Here are the top China sports business news stories you need to know from this week:
Du Zhaocai Elected on FIFA Council China’s deputy minister of the General Administration of Sport, Du Zhaocai, was elected to the FIFA Council during the recent Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress. Du's election is seen as a boost for China's bid to host the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. China last hosted the tournament in 2004, finishing runners-up to Japan. Read more on FIFA (English) and Sina Sports (Chinese)
Mailman Take: This appointment will support Xi Jinping’s ambition of eventually hosting the FIFA World Cup with increased influence amongst the deciding committee. Questions will be asked around the link between politics and football but this continues China’s push into the decision makers of the world of football.
Han Xu Drafted in by New York Liberty The Shandong NBA Academy graduate has been selected in the second round of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft by New York Liberty. She becomes the first graduate of the NBA Academies programme to get drafted into the WNBA or NBA, a big milestone for the league. Read more on China Daily (English) and ChinaNews (Chinese)
Mailman Take: As the 5th Chinese athlete to play in the WNBA, this marks another milestone for basketball in China as well as a boost for global relevance of the WNBA. If she can make a splash in the WNBA, Joe Tsai, the newest owner of New York Liberty, will surely be one of the biggest winners as he looks to lure the next generation of women's basketball fans in China.
Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg to Meet in China Both Bundesliga clubs will play a friendly match in Foshan on May 24 as part of their post-season tours to China, marking the first match between two German teams in China since 2012. The match will take place at the 36,000 capacity Century Lotus Stadium in Foshan near the city of Guangzhou. Read more on Eintracht Frankfurt (English) and EcoSports (Chinese)
Questions Arise Over Southampton FC Sale The English Premier League is investigating whether the Chinese state has gained control of Southampton FC after owner Gao Jisheng ceded control of a sports investment vehicle. Mr. Gao, the founder of Shenzhen-listed Lander Sports, bought an 80 percent stake in Southampton in 2017, valuing the club at £200 million. Read more on SCMP (English)
Juss Sports Teams Up with Shanghai Sport University The Shanghai University of Sport and event organiser and promoter Juss Sports, have entered a partnership focussing on advanced sports research. State-owned Juss Sports is the organiser of sporting events such as the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, the Rolex Shanghai Masters tennis tournament, and the IAAF Diamond League. Read more on Shine (English) and Shanghai Observer (Chinese) Campaign to Launch Inaugural Sports Event The first-ever Campaign Sport Focus, taking place on June 25 in Shanghai, aims to provide a unique platform for leading professionals to address the key challenges and opportunities facing sport marketers today and discuss the latest trends in China’s rapidly evolving landscape. Read more on Campaign English and Chinese
Leaders Announce Shanghai Event The sport business event will return to China in July for the third edition of The Sport Business Summit, this time in Shanghai, having hosted the previous 2 in Beijing. Leaders will welcome senior executives from across global sport on 18th and 19th July, with a programme centered on innovation in sport, entertainment and media. Read more on Leaders (English)
Esports News:
China Recognises Jobs in Esports and Drones The country’s government has recognised 13 new jobs as official professions in a wide range of tech sectors from artificial intelligence (AI) to esports. These new jobs include esports operators, esports players, and drone pilots. Read more on SCMP (English) and Yicai (Chinese)
In Other News:
Bundesliga & PP Sports Deepen Ties A delegation from eight Bundesliga clubs, Bundesliga International, and DFL Digital Sports recently paid a visit to the PP Sports headquarters in Nanjing to discuss further cooperation and strategy. PP Sports became the exclusive digital broadcaster of the Bundesliga last year as part of a 5-year deal, while the Bundesliga officially opened its Beijing office earlier this year. Read more on Global Times (English) and Lanxiong Sports (Chinese)
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