SportAccord Convention announced on Tuesday that PwC will be a Gold Partner of this year’s event, which takes place from 6-11 April 2014 in Belek/Antalya, Turkey. The agreement marks PwC’s second year as a Gold Partner.
“The first year of our partnership with SportAccord Convention was extremely successful and we are very pleased to be continuing as a Gold Partner in 2014,” said Robert Gruman, PwC Russia Advisory Leader, who heads PwC’s Global Sports Mega-Events Centre of Excellence.
“SportAccord Convention provides us with networking opportunities and enhances our ability to build relationships with International Federations and the global sports movement.”
PwC’s Sports Mega-Events Centre of Excellence comprises a network of professionals experienced in bringing value at all phases of the sports mega-events lifecycle.
For the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, PwC’s experts, in partnership with the Sochi Organising Committee, are carrying out over 200 projects in several key areas, from strategic and operational planning to supply chain management, from HR consulting to risk management.
“Our Gold Partnership with PwC has been of great value to us as an organisation and we are gratified to know that the feeling is mutual” said Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention.
“We are very pleased that the partnership is continuing and that we are able to provide a platform for PwC to meet its business objectives.”
In 2013, PwC conducted the first Economic Impact Study of SportAccord Convention and estimated the direct and indirect impact of the event in Saint Petersburg, Russia at USD7.69 million.
Tag: Sponsorship
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PwC renews SportAccord Convention gold partnership
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SportAccord Convention signs Macau as Gold Partner
The Macau Sport Development Board will once again be a Gold Partner of SportAccord Convention for this year’s edition taking place from 6-11 April 2014 at the Susesi Convention Centre in Belek/Antalya, Turkey. It is the seventh consecutive year that Macau’s National Organisation for Sports Development has been a Gold Partner of the Convention.
“SportAccord Convention is a very important event for us,” said José Tavares, Acting President of Macau Sport Development Board. “It allows us to build relationships with International Sports Federations as well as providing us with a platform to communicate how we are promoting health, activity and well-being in Macau, using sports events as an inspiration for our population.”
A few weeks after SportAccord Convention, Macau will again host thousands of athletes from home and abroad for the 11th Asian Dragon Boat Championships and the Macau International Dragon Boat Races from 30 May – 2 June 2014.
“We are pleased to welcome our friends from Macau as Gold Partners once again,” said Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention. “The Macau Sport Development Board represents Macau not only as a host destination for major events but also promotes the participation of athletes from Macau in major events around the world. In both ways, there is a great fit between their goals and the International Federations and Associations attending our Convention.”
In its 12th edition this year, SportAccord Convention is a unique opportunity for international sporting leaders to engage with business, and features a dynamic exhibition as well as the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport. The event is held in a different location around the world each year.
Belek/Antalya is a developing sports hub which recently hosted the 2013 World Archery Championships. In addition, the area will welcome in May the 2014 Turkish Airlines Ladies Golf Open which is part of the Ladies European Tour.
For more conference information, including a full list of confirmed speakers, visit www.sportaccordconvention.com -
Wembley Stadium strikes unprecedented brand partnership with EE
England’s national stadium announced on Wednesday that advanced British digital communications company EE has become its lead partner.
The partnership will run for six years, starting with immediate effect. The first event at the EE-sponsored stadium will be the Capital One Cup Final on March 2.
This is the first time Wembley – one of the biggest brands in football – has signed a lead brand partner in its 90-year history. The partnership will be represented by a new logo, but the world-renowned name of the stadium will remain unchanged.
Wembley National Stadium Ltd said the partnership has been agreed on the basis of an ambition to make Wembley the most connected stadium in the world – ensuring it sits alongside the most technologically advanced stadiums across the globe for years to come.
Melvin Benn, chairman of Wembley said “As stadia around the world become increasingly more technologically advanced, EE is the perfect partner to assist us in fulfilling that goal, giving event owners and their fans the best possible and unforgettable shared experiences.”
Wembley will benefit from multi-million pound investment in its technological infrastructure over the course of the six-year partnership to offer visitors the best possible experience. The deal also includes the launch of Wembley’s first bespoke app, which offers fans a dynamic feed of event content as well as stadium and travel information.
Olaf Swantee, CEO at EE, said “Over the coming months, we will announce an exciting programme of upgrades and innovations to the existing infrastructure at Wembley that will ensure the stadium offers visitors a world class spectator experience for many years to come.”
Future technological advancements to come from EE over the six-year deal include mobile ticketing solutions, enhanced mobile network access and high speed Wi-Fi available for all. EE customers will benefit from exclusive ticketing and marketing initiatives from late March.
“I’m delighted that we have secured EE as Wembley Stadium Lead Partner,” said Peter Daire, FA Group head of sponsorship. “We have diligently taken our time, in collaboration with Wasserman, in sourcing a technology brand that shares our enthusiasm and commitment and EE will help to make the Wembley fan experience the best it can be.”
The partnership adds to Wembley’s existing sponsorship agreements with Carlsberg, Betfred, Walkers, Coca-Cola, Mars and National Express. -
IOC signs Japan’s Bridgestone as Worldwide Partner
The world’s largest multi-sports rights holder has partnered with the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
In an agreement through to 2024, The Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, has joined The Olympic Partner (TOP) programme – the IOC’s small group of sponsors with exclusive marketing rights.
This is the first sponsorship agreement is the first to be signed under the watch of the IOC’s new marketing commission chairman, Tsunekazu Takeda.
“I am delighted that a leading Japanese company, Bridgestone, will become the 11th Worldwide TOP Partner and the second TOP Partner to commit through to 2024,” said, the IOC’s marketing commission chairman, who is also president of the Japanese Olympic Committee and vice president of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee.
“As the first Partner the IOC has signed under my Chairmanship of the Marketing Commission I am also personally very happy that we were able to make this global announcement in Tokyo,” said Takeda.
Alongside 10 other Worldwide TOP Partners including McDonalds, Coca Cola and Visa, Bridgestone will not only partner with the IOC but also all 204 National Olympic Committees and their Olympic teams.
The tyre manufacturer will also partner with the organisers of future Olympic Games, including the Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the 2022 and 2024 Olympic Games – the host cities of which have yet to be elected.
Bridgestone will supply tyres and related services to support the transport operations at Games time, including the vehicles for the athletes, media and officials.
“The long-term, global support the TOP Programme provides is essential to the entire Olympic Movement, as well as to the staging and operations of each Games,” said Takeda.
As well as tyres, the product categories covered by the agreement include seismic isolation bearings and non-motorised bicycles. The company also manufactures industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods.
Bridgestone CEO and Chairman Masaaki Tsuya said, “As a global corporation, Bridgestone is excited to partner with the entire Olympic Movement, a group of organisations that not only brings together the world’s athletes at the greatest athletic festival, but also blends this celebration of sport with a spirit of service to community, social responsibility, a respect for diversity and a commitment to the fundamental principles of Olympism.”
As a Worldwide TOP Partner, Bridgestone will partner with the IOC and all 204 National Olympic Committees and their Olympic teams.
“The TOP programme is a truly global sponsorship programme, as it benefits all future Games organisers and all the National Olympic Committees and their athletes, ensuring that athletes from all over the world, and not just the largest countries, are able to compete at the Games,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
“Indeed, the IOC redistributes over 90 per cent of its revenues to the wider sporting movement. Bridgestone is a global leader in its field, and we are delighted to welcome the company to the TOP programme and are excited about the long-term commitment they have shown to the Olympic Movement.”
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SOCAR sponsors Baku 2015 European Games
The State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has joined Proctor and Gamble, Tissot, BP and Nar Mobile as the fifth official partner of the Baku 2015 European Games.
The deal will see Baku 2015 European Games branding on every SOCAR forecourt and outlet across the country to raise awareness of the event.
“The majority of tickets will go to local people; that’s a big challenge,” said Charlie Wijeratna, commercial director at Baku 2015 in an exclusive interview that will be published in the autumn issue of HOST CITY magazine.
“Shifting tickets to people for sports they’ve never historically paid to watch before, you need great local marketing partners.”
SOCAR, which employs more than 60,000 people, will also help to promote the Games through a marketing campaign in four other European countries, including Switzerland, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine.
Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports and CEO of Baku 2015, said “The European Games is an opportunity to promote Azerbaijan to the rest of the world and to have the backing of such a highly valued international company is of vital importance.”
SOCAR have a long standing association with major sporting bodies and events, including the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. It is also sponsoring the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship in France.
Mr Rovnag Abdullayev, President of SOCAR, said “Sponsorships across sport are a very significant point for us, and SOCAR is honoured to be associated with such an exciting moment in the history of the country.”
The European Games takes place in Baku from 12 – 28 June 2015, featuring 20 sports and 6,000 athletes.
“As we continue to count down the days until the beginning of the European Games, it gives us great confidence to know that many major Azerbaijani businesses are backing our efforts to create an innovative event that will unite Europe through sport,” said Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015.
“We are very pleased with how the sponsorship programme has gone,” Wijeratna told HOST CITY. -
Emirates ends sponsorship as FIFA plans Winter World Cup
Just as a FIFA taskforce met in Zurich on Monday to review options for the timings of the 2022 World Cup, it emerged that Emirates airline would not be renewing its sponsorship contract with football’s international governing body.
“This decision was made following an evaluation of FIFA’s contract proposal which did not meet Emirates’ expectations,” Emirates said in a statement on Monday.
A FIFA spokesperson said Emirates had informed them two years ago that Brazil 2014 would be the last World Cup it would sponsor, as the airline was changing its strategy to focus on more frequent smaller events around the world instead of a mega-event every four years.
Qatar Airlines is said to be waiting in the wings to take over the role of official carrier for FIFA. Sony are also reported to be putting an end to their sponsorship, with Olympic TOP sponsors Samsung being mentioned as likely contenders to occupy this space.
Emirates chose to make the news public at a time when FIFA is tackling the tricky issue of how to host the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 without risking the health of players and fans, while also minimising disruption to national league fixtures.
“We are getting closer to narrowing the dates for the FIFA World Cup to two options – January/February 2022 or November/December 2022 – but FIFA has also been asked to consider May 2022,” said FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke.
Hosting the World Cup in January/February would almost certainly result in the event clashing with the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, for which Almaty and Beijing are currently candidate cities.
The May option was put forward by the European Club Association, who have proposed that the tournament could take place from April 28 to May 29 without disrupting domestic fixtures.
However, FIFA’s chief medical officer Professor Ji?í Dvo?ák highlighted medical concerns relating to player safety and fan safety if the FIFA World Cup were to be held between May and September. Valcke also pointed out that the month-long period of Ramadan would begin on 2 April in 2022, which would impact on preparations for the tournament.
Hassan Al Thawadi, CEO of the local organising committee said the preferred scenario was for the World Cup to be held in the winter, while affirming that it remained fully committed to delivering what was promised in its bid and organising the best possible event whatever is decided.
The taskforce is due to hold its next meeting in early 2015 after further consultation.
“The objective of today’s meeting was to receive feedback from all parties and to work on narrowing the options,” said Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. -
Tokyo 2020 signs NTT and Asahi as Gold Partners
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation and Asahi Breweries have both signed as gold partners of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, within the space of two days.
On Monday, the Tokyo-based NTT Corporation signed as Official Telecommunications Services Partner.
NTT Corporation will provide telecommunications services for hosting the Games.
On Tuesday, Asahi Breweries was announced as the second Gold Partner in the “Beer & Wine” category.
The world’s highest earning telecommunications company, NTT also worked on Japan’s three previous Olympic Games: Tokyo 1964, Sapporo 1972 and Nagano 1998.
“NTT has a long and distinguished history of connecting people across the length and breadth of Japan, and it is my earnest wish that we will be able to work together to further strengthen bonds between people and ensure that we deliver a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020,” said Tokyo 2020 President Yoshir? Mori.
In today’s world, security is a major function of the telecommunications partner.
“With the rapid evolution of ICT (information and communications technology), the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics require telecommunications convenience to be accompanied by safety more than ever before,” NTT said in a statement.
“In addition to helping make the Games’ telecommunications safe, secure, and welcoming, NTT is taking advantage of the Group’s telecommunications related security technologies and its telecommunications service infrastructure inside and outside Japan, endeavouring to act as a ‘value partner’ in providing an unprecedented level of hospitality to the Tokyo 2020 and other relevant organisations, as well as competitors and guests from Japan and overseas.”
The second Gold Partner to sign, Asahi Breweries, is already a Gold Partner of the Japanese Olympic Committee.
“As becoming the Tokyo 2020 Gold Partner (Beer & Wine), we are greatly looking forward to support not just the Japanese national team, but also every single athlete competing in the Games, allowing them to perform beyond their limits, and convey the message of the magnificence of having hopes and dreams to the children who bear the future,” said Akiyoshi Koji, president of Asahi Breweries.
“Asahi Breweries has an excellent slogan, which translates roughly as ‘Let’s share the emotion,’” said Mori.
“This slogan very much echoes the efforts of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee to support athletes in their endeavours and to provide a stage where that emotion can be shared.
“During the Games, the whole of Japan will be raising their glasses and cheering on the athletes, and we are looking forward to working closely with Asahi Breweries to share the emotion of the Tokyo 2020 Games.”
The Tokyo 2020 organising committee is reported to be targeting $1.1bn of sponsorship revenue to fund staging the Games, with the top tier gold category said to be valued at $128m. At these prices, Tokyo 2020 could already be 30 per cent of the way towards its sponsorship revenue target.
The domestic sponsors of the organising committee are distinct from the International Olympic Committee’s global TOP sponsorship programme, which also makes a major contribution to hosting the Games while supporting the Olympic movement worldwide and includes Japanese companies Bridgestone and Panasonic.
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The Sports Consultancy hires Glasgow 2014 big hitter
The Sports Consultancy’s ability to offer commercial services to rights holders has been boosted significantly with the appointment of key figure in Glasgow 2014’s sponsorship programme.
Marc Hope has spent the last four years with Sports Marketing and Management, where he was embedded in the Organising Committee of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games playing a pivotal role on the successful achievement of almost 50 sponsors across three tiers.
He will lead on a significant investment into The Sports Consultancy’s rights marketing business, offering commercial services to rights holder and event clients.
“Rights marketing is a core part of our DNA, it’s where we originated and it will build and augment our strong commercial focus as well as add depth to our commercial and strategic consulting services to government and venue clients,” said co-managing director Angus Buchanan.
“In Marc we have found someone who shares our vision and with whom we can work with to build a prominent rights marketing practice. The results he has achieved in his career to date, most recently in his role selling commercial rights for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, firmly establishes Marc as one of the leading practitioners in the industry.”
Before working on Glasgow 2014, Marc spent a decade with Fasttrack, which later became part of CSM, where he led the rights marketing team over a range of Olympic sports and major international events headed by UK Athletics.
Marc landed the multi-year title sponsorship deals for the London Youth Games (LYG), for which he remains vice chairman. He also served as a non-executive board director of GB Taekwondo during their London Olympic cycle 2010-2013, which saw the sport achieve Olympic gold.
Marc will be working closely with Buchanan and his co-founder Robert Datnow in developing the rights marketing practice.
“I have followed with great interest how Angus and Robert have developed The Sports Consultancy into one of the leading consultancies operating in the sports industry today,” said Hope.
“It is a privilege to join their innovative team and to have the opportunity to build a new rights marketing division harnessing the company’s reputation and contacts along with its existing in-house commercial and legal experience.”
Further appointments of senior brand consultants and rights sales specialists are expected to follow.
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World Archery signs Axcel under new sponsorship programme
Axcel Sights is the first company to join World Archery’s new sponsorship programme, through which it will support the Archery World Cup and World Archery Championships over 2015.
Signing a one year deal, Axcel Sights are now the Official Sight Partner of World Archery in 2015.
World Archery’s new sponsorship programme is designed to offer organisations greater exposure around international events, as well as to provide greater opportunities to develop the sport.
The US company had assumed title sponsorship of the European stage of the 2013/14 Indoor Archery World Cup in Telford and supported national events in the Netherlands, the US, Britain, Italy and other destinations in recent years.
Axcel Sight’s parent company has just celebrated its 20th anniversary of producing archery products after launching its first in 1995. The company owns a large portion of the US domestic archery market.
The company has grown quickly internationally over the last decade with the introduction of compound target sights and marketing directed overseas.
The recurve versions of the company’s sights have been well-received, with many top and recreational archers adopting the equipment.
Recalling his experiences of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Axcel Sights president Gregory Summers said “I visited with my family and watched the recurve men’s finals. I saw OH Jin Hyek take gold– and realised he was shooting one of our sights.
“I didn’t know the Korean Olympic Champion was an Axcel archer until I saw it there in London!” -
Red Bull gives beach volleyball wings
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) today announced a partnership with the Beach Major Company to assist with running and promoting FIVB World Tour events including the Season Final and the Major Series.
Swatch also today renewed its sponsorship of these events.
The Beach Major Company is a joint venture between Red Bull and Hannes Jagerhofer, founder of ACTS Group, who have been cooperating closely for 20 years.
Soft drinks manufacturer Red Bull, with its slogan “Red Bull gives you wings” has emerged in recent years as a major player in event management and marketing. Jagerhofer has promoted and staged many volleyball events.
“This new partnership is the next step in the FIVB’s mission to ensure that volleyball is the world’s leading family sport entertainment through engagement, innovation and universality,” said Dr Ary S. Graça, president of the FIVB.
“Like the FIVB and volleyball, Red Bull is a dynamic, global brand and I look forward to working together to ensure that the FIVB’s beach volleyball events are a memorable spectacle for fans around the world.
“Red Bull is unrivalled in its marketing expertise. In combination with the Red Bull Media House with its outstanding network and knowledge of content production and distribution – this makes them an ideal partner for the FIVB. We are also delighted to be working closely with Hannes Jagerhofer – a renowned promoter who has set the benchmark for staging world-class volleyball events for many years.
“Finally, today we are announcing the renewal of the relationship between beach volleyball and one of the most respected sponsors in sport – Swatch. These are all incredibly prestigious partners for the FIVB and I look forward to working closely together to ensure that volleyball continues to lead through innovation as the number one family sport entertainment in the world.”
The joint venture has committed to “long term backing” of the FIVB and is expected to significantly expand the Major Series, which has three events in 2015: Porec, Croatia; Stavanger, Norway and Gstaad, Switzerland.
“The Swatch Beach Volleyball Major Series, together with the FIVB as the world governing body, was created to push beach volleyball to an entirely new level and position it on the world’s stage of top global sports,” said Hannes Jagerhofer, CEO of the Beach Major Company.
“Only with the strong support of the International Federation, which is entirely responsible for the sport’s progress, is it possible to realise the vision of the Major Series.
“Bringing Swatch on board as title sponsor, which is not only a strong global iconic brand but also a year-long trusted partner, facilitator and driving force, is the best possible scenario for a new era in beach volleyball history.
“To top it off, the Red Bull Media House, known for its award winning live productions, innovative content creation, action sports series and top ranked social media community will be committed to delivering new standards in beach volleyball production, distribution and entertainment.”
2015 promises to be a high profile year for the sport, with the 2015 FIVB World Tour marking the start of the second qualification process – alongside the Continental Cup – for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Hosted on the iconic Copacabana Beach, beach volleyball is set to be the signature event of Rio 2016.