SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit was honoured

yesterday to welcome Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, to the Sochi Expocentre.

Putin, as well as Vitaly Mutko, the Russian Federation’s Minister of Sport, and Nikolai Doluda, Deputy Governor of the Krasnodar Region, addressed delegates after Marius L. Vizer was re-elected unopposed as President of SportAccord during the organisation’s General Assembly.

In his opening remarks, Putin took the opportunity to congratulate Vizer on his appointment and confirmed Russia’s commitment to working with SportAccord and continuing its investment in sport.

“We believe that the fact that you have come here again proves that the international sports community highly appreciates our work to promote sports and healthy lifestyles,” Putin said.

He went on to outline a busy schedule of major sporting events that will be taking place in Russia in the coming years, including the FINA World Aquatics Championships this year, the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017, the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the World Winter Universiade in 2019.

“We are building dozens of modern, new sports facilities in Sochi, and the necessary infrastructure and sports venues are being constructed all over the country,” Putin added.

“We still have a lot to do, but given that we have broad experience in the area and we always keep our promises, I have no doubt that all these wide-scale projects will be implemented at the highest level. We are ready to expand our co-operation and promote sport, peace and development.

“It is very important to ensure that more people in the world realise how important it is to do regular exercise and to promote

a healthy lifestyle. I hope that working within the framework of SportAccord will help us achieve these goals.”

In his opening remarks, which are published on pages 2 and 3 of today’s edition of The Daily, Vizer challenged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to show a greater commitment to sport, IFs and athletes.

Reinforced by confirmation of a new four-year term as SportAccord President, he developed that theme in his closing comments and in the following press conference. Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, responded by speaking of

the emotion he felt at returning to Sochi and seeing facilities in use this week for the Federation Cup women’s tennis and the World Senior Curling Championships.

He also attempted to counter criticism from Vizer of the IOC’s activities and approach, including Agenda 2020, the new Olympic TV Channel and the distribution of revenue. However, Vizer, responding to Bach’s comments, said: “If you want to be respected, you have to be fairer.”

Following indications from the IAAF and the ISSF that they would leave SportAccord, Vizer added: “I consider this Congress today to

be an important step forwards to see who is interested in following the organisation, the project and fair play, the transparency and the efficiency of the sport, and also to see who are people who live for sport and who are the people who live from sport.

“Most of you are dedicated, and dedicate all your life to sport, but everybody is free to make a decision according to their spirit, to his heart and the fairness to sport.

“A lot of us are not at an age to wait for the next 100 years to make step-by-step change every 10 years. It is the right time for change.” In the press conference that followed

the General Assembly, Vizer added: “There are two ways in sport – follow the fairness, transparency and unity principles or choose another home.”

Delegates at the General Assembly also heard SportAccord Director General Vlad Marinescu outline the progress made by the organisation in supporting its Member Federations with programmes around anti-doping, preserving sports integrity, promoting social responsibility, increasing the digital media presence and the development of Multi-Sports Games.

The Daily

putin visits as vizer slams ioc system

Chiulli

insi

de Abete

Filmmaster chief explains the legacy of ceremoniesPAGe 15

ISSUE 2 - Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 #SAC2015 www.sportaccordconvention.com

Your guide to what’s

happening today at

SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business

Summit

President pleased with ARISF’s increasing influence in world sport PAGe 5

AIOWF ready to take big

steps forwardPAGe 4

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, addresses the SportAccord General Assembly and is greeted by Marius L. Vizer (left)

Continued on back page

and the discipline it confers on society. The International Federations are working full-time to develop and promote their sports. Together with their National Federations, they are the ones which have the assets of the sports, from childhood to elite performance. They are the ones organizing competitions in their sports from single sport events to the biggest multi-sports events.

It is required that the International Federations are respected and appreciated, because they are the foundation and pillars of the sport. Their unity and solidarity give consistency to the world sport movement.

The Sport Ministries have an important role in enabling, financing and supporting

the internal and external programmes of activities of the National Federations, as well as in organizing sports events, together with them, under the guidance of their International Federations. Their direct contribution, knowledge and implication in sport are highly appreciated by SportAccord.

According to the Olympic Charter, the total number of IOC Members may not exceed 115, out of which only 45 are the ones directly involved in sport; 15

representatives of the IFs, 15 of the NOCs, 15 of the athletes. This minority is the real royalty of the sport. In spite of this, during the vote, they can never determine change. In order to protect the real interests of sport, the majority of votes should belong to people in functions or offices related directly to sport.

As long as country leaders can present bids, Olympic Family leaders can hold governmental roles, why not

also include Ministries of Sport in the decision process? Any modern organization, in order to be dynamic, responsive and evolving, should have positions for fixed durations while their members’ contribution is active and truly adding benefit.

International Federation Presidents who are active in their roles, trusted and elected by their respective sports should not be withdrawn due to age from the IOC.

The highest expression of sport at the level of spirit and competition is Olympism

and the Olympic Games. This is a certainty that we are all convinced of. Discussing and debating their “uniqueness” is irrelevant . Just like President Bach was stating at the IF Forum in November 2014 – that “no organization or person can have monopoly over sport” (and he was right) - I consider that all the reforms must be implemented urgently in the IOC and I mean real reforms, that must serve and reflect the real interests of sport.

History demonstrated that all the empires who reached the highest peaks of development never reformed on time and they all headed for destruction.

The Olympic Games inspire humanity, motivate athletes, generate hope and financial revenues. This must be protected, as it is a brand produced by the IFs, successfully packaged and commercialized by the IOC, to be then consumed with savor by the international community. On the other hand, the IOC system is expired, outdated, wrong, unfair and not

at all transparent. The Olympic Games belong to all of us and we need real reforms.

In order to protect the integrity, transparency and fairness of the arbitration process, the Court of Arbitration in Sport must be independent.

In over 100 countries of the world, sport is in misery: athletes are lacking the necessary basic elements – food, medication, equipment, preparation facilities and possibility to participate in competitions. One of the great questions of sport today is how much should we continue to invest in buildings and infrastructure, and how much in people?! Furthermore, why invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Opening and Closing Ceremonies, while millions of athletes live in hunger and they don’t stand a chance in sport due to the lack of proper conditions? If indeed the “IOC distributes $3.25 million a day, every day of the year, for the development of sport worldwide”, why do millions of athletes suffer and cannot enjoy or reach performances in sport? Together, SportAccord and IOC must find a solution to compensate National Federations and Athletes from their events. Today, the money invested in sport never reaches the athletes and their families. SportAccord and the International Federations are already providing prize money to their Athletes in competitions, in an effort to compensate for this.

We appreciate the transparency of the IOC in making public some of their salaries and compensations, but it would be much appreciated to publish as well the payment list of all employees and consultants.

SportAccord is and shall always be supportive of its Members, as well as all the international sports organizations, ready anytime to start a collaboration with any partner interested, according to the principles of mutual respect, value, dialogue and common solutions in the interest of sport and the benefit of society.

President Nelson Mandela said that “Sport has the power to change the world”. I believe that “We have the power to change sport”.

vizer calls for ‘real reforms’

The power of sport are the International Federations. The engine of sport are

the National Federations with Ministries of Sport, the NOCs and the Athletes.

Sport today is not only a mechanism meant to organize big events and create champions, it is also an important education factor for the young generations, a discipline and health activator. Moreover, it is the key element of progress for the youth of the world, in the spirit of solidarity, friendship and peace.

SportAccord is the International Federations. My only intention is to protect the interests of the International Federations and to have a proper working relationship while providing them with projects and platforms in order to increase their visibility, exposure, participation and finance. Many projects are under way, including Multi-Sport Games, integrity and doping-free, media house, SportAccord Academy and many more which you will learn about later today. We enjoy working in collaboration with ASOIF, AIOWF, ARISF and AIMS in order to add value.

After becoming SportAccord President, I always tried to develop a constructive collaboration with the IOC and with President Bach. A collaboration based on respect

towards the Olympic Movement, its Members and the values in which I believe. Unfortunately, it never became a reality. I made a number of proposals in favor and for the benefit of IFs and SportAccord, but we have never received a positive reaction. Mr. President, stop blocking the SportAccord strategy in its mission to identify and organize Conventions and Multi-Sport Games. Do not try to create a theory around which sports are and are not eligible for Multi-Sport Games. Do not try to impose on the organizers of SportAccord events how to distribute funds generated and earned by ourselves. Do not interfere in the autonomy of the sports organizations.

The main joint platform of the IFs is SportAccord. It is a unique platform that unites all International Federations. The Olympic bid cities are blocked from making presentations or exhibiting their candidatures at SportAccord Convention.

The voting for potential host cities of the Olympic Games is

compromised. Key stakeholders are excluded from making informed decisions when selecting Olympic host cities: the bid cities cannot present their candidatures at SportAccord Convention to all stakeholders, IOC Members cannot visit bid cities and during the IOC Session, when the vote takes place, IF Presidents – who are organizers of the Olympic Games, are obliged to leave the room.

The Agenda 2020 was promoted as a platform, which would bring reforms to the world of sport and benefits for all stakeholders. However, the interests of the International Federations were not properly addressed. The Agenda 2020 hardly brings any real benefit to sport, to IFs or athletes. It did not bring about more clear criteria, rules and principles. “You, all present, are the main constituents of the Olympic Movement”. Recommendations 9 and 10 of Agenda 2020 lead to a destabilizing of the Olympic sports. We must protect the Olympic sports and disciplines

currently in the Olympic programme, and at the same time we must encourage and support the new sports and disciplines who want to join. We are a united world sports family of Olympic and non-Olympic sports, and we must act accordingly.

Recommendation 19, the launch of an Olympic Channel was very surprising. The IOC Members voted in December 2014, in the IOC Session, unilaterally, without a clear business plan, commercialization plan and project, to reduce the dividends to International Federations in order to establish the Olympic Channel. Leaving from the premise that the Olympic Movement has the assets, any business project in the world needs a business plan, investors, professional partners, breakeven points, strategy, consultation with stakeholders – International Federations - and to generate a benefit for all stakeholders. Only after the decision it appears that a plan is in process. At the same time, the cost of more than 450 million dollars to establish a digital channel seems exaggerated. Do consult us as stakeholders of the Olympic Movement regarding all the proposals, contracts and partnerships that are being signed and make them transparent!

Sport is one of the highest values of humanity. The supreme value of sport is the education, the spirit

SportAccord’s developing Multi-Sports Games strategy will come under the spotlight with a Plenary Session in the Workshop Room at the Expocentre from 13.00-14.00 today.

George Yerolimpos, the Executive Director of the SportAccord Multi-Sports Games, and David Nivelle, Director of the Multi-Sports Games, will be present to discuss a range of recent updates, including the award of the World Combat Games to Lima, Peru.

“The Multi-Sports Games organised by SportAccord are innovative, unique and pioneering concepts that promote excellence, diversity, responsibility and widespread

participation,” Yerolimpos told The Daily.

“The Multi-Sports Games group together sports with technical similarities. SportAccord’s objective with the Multi-Sports Games is to promote its Member sports and support the development of the sports worldwide.

“This introductory Plenary Session will present the participating International Federations with the timeline and guidelines of preparations for the World Combat Games.

“During the Session, the President of the Peruvian Olympic Committee, José Quiñones Gonzales, will also address the participating Federations with a welcome

‘Sport today is not only a mechanism meant to organize big events and create champions; it is also an important education factor for the young generations’

The Daily is produced by Squires Media – Editorial Communications and Publishing for the International Sporting Community

www.squiresmedia.com

EdItoR: Rory SquiresPRoduCtIon MAnAGER: Richard MulliganJouRnALIStS: Laura Aleksyan, Phil Ascough, Asiyat Barkhozova, Karen danelian, Kristina Ekzaryan, Emma Milner, Simon Redfern

SPORTACCORD CONVENTION

WORlD SPORT & BuSINESS

SummIT

Marius L. Vizer addresses the SportAccord General Assembly

2 The Daily Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 The Daily 3

sportaccord to look at combat Games timeline

majestic awards prizes unveiled

Gold Partners

Host City Partners

SOCIAl mEDIA

THE DAIlY

@saconvention#SAC2015

sportaccordconvention

sportaccord-convention

sportaccord

sportaccordconvention

Link up with us through our website, www.sportaccordconvention.com

and via the following:

speech. This Plenary Session is important, as it is the first step towards the organisation of a successful event.”

The World Combat Games are one of four Multi-Sports Games organised by SportAccord alongside the World Beach Games, World Urban Games and World Mind Games.

The World Combat Games feature 16 sports and more than 2,800 athletes competing over 12 days, with the first two

editions having taken place in Beijing, China and Saint Petersburg, Russia in 2010 and 2013, respectively. Nivelle told The Daily: “The World Combat Games have already grown significantly since the launch of the event, especially in terms of media exposure, with live broadcast coverage of the most recent edition in Russia shown in more than 100 territories.

“Over the past two years, we have worked very hard to make the Multi-Sports Games programme a sustainable platform for our Members.

“Firstly, we have consolidated our existing events by delivering the successful World Combat Games in Russia and the third and fourth editions of the

World Mind Games in China. Secondly, we have worked with the Federations to develop two new events – the World Beach Games and the World Urban Games – which are raising tremendous interest from the sport community, potential host cities and commercial partners.

“We have also developed new event logos and high-quality material showing the value and quality of the Multi-Sports Games, including new Event Presentation Books and Event Organisation Guides.

“We are currently in the bidding process phase and in talks with cities to find hosts for the next editions of the World Beach Games, World

Urban Games and World Mind Games.” With momentum building behind the Multi-Sports Games movement, SportAccord is witnessing “significant” interest from IFs to get involved in the initiative, according to Yerolimpos.

A total of 63 IFs will participate across the four different events – more than two-thirds of SportAccord’s Member Federations.

“International Federations are interested in participating because the Multi-Sports Games allow them to increase the exposure of their sport and their athletes, promote fast-growing disciplines and educate fans about the sports worldwide,” Yerolimpos added.

This is a full transcript of the speech given by SportAccord President Marius L. Vizer at yesterday’s General Assembly...

Lima will host the World Combat Games

A Plenary Session will discuss the World Combat Games

The stunning prizes that will be handed out to winners of the SportAccord Euronews Awards on Thursday have been unveiled.

The beautiful silver plates, handmade by craftsmen from Rostov in the Yaroslavl Oblast region of Russia, will be given to the Awards winners during the ceremony, from 19.00-20.30.

“We were asked by our colleagues at SportAccord to create a maquette of a prize plate for the Awards,” Alexey Vasilyevich Stepanov, CEO of ANO Forum ‘Country of Sports’, which is organising the Convention, said. “The actual plates, made according to our design, were produced by the Rostov Finift factory. Everyone has a chance to see

the plates at the 2015 MISP (Modern Sport. Innovations & Perspectives) Exhibition at the Convention until they are given to the award-winners.

“Rostov Finift is not only a factory name, but the name of a well-known Russian craftsmanship process. There are several separate styles in this decorative art process and all of them are named after the cities in which they have been developed.

“The method of painting used in Finift has been in Russia since the 18th century, while the fireproof dye used in Finift came from a 17th century French chemist, with the process having been adopted by Russian craftsmen.”

Prizes will be up for grabs in the categories of Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Sport Hero, Sport City, the Play for Change Media Award and the Spirit of Sport Award.

The finalists have been selected after having initially been proposed by International Federations before the candidates were trimmed down to a shortlist of four in each category through a vote of the general public.

The winners will be selected by an ad hoc Commission featuring SportAccord Director General Vlad Marinescu, Euronews Group CEO Michael Peters, WCF President Kate Caithness, UIM President Raffaele Chiulli, IHF President Hassan Moustafa, IFMA President Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan, FIA President Jean Todt and François Carrard, a renowned sports law specialist.

Further details about the ceremony will be available in the Thursday edition of The Daily, but for more information about the Awards, please visit awards.sportaccord.com for a full list of finalists.

The stunning silver plates

The presence of two of sport’s most influential figures at the ARISF General Assembly on Sunday was

welcomed by the Association’s President Raffaele Chiulli as clear evidence that he is making progress with his moves to increase the organisation’s influence.

Chiulli reminded members at the General Assembly at SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit that it is still less than two years since he was elected with a promise to make ARISF more relevant to its stakeholders, particularly with regard to recognition of IFs and assisting them with more training and education in doping issues.

As he was joined on the stage by Marius L. Vizer, President of SportAccord and SportAccord Convention, and by Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Chiulli spoke of ARISF’s “excellent relationships”.

Chiulli added that the workshop that took place yesterday (Monday) to bring together ARISF members and the IOC at the Convention, plus an anti-doping coaching/training session with ARISF and WADA here

on Thursday, were also signs of significant progress.

“I am trying to make ARISF relevant not just to our Member Federations, but also to our main stakeholders, working constructively and co-operatively with SportAccord, the IOC, WADA and the IWGA,” Chiulli told The Daily after the General Assembly.

“We have several concrete examples with

our first ever ARISF/IOC workshop and our session with WADA. We are going to play a key role in SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit because many of our Federations are directly involved in the initiatives and I am proudly serving on the SportAccord Council, ensuring that there is a very good liaison between our Federations and SportAccord. I am doing the same with the IOC.”

Chiulli, who is also President of UIM (Powerboating), will be joined on the SportAccord Council by ARISF Secretary General Riccardo Fraccari (WBSC – Baseball-Softball) after he overcame Antonio Espinós Ortueta (WKF – Karate) in a ballot.

However, the General Assembly overran by more than an hour when the election to fill a vacancy for a Director on the ARISF Council went to seven rounds of voting before Anna Arzhanova (CMAS – Underwater Sports) edged to victory over John Liljelund (IFF – Floorball).

The contest had started with seven candidates, but when two withdrawals and four elimination ballots reduced the number without producing an overall majority,

Arzhanova and Liljelund were left in the running.

After a tie in which two papers were invalid, members were asked to vote again and consider the possibility that it might be necessary to draw lots.

With no ballot forms left, members wrote their selections on blank paper and the next vote saw the final two candidates tie again with 17 votes each.

Discussions about whether it might be possible to appoint both candidates were followed by a brief adjournment, after which a third head-to-head vote finally, to applause and sighs of relief, favoured Arzhanova by 19 votes to 15. Arzhanova then withdrew from the vote for a place on the SportAccord Council.

Chiulli congratulated Arzhanova and Liljelund and said: “This was one of the most challenging contests in the history of ARISF.”

As members prepared to file through the ballot area yet again, in alphabetical order by sport, to vote to fill the SportAccord Council vacancy, Chiulli joked: “It seems you are familiar now with the sequence – I don’t need to call any more!”

Chiulli pleased by growth of ARISF

4 The Daily Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 The Daily 5

Raffaele Chiulli

Gian Franco Kasper, the President of the Association of International Olympic

Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF), has told The Daily that the organisation’s Member Federations are preparing to take significant steps in the coming months.

Speaking ahead of today’s AIOWF General Assembly (13.30-17.30), Kasper, who was elected to the helm of the organisation 12 months ago at the 2014 Convention in Belek/Antalya, Turkey, said that the organisation will tackle a number of key issues during today’s gathering in Sochi.

A presentation from the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee for the Winter Olympics is high on the agenda today, with the first test events taking place during the upcoming winter.

“We will discuss the preparations for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, as the Federations are heavily involved,” said Kasper,

who is also President of FIS, the global governing body of skiing.

“There will be some big steps forward in probably the next two to three months.

“We will have to swallow a reduction in the number of spectators for the 2018 Games, possibly by about 50 per cent.

“That is not easy, but in principle we are against excessive growth, and the organisers need to consider costs, of course. It is a key period on the road to

PyeongChang 2018, with the development of the venues taking place at the moment, whilst at the same time there will be a number of World Cup or high-level competitions serving as test events that are taking place over the next 12 months.

“This will be an important focus for the AIOWF members. Then of course we will be keeping an eye on the ongoing bidding process for the 2022 Olympics, with the candidates being Beijing in China and Almaty, Kazakhstan.”

Other items on the agenda at today’s General Assembly include an update on the development of the Olympic Channel as well as the implementation of the International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020 reforms.

AIOWF Federations will also discuss preparations for the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

“We don’t expect any problems with Lillehammer,” Kasper added. “There will also be the

usual discussions about calendar planning, but it has been a good year. From the perspective of FIS, for example, we have had an excellent competition season.”

At FIS, Alpine Skiing is reviewing the starting order for downhill races to maintain the suspense throughout the top 30 athletes, while Cross-Country Skiing is preparing for the 10th edition of the Tour de Ski, with a ‘Tour de Canada’ scheduled for February 2016.

Ski Jumping is working on the presentation of events for both the spectator on site and the television viewer by using a virtual line, which is the distance the athlete has to reach to take the lead.

Meanwhile, Nordic Combined is focusing on developing women’s competitions alongside its other season highlights, while Freestyle Ski and Snowboard are developing a joint series for slopestyle, halfpipe, big air events and separately for ski and snowboard cross competitions.

miah to explore the future of sportProfessor Andy Miah, the Chair in Science Communication & Future Media at the UK’s University of Salford, will offer a glimpse into the future as he returns to feature at SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit – an event that he describes as “the United Nations of sport”.

Miah will present ‘The Sporting Future Today’ on the Main Conference Programme from 10.00-10.30 on Thursday after featuring on the ‘Future Sports for Future Cities’ panel during City Forum today from 15.45-16.45.

“Delegates will get a glimpse into how future media technologies will create new ways for their audiences to engage with their sports,” Miah told The Daily.

“People should come along to get a sense of how technology is creating new immersive alternatives based around the transformation of the audience experience through wearable cameras and augmented reality technology.

“I will be also talking about the use of drone technology in sports broadcasting, part of a wider discussion about the future of media technology. Drones are revolutionising the world right now and they bring new perspectives on sports that will make possible the creation of new audiences.”

Miah is speaking at the Convention for a third consecutive year and is relishing the opportunity to return to Sochi after attending the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

“The Convention was once described to me as the ‘United Nations of Sport’ and there is a fantastic energy about the event, where key people come together to network and debate some of the key issues that surround the sports industry,” he said.

“As soon as you arrive at the Convention, you feel that you are somewhere important and even somewhere that has historic importance. Unlike many Conventions, this one manages to create a sense of importance and influence in its proceedings to have an impact beyond the event.

“Everyone in the sports world comes and everyone seeks to make a contribution through their participation.

“Sochi is really another reason for people to come to the Convention. I think what matters to sports industry professionals is the capacity of events to re-imagine places, and Sochi is no exception to this.”

Miah will speak on ‘Future Sports for Future Cities’ from 15.45-16.45 during City Forum on Tuesday and ‘The Sporting Future Today’ from 10.00-10.30 on the Main Conference Programme on Thursday

aiowf sports ready for biG decisions

Gian Franco Kasper

The IKF, Korfball’s global governing body, is hoping to strengthen its position

through striking up collaborations with other sports.

Korfball, which has close ties with more than 30 fellow International World Games Association Member Federations, has recognised the potential of multi-purpose facilities in attempting to increase participation numbers.

“As an organisation, we have always had excellent relationships with other sports that are part of the World Games, and we expect this will continue,” IKF President Jan Fransoo told The Daily.

“Depending on the region and country, we have local collaborations. For instance, in the UK our national association is collaborating closely with the Great Britain Handball Federation to ensure that English sports halls have the proper dimensions, as we use the same pitch size.”

The IKF is also encouraged by the increasing number of nations that have been able to qualify for its major tournaments, noting this as evidence of a thriving sport across the world.

“Over the past 12 months, a major step that we have been able to take is to have a full continental championship series in all five continents,” Fransoo added.

“It was the first time we have been able to organise such a series of championships, and this shows the breadth of presence of our sport.

“We are proud that more than 70 per cent of our registered member nations have taken part in a continental championship last year, which we are sure is a very high percentage among team sports.”

6 The Daily Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 The Daily 7

Federations must be creative to speed past media rivals

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Poster2.pdf 1 15年4月9日 下午3:58

International Federations must be inventive if they are to break through the clutter in an

increasingly fragmented media market, Oliver Weingarten, the General Secretary of the Formula E Teams’ Association and the CEO of OW Advisory, has told The Daily.

Weingarten, who will speak on a panel here in Sochi on ‘What it takes for motorsport to thrive in a fast-changing landscape’, has been closely involved in the launch of the Formula E electric car-racing series over the past few months.

The series has adopted an innovative approach of allowing fans to vote for their favourite driver to receive an extra speed boost during races.

“International Federations need to be inventive and have a unique selling point that makes them attractive to broadcasters, because their customers are demanding to watch a certain sport,” Weingarten said.

“Fanboost in Formula E might be seen as a gimmick to some motorsport purists, but it is a USP,

and has engaged the audience who feel they are contributing to their favourite driver’s race.

“Smaller International Federations often think the traditional business model for sponsorship based on eyeballs on linear TV is still the correct approach, but there is no reason why they can’t adapt and take a

different approach. It is no secret that the smaller International Federations have to fight hard to get a broadcast deal in certain territories, and indeed some are happy to sell for zero value if the broadcaster takes on the production costs.

“It is encouraging to see more social media activity for the smaller Federations, who have a great chance of capturing an audience from a young age, based on participation in their sport, and by creating a fan base that creates demand, which hopefully in time will ensure they are competitive in the rights market generally.”

Reflecting on the first few months of Formula E – a series overseen by the FIA, motorsport’s global

governing body – Weingarten is optimistic as well as realistic about the challenges ahead.

“For a new series, and what is essentially a start-up business, that there are a lot of positives to be taken,” he added.

“The racing has been fantastic, competitive, and unpredictable, and the fact the sessions are all condensed into a day makes it a great day out.”

However, Weingarten is not just focused on the development of Formula E.

He has a wealth of experience in the sports media industry and is well aware of the challenges facing large and small IFs, from copyright infringement to securing exposure. “I still liaise on a regular

Macao Sport Development Board has put significant funding resources in place to support its ‘Sport for All’ initiative and help aspirational athletes to take the crucial step on from amateur to competitive status.

The Financial Support Scheme for Training of Elite Athletes and the Financial Support Scheme for Further Studies for Retired Elite Athletes were launched in early 2014, and Board President Jose Tavares told The Daily that the initial signs have been promising.

“It is the objective of the Macao SAR Government to promote sports in a parallel manner for Sport for All and also at a competitive level,” Tavares said.

“The aim of the Financial Support Scheme for Training of Elite Athletes is to encourage athletes with potential to progress smoothly from training at an amateur level to a semi-professional level, and ultimately to a professional level.

“The Financial Support Scheme for Further Studies is designed to provide support to professional athletes in continuing their studies after retiring and to provide favourable conditions to allow them to look forward to a new stage of life.

“In addition, these projects help to continue training and development in order to foster more young athletes with an effective long-term training plan.”

Macao Sport Development Board is planning to expand on these schemes in the coming year by providing elite athletes with suitable logistical support. “We will continue to enhance collaboration with various local

sports associations to reinforce the training of professional athletes so that their standards can be elevated,” Tavares added.

“We will explore new training models for young athletes and provide them with long-term, systematic and thorough training. We will also co-organise large-scale international sports competitions.”

Macao Sport Development Board further enhanced its Sport for All initiative by launching the inaugural Macao Sports Games last year – an event that was open to the public and promoted sport in a friendly and fun environment. Macao also attracts international events in volleyball, dragon boat racing, golf and athletics.

“These events have helped to contribute towards the ‘buzz’ around sport in Macao and create a positive impact,” Tavares added. In terms of Sport for All, Macao will continue to work with international and regional bodies

basis with rights holders, and follow what is happening in the rights market,” he added.

“The Premier League had a huge uplift on their recent domestic live broadcast sales, and you could argue if piracy was substantially eroding the rights value of the broadcasters purchasing the content, they would not return and pay substantially more than the previous cycle.

“I would argue that sport has learnt from the lessons and mistakes of film and music, and taken an approach which has not been too heavy-handed, but demonstrated they will take action to protect their rights and those of their customers.

“There is obviously no specific sports copyright, and the protection takes place via the contractual

nexus of protecting the broadcast and elements within. If the law was to be adapted to reflect the current technological environment, rights holders would have better tools at their disposal to tackle the issue, which will always persist for a variety of factors.

“Rights holders have often adapted different approaches to deal with infringements, ranging from takedown notices, site blocking, or even doing deals with infringing sites.

“The key is to show that action is being taken.”

Oliver Weingarten will speak on the Main Conference Programme Panel Discussion ‘High Road or Low Road – What it takes for motor sport to thrive in a fast-changing landscape’, from 14.15-15.15 on Wednesday

to encourage the public to be more active. We will continue to collaborate with other government departments to design and explore territory-wide and population-based approaches to increase public participation in sport and elevate the public’s overall fitness and health levels,” Tavares said.

“As a public body and policy maker, we are privileged to be in a position to work with other public departments and local associations to explore innovative ways to create conditions and maximise the use of resources available for the implementation and organisation of Sport for All activities.

“In 2014, 18 large-scale Sport for All events were held, attracting more than 370,000 participants. Sport for All fitness and recreational classes are organised all year round to offer citizens the

opportunity to participate in sports exercises in their leisure time under professional guidance and instruction.

“In 2014, over 23,000 classes were organised in 80 different sports, attracting more than 57,000 people. To encourage youngsters to adopt a sporting habit for life and to start at a young age, our Board works very hard to strengthen the relationship between local sports associations and schools.

“In our effort to increase opportunities to play sport, we partner with local sports associations and schools for some of the most popular sports in Macao such as football, table tennis, bowling, tennis and Wushu.

“In addition, we also collaborate with the Education Bureau to organise over 700 sports-related classes for kids during the summer holidays.”

macao hopinG to help aspirinG athletes over final hurdle‘Our Board works hard to build the relationship between sports associations and schools’

fih aiminG hiGh with star partnership

‘Smaller International Federations often think the traditional business model for sponsorship based on eyeballs on linear TV is still the correct approach’

Jose tavares

Oliver Weingarten is positive about the start that Formula E has made

Kelly Fairweather, the CEO of FIH, hockey’s global governing body, has hailed an exciting partnership with broadcaster STAR Sports as a vehicle for driving growth of the sport worldwide.

The deal is part of FIH’s strategy to create a new compelling entertainment portfolio, optimised for TV and online platforms, and focusing on world-class content creation and distribution.

“It is too early in the partnership to talk about where we are seeing growth but we are very excited as the enthralling and captivating coverage this partnership promises to deliver will help us achieve our dual aims of providing the highest levels of thrilling sporting entertainment and inspiring hockey fans across the world,” Fairweather told The Daily.

“We are upgrading online content to change how the world views hockey. Content will be distributed far and wide, ensuring the whole world has the chance to enjoy hockey.”

FIH has been encouraged by STAR’s experience in other sports – particularly cricket – and by their determination to raise the bar in terms of the production values and viewer experience around what they have set as a priority sport. “Their know-how is hugely beneficial and their ability to deliver immersive, engaging and captivating coverage will draw new young audiences towards hockey,” Fairweather added.

“STAR’s experience in other sports such as cricket will help us look critically at all aspects of our sport and what can best be adapted so we have an amazing TV product. Through their extensive network, we are able

to distribute rights to more countries than ever before.”

Global growth is on the agenda for FIH as the governing body seeks to tap into new markets.

“Hockey has a fantastic heritage in India and STAR believes it has a great future, particularly amongst the youth market,” Fairweather said.

“STAR also considers Pakistan, USA and China to be markets in which hockey can grow. In addition to this, FIH aims to grow in the non-traditional hockey markets as well as continuing to prosper in the established markets.

“Key to this growth is that STAR Sports will promote hockey worldwide between Olympic Games cycles, which is incredibly important to sustaining interest in hockey and making hockey much more interactive and entertaining.”

8 The Daily Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 The Daily 9

The Daily: When did you get involved in RIOU?Prof. Belousov: “My official involvement began in June 2010 when I had the honour of being appointed CEO of the Russian International Olympic University, being made Rector not long afterwards.

“RIOU was very much on my horizons before then, however, in my previous role as head of the department for international programmes for the private investment company Interros, who were one of the founding members of the University back in 2009.”

The Daily: What sort of interest have you seen in RIOU so far?Prof. Belousov: “The majority of interest in RIOU comes from young sports industry professionals who are already working or volunteering with Olympic Movement stakeholder organisations and want to enhance their skills to take their career to the next level. This group is interested in coming to RIOU to participate in our one-year Master of Sport Administration (MSA) course. However, underneath this, interest in RIOU comes from diverse sources such as from universities asking to participate in two-week exchange programmes, or sports industry professionals wanting to gain access to our Sochi 2014 Games Archive for research purposes.”The Daily: How does RIOU’s MSA differ from other sports management courses? Prof. Belousov: “The key element to our flagship MSA course is its emphasis on creatively applying the knowledge and expertise accumulated by the organisers of previous Olympic Games, especially from Sochi 2014. Whilst a lot of university programmes focus on narrow areas within sports management, such as administration or law or by specialising in a single sport only, RIOU’s model combines a traditional university curriculum with features commonly found on a career development programme.

“This broader approach allows us to provide high quality training in sports management to candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Many of our students have sport-related degrees on their CVs already, but we are open to all applicants of any experience. By casting the net wider, we train more versatile sports managers, as there is a greater mix of ideas and approaches amongst the student community.”The Daily: How has RIOU and its flagship MSA programme developed since its launch?Prof. Belousov: “One of the unique aspects of our MSA programme is that it is up-to-the-minute in relation to what’s happening on the front line of the sports industry. We can deliver on this promise because our teaching faculty is formed from a diverse multi-national network of lecturers, including high-profile guest lecturers such as Thomas Bach.

“This means our MSA curriculum is constantly being updated with knowledge of the latest industry developments, pioneering best practice, and case studies from recent mega sporting events around the world. Yet these changes occur within a consistent module structure which has been the same since our first MSA course launched in 2013.” The Daily: How can the university and its

MSA programme build on Russia’s ‘decade of sport’?Prof. Belousov: “By making sure that our MSA students are participating in this ‘decade of sport’ by contributing to the success of the events which define it, such as Sochi 2014 and the Formula One Russian Grand Prix. Last year, RIOU’s MSA students were involved with both these huge events, participating in observer programmes during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and in a practical training programme around the Grand Prix.

“In this so-called ‘decade of sport’ there are many more properties coming to Sochi and our region for future students to harness: the 2016 IIHF World Championships; the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup; and the Sochi Tennis Academy.”The Daily: What are the key challenges for the Russian sports industry?Prof. Belousov: “With Russia now one of the world’s leading sports nations, the challenges we are facing are reflected by many other countries – they are not unique to us. At the very top of this global list is the challenge to retain sport’s purity – one of its core appeals – whilst increasing investment from nations and sponsors at the same time.

“The IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 underlines the importance of this and we at RIOU are in the process of incorporating all 40 of its resolutions into our MSA curriculum to ensure we are fully aligned with the Olympic Movement. With regards to skills, the challenge is to continue to incorporate best-practice operations from other industries and to start deploying them in the sports industry where appropriate.” The Daily: What do you think Russia can learn from the rest of the world in terms of event hosting, and what can the world learn from Russia?Prof. Belousov: “Although I believe Russia to be one of the leading sports nations, there’s no doubt that we are a newcomer to the table. In catching up with nations like Great Britain, China and the USA, we had to learn from their industries about best-practice operations across different fields. Now that we are on a more equal level, we can maybe start to push the boundaries ourselves and share the knowledge we are building up with them. But I think we will be in a better position to do this after our ‘decade of sport’, when we have had time to pioneer new practices and have decided what does work and what needs further development.” Prof. Lev Belousov will give a presentation on ‘The Russian International Olympic University – fulfilling the legacy of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games’, during the Main Conference Programme on Thursday from 14.30-15.00

Q&Aprof. lev belousov, rector, russian international olympic university

The Daily caught up with Professor Lev Belousov to find out about the latest developments at the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) against the backdrop of the country’s ‘decade of sport’...

Malaysia offers the ideal combination of benefits for International

Federations looking to take their events into an emerging and cost-effective sports market, according to Tony Nagamaiah, the General Manager of Malaysia Major Events.

The organisation was established in 2011 to bid, secure and support major lifestyle, entertainment and sporting events in the country.

Nagamaiah told The Daily that Malaysia offers excellent value for money and an ideal strategic location.

“Under the Malaysian Government’s 10-year Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), initiated to drive the nation to developed nation status by 2020, business tourism has been identified as an important contributor to economic growth,” Nagamaiah said.

“Our mission is to place Malaysia on the world map as the event venue of choice - to be top of mind, right at the onset as the centre

stage for sports, arts, lifestyle and entertainment events in Asia.

“Since then Malaysia Major Events has successfully enticed more international events owners to stage their events here in Malaysia.

“Malaysia is very affordable for potential attendees and an attractive business proposition for event organisers.

“This translates to a comparatively lower overall expenditure for organisers and the

potential to attract a much broader range of international attendees.

“Malaysia is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a geo-political and economic organisation of 10 countries in Southeast Asia with a population of approximately 600 million people.

“Located in the heart of Southeast Asia and between two giant economies of China and India, the country is easily accessible from all parts of the

world by air, land and sea.” According to Nagamaiah, Malaysia’s world-class infrastructure, cultural diversity and track record in event hosting also present attractive propositions to event rights-holders.

“Malaysia has a long and successful track record for hosting some of the world’s most prestigious and successful international events,” he added.

“Malaysians are just about the most diverse people you will ever meet and being a multilingual population, the country boasts a widely English-speaking nation. Most Malaysians can speak at least two languages, including the national language, Bahasa Melayu.

“Our diversity makes it easy to cater for delegates and visitors from all parts of Asia and across the world.

“Malaysia’s warm weather, eco-diversity and events landscape have helped attract huge tourist arrivals per year and in positioning Malaysia as a leading tourist

and major events destination. The country is well served by a number of modern, multi-purpose conventions and stadiums that cater for a wide range of budgets and requirements.

“Malaysia offers a host of venue options, including the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Sepang International Circuit, Arena of Stars - Genting Highlands, Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium and Bukit Jalil National Stadium. We are also an ideal destination for outdoor sporting events.”

Malaysia Major Events is looking to attract a range of competitions and championships – including lifestyle, adventure and alternative events – to help the country to continue to grow its sporting portfolio.

“We are interested in sports that are characterised by a strong lifestyle element, through which participants often obtain cultural self-identity and self-expression,” Nagamaiah said.

Malaysia reveals its sporting plans

tony nagamaiah knows the importance of sporting events, such as the Asia Pacific Ironman in Langkawi, to Malaysia’s future

RIou students

10 The Daily Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 The Daily 11

The World Curling Federation’s Portable Curling Facility (PCF) initiative could serve as a “stepping

stone” for the expansion of the sport into new markets, according to the global governing body’s President, Kate Caithness.

With the sport demonstrating signs of growth in a number of regions, Caithness told The Daily that the innovative PCF project, which will be trialled in Finland shortly, could help WCF Member Associations to develop the sport in a cost-effective way.

“The WCF recognised there’s a threshold in the process of building a dedicated curling facility, especially for new Member Associations,” Caithness said.

“With that in mind, the WCF has initiated the PCF Trial - Lease - Buy (TLB) programme. This programme intends to help our Member Associations to overcome this financial threshold.

“Given the technology and equipment that is available today we have already seen examples where curling clubs are successfully operating in insulated tents.

“These PCFs really could be the stepping stone for our Members to progress from the shared arena environment with other ice sports, to a dedicated curling facility, without the huge financial

investment required for a traditional dedicated building.

“This trial programme will see the WCF provide financial support and technical advice for the project planned for the city of Turku in Finland, with a view to constructing one basic two-sheet PCF.

“As we have been doing for several years, our Development Assistance programme also offers a variety of financial support packages to our Member Associations and we also offer interest-free loans to our Members for facility projects they are working on.” It has been a busy year for the

WCF, with the governing body’s Annual Congress in Reno, US last September ushering in a new board as part of the WCF’s new constitution, as well as several other changes.

Some of the most notable updates include replacing the European Mixed Curling Championship with a World Mixed Curling Championship, with the first to take place in Berne, Switzerland in September 2015; the introduction of Thinking Time instead of Running Time for controlling the length of a curling game; and replacing the current Zonal Junior qualification system with a World Group System.

The WCF has also staged an event in Estonia for the first time – the World Junior Curling Championships 2015 – while a major event package with Scotland will bring the 2016 European Curling Championships to Renfrewshire, the 2018 World Junior Curling Championships to Aberdeen, the 2019 World Wheelchair Curling Championship to Stirling and the 2020 World Men’s Curling Championship to Glasgow.

The Federation is retaining a truly global outlook, however.

“Asia continues to be a strong growth market for us,” Caithness added.

“Over the past few years we’ve seen TV audiences grow considerably in that region,

while hosting two events there in the past two years has also helped grow the sport considerably – the CPT World Men’s Curling Championship 2014 in Beijing, China and the 2015 ZEN-NOH World Women’s Curling Championship in Sapporo, Japan.

“South America is another region showing a lot of interest in developing the sport, with evidence based on TV broadcasting figures, in particular our Member Association Brazil.

“With that in mind, we will continue to work with our partners to help establish and grow the sport in this part of the world.

“We will be in Sochi during Sport Accord for our 2015 World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships, and we would like to invite all Sport Accord visitors to attend as our guests.

“Curling in Russia continues to grow, with the number of curlers increasing year-on-year and new dedicated curling facilities either under construction or being planned.

“Russia has held several of our events in recent years and we would not hesitate to return in the future.”

Kate Caithness will speak on the Main Conference Programme Panel Discussion ‘When inequality IS the legacy’ from 10.45-12.00 on Thursday

curlinG benefits from innovation

the WCF has enjoyed a successful year

Digital media presents a direct communication channel with sports fans

that International Federations cannot afford to ignore, according to Pascal Willoughby-Petit, the Founder and Managing Director of Penceo Sport.

Penceo, SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit’s Official Digital Communications Partner, designed and developed the new website for the Convention with the aim of optimising the platform “for better engagement” with the community, Willoughby-Petit (pictured) told The Daily.

“Our goal was to deliver an online platform to promote the amazing mission and achievements of the Convention,” he added.

“Sport is a very digitally aware and engaged community, and expects sports organisations to provide information via the most up-to-date technologies.

“It is a real chance and a great opportunity to be able to communicate directly with the fans, and digital platforms play

a crucial role in modern fan engagement.

“Sports can now create real hubs and communicate with their fans effectively, through controlling their online image and thinking about their assets and overall strategy.”

A recurring challenge for International Federations is how they can press forward with new digital initiatives when budgets are often relatively tight for marketing and communications.

However, Willoughby-Petit believes that IFs should “recalculate the ratio of their typical segments of marketing and communication budget between print, web, events, video production, applications and social media”.

He continued: “It is important

to fix clear key performance indicators which will help to define the budget allocation.

“The social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube need to be carefully managed, because they are often the key to success, and the most cost-effective and efficient way to communicate and promote a sports organisation.”

Petit-Willoughby’s advice for IFs who are looking to enhance their digital offerings is to approach the topic chronologically, starting out with branding followed by digital platforms, fan activation and monetisation.

“By initially establishing a clear idea of the online identity and then building out a solid core platform,

the Federation can be sure to present a coherent image that avoids getting lost by focusing on details before the main framework is in place,” he said.

“At Penceo, we help Federations looking to reshape their digital presence by encouraging them to be in contact with each other, and to share their stories. It is the best way to learn quickly and avoid mistakes.

“Furthermore, Federations should be able to trust their digital partner and discuss their challenges and opportunities, in order to establish long-term objectives.

“One key trend is that you are now expected to be innovative in regards to your content strategy; it needs to be visually interesting and interactive where possible. We also recommend that you place a greater emphasis on your video production.

“On a side note, we strongly recommend that you do not separate the main site from your TV site, as all information

must be interconnected, and last but not least, focus on smart data, as you need to get control of your fan data and use it to cater for fans better.”

Willoughby-Petit believes that one of the major current challenges in the digital space is “mobility”, which is “really no longer an option but a basic requirement” due to multi-platform consumption habits.

“There is also the great opportunity of monetisation of sport assets on platforms like YouTube, for example,” he said.

“This can be especially challenging in the beginning, but we like to sit down and start thinking about a long-term strategy.

“The Federations need to offer a way to interact with their fans during events and give them a greater visibility. We also recommend that they have a long-term vision, and in case of budget limitations, we encourage them not to be afraid of taking it step-by-step and to prioritise.”

Andy Fuller, the Managing Director of IFAF, the global governing body of American Football, believes the strength of the organisation has been illustrated by its ability to switch two major events to new hosts at short notice in recent months.

IFAF had to find new destinations for the 2015 Senior World Championship and 2014 Flag Championship after Stockholm (Sweden) and Jerusalem (Israel) were unable to fulfil their obligations.

However, Canton in Ohio (US) and Grosseto (Italy) were keen to take over hosting duties, to Fuller’s delight.

“This not only serves to demonstrate the robustness of IFAF to manage issues, but also stands as testament to the value which our championships provide to host cities and nations,” he told The Daily. “There is a very bright future for our global and continental events. More and more cities

have experience in hosting major national and international events from a breadth of sports or indeed, the arts or business world, and as such have the human and physical capital to host our events.”

Fuller was wary of suggesting that the difficulty encountered by some host cities that have had to give up hosting rights to major sporting events is evidence of a trend. “It would be remiss of me to talk too much about the challenges

faced by other International Federations specifically,” he added.

“With most events the core issues relate to ensuring that a high quality experience for both participants and spectators is balanced with an income/expenditure profile. This ensures that the event is not prohibitive for hosts, the Federation and the participants, and also means that event expectations are managed accordingly.”

IFs urged to build digital presence

ifaf proves its strenGth

‘Sport is a very digitally engaged community and expects organisations to provide information via up-to-date technologies’

IFAF’s Andy Fuller

research revealed

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and FINA President Dr. Julio Maglione met in Lausanne, Switzerland last week

to sign the Official Host City Agreement between the global governing body for aquatic sports and the city of Budapest for the FINA World Championships and World Masters Championships in 2017.

Maglione thanked the Hungarian authorities for stepping in to offer “its support to FINA in an emergency situation” after Mexico gave up their hosting rights in February. “A solution was immediately presented to FINA by the Prime Minister, the city of Budapest and the Hungarian Swimming Federation,” Maglione said. “For this we are truly grateful.”

Repucom, the Official Sports Marketing Research Partner of SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit, will reveal the results of a survey into Women and Sport at a Press Briefing in the Aggreko Media Suite from 17.00-17.30 today.

After detailing the findings of the survey into the growing importance of female fans and athletes, Repucom, a Delivery Partner

of the Convention, will host a Vodka Bar at the Radisson Blu Congress Centre, part of the Official SportAccord Convention After-Hours Bar, starting at 19.00.

All delegates are invited to come along and sample two types of vodka – Beluga and Russian Standard – complete with the traditional cucumber garnish.

Penceo Sport can be found at Stand 96

12 The Daily Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 The Daily 13

2015 is another exciting year for Scotland with World and European Championships taking place.

Looking ahead, Scotland has secured major sporting & cultural events with bids beyond 2016 already in progress.

For more information please visit EventScotland.org and follow @EventScotNews

The SSE Hydro, Glasgow will play host to the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships

maximisinG the fan experience in us sportsBy Mike Keenan, Managing Director, PwC USHome Office: New York Metro, USBackground: After beginning his career at PwC, Mike held several senior positions in the sports industry, including as Senior Director of Labor Finance for the NFL Management Council and as President of the Cleveland Browns NFL franchise. He returned to PwC in 2010 to co-lead our US Sports Practice.

It is expected that the North American sports market will grow at a compound annual

growth rate of 4.5 per cent from $57 billion in 2013 to nearly $71bn in 2018.

There is an interesting dynamic with media rights approaching gate revenues as the largest segment in the market. We forecast that the revenue gap between these two segments will be within $500 million by 2018: at $19.3bn for media rights and

$19.7bn for gate revenues. What remains constant is demand for live sporting events; they are “must see” events whether in person or televised. Shifts in market

conditions and fan preferences are prompting sports teams and facility operators to be innovative in how they package the in-house fan experience and differentiate it from game broadcasts and the at-home experience. For example, teams are implementing in-venue social and media connectivity, experimenting with a broader spectrum of premium seating concepts and using dynamic seat pricing models to enhance yield and reduce excess capacity. The

most successful organisations are those that manage to implement national best practices in a way that resonates with local market specifics and the preferences of the local fan base. For more information on PwC’s Global Sports Mega-Events Centre of Excellence, including access to PwC’s Thought Leadership publications related to sports mega-events, please visit www.pwc.com/sports-mega-events

insiGhts

The Daily: What is the latest news from the ISA?Fernando Aguerre: “Global development is a key element of the ISA’s strategy, and the consistent growth and reach amongst young people is a driving force behind our plans of making Surfing an Olympic sport.

“When I was elected in 1994, the ISA had 32 National Federations and through a consistent development strategy we have grown that number to 96 today.

“In the last year alone we have inducted 18 new Member Federations – underlining our commitment to the growth and development of Surfing around the world.

“The ISA also announced earlier this year that it will host its first ever World Adaptive Surfing Championship in September 2015, underlining Surfing’s values of inclusivity while widening the sport’s global reach.

“Providing more Surfing opportunities and better access to equipment and facilities for young people can help to instil core values of excellence, respect, fair play and innovation. Our consistent growth shows that our strategy is paying dividends and people are embracing our sport worldwide.”The Daily: So what is your current vision for the ISA?Fernando Aguerre: “Our mission is to develop Surfing globally and spread the core values, excitement and vision that the sport represents. We set a goal to achieve 100 Member Associations in 2015 and we

are on track to do that. There are currently 35 million people who surf globally and we expect that number to reach 50 million by 2020.

“The ISA has been responsible for developing and growing the sport – with a special focus on Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean – and its increasing popularity in recent years in these markets shows the universality of Surfing and its great appeal amongst young people.

“Our aim is to continue with the consistent global growth of Surfing.

“At the core of our strategy for global growth sits our burning ambition for Olympic inclusion. We are excited and energised by the prospect the IOC has created for Tokyo 2020 to include new sports within the context of Agenda 2020 and we are actively pursuing this opportunity.

“We believe we have a compelling offer to add value to the Olympic Movement. Surfing is cool for kids and teens, and

would bring renewed attention to the Olympic Movement.

“The success of the new action sports events in the Winter Games in Sochi confirmed how integrating a sport like Surfing into the Olympic realm could boost the profile of the Games amongst a new generation.”The Daily: The expansion of the sport relies on bringing Surfing to a wider audience. How do you plan to do that, particularly in countries where there is no obvious coastline for Surfing?Fernando Aguerre: “The single most important breakthrough for us in terms of reaching a wider audience in new territories is the cost-effective, state-of-the-art wave technology that is about to revolutionise our sport. Several new facilities are under construction around the world that will give us the capability to deliver 2m high, 180m long consistent, high-performance waves. This will be a ‘game changer’ in terms of making Surfing accessible to all.

“It means that Surfing no longer has geographical restrictions, and that venues can be created away from the coastline in a sustainable and cost-effective way. This opens the door for our sport to be included in major multi-sport events, including the Olympic Games, regardless of location.

“In addition, we have seen rapid growth in recent years of Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP), a new and exciting discipline. Since the introduction of the ISA SUP World Championships in

2012, we have seen dramatic growth in participation, both in terms of the number of countries, but also in the quality of the performances from SUP-specialised athletes.

“We are expecting record performances and participation at next month’s SUP World Championships in Sayulita, Mexico.”The Daily: What are your hopes for the ISA, and Surfing in general, under your tenure?Fernando Aguerre: “Our relationship with the Olympic Movement and inclusion in the Olympic Games have been a strategic priority for the ISA for many years. With the new spirit of change and innovation that the IOC is embracing, we believe that the time for us to step onto the OIympic stage is now.

“Surfing is a $22bn business with websites, social media channels, magazines, newspapers, TV networks and radio stations, most of them dedicated to the sport and focused on the youth demographic – presenting a huge opportunity for the host city and country.

“The visual power of the sport enables it to connect with the public via influential social media and marketing platforms.

“Surfing is at the frontier of youth engagement at a time when this is vital for the Olympic Movement.

“Our story is a compelling one, rich in culture and style. We believe that if granted the opportunity, Surfing will add enormous value to the Olympic Movement.”

The Daily caught up with Fernando Aguerre, President of the ISA, to find out about the latest developments at the global governing body of surfing...

Q&Afernando aGuerre, president, isa

Wave technology is key for the future of Surfing

Sport needs to work closely with a range of partners, including regulated betting

companies, to clamp down on illegal gambling and match fixing, according to Risto Nieminen, the President of the Finnish Olympic Committee and of Valo, the Finnish Sports Confederation.

Nieminen, a former President of the World Lottery Association, told The Daily that a partnership approach is vital to tackle the issue.

“In my opinion, match fixing and corruption are the biggest threats in the sports industry, bigger than doping,” he said.

“Therefore, the different fields of sport have to act together with different stakeholders, including regulators, authorities and betting companies in order to tackle illegal betting and match fixing.

“Sports and betting have a long history and both sides benefit from each other. The internet has changed the game, offering unlimited opportunities and large amounts of money. Therefore it is tempting and even addictive.

“Winning is something that we all enjoy. Winning and losing awaken emotions. Therefore, betting is very engaging and it can be addictive. For the same reasons, gambling is powerful and popular all around the world.”

Nieminen urged leaders who want to protect sport’s integrity to act through dialogue and sign the new Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions.

“I believe in the power of negotiating,” he added. “In my opinion, open and transparent dialogue with the betting industry

and different stakeholders is the best way to secure the future of sports and the future of betting.

“Finland has signed the Convention and I would like to invite other countries to do so as well. By signing the Convention we can give a signal that the sports community does not tolerate any manipulation of sports events.

“The problem of match fixing or corruption is not solved yet. However, I am optimistic and, whenever I can, I advocate the values of transparency and good governance. I also bring the message of transparency and ethics to our athletes. We need to educate them as well as

everyone else in the sports ‘food chain’ to fight against

illegal actions in the field of sport.”Nieminen’s background as a

former CEO of the Finnish Sport Channel and of Finnish Lotteries leaves him in no doubt as to the benefits of collaborative efforts. As evidence, he cites the creation of Cleantech Finland, a network of companies and experts who are working with the Finnish Olympic Committee to offer environmental solutions for organisers of sporting events.

“We wish to increase the cooperation and cross-talk between different sports and teams,” he said. “During the Sochi Winter Olympics we began to work as united team. Our athletes were united regardless of the sport they represented. Working as a united team is something that we wish to spread beyond sport as well.

“The road to Rio looks very inspiring, not just from the athletes’ point of view but from the partnerships’ side as well. We

will bring our key partners to Rio. Our cooperation with the Finnish Cleantech companies is exciting and we want to revolutionise the way we think about sports, environment and events.”

Nieminen also outlined Finland’s partnership approach to financial resources, another area that he sees as a key challenge facing sport. The motivation in his country comes from excitement building towards 2017, when Finland will celebrate 100 years of independence and the Finnish Olympic Committee will be 110 years old.

“The current economic situation challenges us to find financial sponsors or partners – there will always be a wish to have more support to assist our athletes or the grassroots sports where the future stars are coming from,” he said.

“However, at the NOC and Valo we have built a network of sports professionals, and we benefit and learn from each other, even when the times are challenging. We work closely with kindergartens, schools, sport clubs and cities, and we even promote physical activity at work places. Our sports culture is more united than ever before. We are all committed to work towards the same goals, to increasing physical activity – becoming physically the most active nation by 2020 – and to ensuring and offering the best possible sporting culture for athletes.

“In 2017 we will organise events such as the Figure Skating World Championships and FIS World Championships and we welcome everyone to Finland to celebrate the year with us.”

Risto Nieminen will speak on the City Forum Panel Session ‘The Legacy Requirement’ from 14.00-15.00 today

Collaborate to beat the fixing threat

Delegates and members of the media have been invited to attend the signing ceremony for the 2021 edition of The World Games, which will take place in the Main Auditorium at 12.15 today.

In attendance will be representatives of the host city of Birmingham, Alabama (US) and the International World

Games Association (IWGA), including President José Perurena.

The signing ceremony will mark the conclusion of the IWGA’s Annual General Meeting this morning (08.30-12.30) with a number of issues on the agenda, as outlined by Perurena in yesterday’s edition of The Daily.

birminGham to siGn 2021 deal

uci proceeds with brake test

Risto nieminen

The UCI, the global governing body of cycling, has teamed up with the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) to announce that tests will begin this season with a view to introducing disc brakes to professional road cycling.

During the 2015 UCI professional road season, all teams will have the opportunity to use bikes with disc brakes at two events of their choice during August and September.

The testing will continue in 2016 at all events on the UCI professional road calendar and, if the feedback is positive, disc brakes will be

officially introduced to the UCI WorldTour in 2017. “Although disc brakes have been used for around a decade in mountain biking and for the last two years in cyclo-cross, their introduction to road cycling must be carefully studied in collaboration with all those who are directly concerned. That includes riders, teams and manufacturers,” UCI President Brian Cookson said. WFSGI Secretary General Robbert de Kock added: “This decision will further develop innovation and create new possibilities for the bicycle industry as well as additional performance for the riders.”

The Muaythai (IFMA) morning

workout session, which has become a regular feature on the Convention schedule over the past five years, will take place this (Tuesday) morning from 06.45-07.30 on the pier in front of the Imeretinsky Hotel.

Delegates need to wear exercise clothes and appropriate footwear and should bring a bottle of water, a towel, and most importantly spirit and determination!

Stephan Fox, a former world champion and famed reality TV personality, and his local instructors will guide delegates through a fun Muaythai boxercise class.

All participants will receive a souvenir and a ‘Good Morning Sochi’ T-shirt to take home.

14 The Daily Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 Tuesday, 21 April, 2015 The Daily 15

Andrew Gettig, Vice President, Connor Sport Court International: “For me, the biggest challenges are the access and universality. I think every kid in the world should have an opportunity to participate in sport.”

Jan Fransoo, President, IKF (International Korfball Federation):“Political and economic instability is a major challenge affecting all of us. It affects the ability to host events, the ability for teams to obtain the right visa and funding to travel.”

Tony Nagamaiah, General Manager, Malaysia Major Events: “The main challenge for sport now is the global economy. We hope that our economy will recover very soon and we will have the budget to take part in international sports.”

Kuno Ritschard, President, IWWF (International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation):“With many countries feeling the impact of global economic recession, the cost of staging major events in areas of high population is of great concern. In order to provide sports entertainment and promote the core values involved, cities will need to help and encourage local businesses and communities to become much more involved to ensure that their quality of life is enhanced as urban centres grow.”

Pasi Aho, Sports Consult, Finnish Minigolf Association:“The main challenge for us is that people recognise Minigolf as more than just a hobby. I would like Minigolf to become more popular.”

Reem Ali Al Rashedi, Events Coordinator, Abu Dhabi Sports Council: “The main problem for our country is the lack of audience. It would be great if social media paid more attention to us.”

Philip Savage, Managing Director, SportBusiness Communications: “It is fragmentation. There are big splits between some sports in different directions. Some sports are moving to the future, some sports are very much based in the past.”

Koji Murofushi , Sports Director, Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games:“The biggest challenge is integration of sports; the value of sports. We know that sport is very important for us because we are all involved in sports. The challenge is how much we are able to make an impact on sports or even on society. Sport is a wonderful activity and it plays a huge role in society.”

Legacy is the key word of this year’s SportAccord Convention World Sport &

Business Summit. What will be the lasting impact of a sporting event on the host destination? What will the event leave behind?

The inspirational impact of the sports action could leave a legacy of its own of course by boosting participation numbers, while the right facilities can provide an ideal platform for elite sports development, as long as careful consideration is given to their long-term use before they are built.

However, legacy can stretch further. It can be a feeling – a spring in the step of the residents of a particular city or region – or the enhanced image of a destination, often carved into the public consciousness by the grand introduction or finale marked by a spectacular opening or closing ceremony.

Antonio Abete, Chief Executive of Filmmaster Events, an international events company that is producing the Opening Ceremony at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, told The Daily that ceremonies act as a “window” through which the host can be introduced to the world.

“Legacy is the key aspect for Olympic ceremonies,” said Abete, who will deliver a presentation called ‘The Ceremony Conundrum’ at SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit.

“It is the main component of the entire Olympic structure. It is a window opened on the host country, and it should help the

launch of all commercial, touristic and economic activities that will begin during and after the Olympic Games. It is a unique occasion.

“We want to organise an Olympic ceremony that will bring a great number of benefits to the host city and be correctly perceived in all its meanings.

“Olympic ceremonies are an institution based on the same values year after year and you cannot change that.

“However, there have been some big changes thanks to technology, which has been very helpful.

“It has allowed us to create special effects that would have been impossible some years ago.

“If you want to create an excellent ceremony, the key is having an innovative, creative idea and to be passionate, because that is what makes the difference in the end.”

The Brazilian city of Rio was placed under the global sporting spotlight last year when it held the FIFA World Cup final. A city of more than 10 million people, it is famous for its wonderful beaches, colour and fun – all aspects that will need to be considered for

the Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Abete is excited by the prospect of his company’s production being the focus of the world next August, but he is not giving much away about its content.

“Our aim is to amaze,” said Abete, whose firm has offices in Rome, Milan, Rio, Dubai and London. “Expectations are high for the Rio 2016 ceremonies and we are doing our best to surprise the world. Brazil is a lively country, Brazilians really care about having

an amazing Opening

Ceremony, and we are not going to let them down. The Olympic Ceremony will be a live show, and it has always been the most watched event in the world.”

The Rio event will not be the first time Filmmaster Events has handled an Olympic

ceremony, having been in charge of the handover from London to Rio in 2012, the concept of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic ceremonies and the ceremonies for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin.

The firm, whose parent company, Filmmaster Group, was formed in Italy in 1976 and specialises in content production such as advertising, has also been involved in the ceremonies at UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, plus non-sporting events such as the celebrations for Mexico’s Bicentennial in 2010.

“We have produced a lot of stunning events, and we are proud of every single project that was born and then grew and developed

its own story,” Abete added.“I think that producing the

Turin 2006 ceremonies has been the most significant experience for us, because they were our first Olympic ceremonies and because they took place in our own country.

“We were able to develop an extremely complex structure, and we felt very close to its legacy – more than ever. We told our own story to the entire world.

“Also, the London Flag Handover was a terrific experience, because it was our direct link to the Rio 2016 ceremonies.”

Abete’s presentation in Sochi will assess why opening and closing ceremonies are often looked upon as an expensive ‘add-on’ to a large sporting event.

He will address how hosts can create, finance and deliver ceremonies that celebrate the sporting event taking place and the people, cultures and surroundings in which they occur.

“I definitely don’t want to teach anything to anyone, but Filmmaster Events is a brand with a long history and it is well-known among the professionals of this industry,” Abete added.

“It will be an opportunity to exchange views and I am very proud of being present at such an important event, which is going to be profitable for our company.”

Antonio Abete will make a presentation during City Forum today (Tuesday) on ‘Study: The Ceremony Conundrum’ at 16.45-17.15

A window to the world

filmmaster events ceo antonio abete tells The Daily how opening and closing ceremonies should be at the centre of a host’s legacy plans

talkinG point #sAc2015

Every day, The Daily will ask attendees at SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit to answer a topical question. You can join in the conversation by tweeting your thoughts and including the #SAC2015 hashtag – if you have something interesting to say, you could be in tomorrow’s edition of The Daily!

what is the biGGest challenGe

facinG sport in 2015?

Tomorrow’s question: What will the sports industry look like in 2020?

Make sure you post your tweets to answer the question, including the #SAC2015 hashtag, by 4pm today

Antonio Abete

Filmmaster produced the handover from London to Rio

‘We want to create an Olympic Ceremony that will bring a great number of benefits to the host’

The availability of sport for children - such as in the SportAccord Convention Village - is a key factor for some

16 The Daily Tuesday, 21 April, 2015

VOLLEYBALLSWIMMING TAEKWONDO TENNISTABLETENNISHANDBALL SOCCER ATHLETICSBASKETBALL

today at a GlanceTuesday, 21 April

MEETINGS: IWGA AGM (08.30-12.30); AIOWF General Assembly (13.30-17.30); ASOIF Council Meeting (14.00-18.00); IMGA General Assembly (18.00-19.30); IMGA Board of Governors (19.30-20.00)CONFERENCE: LawAccord (09.00-16.30); City to City (09.00-11.30); IAAF Panel Session (12.00-14.00); City Forum (13.30-17.30)SOCIAL: Morning Run (06.30-07.30); Muaythai morning workout session led by IFMA (06.45-07.30); Exhibition Lunch (12.00-13.30); Exhibition Cocktail (17.00-18.30); ASOIF Dinner – Invitation Only (20.00-23.30)CONVENTION: Exhibition (08.30-18.30; SportAccord Convention Village / Sports Demo Zone (09.00-18.30)The SportAccord Convention Village

has been hailed as a huge success by participants and members of the public

alike after nearly a thousand people visited the area on the first day.

The initiative, which has been introduced by Marius L. Vizer, President of SportAccord and SportAccord Convention, features the returning Sports Demo Zone, powered by Edmonton Events, as well as a cultural market, with stalls showcasing and selling items and food from the Sochi area.

Two of the local vendors to reap the benefits of their involvement were from the Sochi Tea House stall and the National Wood Carving stall.

“Our variety of teas – black, red, yellow and green – are grown in Lazarevskoe, a beautiful

district of our wonderful city, and all of them are displayed here at our Sochi Tea House stall at the SportAccord Convention Village,” Sochi Tea House Director Tatiana Pogodaeva told The Daily.

“The event is fantastic. It has been really well organised and there are lots of guests.

“We are absolutely delighted to be taking part in the Convention, and people that have

come to see us have been very interested in what we have to show.”

At the National Wood Carving stall, Alexandr Boyko, who is showcasing his own artwork as well as pieces from other local artists, told The Daily: “People have been really interested in our stall here at the SportAccord Convention Village.

“These pieces of art represent the rebirth of wood. These items could have been just thrown onto a fire, but I think it’s far better to create something beautiful.”

Convention Event Executive Lia Luzzi told The Daily: “It’s definitely been a huge success so far.

“Sochi has done an amazing job to bring so many people and create such an atmosphere in the Village.”

vIllAge pRoveS A hIT

‘We are delighted to be taking part in the Convention, and people that have come to see us have been very interested’

It was confirmed at the General Assembly that SportAccord’s Beach Games will take place in Sochi in 2019. Peruvian Olympic Committee President Jose Quiñones then welcomed the decision to take the World Combat Games to Lima, probably in February or March 2018. The meeting also voted for the Romanian Olympic Foundation to be admitted as a SportAccord Associate Member.

Continued from front page