Good News, Bad News in Chinese Sports World
Tuesday, 15th September 2009 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
When China loses to tiny countries in most team sports, it comes as no surprise. But women's volleyball is supposed to be the exception, the team sport that brought China its first team sport gold medal in 1984 and produced one of its most successful sports exports, Jenny Lang Ping, until recently head coach of the U.S. women's team. That history just adds to the sting of China's 3-1 loss to Thailand at the Asian championships over the weekend. Thailand was seeded third in the tournament, so they didn't exactly come out of nowhere, but they have never won an Asian championship before and didn't even qualify for the 2008 Olympics, where China won bronze against a tough field. Xinhua called the final "thrilling,", but Thailand won each of the last two sets by a margin of 25-19.
Image: English.cri.cn
Good news in track and field: Liu Xiang's return
Liu Xiang will compete at next week's Shanghai Golden Grand Prix (September 20), lacing up his racing shoes for the first time since he limped and winced his way out of competition at last year's summer Olympics. Liu, one-time world record holder, world champion and Olympic champion in the 110-meter hurdles, is the only Chinese man to ever win Olympic gold in a track event and by far the country's most visible athlete product endorser. Liu's camp is managing expectations, according to this report from the Wall Street Journal. Liu made his announcement after it became clear that the event's reigning Olympic champ and world record holder, Cuba's Dayron Robles, wouldn't be making the trip to Shanghai. Robles pulled out of World Championships in Berlin last month due to a hamstring injury. The new world champ is Ryan Brathwaite, a 21-year-old Barbadian who ran a 13.14 in Berlin. World runner-up, American Terrence Trammell, is also considered a threat to Liu.
Bad news in track and field: A Bolt-less Grand Prix in Shanghai
Usain Bolt, the hottest name in track and field, won't compete in Shanghai next week, and is also skipping an upcoming competition in South Korea. The Jamaican sprinter says he's suffering from fatigue—too many chicken nuggets? It's disappointing news for Chinese fans, and a little puzzling given that returning to China to compete should only help him sell more Puma shoes here.
Good news in basketball: Sun Yue gets a break
The New York Knicks have signed Chinese guard Sun Yue to a non-guaranteed contract, according to multiple media reports. Sun's had a rough NBA run, though we suspect it's been a smoothed a bit by the fact that he garners a little more attention in China for any team that gets involved with him. The Lakers drafted him in 2007, but he didn't get a contract until after the Beijing Olympics. He played in 10 games for the Los Angeles Lakers last year in his rookie season, averaging less than one point, and was relegated to the D-League in March.
Tags: athletics, basketball, Liu Xiang, Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, Sun Yue, track and field, Usain Bolt, volleyball
Chinese sports biz news: Xinhua, AEG, Isinbayeva
Friday, 6th March 2009 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
While the world economy reels, it looks like the business of Chinese sports is one area that's moving full-steam ahead. True, the Bird's Nest sits empty without a regular tenant or a decent lineup of future events, but there's plenty of other wheeling and dealing going on. The realization of the money-making potential of sports in China is relatively new among both domestic and international businesses, and there seems to be a bit of a scramble to gain an early foothold in this developing market. Here are some of the most recent stories in China's sports business world:Isinbayeva signs Li-Ning deal
Two-time Olympic gold medal winner and world record-holding pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva signed a multi-million dollar deal with Li-Ning, China's biggest sports apparel maker. Contrary to the seemingly widely held impression that Chinese fans only cared about hometown athletes during the Beijing Olympics, locals actually jumped right on the bandwagon with the biggest stars of the games. Isinbayeva was definitely one of them. Her agent says the deal is not only about Li-Ning, but about opening the door to deals with other Chinese companies. She joins swimmer Michael Phelps (Mazda China) and tennis player Yelena Jankovic (Anta sportswear) in signing big sponsorship deals for the Chinese market this year.
Xinhua Finance rebrands itself Xinhua Sports & Entertainment
Xinhua Finance rebranded itself as Xinhua Sports and Entertainment, effective March 2, a strong signal of the coming growth of the business of sports in China (Brand Republic). Despite its former name, Xinhua Finance is not new to the world of sports. It holds exclusive rights to the All Sports Network, giving it access to an array of big American sports brands: the NFL, NCAA March Madness, Big 10 college sports and the NHL. It also purchased the distribution of the UEFA Europa League's 2009 to 2012 seasons. Its Nasdaq trading code will change from XFML to XSEL.
AEG China names new CEO
AEG China recently named John Cappo its CEO (Ticket News). Cappo was formerly managing director of ImG China. Cappo's biggest responsibilities for now will be management of three new facilities: Wukesong Basketball Arena in Beijing; the 18,000-seat Shanghai World Expo Performing Arts Center, set to open in may of 2010; and a new sports arena in Guangzhou, being built for the 2010 Asian Games. AEG created a joint venture with NBA China last fall, which will build, market and manage 10 to 12 arenas in Greater China, to be built by over the next 11 years.
New track and field series to include China stop
The IAAF—the international organization for track and field (or athletics)—has announced a new series of one-day meets, the IAAF Diamond League, that it hopes will rejuvenate interest in the sport globally. Among the 12 events scheduled for its inaugural year in 2010, will be the China Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai (more from Reuters UK).
Tags: AEG, athletics, China Golden Grand Prix, Isinbayeva, NBA China, Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, sports marketing, track and field, Wukesong, Xinhua Sports and Entertainment