Bringing together all who matter in the business of sport

With a view to aligning the Asian sports industry, the inaugural Sports Matters conference will be held at the St. Regis Singapore on 18th 19th September.

This first-time event will see the launch of the new Asian Sponsorship Association to help fuel the growth of this sector and the conference will bring together all who matter in the business of sport in the region including broadcasters, sponsors, sports governing bodies and industry leaders from digital platforms, venues, specialist agencies, and professional service firms.

Key industry leaders driving the business of sponsorship in Asia will lead an interactive open forum on the second day of Sports Matters that will define and form the basis for the Asian Sponsorship Association.

Jasper Donat, Chief Executive of Branded Ltd. co-producer of Sports Matters, explains "the sponsorship sector in Asia has been relatively stagnant for the past 20 years. The Asian Sponsorship Association will inject vibrancy and sophistication to this sector to help energise event partners and sports associations in Asia to boost their appeal and gather more support for their events and activities.

"This Association will not just benefit the sports industry, it will also help event organisers in the entertainment, music and lifestyle industries."

Presented by Samsung and Fox Sports, the program will include keynote interviews, expert insights, and interactive expert panels. The current sports industry landscape will be analysed and areas of growth identified during the conference. Speakers and delegates will have opportunities to network and build relationships for future collaborations.

Paving the way for a healthy and sustainable Asian sports industry, Sports Matters will cover two days with the first day focused on the conference and the second day centred around two breakout sessions: Sports TV Matters (produced in association with Lightning International) and Sponsorship Matters, along with the launch of the Asian Sponsorship Association.

The speaker line-up includes:

• Stacey Allaster, Chairman and Chief Executive, WTA
• Andrew Georgiou, Chief Executive, World Sport Group
• Prinz Mathew Pinakatt, Global Director Alliances & Ventures, The Coca-Cola Company
• Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship and Events, HSBC
• Michael Roche, Executive Director, Singapore GP
• Chris Renner, Chief Executive, Helios Partners
• Poh Yu Khing, Chief Operating Officer, Singapore Sports Hub
• Tan Tong Hai, Chief Executive, StarHub
• Andres Gonzalez, Vice President, AP & MEA Sponsorships, MasterCard Worldwide
• Mike Rich, Chief Executive, Group M ESP
• Vipul Chawla, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Asia, Yum! Brands
• Jim Small, Vice President Asia, Major League Baseball

Sports Matters will also highlight Singapore as a key destination for sporting events, with key players in Singapore's events and tourism industry acknowledging its significance.

Singapore Sports Chief Operating Officer Poh Yu Khing states "over the past ten years, the Sporting Singapore Vision implemented by the Government has really taken shape.

"We now have world class events like the F1 night race, mass participation events like the Marathon Singapore – we even have more than 50 running events per year in our sporting calenda.

"The opening of Sports Hub next year in 2014 will act as another boost for Sporting Singapore – world-class infrastructure with vibrant programs and activities for all.

"The Sports Matters conference could not have started at a better time – attracting and connecting sporting industry experts to power the growth of the local and regional sporting industry to the next level."

Singapore Tourism Board Deputy Director (F1 & Sports) Jean Ng agrees, adding “with a global line-up of speakers and delegates, Sports Matters will highlight Singapore’s appeal as a premier destination for business events and reinforce our leadership position in Asia for hosting international sporting events such as the Singapore Grand Prix and the upcoming Women’s Tennis Association Championships in 2014.

"Further, Sports Matters and other such business events will also complement Singapore’s existing stable of lifestyle and entertainment products.”

Sports Matters is co-produced by Branded (owners of Digital & Music Matters and Social Media Matters) and Haymarket Media (publishers of Campaign magazine, F1 Racing, FourFourTwo, and producers of Spikes Asia creative festival). Sports Matters is supported by the Singapore Sports Council and Singapore Tourism Board.

For more information visit www.sportsmatters.asia

4th April 2013 - LAST CHANCE TO BOOK FOR BUSINESS OF SPORT SUMMIT ASIA