Asian Racing Conference gets underway in Sydney

The 33rd Asian Racing Conference opened in Sydney today with a theme of globalisation of racing and its challenges.
Dr Koji Sato, Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation, opened the summit and said that the rapid internationalisation of racing brought significant benefits such as promoting national pride when a nation's racehorses race overseas.
Dr Sato explained that "the spread of the internet, people around the world have access to a wealth of information about horseracing before a race and it is possible to watch footage or results from your home in real time.
âThis has lead to new forms of business activity. Within this kind of business activity, aside from the framework which has been supporting horseracing in a conventional way, there is something that seriously disrupts the flow of cash.�?
The biennial conference, last held in Tokyo in 2008, has attracted 550 delegates from 36 countries
Among other speakers, International Olympic Committee director of Television and Marketing Services Timo Lumme told the congregation that using new types of media had taken the Olympic games to more people than ever before.
Lumme stated that "recent Games have shown that, by partnering with the worldâs leading media organisations, we can successfully use technology to reach more people and new territories.
âWe have established that rather than cannibalising television ratings the online broadcast of the Olympic Games actually increases television ratings, with record figures achieved in 2008 and in 2010 across both media platforms.
âGlobal on-demand coverage also makes time zone differences less relevant.�?
Lumme said that the development of new media such as YouTube and Google gave his organisation opportunities. The IOC has launched its own Internet channel, available on the YouTube platform, to broadcast Olympic Games highlights.
âThe IOC has recently re-launched its website with a more âconsumer focusâ, and has set up channels on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. These media give the IOC the opportunity to speak in a less formal voice, to interact with, and engage young people,�? Lumme concluded.
The Asian Racing Conference was established in 1960 on the initiative of the Japan Racing Association and the Rangoon Turf Club. It was renamed at the 28th Conference in 2001 and became the Asian Racing Federation.
The first conference took place in Tokyo in May 1960 when 69 delegates took part.

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