Entries open for SPIA Asia 2018 awards

Asia's leading sports conference and awards platform, SPIA Asia – Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference, is now open for award submissions.

Welcoming submissions from 43 countries, SPIA Asia 2018 recognises and celebrates Asia’s top sporting achievements across 21 distinct awards categories with Gold, Silver and Bronze being awarded to the best performers.

Past award winners range from the Australian Open and HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore to Funtastic Subic Bay in the Philippines, the Red Bull Air Race World Championships in Abu Dhabi and the Standard Chartered KL Marathon, with brands such as adidas and sports agencies Lagardère Sports and IMG also celebrating wins.

Strategic partnership with the Asian Football Confederation will see two AFC categories presented at SPIA Asia 2018.

In addition, a new strategic partnership with the Asian Football Confederation will see two AFC categories presented at SPIA Asia 2018.

Organised by MMC Sportz, SPIA Asia 2018 is held on 19th and 20th November at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, and incorporates the ‘The Business of Sports - Asia’s Sports Industry in the Fast Lane IV’, a two-day sports business conference which brings together the top regional opinion leaders from federations, rights holders, agencies, organizers, brands and government agencies.

Over 40 international speakers will lead the panel discussions, keynote speeches, workshops and networking events on the following topics:

• The business of football in Asia;
• Inclusion and gender equality related to women’s team sports;
• Bitcoin and crypto currencies entering sports;
• Post event topics related to the FIFA World Cup and Asian Games, and outlook to the Rugby World Cup, Olympics and SEA Games;
• eSports and eSports leagues;
• Tourism and sports; and
• Sport and technology.

The conference is the build up to the eagerly anticipated black-tie Awards Gala night with over 400 guests and VIP’s from around the world of sports attending.

Eric M. Gottschalk, Chief Executive of SPIA Asia organiser MMC Sportz comments “SPIA Asia 2018 is set to be the biggest yet with sports events, federations, businesses and brands across 43 countries vying for 21 awards, and more than 350 delegates attending what has become the definitive meeting place and annual conference for the sports industry in Asia.”

SPIA Asia 2018 Awards Categories are as follows:

• Asian Categories (x 14): Best International Sporting Event of the Year; Best Global Sports Organization Operating in Asia; Best Sports Tourism Destination of the Year; Best Sports Digital Platform of the Year; Best Mass Participation Event of the Year; Best Sponsorship of a Sport, Team, Individual or Event in Asia > US$250,000; Best Integrated Marketing Campaign for a Sports Event; Best Sports CSR Initiative of the Year; Best Sports Marketing Agency of the Year; Best Youth Sports Development Program of the Year; Best eSports Event of the Year; Best Women’s Team Sports Event of the Year; Best Inspiring Football League of the Year by the AFC; Best Developing Football League of the Year by the AFC.

• Thai Categories (x four): Best Sport Event Venue or Facility in Thailand; Best Youth Sports Development Program in Thailand; Best Sponsorship of a Sport, Team or Event in Thailand > US$100,000; Best Mass Participation Event of the Year in Thailand.

• Public Voting Categories (x three): Best Live Experience at a Sporting Event; Best Sportswear Brand of the Year; Best International Sporting Event of the Year voted by Sports Media.

• Achievement Category: SPIA Asia Lifetime Achievement Award.

Submissions close on 21st September.

Following an initial round of judging, Asia’s Top 10 finalists will be announced at a press conference in Bangkok on 9th October and filmed live to SPIA Asia's Twitter live stream. The short-listed entries will then undergo further rigorous judging after which the winners are sealed and remain secret until announced live at the black-tie Awards Gala on 20th November.

Gottschalk adds “the simple but very transparent judging process is impartial and thorough, involving 36 industry experts from all over Asia with the final round taking place on the opening day of SPIA Asia in Bangkok.

“The standard of award submissions is always exceptional and when the Top 10 performers in each category are called out and the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners receive their recognition trophies on 20th November, all will have earned the right to call themselves the best of the best in Asia.”

SPIA Asia brings together the governing bodies, federations, agencies, rights holders, brands and organizations which strongly contribute and positively influence the landscape of sport in Asia. Organized by MMC Sportz, SPIA Asia is endorsed by Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Sports Authority of Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Asian Football Confederation.

SPIA Asia 2018 is also sponsored by Lagardère Sports, SMG Insight, Sponsorium, SRI while long term local PR Agency Infinity Communications and The Sponsorship Experts (marketing partner and local organizer) are back on board for a third year.

Click here for more information and links to SPIA Asia submissions, conference program, delegate passes and Awards Gala ticket sales in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Images from top: SPIA Asia promotion, the Australian Open wins Best International Sporting Event sanctioned by an International Federation at last year's Awards, Eric M. Gottschalk and 2017 Award winners.

27th November 2017 - FIRST NEW PERMANENT VENUE OPENS FOR TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS 

10th November 2017 - AUSTRALIAN OPEN NAMED BEST INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT AT 2017 SPIA ASIA AWARDS

9th November 2017 - LEADING REGIONAL SPORTS BRANDS AND EVENTS RECOGNISED AT 2017 SPIA ASIA AWARDS 

6th November 2017 - IOC LOOKS TO CENTRALISE OLYMPIC GAMES TICKETING

15th July 2016 - BANGKOK TO HOST 2016 SPORTS INDUSTRY AWARDS & CONFERENCE 

29th March 2016 - FOUR MILLION PASS THROUGH THE TURNSTILES AT THE REDEVELOPED ADELAIDE OVAL

18th October 2015 - SPIA ASIA SET NEW STANDARDS FOR SOUTH EAST ASIAN SPORT

18th September 2015 - SPORTS INDUSTRY AWARDS PROGRAM EXPANDS FROM MIDDLE EAST TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF ASIA

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