SPIA Asia Announces the Awards Shortlist Finalists

(L-R): Sport360 Director Mark Jan Kar, New World Makati Hotel GM Fari Schoucair, Philippine Sports Commission Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr., Philippine Olympic Committee Sec-Gen Steve Hontiveros, and MMC Sportz CEO Eric Gottschalk

168 entries from ten countries were shortlisted for the ten categories in the inaugural SPIA Asia - Sports Industry Awards & Conference, revealing them on Wednesday at the New World Hotel in Makati.

These entries came from a variety of rights holders, marketing agencies, sports brands, events, organizations, and venue operators from all across the region. They would then undergo rigid and transparent scrutiny and judging from sixteen industry experts from the region, with the selected winners to be revealed during the the awards proper scheduled for October 2.

The Awards aim to reward the leading rights holders, marketing agencies, sports brands, events, organizations, and venue operators that aided in the development of sport. First developed in the Middle East, this is the first time something of this nature will be done in this part of the continent.

Handling the activities relating to the awards are MMC Sportz and Sport360, with both the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee providing sanction over the event.

Quotes:

Philippine Sports Commission Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr

SPIA will help elevate the awareness in the sport industry and recognize their contributions to the development of sports. The PSC is very thankful for bringing SPIA to the Philippines when its organizers could have brought it to another SEA country instead. This will be the first time the Philippines hold this kind of event. I would like to extend our thanks and congratulations to the organizers.

Philippine Olympic Committee Secretary-General Stephen Hontiveros:

Bringing SPIA to the Philippines is a great endeavor. The sport industry plays a major role in the development of our sports here in the Philippines, and through SPIA, the efforts of the National Federations will be recognized for their contribution. On behalf of the POC, we would like to congratulate the organizers and are proud to host such an event in the Philippines for the first time.

Sport360 Publisher and Deputy CEO Didier Brun:

The Sports Industry Awards are a unique and powerful platform to reflect, showcase and reward the ambitions and achievements of the sports industry in the region. The growth and success of the sports industry in Asia is well documented now and it contributes massively to enhancing the overall lifestyle and experience of the many fans of the game living here, as well as to the overall economic and tourism development. We are very excited to now also present the Sports Industry Awards in Asia.

MMC Sportz CEO Eric Gottschalk:

One of the objectives of bringing SPIA Asia to the Philippines is to highlight the tremendous developments within sports which are currently taking place in the Philippines and which might not be known to many outside of the country. The awards and conference are the perfect networking opportunity for the industry in a new and developing market and we are happy to have received the support of the local governing bodies for our initiative.

New World Makati Hotel General Manager Farid Schoucair:

We believe this event will become the summit for sport industry influencers and facilitators in the region. We are delighted that Manila and in particular the New World Makati Hotel has been selected to host the inaugural 2015 event.

SPIA Asia is organized by MMC Sportz and Sport 360 in partnership with the Philippines Sport Commission and the Philippines Olympic Committee and supported by New World Makati Hotel, Philippine Airlines, Fox Sports, International New York Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Global Sports Business and Asian Sponsorship News.