More than 400 VIPs from the sports industry in Asia descended on Bangkok for two days on 19 and 20 November 2018 to discuss industry trends and celebrate winners in more than 20 award categories at a lavish Awards Gala.
Delegates attended the two-day Sports Business Conference under the known headline of “The Business of Sports – Asia's Sports Industry in the Fast Lane IV”, discussing hot industry topics. Experts from various industries and disciplines from all over Asia discussed themes around the business of football in Asia, comparing Thailand to the rest of the region, and diving into the latest consumer analysis findings of the Asian football fan.
A panel on sports and technology took a closer look at the possibilities of virtual/augmented reality on sports, as well as artificial intelligence and the power of sports to bring crypto-currencies to the mass market.
Attendants also discussed the business of sport, looking at sports sponsorships and case studies from the Asian Games 2018 and the FIFA World Cup 2018. The discussions also looked forward to SEA Games in the Philippines in 2019 and the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.
A session on sports and tourism focussed on successful destination marketing in Asia, as well as sport tourism strategies and the future of fan engagement. Lastly, attendants tackled questions around sport and inclusion, looking into the role of women in sports marketing.
The conference was concluded by the highly anticipated Awards Gala which celebrated Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in 20 award categories. With more than 400 entry submissions, the Awards have become Asia’s leading sports industry accolade.
“The standard of entries has gotten better every year and this truly reflects the strength and depth in Asia's sports industry. We have seen professionally operated independent events and organisations alongside some of the biggest brands in the industry, and this is very encouraging for everyone in sports in Asia,” said Mr. Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of MMC Sportz, organiser of SPIA Asia – Asia's Sports Industry Awards & Conference.
SPIA Asia – Asia’s Sports Industry & Awards Conference is endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Thailand, the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
Entry to the awards is free and submissions are judged by a panel of more than 37 international experts who judge the entries to find the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. In addition to the judged awards, three are voted for by the public. The Sponsorship Experts have managed the commercial sponsorship and partnership marketing for SPIA Asia - Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference for three successive years and Mr. Paul Poole, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd. is part of the judging panel.
This year’s Gold, Silver and Bronze winners are:
BEST SPORTS DIGITAL PLATFORM OF THE YEAR
Presented by: Vizrt
- GOLD: Standard Chartered KL Marathon | Malaysia | MYLAPS
- SILVER: Dawri Plus | UAE | Intigral
- BRONZE: Goal.com | Singapore | Perform Media
BEST INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR A SPORTS EVENT
Presented by: LaLiga
- GOLD: Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2018 | Australia | Australian Grand Prix Corporation
- SILVER: Pyeongchang 2018 - Resetting Finish Lines | South Korea | Visa Worldwide Pte Ltd
- BRONZE: 2017 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented SC Global | Singapore | Lagardère Sports
BEST SPORTS TOURISM DESTINATION OF THE YEAR
Presented by: Mediapro Asia
- GOLD: Melbourne, Victoria | Australia | Visit Victoria
- SILVER: Abu Dhabi | UAE | Abu Dhabi Sports Council
- BRONZE: Subic Bay Freeport Zone | Philippines | Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
BEST MASS PARTICIPATION EVENT OF THE YEAR
Presented by: Mass Participation Asia
- GOLD: Sina 3X3 Golden League | China | Sina Sports
- SILVER: Standard Chartered KL Marathon | Malaysia | Dirigo Events Sdn Bhd
- BRONZE: ITU World Triathlon | UAE | Abu Dhabi Sports Council
BEST WOMEN’S SPORTS EVENT OF THE YEAR
Presented by: Sri
- GOLD: HSBC Women's World Championship | Singapore | IMG
- SILVER: 19th AFC Women’ s Asian Cup | Jordan | Asian Football Federation
- BRONZE: 2017 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented SC Global | Singapore | Lagardère Sports
BEST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Presented by: MAFRO Sports Marketing
- GOLD: Mission Hills Junior Golf Program | China | Mission Hills Group
- SILVER: Eish Al Tahaddi | Saudi Arabia | Intigral
- BRONZE: NBA - Jr. NBA Program in Southeast Asia | Hong Kong | NBA
BEST SPORTS CSR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Presented by: RCS
- GOLD: HSBC Try Rugby Programme | Hong Kong | CSM Sport & Entertainment
- SILVER: Allianz National Youth Football Invitational: #footballgoals | Philippines | Allianz PNB Life Insurance
- BRONZE: IBF Youth Leaders Basketball Cup | Singapore | FIBA
BEST SPORT EVENT VENUE IN THAILAND
Presented by: Sport Authority Thailand
- GOLD: Laguna Phuket | Laguna Service Company Ltd.
- SILVER: Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort | Thanyapura
- BRONZE: Pattana Sports Club | Pattana Sports Club Co. Ltd.
BEST SPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN THAILAND
Presented by: Sport Authority Thailand
- GOLD: FC Bayern Youth Cup | FC Bayern Muenchen AG and Sport Thai Bavaria
- SILVER: C55 Kids Triathlon Series I C55 Events
- BRONZE: Sansiri Academy | Sansiri
BEST MASS PARTICIPATION EVENT OF THE YEAR (RUNNING, CYCLING)
Presented by: Sport Authority Thailand
- GOLD: Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2018 | Sport Authority of Thailand
- SILVER: Buriram Marathon 2018 | Sport Authority of Thailand
- BRONZE: Bangkok Bank Cyclefest | IMG
BEST SPONSORSHIP OF SPORT, TEAM OR EVENT (> USD 250,000) IN THAILAND
Presented by: Sponsorium
- GOLD: Toyota | Toyota Thai League T-1
- SILVER: PTT Group | PTT Thailand Grand Prix (MotoGP)
- BRONZE: Honda | Honda LPGA Thailand
BEST SPONSORSHIP OF A SPORT, TEAM OR EVENT ( >USD 250,000)
Presented by: SMG Insight
- GOLD: HSBC Hong Kong 7s | Hong Kong | CSM Sport & Entertainment
- SILVER: DHL - Indian Super League Sponsorship | India | DHL Express India Pvt. Ltd.
- BRONZE: Air Asia – UFC Sponsorship | Singapore | UFC
BEST INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT OF THE YEAR
Presented by: Kooora.com
- GOLD: Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2018 | Australia | Australian Grand Prix Corporation
- SILVER: WGC-HSBC Champions | China | IMG
- BRONZE: 2018 SBMC Singapore Open | Singapore | Lagardère Sports
BEST SPORTS MARKETING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Presented by: LaLiga
- GOLD: Lagardère Sports | Singapore | Lagardère Sports
- SILVER: IMG | Singapore | IMG
- BRONZE: Mediapro Asia Pte Ltd | Singapore | Mediapro Asia Pte Ltd
BEST GLOBAL SPORTS ORGANISATION OPERATING IN ASIA
Presented by: Lagardère Sports
- GOLD: NBA | Hong Kong | NBA Asia Limited
- SILVER: LaLiga Global Network SEA, Japan & South Korea | Singapore | LaLiga
- BRONZE: Badminton World Federation | Malaysia | Badminton World Federation (BWF)
BEST DEVELOPING FOOTBALL LEAGUE OF THE YEAR BY AFC
Presented by: Asian Football Confederation
- GOLD: Vietnam | V. League 1
- SILVER: India | I-League
- BRONZE: Indonesia | Go-Jek Liga 1
BEST INSPIRING FOOTBALL LEAGUE OF THE YEAR BY AFC
Presented by: Asian Football Confederation
- GOLD: UAE | Arabian Gulf League
- SILVER: Qatar | Qatar Stars League
- BRONZE: China PR | Chinese Super League
BEST LIVE EXPERIENCE AT A SPORTING EVENT (public voting)
- GOLD: Australian F1 Grand Prix - 2018
- SILVER: FIFA Club World Cup Abu Dhabi - 2017
- BRONZE: Australia Open (tennis) - 2018
BEST SPORTSWEAR BRAND OF THE YEAR (public voting)
- GOLD: Nike
- SILVER: adidas
- BRONZE: PUMA
BEST ESPORTS EVENT OF THE YEAR (public voting)
- GOLD: 2018 League of Legends World Championship | South Korea | Riot Games
- SILVER: MDL Changsha Major | Changsha | Mars Media
- BRONZE: ESL One Genting 2018 | Malaysia | ESL
Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd. is an independent marketing consultancy based in Bangkok, Thailand specialising in commercial sponsorship and partnership marketing, working with both rights holders and brands - acting as a catalyst by bringing them together and maximising the relationship.
We have packaged, sold and managed sponsorship and partnership opportunities for a wide range of rights holders and worked with many of the world’s leading brands to source and engage the right sponsorships and partnerships for them to maximise.
