Top Asian sports brands and events recognised at 2017 SPIA Asia Awards
“Amazing Thailand” wins Bronze for “Best Sports Tourism Destination of the Year” while “Laguna Phuket Marathon” wins Gold for “Best Amateur Sport Event in Thailand”
Seen from leading photo: Mr. Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of MMC Sportz Marketing LLC, organizer of SPIA Asia – Sports Industry Awards & Conference 2017; Mr. Somyot Poompanmoung, President, Football Association of Thailand; Representative of the AFC Dream Asia Foundation.
A successful 3rd SPIA Asia – Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference came to a close with a black-tie Awards Gala Dinner with, Mr Nattavuth Ruengves, Deputy Governor for Elite Sports and Sports Science of the Sports Authority of Thailand and Mr. Somyot Poompunmoung, President of the Football Association of Thailand and more than 400 VIP guests in attendance, gathered to celebrate the best-of-the-best in Asia’s sports industry at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld.
Attended by global sports agencies, governing bodies, international sports federations, global and Asian brands, event organisers and industry suppliers, the Awards Gala followed the two-day “The Business of Sports – Asia’s Sports Industry in the Fast Lane III” conference which saw presentations and panel discussions from 35 leading sports experts and influencers from around the world as well as the presentation of the English Premier League Trophy by former Chelsea FC player and Club Ambassador Paulo Ferreira, and the Bundesliga Trophy by FC Bayern Munich.
Having received almost 400 SPIA Asia award submissions from 47 countries in 23 categories (17 Asian categories and six Thailand categories), the Awards Committee Members and the independent judging panel consisting of 27 high profile industry experts diligently scored Bronze, Silver and Gold winners in each category.
“The standard of award submissions and competition has been exceptionally high this year. Having started with almost 400 entries, all were subject to a fair and transparent judging process that culminated with thorough appraisals by a panel of more than 20 experts. In many categories the scoring was extremely close and the Bronze, Silver and Gold winners announced at the SPIA Asia Awards Gala should be very proud of their achievement,” commented Mr. Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of MMC Sportz Marketing LLC, organizer of SPIA Asia – Sports Industry Awards & Conference 2017.
Sharing the limelight with global sports properties such as the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix, BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, La Liga, and Badminton World Federation were many homegrown Asian brands and events, underscoring the depth and professionalism of Asia’s rapidly growing sports industry such as The Music Run and the Red Bull Air Race World Championships 2017. The pubic voting category for ”Best Sportswear Brand” resulted in over 30,000 online votes for 33 brands with ADIDAS bagging “Gold” having received a staggering 45% of all the votes.
Founded and Organised by MMC Sportz Marketing LLC, SPIA Asia is endorsed and supported by Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and is the premier conference and awards platform, and a must attend event for Asia’s sports industry.
“Showcasing two of the biggest football league trophies in the world at SPIA Asia this year was very special and is a sign of the importance of sports in the region and of SPIA Asia to the industry. In addition to recognizing the industry’s best sports businesses and brands, at the core of SPIA Asia is the desire to support and grow the industry, and to also give back.
Mr. Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of MMC Sportz Marketing LLC, organizer of SPIA Asia – Sports Industry Awards & Conference 2017 donating USD5,000 to the AFC Dream Asia Foundation on behalf of SPIA Asia 2017.
Working with Helping Hands we raised USD5,000 for the AFC Dream Asia Foundation through the sale of sports memorabilia at SPIA Asia to support a dedicated CSR project in Thailand which will be administered by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in close coordination with the Football Association of Thailand (FAT),” added Mr. Gottschalk. “This years event has been a tremendous success and we are looking forward to announcing the 2018 host city before the end of December.”
SPIA ASIA 2017 AWARD WINNERS
Best International Sporting Event sanctioned by an International Federation
Gold: Australian Open 2017
Silver: WGC-HSBC Champions
Bronze: Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix
Best Global Sports Organization Operating in Asia
Gold: Badminton World Federation
Silver: Spartan Race Inc.
Bronze: UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
Best Sports Tourism Destination of the Year
Gold: Funtastic Subic Bay
Silver: Visit Victoria
Bronze: Amazing Thailand
Best Football Organization of the Year recognized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Gold: Arabian Gulf League (AGL)
Silver: J-League
Bronze: Football Association of Thailand (FAT)
Best Live Experience at a Sporting Event
Gold: HSBC Women’s Champions
Silver: BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global
Bronze: VISA Football Night
Best eSports Event of the Year
Gold: ESL One Genting
Silver: Rifts Rivals – Red Rift
Bronze: Manila Masters 2017
Best Extreme Sports Event of the Year
Gold: Red Bull Air Race World Championships 2017 – Abu Dhabi
Silver: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2016 Finals
Bronze: Spartan Race
Best Mass Participation Event of the Year
Gold: Standard Chartered KL Marathon
Silver: Sina 3×3 Golden League Basketball Tournament
Bronze: Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines Asia Pacific Championship
Best Sports Marketing Agency of the Year
Gold: Lagardère Sports
Silver: IMG
Bronze: Mediapro Asia Pte Ltd
Best Sports Digital Platform of the Year
Gold: Standard Chartered KL Marathon App
Silver: Sina Sports
Bronze: FourFourTwo
Best Sponsorship of a Sport, Team or Event (above USD 250,000.00)
Gold: Manchester City FC by UBTECH
Silver: VISA Football Night
Bronze: HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens
Best Sponsorship of a Sport, Team or Event (below USD 250,000.00)
Gold: Sunriser Hydearbad & Allied Blenders & Distillers Association
Silver: Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
Bronze: Daman’s ActiveLife Color Run
Best Integrated Marketing Campaign for a Sports Event
Gold: Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix
Silver: VISA Football Night
Bronze: BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global
Best Sports CSR Initiative of the Year
Gold: 2017 Xiqiao Mountain Blind Half Marathon
Silver: Cityzens Giving
Bronze: Nepal Earthquake Relief Program- AFC School Rebuilding Project
Best Youth Development Program of the Year
Gold: The Daman Future Champions Programme (DFCP)
Silver: Chelsea Football Club International Development Programme
Bronze: Football for Life Academy (F4LA)
Best Sports Event Hospitality Offering
Gold: Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix
Silver: BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global
Bronze: Australian Open 2017
Best Sportswear Brand of the Year (Public Voting)
Gold: Adidas
Silver: Nike
Bronze: Puma
Best Amateur Sport Event in Thailand
Gold: Laguna Phuket Marathon
Silver: Laguna Phuket Triathlon
Bronze: FC Bayern Munich Youth Cup Thailand 2017
Best Sponsorship of Sport, Team or Event in Thailand
Gold: MoneyGram Goal
Silver: Toyota Thai League
Bronze: The Music Run by AIA Vitality
Best Sport Event Arena Venue and/or Training Center in Thailand
Gold: Black Mountain Golf Club
Silver: Pattana Golf Club & Resort
Bronze: Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort
Best Sport Event Organizer in Thailand
Gold: IMG
Silver: MICE & Communication Co., Ltd.
Bronze: Media Event Design Co., Ltd
Best Sport Youth Development Program in Thailand
Gold: Pattana Football Club
Silver: FINA Scholarship Programme
Bronze: AIA Youth Football Development Campaign
Best Sport Event Supplier in Thailand
Gold: Cournot and Nash Co. Ltd.
Silver: Vivaldi Seasons Co. Ltd
Bronze: Media Event Design Co. Ltd
SPIA Asia 2017 is sanctioned and organized in partnership with:
Ministry of Tourism and Sports (Thailand), Sports Authority of Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, SPIA Asia 2017 Main Event Partners: Lagardère Sports, SMG Insight, The Juice Plus+ Company,
SPIA Asia 2017 Industry Partners: RSportz, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Ultron Sports, Nielsen Sports
SPIA Asia 2017 Media Partners: TrueVisions, Asia Sponsorship News, Luxury Society Asia
SPIA Asia Partners: Centara Grand at CentralWorld (official hotel), Platinumlist (ticketing platform), Infinity Communications (Media & PR), The Sponsorship Experts (Sponsorship & Marketing), with Helping Hand Group as the Auction house and AFC Dream Asia Foundation as the Charity Partner.
For official winner list and SPIA Asia 2017 event information, please visit www.spiaasia.com.
