Asia
Features
World Snooker Tour looks to global future with rebrand
World Snooker Tour rebrand aims to mark distinction as commercial arm of WPBSA
New identity comes as tour seeks to expand further into international markets
Chinese athletes to benefit as government heads off potential for endorsement disputes in Olympic year
Regulation has limited the extent to which China’s sporting stars can capitalise on their sporting prowess via commercial deals. But recent rule changes by the General Administration of Sports offers new possibilities. Chen Yaolin investigates.
Malaysian FA pushes club privatisation but weak revenues mean state support is here to stay
Malaysia’s football clubs are to be formally privatised this year, but the journey from state support to self-sufficiency looks fraught, with questions over the future of broadcasting and sponsorship revenues. John Duerden takes a closer look.
Tax exemptions and increased demand drive 16-per-cent growth of Chinese winter sports economy
China’s winter sport industry is booming ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. But the pace of development has created challenges for the Chinese state, from environmental and real estate policy to a lack of technical nous.
Unsuccessful initial tender raises questions over K-League’s domestic media strategy
Pooling media rights to Korea’s K-League with national-team matches was supposed to create a property more valuable than the sum of its parts. John Duerden investigates why it isn’t working yet.
Street League Skateboarding details 2020 schedule ahead of Olympics
Street League Skateboarding (SLS), the sport’s leading professional series, has announced its schedule for the 2020 season ahead of skateboarding’s Olympic debut in Tokyo this summer.
Sportradar renews integrity services partnership with AFC
Sports data and media company Sportradar has renewed its integrity services partnership with the Asian Football Confederation, in an extension running from 2020 to the end of 2023
World Archery lifts India suspension
World Archery has lifted a suspension on the Archery Association of India that would have stopped Indian archers competing under their flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Uniforms unveiled for Tokyo 2020 Japan team and technical officials
Japanese clothing retailer Aoki Inc and sportswear company Asics yesterday unveiled the official uniforms of the Japanese national team and the technical officials working at the Games
A 2021 Club World Cup can deliver on both Chinese and Fifa ambitions
Why Fifa has chosen to host the 2021 Club World Cup in China, and how the competition is a step forward towards China's football ambitions. Zhang Dan reports.
Tokyo 2020’s promise to be “the most innovative” Olympics in history takes shape
In the third of a trilogy of interviews with the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, SportBusiness speaks to Hideyo Hirata, head of the innovation promotion office and deputy executive director of technology services.
Will 2020 mark a return to health for China’s sporting stocks?
A two-year IPO freeze has hit Chinese sport companies, with numbers down and Wanda Sports’ listing a high-profile disappointment. How did ‘IPO fever’ fade, and will things change in 2020? Chen Yaolin reports.
Wizards deploy multi-pronged strategy to develop Japanese fandom
In just a short amount of time, the Wizards have put themselves in prime position to become the NBA's most-popular team in Japan following the arrival of Rui Hachimura. Bob Williams discovers how they have done it.
‘Team China’ brand sets high partnership price, targets $400m in quadrennial revenue
China’s General Administration of Sport has announced a new collective brand for all of China’s Olympic and Paralympic sports teams: "Team China". Zhang Dan investigates the new marketing initiative.
Beijing 2022: two years away but political and commercial challenges abound
The organisers of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics have adopted a less-is-more approach to their domestic sponsorship programme. Zhang Dan reports on their progress in becoming the first city to host both the summer and winter Games.
What happens when Asia’s sporting legends retire?
The legends of Li Na, Kim Yuna and Lee Chong Wei have all retired and their absences leave gaping holes in their sports back home, one that sponsors and associations are keen to fill as quickly as possible.
How the Bundesliga courted its Indonesian fanbase with Jakarta experience
The German Bundesliga runs live fan experience events in markets around the world to nurture its international fanbases. SportBusiness attended the Bundesliga Experience Jakarta in November to see how such an events is put together.
Kelvin Tan | Asean still needs the SEA Games, its regional Olympics
Kelvin Tan, SportBusiness' Asia editor, on why the SEA Games remain as relevant as ever.
Asia’s 5G rollout creates ‘game-changing’ opportunities for stadium owners
The latest wave of mobile connectivity set to sweep Asia-Pacific could revolutionise the experience that arena owners can offer their customers. Greg Pitcher reports.
New roadmap for Indian football seeks to lead ISL, I-League clubs to financial stability
After years of wrangling, a new roadmap has established the new Indian Super League as the top tier of Indian football ahead of the older I-League. But while the relatively glamorous competition has already improved Indian football off the pitch, there are major challenges ahead as clubs who participate continue to suffer financial losses and big clubs on the outside are yet to commit. John Duerden reports.
How Tokyo 2020 smashed the domestic sponsorship record for the Olympics
In the second of a trilogy of interviews with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, SportBusiness spoke to Masahiko Sakamaki, the executive director of the committee’s marketing bureau.
Philippine dream of hosting 2030 Asian Games rests on this SEA Games
The Philippines' sports industry is looking at this year's SEA Games as a springboard to host the 2030 Asian Games, one of the biggest multi-sports events in the world. John Duerden looks at whether they can make the leap.
Kevin Sim – The Bundesliga’s navigator for the Asia-Pac media-rights market
The Bundesliga’s head of APAC Kevin Sim is deep in talks with potential media-rights partners for the cycle from 2020-21. Kevin McCullagh talks to him about his expectations for the market.
Masa Takaya on Tokyo 2020’s messages of resilience, recovery and hope
In the first of a trio of interviews with the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Kevin McCullagh speaks to Masa Takaya, spokesperson and communications team leader, about what Tokyo 2020 wants to say to the world and how his team is delivering the message.
Hosting the SEA Games: is the juice still worth the squeeze?
The Southeast Asian Games has grown to be unrecognisable from its first edition in Bangkok in 1959. Is it still relevant for the region, or has it been supplanted by its bigger brother, the Asian Games?
Yao Ming’s CBA juggling act gets a boost from NBA travails
After the Morey tweets, sentiment in the Chinese basketball sponsorship marketplace has swung the CBA’s way, making it easier for its leadership to focus on raising the quality of its core product: the league. Chen Yaolin finds out more.
东京放弃举办奥运马拉松项目，高尔夫项目恐也遭波及
在明年东京奥运会的马拉松项目确认将转移到札幌举办之后，东京政府在与国际奥委会的位置争议中正式宣告落败。
印度足协与德国足协签署谅解备忘录
星期五全印度足球协会与德国足协签署了一份谅解备忘录，内容包括在印度联合发展足球工作。