A recent Nielsen Sports report found that ‘global disruption’ is having an unprecedented effect on sport due to political, social and technological impacts. These factors are affecting where sports investment is coming from, how content is created and distributed, as well as the relationships between rights holders, sponsors and fans.

As sport is facing one of its most challenging periods yet, the #SAC2018 plenary conference will examine how sport and sponsors can unite a complex global audience through influence marketing and innovation, as well as keep fans entertained around the clock.

The initial plenary session will focus on ‘The Power of Influence Marketing’. Delegates will hear how a panel are using key influencers through live sport, endorsement, agents, event hosts, fan websites and marketing tools, to extend reach, deliver original content and influence the entire sports ecosystem.

Other sessions will include a technology update on ‘Augmenting the Sponsorship Profile’ and look at how augmented reality can help a brand to come alive, reach new audiences and deliver new experiences, both in stadiums, at home and on any number of devices. Delegates will also hear from an international sport federation on how they are using innovation to break new ground in marketing and sponsorship initiatives.

A further panel session covering ‘Socially Responsible Marketing’ will focus on what needs to be addressed when choosing commercial partners such as ethics, transparency, environmental issues, gambling, and role models; and whether sports, events and athletes should take into account what is best for society.

A round table will look at the main challenges that lie ahead for sport and sponsorship as a result of rapidly changing technology and the fragmented media landscape. Participants will discuss how to stand-out from competitors as well as keep audiences permanently entertained.

Further information can be found on the webpage Plenary Conference including the 2018 plenary conference programme, highlights from last year’s Plenary sessions including Alibaba Group – using innovation to drive sport to a new level of entertainment and fan engagement; Nielsen Sports – understanding the changing trends in audience consumption and media habits; and the International SAMBO Federation – making the most of your digital assets. Registration for SportAccord Convention 2018 is open for delegates with discounted rates available for a limited period only.

Taking place in Bangkok, Thailand from 15 – 20 April 2018, the SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit is a unique opportunity for industry leaders to engage with key decision-makers involved in the business of sport. The 6-day annual Convention is attended by all the international sports federations and hosts all the General Assemblies, is supported by the IOC, and features a 3-day sell-out exhibition, an extensive Conference programme, and offers many social and networking opportunities as part of its Official Schedule.

[Source: SportAccord Convention] SportAccord Convention is delighted to confirm the official signing ceremony took place today with Host City ‘Bangkok’ for the sixteenth edition of the Convention to be held from 15 – 20 April 2018.

The signing event was carried out at the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) building with Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention, H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, and H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, the Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand.

“Hosting the SportAccord Convention in Bangkok enables us to reach out to all the International Sport Federations and those organisations involved in the business of sport to share our sports tourism vision as well as enabling delegates to experience all that Thailand has to offer. The Tourism and Sports Ministry is a key driver in helping to promote Bangkok and Thailand as a sports dream destination and sports hub in Asean, and these are some of the reasons why the SportAccord Convention is an important event for us as the Host City.” said Mrs Kobkarn.

With state-of-the-art venues and a city brimming with opportunities and cultural gems, Bangkok is host to many world-class events, and in 2016 served as the gateway for over 30 million tourists who visited Thailand.

Commenting on Bangkok becoming the next Host City, Nis Hatt said, “SportAccord Convention is delighted for the Convention to come to Bangkok, Thailand, and our host should be commended for

their dedication and passion in bringing the Convention here, which in turn will support both the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in their future development goals. Hatt went on to say:

“We are already making good progress with preparations for next year’s Convention and I am confident we will be able to deliver a memorable event in Bangkok for our delegates.”

The overarching theme for the sixteenth edition of the SportAccord Convention will focus on marketing and sponsorship with further details being revealed once registration opens in June. The Convention will also see new initiatives including a 3-day sports festival where all International Federations along with their National Federations will be invited to take part. In addition, the event is being promoted as a ‘family affair’, thus making Thailand the vacation destination for delegates and their families in 2018.

Bangkok was announced as the next Host City during the spectacular SAC2017 Opening Ceremony in Aarhus, Denmark, this year’s European Capital of Culture.

SportAccord Convention has announced ‘Marketing and Sponsorship’ as the theme of the Plenary Conference following feedback from International Federations and delegates.

For sport and entertainment organisations, sponsors spend millions to build brand equity and it’s not just about eyeball exposure. The Plenary Conference will look at how to tap into the spirit of the sport by marketers who are sponsoring to leverage the enthusiasm and loyalty of sports fans, and transfer the fan’s passion to the brand as well as meet international sports federations expectations. Sessions will also focus on best practices to create and measure sponsorship activation. The 16th edition of the Convention in Bangkok, Thailand will take place from April 15-20, 2018.

SportAccord Convention is the world’s premier and most exclusive annual event at the service of sport. Held in a different city each year, the Convention takes place over six days and is focused on driving positive change internationally and dedicated to engaging and connecting; international sports federations, rights holders, organising committees, cities, press and media, and organisations involved in the business of sport.

In addition to the two-day Plenary Conference, SportAccord Convention offers the ever popular City Forum which saw a packed conference hall at this year’s Convention in Aarhus, Denmark. The City Forum is designed to address the needs and concerns of cities and regions bidding for major international sporting events. It does this by bringing together cities, event organisers, sports commissions, host cities, development authorities, international sports federations, and commercial organisations to share their insights and proven advice as well as practical takeaways. The Forum’s aim is to help cities obtain and host world class sporting events.

“SportAccord Convention is flying again following its great success in Aarhus, Denmark. This included meetings with 15 cities interested in hosting future conventions from Asia, the USA, the Middle East and Europe. This confirms how relevant SportAccord Convention is for the international sports community.” said Francesco Ricci Bitti, president of SportAccord Convention.

The conference programme also includes LawAccord and offers the opportunity to examine the most pressing and relevant legal issues for the international sports movement and the cities that host them.

In addition, the MediaAccord conference enables international sports federations, media organisations and media experts to work together to share best practices and winning ways to capture fan engagement and build strong brands across all media platforms with the SAC2018 conference theme providing a strong focus.

Bangkok is the next destination and global sports gathering for SportAccord Convention 2018 and serves as an international hub for this region. A key opportunity for any organisation involved in the business of sport, Bangkok provides organisations with unique opportunities to deepen their relationships in this region, or use #SAC2018 as a springboard to kick-start their involvement and tap into the region with over 90% of the delegation being key decision-makers and in a position to take action. Organisations will have access to the Who’s Who in the world of sport and achieve many of their business goals in one location within days – the No. 1 key objective for delegates who attended SAC2017 in Aarhus, Denmark.