The LeSports Connects conference in 2016 was China's first large-scale international sports conference, attracting over 500 delegates from China, Asia Pacific, and beyond. Over two days, 56 business leaders from China and internationally discussed opportunities in the Chinese sports industry through panel discussions and keynotes on topics such as international brands, sponsorship, media rights, and football. The conference provided a platform for the global sports industry to connect with Chinese business and learn about the rapid growth of sports marketing in China.

1. WRAP REPORT

2. 2016 was singularly the most important year ever for the sports
industry and it was all because of China.
LeSports Connects was China’s first large scale international
sports conference. Its inaugural edition attracted over 500
delegates from China, Asia Pacific and beyond to Mission Hills
China for a 3 day event with world class conference content, and
packed full of networking events including a golf day and
bowling evening!
Over 2 days of conference content, speakers from both China and
the world sporting community took part in panel discussions and
keynotes on topics including: opportunities for international
brands in China, sponsorship, media rights and content, football,
investment, and the sustainable development of the China sports
industry.
The LeSports Connects conference
provided a unique opportunity to be
updated on the lightning fast growth of
the sports marketing industry in China.
The panels were relevant and stimulating
and it was great to be able to connect
with sports marketing executives from
around the world who share our China
focus.
- Jim Small, VP, APAC
“
”
ABOUT
OUR MISSION: To connect the global sports industry with China’s business power players

3. BRINGING THE WORLD TO CHINA AND CHINA TO THE WORLD

4. LEADING
THE FIELD
56 business leaders
shared their vision
for the business of
sport in CHINA and
its role on the global
stage. A 50/50 split
between China
based and
international
speakers, provided
fruitful learnings
and insights for all
delegates.

5. Day 1 Day 2
Welcome to China
An introduction to the LeSports Connects programme
● China to the world
● China in China: building a successful sports empire in China
● The world turns to China: WWE in China
Football Matters
● An interview with Rio Ferdinand
● CSL White Paper
● China: the next footballing empire?
● Football starts at home
● The next generation of footballers
International Brands in China
● Major League Baseball in China
● Bringing international sports to China
● How digital is transforming the sports industry
Sponsorship Matters - International
● Keynote: Fernando de Matos
● International brand opportunities in Chinese sport
China Matters
● Investing in Chinese Sports: Laying the building blocks for the future
● Emerging sports in China
● China sports industry research blast
● The influence of new media on sports entrepreneurship,
development and agency business
● The next 12 months in the Chinese Sporting Industry
Media rights and content
● Keynote: Andrea Radrizzani​
● Content Matters
● Keynote: Peter Kenyon
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Click here to see the full programme

6. from
23 Countries
including
56 Speakers
522
Delegates
and 70 Media Reps (International & China)
and 266 Companies
DELEGATES MATTER

7. CONNECTING CHINA TO THE WORLD

8. LOOK WHO PLAYED
247 Collective, 5U Sport, Accedo, Accenture, adidas, AEG, AFP Sports, AIA, Alisports, Aser Media, Asia Powerboat Development, Asia Rugby, Asia Sponsorship
News, Asian Distribution Club, Asian Golf Industry Federation, Asian Sponsorship Association, BALLYMPICS, Bao An Daily, Baofeng Sports International, BBC,
Beijing Athletics Association, Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, Beijing TV, Bird & Bird, BMA China, Bownet Sports, Broadreach Media, Campaign, CASBAA,
Catalyst Media Group, CBN Weekly, Century Sports, CFLD, Cheetah Mobile, China Kendo Organizations Union, China MotorSports Academy, China Sport Leader,
Chinese Ministry of Education, City Football Group, Clipper Ventures, ClubFootball, CSI Sports, CSMG, Culture Group, Dantani Inc Sports, Deloitte, Deltatre,
Dentsu Sports, DFL Sports Enterprises (Bundesliga), Dongguan Daily, Druh Belts and Buckles, Dsports, E.A.S.T. Sports, Edelman, ENSUN, Entourage Sports &
Entertainment, ESAY Sports China, ESL, ESP Properties, ESPN, Euroleague , Falcon and Associates, Fast Track, FC Barcelona, Fenez Media, FIBA, FISE, Focus
Ventures, Fortune Capital, FourFourTwo, Fox Sports, GB, Genius Sports, Global Tickets, GlobalSportsJobs, Golf Online TV, GoPro, Guangdong Sports Channel,
Guangzhou Qiuxun Technology, Guangzhou R&F FC, Haldanes, Havas Media Group, Helios Partners, Hetong Capital, Highsports Media , Hong Kong Cricket
Association, Hong Kong Football Club, Hong Kong Lacrosse Association, Hong Kong Rugby Union, Huafa Group, Huafa Sports, i3 Sports, IMG, imi-spring,
Impact Sponsorship, Infiniti, Infront Sports & Media, International Golf, International Table Tennis Federation, iSportconnect, Jiemian.com, Jing Bao, JMI, Jun Ze
Jun Law Offices, Kaixing Capital, Khaya, Kika Tech, Kontinental Hockey League, KPMG, Kukri Sports, KV International Group, La Estrategia de Chapman,
Lagardère Sports, Lancapital, LeEco, Leishi Tech, LeSports, Lionstar, Liverpool FC, Long Hua Net, Lunacom, Mailman Group, Manchester United, Mass
Participation Asia, MDME, Media Partners Asia, Mission Hills, MLB, Modern Weekly, Monterosa, MSB Concepts, National Business Daily, NBA, Netease Sport,
NFL, Nielsen, Oceans Sports & Entertainment, Olympic Power Sports, ONE Championship, Opto Advisers, Orange Room, PCCW, PGA Tour, Pioneer Sports,
PlayerLayer, PR Newswire, Professional Sports Group, PUMA, Redwood Sports, Right Formula, Riot Games, Ripple Effect Consultancy, Roco Communications,
Roland-Garros French Open, RugbyPass, S2M Group, Schwarzman College, SCMP, SECA World, Shenzhen Business Newspaper, Shenzhen City Newspaper,
Shenzhen Daily, Shenzhen Evening Newspaper, Shenzhen News, Shenzhen Public Channel, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, Shenzhen West Channel, Sina Sports,
Ski Classics, Sky, SML, Soda Soccer, Sohu Sports, Sponsorium, Sport Singapore, SportBusiness Group, Sportradar, Sports Bank, Sports Money, Sportsman Media,
SportsPro Media, Sqreem, SRG, SRi, SSC Napoli FC, Standard Chartered Bank, Supreme Committee Qatar 2022, SZ Football Coach, T3 International, Tangerine
Partners, Team Wass, TEFox Consulting, Telstra, Tencent Sports, Tennis Australia, The Athletes of HK, The Economic Observer, The Paper, The Royal Hong
Kong Yacht Club, Tiger Sports, Total Sports Asia, Tsunami Sport, TV Sports Markets, UBS, UFC, V Capital, Visa, Vital Force, W Sportsmedia, Wall of Sport, Wall
Street Journal, WARC, We Chat Sports, WeCapital, Weibo Sports, Weisai Sports, WestSummit Capital, Wieden+Kennedy, Withers, World Football Collection,
World Squash Federation, WWE, Xinhua, Yangcheng Evening News, Zebra Media, Zhong An, ZMG Group
LOOK WHO CAME

9. NETWORKING MATTERS
Golf Day
Check out our website for more photos! www.lesportsconnects.com
Opening Gala
Bowling Night

10. After 10 years in China I can confidently say Branded produced the best sports
industry conference ever. They brought together the industries’ leading thinkers
and delivered a knockout show. Andrew Collins, Group CEO
”“
Congratulations on the successful holding of LeSports Forum, it's a great
get-together and insightful discussion with experts from different areas.
I really appreciate the opportunity and the arrangement that Branded provided
from beginning to the very end.
Jun Yao, Director, GTJA Private Equity
“The LeSports Connects conference is going to be the can’t miss
sports business conference in the future.
Richard Young, Managing Director China
”
“As China increasingly expands into
Sports, this is the ultimate event to
hear from the different parts of the
eco-system and best of all to
network and build relationships to
the key leaders in the industry.
Adrian Toy, Regional Marketing Director
“
“
”
What a great couple of days!
Rio Ferdinand, Former Professional Footballer, Manchester
United & England”
”
FEEDBACK MATTERS

11. OVER ¥5.89 million + IN INTERNATIONAL PR VALUE(source: ROCCO PR. As at 15th Dec 2016)

12. ● LeSports provided 12 press
releases on multiple perspectives
of the event to domestic media.
● Journalists from 10 media
affiliations covered LeSports
Connects on site, and published
original, in-depth articles/videos of
the event
● Over 80 media posted and
reposted over 300 articles about
LeSports Connects
CHINA PR

13. SOCIAL MATTERS
The official LeSports Connects
WeChat group was an online portal
set up to allow the event
organisers to provide live event
updates, and also to serve as a
community for delegates to share
news, updates and discussions
about the sports industry in China.
The group had 173 members, and
continues to be an active forum
post event.

14. SPONSORS MATTER

15. Thank you to our Sponsors and Partners!
The support of these organisations helped to make LeSports Connects 2016 a success, for which we are truly grateful.

16. See you next year!
For more event information email one of us or visit:
lesportsconnects.com
THE ORGANISERS
Branded designs, sells, markets and produces high quality, large scale
B2B and B2B2F(an) events in Asia. Founded in 2002 and listed as a top
10 Event Marketing agency by Marketing Magazine, its focus is to add
value to and grow the media, sports and entertainment industries in Asia.
Branded specialises in the organisation, programming and production of
dynamic conferences, live music festivals, academies, and youth fan
events in Asia. www.branded.asia
Jasper Donat – Speaker & Programme Enquiries
jasper@branded.asia
Louisa Berry - Sponsorship & Delegate Enquiries
louisa@branded.asia
Krystyna Kosciuszko - Marketing & Partnership Enquiries
krystyna@branded.asia