The Singapore-based Global Esports Federation has appointed a Brand, Marketing, Commercial and Communication Commission featuring an array of experienced sports industry executives. The commission is led by Lorenzo Giorgetti, chief commercial officer at AC Milan, and also includes: Jerry Ling, chief of staff, World Taekwondo; Chris Overholt, president and CEO, OverActive Media Group; Peter Zeytoonjian, SVP, United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties; Yasuhiro Nakamori, director, sport department, Japanese Olympic Committee; Ali Kiremitcioglu, former CEO, Istanbul 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid, and executive board member, National Olympic Committee of Turkey; Anne Kelly Aikman, former VP, marketing at the International Olympic Committee; and Marco Nazzari, managing director, international, Nielsen Sports – Global Esports Federation
MotoGP will decide by the end of July whether to run races in Asia and the Americas this year. Currently, the only confirmed races are to take place in Europe. Races in Thailand, Japan, Australia the United States (Texas) and Argentina have been cancelled – The West Australian
Leading Chinese esports player Uzi – real name Jian Zihao – has retired due to health problems, including chronic stress, obesity, diabetes and a hand injury – Channel News Asia/AFP
Two Japanese baseball players and one football player have tested positive for Covid-19, as country’s domestic leagues prepare to restart this month. Tokyo’s government has also issued a warning after 34 new cases of the disease were reported – Channel News Asia/Reuters
The Japan Football Association is launching a new women’s league, the WE League. The JFA is currently bidding to host the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup – Japan Today
Staff at the Tokyo Olympics organising committee have been able to return to their office for the first time this week after it was shut due to Covid-19. The country’s elite athlete training facilities, the National Training Centre and the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, also opened on Monday for the first time since April – Time24.news
Chinese MMA fighter Li Jingliang has signed with talent agency CAA China – SportsMoney.cn
Chinese esports team Bilibili Gaming has agreed a sponsorship deal with Korean fashion brand Gentle Monster – Esports Observer
New Zealand Cricket’s deputy chief executive Anthony Crummy is leaving his role, although said it was unconnected to the 15-per-cent staff cut the organisation is making due to the Covid-19 downturn – Stuff.co.nz
South Africa Rugby reported a profit of 8.5m rand ($500,000/€450,000) and said it had the resources to survive the Covid-19 downturn – RugbyPass
The Uzbekistan Super League is to restart on June 13 – Asian Football Confederation
The International Hockey Federation has changed the qualification process for its World Cups in 2022 and 2023, due to calendar disruption caused by the move of the Tokyo Olympics – FIH
