports Club will now be renamed will the Huddersfield Recreational Club.

“The acceptance of the Canalside proposal is the biggest news for the long term success of the football club since the move to our new ground in 1994.” said Huddersfield Town chief executive Nigel Clibbens.

Clibbens continued: “It is also fantastic news for the existing members of the Sports and Fitness Club as well as the community. Everyone cannot wait to get the project underway and we will be working closely with the members to deliver a top-class facility for all parties.”

Rec club chairman Carl Sykes added: “Our members have backed the proposals and in doing so are backing new Landlord, Dean Hoyle to do the right thing by members, the club and the community it serves.”

“The Managing Committee have worked hard to secure a future for Rec Club members from a position of limited bargaining power. Success of Canalside will now be down to Huddersfield Town and members working together.”

Prince William, second in British monarchy’s line of succession, is to join the England 2018 World Cup bid delegation for the final presentation to FIFA on December 2, According to UK newspaper The Telegraph.

Prince William, the President of the FA, and UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron will be joined by David Beckham, and are likely to be up against Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin and the Dutch and Belgian prime ministers.

Also present in Zurich will be former American President Bill Clinton, the Emir of Qatar, and South Korean President Lee Myun Bak.

In total the provisional list of dignitaries contains one president, one former president, four prime ministers, two deputy prime minister, one prince and an Emir, as well as sundry sport ministers representing 11 countries.

England, Spain-Portugal, Russia and Holland-Belgium are contesting the 2018 race, with USA, Australia, Qatar, Japan and South Korea competing for 2022.

The list in full reads:

Russia: Igor Shuvalov, Deputy Prime Minister.
England: Prince William of Wales, David Cameron, Prime Minister
Australia: Julia Gillard, Prime Minister; Mark Arib, Minister for Sport, Minister for Indigenous Peoples
USA: Bill Clinton, in his function as Hon. Chairman of the Bid Committee; Government official to be determined
Holland: Mark Rutte: Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Edith Schippers, Minister of Sports
Belgium: Ives Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium, Didier Reeynders, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Portugal: Laurentino Jose Monteiro Castro Dias, Secretary of State for Sports
Spain: Jaime Lissavetzky Diez, Secretary of State for Sports
Qatar: Sheik Hamad bin Kahlifa Al-Thani, The Emir of the State of Qatar and members of the Royal family
Korea: Lee Myun Bak, President of the Republic of Korea (TBC)
Japan: Yukio Hatoyama, Former Prime Minister; Hiroshi Suzuki, Minister in Charge of Sports

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Source BBC: Representatives from the UK racing and betting industries have failed to reach an agreement on the 50th Levy scheme by the 31 October deadline.

As a result the government will now make the decision on the matter.

For the past 50 years, the sport has been funded, in large part, by a levy – a tax – on bookmakers’ profits.

The subsidy’s level is decided between the two industries but the bookmakers offer is well below what the sport wants to secure its immediate future.

Levy Board chairman Paul Lee stated: “It is very disappointing that it has not proved possible to reach agreement.

“Despite protracted and in-depth discussion at board meetings and elsewhere, ultimately the positions of Racing and the Bookmakers’ Committee remained significantly apart.”

Will Roseff, chairman of the Bookmakers’ Committee, said: “I am very frustrated. The Bookmakers’ Committee constructed a very good argument which realistically addressed the challenges faced by bookmakers and Racing.

“That the HBLB has elected not to approve the recommendations of the Bookmakers’ Committee is further evidence that the current system has failed.

“It is now time to replace the Levy process with a commercial relationship that will reflect Racing’s true worth in the highly competitive bookmaking sector.

“I truly believe that Racing must face up to the reality that is affecting every other aspect of the British economic landscape.

“This failure brings more uncertainty to an industry that needs a period of stability to plan for a new commercial reality come what may, we will continue to seek to work with Racing to achieve a satisfactory long-term solution.”

The responsibility for the scheme, which runs from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012, will therefore be referred to Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for determination.

He has already said that this will be the last year that the government will be prepared to step in and sort out the issue.

Hunt said: “It’s a big disappointment that the racing and gambling industries have failed to sort this out – but frankly the government should never be the last resort in an essentially commercial negotiation.

The decision on the levy will be made by Hunt on the basis of advice from Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson. A timetable will be announced in due course.

Champion jump jockey Tony McCoy said last week that a total overhaul of horse racing is needed if the sport is to stem the decline in popularity.

“A lot needs to be done to improve the state of racing in this country,” he told BBC Radio Somerset.

“The bookmakers are probably taking more out of racing than they are putting in. Racing is a great sport but whether it is being marketed in the right way and everything is being done to make it the success that it can be, I’m not so sure.

“If you look at what Barry Hearn has done with darts and snooker, maybe we need someone like him in charge.”