1: Jiang Xiaoyu, Vice President, Beijing Olympic City Development Association

“In China, the popularity of ice and snow activities needs to be improved.

“In order to make China an ice and snow power we should not only focus on competitive events. Meanwhile we should also focus on cultivating the ice and snow culture, the popularity of ice and snow activities among the normal people. That’s the solid basis for the sustainable development of the ice and snow industry in China.

“So I really hope everyone can pay special attention to our 2022 Olympic Games but meanwhile focus on the ice and snow activities among the citizens to further spread the Olympic spirit.

“Tourism, sports, culture and health are regarded as the industries of happiness.”

2: Nasima Razmyar, Deputy Mayor, Helsinki

“Helsinki is sister city of Beijing and recently an action plan was signed between the two cities, extending the bond between the cities to include winter sports. 

“We were very honoured to have President Xi visit Finland and meet our President in April 2017. The two Presidents made the joint declaration where both sides can cooperate in several areas. I was extremely happy that both presidents promoted the exchange in winter sports and cooperation in the organisation of the Olympic Games.

“This gives a very good basis to share also the urban city development between Beijing and Helsinki to support Beijing Winter Olympics 2022. We know that you will have a great Games in China in Beijing, but we are very happy of the friendship that Helsinki and Beijing has built over the years.

“Finland is world renowned for education. clean tech and winter sport. Finland ranks first in quality of primary education and has some of the cleanest air in the world. Education and clean technology are very important when discussing winter sports.

“Most Finns learn skiing, ice hockey, skating and other forms of winter sports in their childhood.

“I moved to Finland when I was eight years old. My first touch with winter was holding snow in my hand. When holding the snow, I asked my parents why does this feel like holding diamonds in my hand? It felt so pure and so unique.

“There are also special programmes like Schools on the Move which encourage students to have more physical activity during school and support learning during activity based methods.”

3: Mattis Raustøl, Minister Counsellor, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing

“We take pride in our Olympic history; it’s a strong spirit in Norway. We are the country that has the most number of gold medals in [winter] Olympic history.

“Building a winter sports culture takes devotion, it takes time. It requires a broad-based perspective; you need to focus on the top elite athletes but you also need the base and grass roots level. The Norwegian sports model is based on a very strong volunteer culture; it’s focussed on education and sport in schools.

“It also reflects the connection we have with the outdoors, and particularly with snow and ice. Norway tops the happiness index – we are top of that happiness interest. We are able to make use of the outdoors all year, and have the equipment and infrastructure to experience outdoor living.”

4: Ingunn Trosholmen, Vice Mayor of Lillehammer, Norway

“We are a very small city in a very small country, yet we have hosted two Olympic Games – one in 1994 and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016.

“One thing that was very important was that we had snow every winter. In addition, we had the technology to produce snow and the knowledge of how to store it from one season to the next.

“Another crucial thing is the narratives that they bring from one generation to the next: we are skiers.

“Lillehammer’s coat of arms consists of a skier and alongside this beautiful picture of a skier is a courageous story of skiers saving our future king in 1206. Narratives like this create identity and fosters ski culture. The saying goes like this: we are born with skis attached to our feet.

“And I know for a fact that China has also a cultural heritage in skiing, because when we were looking for a cultural heritage in the glaciers up north in our county we found wooden skis from China. So we have been exchanging ski heritage for many years now.

“The nature surrounding our history of skiing is the foundation of Lillehammer’s identity as a winter destination.”

5: Peter Hirvell, CEO, Austria AST Eis-und Solartechnik

“It’s not enough to have the technology, it’s also important to get the people in there, especially children and families.

“The Vienna Ice Rink has 600,000 visitors per year. All children in Vienna from first grade in school or final year of kindergarten are invited one day to go free of charge to go skating. They then come back at the weekend with the whole family. So out of one child we have made four to five people experience ice skating and curling.

“Even at larger schools, it is very common to have an ice rink there.

“In Europe we have a tradition of sports clubs, where in every city there will be ski clubs and skate clubs who have programmes for children and also top athletes and retired people.”

6: Takatoshi Machida, Vice Mayor of Sapporo

“We were the first Olympic Games held in Asia in 1972. The Games aimed to make Sapporo into an international city. It is precisely because of the Games that we created the city.

“We developed a subway line that went from the city centre to the athletes’ village and the stadium, and the runway was extended to turn the airport into an international airport.

“There have been a lot of changes in terms of our environment as well. Until the 1960 the snow was black with pollution. However due to the Olympic Games we began to aim for a city free of pollution.”

7: Urs Eberhard, Deputy Director, Switzerland Tourism

“There is no other experience that feels so great as gliding on snow. It’s like flying without wings.”

8: Nick Sargent, President of SnowSports Industries USA

“Winter sports more than just a passion – it’s a lifestyle and culture that sits within everyone. We want to develop this culture beyond competitive sport, into the heart and soul of the people of China and here in Beijing.”

9: Yoshinori Otsuki, International Director of Nagano-ken County Culture Department

“The prefecture of Nagano is in the centre of Japan and close to the three major cities – Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.

“With a population about 2.1m, Nagano has the longest life expectancy for men and women in Japan and the world. For those wishing to live a long a happy retirement, by all means come to Nagano – you are welcome.

“In 1998 Nagano hosted the Winter Olympic Games. During the opening ceremony the president of the IOC Samaranch declared, you have presented to the world the best organisation in the history of the Winter Olympic Games.

“Some aspects of the legacy of the Games can be presented in financial terms. From an economical perspective, the infrastructure developments were of great benefit for Nagano. The bullet train, which opened in October 1997, shortly before the Nagano Olympics began, cut journey times from 180 minutes to as little as 80 minutes. The upgrade of the highway network progressed quickly and it is now accessible to almost all areas of Nagano within just 30 minutes

“Regarding the economic effect of the Nagano Olympics, 1.43 trillion yen was the cost of the freight train and highway network and event facilities came from public investment. This equates to roughly 10 times the prefecture’s annual public investment budget.

“But the benefits cannot all be expressed in financial terms. Our visibility has risen. Local pride and appreciation have increased and through the actions of the 32,000 volunteers present at the Olympics are volunteer culture has taken root.

“Hosting the Winter Olympic Games rapidly increased the number of people participating in winter sports in north east Asia and also developed businesses in this industry.

“The number of people participating in snow sports in Nagano reached its peak in 1998 during the Olympics at 18 million people and sharply dropped over the following years to just 40 per cent of that figure in 2013, decreasing to 7.7 million. However, in recent years this decrease has stopped and, thanks to an increase in the number of international visitors, it has begun to show signs of recovery.

“I would suggest that Beijing, Hebei prefecture, PyeongChang, Sapporo and Nagano join together to host a new international tournament – the Asian Series of Skiing and Skating.”

10: Irina Gladkikh, Winter Sports Director, IOC

“At the IOC Sport Department, we have a very good tradition of receiving others who come to talk about their experience of the Olympic Games, on and off the field of play. They talk to us about their participation in the Games and shared with us their magical moments.

“Early this year we have the honour to receive Olympic medallists from China and world legends gymnast Li Ning and Chen Yongyan. Li Ning talked to us about the pride of being chosen to carry the torch during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2008. We watched a video of his performance and we all felt his emotions and excitement at this unforgettable moment. And we of course felt a pinch of insight to think what surprises the Opening Ceremony 2022 will bring to us.

“In June this year, Beijing’s commitment to support athletes was further underlined when it hosted the 8th athletes career programme forum with over 85 participants from more than 30 countries. The event was held successfully and our links with Chinese Olympic Committee got stronger.

“Beijing is also a truly unique Olympic city. In just four and half years it will become the first city to have hosted both summer and winter Olympic Games. This is very much supported by your incredible vision for 300 million people to be practicing winter sports in China. I personally find it incredible; these are amazing plans.”

This article, based on comments made at World Winter Sports Expo (WWSE) 2017 in Beijing,  first appeared in the Winter issue of Host City magazine. 

[Source: Aggreko] The new company starts trading immediately as Shanghai Yude AggrekoEnergy Equipment Rental Co Ltd. The move is part of Aggreko’s long-term strategy to grow its business in China with an experienced and respected local partner.
Aggreko takes 21.5 percent equity in the new company and operations will be managed by Shanghai Yude in line with Aggreko’s class-leading standards and procedures. 
Aggreko is the global leader in mobile, modular power and heating and cooling, and will initially provide diesel generators and associated range of ancillaries to supplement Shanghai Yude existing power equipment and UPS rental business.
“This mutually beneficial partnership with Shanghai Yude means we can bring reliable power and joint expertise to a rapidly growing market,” said Stephen Beynon, Managing Director, Aggreko Power Solutions.
“The UK and China have strong commercial ties that go way back, and we are delighted to be able to work with a local partner that has extensive local experience and expertise. We look forward to continuing to provide reliable, uninterrupted and cost-effective power to China in collaboration with a company that shares our values of making a difference and supporting growth in communities and industries across the globe.”
Yude was established in Shanghai in 2005 and has 45 employees. The company currently has more than 40 MW of power generation capacity and supports local industries, including events and construction. Aggreko is based in UK and has more than 7,300 employees globally. It has been operating in China since 2008, and has a depot, and offices in Shanghai, which will be one of two facilities supporting the new company.
China currently is the world’s largest producer and consumer of electrical power.
The Yude Aggreko joint venture will initially provide power generation equipment in Shanghai, with scope to provide loadbank equipment and services as demand increases.
 

[Source: SportAccord Convention] SportAccord Convention is delighted to confirm Sportcal, a world-leading provider of sports marketing intelligence, and Yutang Sports, the premier sports marketing platform in China, will host workshops revealing breaking news and insights from recent studies for delegates attending the SportAccord Convention set to take place from 15 - 20 April 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Selected as Principal media partners for their knowledge and expertise, the following workshops will provide the latest data, analysis and learnings for international sports federations, event hosts and rights holders, as well as any organisation involved in the business of sport.

Sportcal How Sporting Events can be a Driver for Social Change: Social initiatives have become embedded in the organisation of major sporting events. Sport has the power to bring communities together and to drive social change, but how exactly can this be achieved by event hosts?

Through its GSI Event Studies Programme, Sportcal conducted an in-depth analysis of event impacts for event owners and hosts throughout 2017 where twenty world championships and multisport games were studied. The workshop will act as the first annual review of Sportcal’s GSI Event Studies Programme, and is designed to connect event owners, organisers and hosts to enable both knowledge exchange and a discussion on the social impact and cultural engagement generated by sporting events.

Yutang Sports Report on the 2017 Chinese Sports Sponsorship Market and how to achieve Good Partnerships in China. Following an in-depth study due to be published in March 2018, workshop delegates will have the opportunity to hear and discuss key highlights from the report.

The panel will address the characteristics of the Chinese sponsorship industry and how Chinese brands use sports sponsorship to achieve their goals. Delegates will also hear what Chinese brands want to get from the partnerships and their partners. Other highlights will also include what needs should be put in place to educate Chinese brands, as well as what needs sports rights holders and event hosts should consider for brands.

The workshop will also include a keynote delivered by Li Jiang, Executive Director of Yutang Sports.

According to a report released by the Chinese National Sports Authority, China produced a total output of RMB 1.7tr (US$ 250bn) from its sports industry in the year 2015 alone.

As the report revealed, the result is mainly driven by manufacturing, sales, trading and rental of sports goods and related products, which accounts for 86.2% of the total. In other words, the sports-related goods industries are still the main sectors of the Chinese sports industry.

However, the nucleus of a sound sports industry should be its sports performance industry and not its sporting goods sector.

Deloitte found in 2015 that Dubai’s sporting industry was worth more than US$ 1.7bn, with investment in sporting events, sports venues and mass participation events accounting for US$ 709m of the city’s total gross events expenditure of US$ 1.14bn. In this regard, Dubai has a much healthier sports industry than China.

Then how can we change the status quo of the Chinese sports market?

Maybe we can start with the following aspects.

The Chinese Super League

The Chinese Super League (CSL), we can say, is the most popular and commercialised professional sports league in China. In recent years, powerful outfits such as Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG have become annual title favourites for the AFC Champions League.

More importantly, the arrival of international players like Tevez, Oscar, Hulk and Alex have enhanced the competitiveness and increased entertainment of Chinese clubs and fans as well as improving the international influence of the top-flight football league.

As such, the growth in attendance figures of the league have been remarkable. According to statistics released by CSL officials, the total stadium audience reached 5.8 million in 2016, averaging 24,159 for each game. At the same time, more than 284 million people watched the CSL on TV with the number of viewers streaming online increasing sharply. As of now, the football league is being broadcast in 96 countries and regions around the world.

The league has also been monetising its commercial value through sponsorships and partnerships. In May, the CSL Company sealed a five-year title sponsor-extension with the Chinese insurance firm Ping’an Group, which will see the firm pay RMB 1 bn to continue its title sponsorship through to 2022.

Meanwhile, the CSL has also signed up as partners with China Sports Media (CSM) in a five-year broadcast rights deal, worth RMB 8bn. Despite LeSports relinquishing its broadcast rights due to financial burdens, the new media rights for the 2017 CSL season were acquired by the Suning-backed PPTV Sports.

However, two new policies, recently introduced by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), have caused a stir in the Chinese football world. These new rules regulate the number of foreign players and require clubs to have for each match: at least one Chinese under-23 player in the starting XI; at least three U23 players in the 18-player squad; and the number of U23 players and the times they play no fewer than foreign players. The rules have also limited Chinese clubs’ investment in transfer windows by doubling transfer fees overnight.

The CFA said the new rules are aimed at promoting the development of youth players and training in the country, but some critics argue that this move, despite its good intention, is too premature for the Chinese football market. It remains to be seen whether this is the best way to balance commercial value and youth player development.

The Chinese Basketball Association

Although the Chinese Basketball Association is not as widely known as the CSL, the first-tier professional men's basketball league in China has a remarkable fan base.

As reported in the Yutang Sports viewership report 2016, the league showed its popularity by having 7 CBA matches ranked in CCTV’s Top 10 basketball games list.

Even more importantly, China has been making recent progress in basketball reforms. With the establishment of the CBA Company, Yao Ming’s election as CBA President and the launch of the CBA Summer League the country is on track to separate its professionally-run basketball league from its traditional government-run system.

All these changes will help improve decision-making, enhance independence and transparency, as well as turn the CBA into a more professional and commercialised league in the international market.

However, beyond football and basketball, other sports leagues in China are not yet operated in a much professional level, such as badminton, table tennis and volleyball. They still need to be run more professionally and to attract more attention.

Marathon Running

Mass participation events, on the other hand, are developing at an unprecedented rate in China.

Take marathon running as an example. In 2016, 328 marathon-related events were approved by the Chinese Athletic Association, which is almost 1.5 times more than 2015 (134 events) and 14 times more than 2011 (22 events). Parallel to the increase in marathon events is a rise in number of participants, reaching 2.8 million last year, up 1.3 million from the previous year.

However, we should not only focus on the numbers but on how we can solve more tougher issues regarding how to carry out the national fitness programs. Some questions include: How can we balance policies and market demand? How can we make full use of sports venues? How can we promote the development of grass roots clubs? How can we make events more professional and motivate mass engagement and participation? And how can we provide more public sports resources to the public?

Policy Support for Mass Participation

Recently, a national plan was jointly released by nine Chinese departments on supporting social strengths for organising mass participation events such as marathons and bicycle races.

The plan describes that marathon runners and the times people run marathons should exceed five million and related consumption should be over RMB 20 bn; consumption related to bicycle races should also exceed RMB 20 bn.

As such, we can see the government is making more detailed guides in different disciplines/areas and grass roots/mass participation events are playing an important role in realising the larger national sport industry goal.

As a conclusion, a well-established sports industry cannot only be strong in the sporting goods sector. Improvements in the sport event market are needed to optimise the industrial structure.

This article was written by Gu Xin of Yutang Sports

Hosting the FIFA World Cup in China would bring benefits for football internationally and at home, even if the national team still has a long way to go to become strong team, according to Oceans Sports & Entertainment vice president Norman Liu.

“China has a big market in the world, in terms of the population of football fans,” he told Host City in Beijing. “So China could be the right destination for FIFA to promote the football sports worldwide.”

Liu has been in China’s sports industry for years, including working in the marketing department of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Organising Committee (BOCOG).

“Also in China we have so many companies that want to get involved in football and sports marketing. So commercially, China could be a great choice for world football.”

China hosted the Women’s World Cup in 1991 and 2007. The country also has experience of hosting the biggest events in the world, from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing and the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

At least 10 cities are required to host World Cup matches, with co-hosting within the scope of the bidding rules.

On 14 May, (South) Korean Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu told national press that he would support a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup with China and Japan. But at the FIFA Congress in Bahrain on 10 and 11 May, a rule was upheld that states continents must wait two editions before hosting the World Cup again. Asia has the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

So the soonest Asia could bid for the World Cup would be for 2034.

Earlier in the month Liu Xiaoming, China’s Ambassador to the UK, said hosting the World Cup is a “dream” for China beyond 2030.

Developing football in China

According to Norman Liu, hosting the FIFA World Cup would also help to develop the sport in China.

“Personally I saw there is a very big opportunity from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Before the event few people went to stadiums to watch their home side games. After that, so many sports fans went to stadiums to watch their local club.

“You could not imagine before the Olympic Games so many fans going to the stadium to cheer for the home club. After 2008, people would go to the stadium on match days, on the weekend and on weekdays. So, I think the mega event changed people’s behaviour to consume sports.

“But I think if China hosts the World Cup that could be very good opportunity to be developed further in China.”

Increased participation is another potential benefit and China is working to improve the standard of play in the country. The Chinese Football Association’s recently published 2020 action plan includes targets for developing football in China, such as for the men’s team to be in top 70 by 2020 – up from their current FIFA ranking of 81st – and for China to finish in top eight of 2019 Women’s World Cup.

However, the qualification of the national team is not a criteria for hosting.

“Although our national team’s performance still has a big space to improve, the Chinese society have the desire and interest to host a worldwide tournament in China,” said Liu.

“Personally, I think hosting the World Cup will help China to develop football in China. Chinese fans never gave up hopes on their national team performing more and more in international tournaments and we hope our national team can be better than before, to be a qualified host.”

In the meantime, there is still a possibility China can qualify for Russia 2018. “It’s a small chance.”

ICSS INSIGHT CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros delivered a keynote address at the World Football Forum and highlighted the vital role that integrity and good governance can play in helping organisations across China and the wider football world achieve long-term and sustainable economic growth. 

Speaking during the World Football Forum – which took place in Changsha, China – Medeiros shared his 25 years’ of experience and expertise as a sports lawyer and senior executive within European and world football with senior leaders and investors from the Chinese and global football marketplace. 

Medeiros said: “Football, in China and around the world, has experienced unprecedented growth and commercial success over recent years. Clubs and leagues have become global brands; competitions are now broadcasted around the world, international recruitment and players’ transfers have increased exponentially.

“Whilst this incredible success should be celebrated and applauded, history has shown that there can be a dark side to the beautiful game. Developing and enforcing strong integrity policies is vital for the future of football in China and worldwide, to ensure its long-term development, commercial success and people’s trust and passion.”

During the keynote speech, he highlighted China’s vision to develop 50,000 youth academies by 2025 as one example of the exciting ambition to grow football in the country, as well as encouraging clubs, leagues, sponsors, as well as other organisations working within Chinese football, to join forces to ensure the highest standards and best practice is followed within their integrity, good governance and compliance regulation frameworks.

As a former CEO of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), Medeiros also proposed a 7-point “Game Plan” for the future of world football. These recommendations included:

1. Reform football’s governance, at a national and international level, with implementation of the highest standards in terms of democracy, transparency, accountability and meaningful stakeholder representation.
2. Implement club licensing systems throughout all professional competitions, at national and international level, including appropriate sporting, legal, infrastructural and financial requirements.
3. Implement best practice for youth development of young players, covering holistically all areas of the process, including recruitment, training, education and protection of minors.
4. Carry out a comprehensive regulatory reform on club ownership, as a matter of priority, with introduction of effective due diligence and independent supervision.
5. Establish a ‘clearing house’ system, both at national and international level, to ensure effective financial integrity of sport/related financial transactions, such as players' transfers fees and agents commissions.
6. Regulate and discipline the sports betting market and enhance international cooperation mechanisms, to effectively prevent and combat illegal betting and ensure the necessary protection of consumers (in particular, minors), the integrity of sporting competitions and football’s own economic viability.
7. Support the mission of SIGA (Sport Integrity Global Alliance) and its reform agenda, including the implementation of its core principles and universal standards on good governance, financial integrity and sports betting integrity.

He added: “The threats to the integrity of sport are big, global and increasingly sophisticated. At the ICSS, we are committed to safeguarding sport and sharing our knowledge and expertise with organisations around the world. Only through a global, holistic and multi-stakeholder approach can the sporting industry safeguard its reputation and in positive role in today’s society and economy.”

At a time when many western nations are grappling with protectionism and calling into question long established trading agreements, China has welcomed world leaders to its capital city to herald the dawn of a series of new trading relationships.

The theme of the conference – the Belt and Road Initiative – positions China as the driver of economic development worldwide.

"More than 2,000 years ago, our ancestors, driven by a desire for friendship, opened the overland and maritime Silk Roads and thus started a great era of exchanges among civilizations," president Xi Jinping told delegates at the welcome banquet.

"We gather here to renew the Silk Road spirit and discuss the Belt and Road development for international cooperation. This is both a continuation of our shared legacy and a right choice for the future."

Much like the Olympic Games – of which Beijing is the first city ever to be hosting both the Winter and Summer editions – political and economic summits are a means of putting the host nation at the centre of the geopolitical landscape.

According to president Xi, China has now signed cooperation agreements with more than 68 countries and international organisations.

State owned banks are to invest another $40bn to boost infrastructure, industrial capacity and financing along the new silk road, which now extends beyond Africa and Eastern Europe to South America.

United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres told China Daily: “The Belt and Road Initiative has immense potential... It can promote effective access to markets and new opportunities… It is rooted in a shared vision for global development.”

Contrast this with the UK’s imminent separation from 27 nations of the European Union, or US president Donald Trump’s protectionist rhetoric. As one Beijinger told me today: “Oh, you are from Britain, leaving the EU… this must be bad for business!”

Business is certainly good in China. The reason for my visit was not actually to attend the Belt and Road Forum, but to speak with VIPs from the city about Host City Asia, which takes place in Beijing on 18 October 2017. The opportunities in this sector are as great for organisations from overseas as they are for China.

The sun shone throughout the Belt and Road Forum. While Host City cannot guarantee blue skies, even in the city’s favourite “golden month” of October, one thing is for certain – the sports and entertainment sectors here are booming rapidly and China is loving sharing the limelight.

Host City Asia takes place in Beijing on 18 October 2017. Beijing will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2019.

The boom in China's sports industry presents huge potential for foreign investment, especially from the UK.

Speaking at the Telegraph Business of Sport conference in London, Liu Xiaoming, the ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the UK, said that sport has become one of the country's new economic highlights and a national strategy for business.

From sports events and venues to retail and sponsorship, China has major opportunities for collaboration said Liu.

"There's no doubt China is a big sports nation, but China is not yet a strong sports nation," he said. "There are challenges. But in the long run China's sports sector has a huge market to offer.

"Many compare China's sports industry to a huge gold mine.

"The sport sector is fast emerging as a new growth point. By 2020 the total output will exceed US$450 billion. All this indicates a growing demand for domestic and foreign investment. [China's] sport industry is booming.

"[There is] great potential for China and the UK to collaborate in many aspects of the sports industry."

When asked about China's potential of hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Liu added that it is a dream for the Asian superpower.

"Chinese people have three dreams for football," he said. "Dream one is to be a champion of Asian Games. They want to see the Chinese team perform better.

"Second dream is to host the World Cup. Maybe not 2030 but looking down the road we hope Chinese will host the World Cup.

"Third dream is to win the World Cup."

To discover more opportunities in China's sports, business and cultural events market visit Host City Asia in Beijing on 18 October.

[Source: OCA] The Olympic Council of Asia and Alisports of China has announced a strategic partnership to bring the electronic sports video game phenomenon to the official sports programme of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

eSports, which is enjoyed by millions of youngsters around Asia and the world, has already been added to the OCA’s 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, this September as a demonstration sport.

It will also feature in next year’s 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, again as a demonstration sport. By the time of the 19th Asian Games in 2022, however, eSports will become an official medal sport – reflecting the rapid development and popularity of this new form of sports participation among the youth.

Alisports, which was established in 2015 as the Alibaba Sports Group by the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, will work closely with the OCA to develop the marketing of eSports.

The OCA President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, said: “The Olympic Council of Asia has constantly been committed to the heritage, development and improvement of Asian sports, and we are extremely pleased about the strategic partnership with Alisports. 

“We look forward to further collaboration with Alisports in regards to digital sports concepts along with sporting events. We are sure that the extensive organising capabilities of Alisports, and their experience in e-sports, will assist the OCA in developing all sports.”

Alisports founder and CEO Mr. Zhang Dazhong said: “I would like to thank the Olympic Council of Asia for their faith in Alisports. Together we will work on providing the sponsors of the Asian Games with more opportunities and maximising the market value, so that the OCA enjoys optimum benefits and advantages.”

eSports to be contested at the 5th AIMAG this September include FIFA 2017, MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) and RTA (Real Time Attack) gaming types.

[Source: OCA]

[Source: SportAccord Convention] SportAccord Convention is delighted to confirm that Michael Evans, President of the Alibaba Group will be the Keynote for this year’s Plenary Conference, Innovation in Action at the 15^th edition, to be held at the Aarhus Convention Center, Denmark from 2 – 7 April 2017.

The Keynote will begin on Wednesday, 5 April at 09:10 to 09:40 and take the format of a Fireside Chat with David Eades, Anchor and Journalist, BBC World. The session is entitled: Open Sesame: Unlocking the rich potential of new sporting horizons, and using innovation to drive sport to a new level of entertainment and fan engagement.

When Sydney hosted the Olympic Games in 2000, Alibaba was a Chinese start-up and not quite a year old. Fast forward 18 years and Alibaba has now grown into the world’s largest online and mobile commerce company. Alibaba is now expanding into media, entertainment and sport, recently forging an historic long-term partnership with the IOC through 2028, using technological innovation and know-how to contribute to the Olympic Movement.

As President, Michael Evans is responsible for leading and executing Alibaba Group’s international growth strategy. Commenting on Alibaba’s involvement in the SportAccord Convention, Evans said:

“We’re delighted to be taking part in the SportAccord Convention as this gives us an opportunity to   share some of the key insights and innovative approach Alibaba is taking when it comes to sport and entertainment, the growth of the digital and mobile market, as well as the exciting potential of the Chinese market for sport.”

Panel sessions and case studies following the Keynote will include:

• Plenary Panel Session entitled: Innovation – A permanent change revolution, or an opportunity to reset your sport?
• Innovation in the Business of Sport
• IF Innovation in Action – International Orienteering Federation
• Future Sports – Drone Racing

Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention said, “We’re delighted Alibaba will open the Plenary Conference focused on Innovation in Action. With the increasing significance of sport in China in terms of fan engagement and business growth, there are significant opportunities to be had by everyone. Alibaba’s meteoric rise will most certainly have some bearing on what we hear during the Keynote.”

SportAccord Convention is the world’s premier and most exclusive annual event at the service of sport. It is focused on driving positive change internationally and dedicated to engaging and connecting; international sports federations, rights holders, organising committees, cities, press and media, businesses and other organisations involved in the development of sport.

The Convention is host to annual general meetings of governing bodies, and once again, will welcome a delegation from the International Olympic Committee. The 6-day Convention includes the Plenary Conference, City Forum, LawAccord, MediaAccord, the Exhibition, as well as the Opening Ceremony and Closing Event.