SportsPro Podcast

SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan speaks to Craig Dews, chief executive of Limelight Sports, a marketing agency that unlocks the power of participation sport. They discuss the truth about building and launching a new strategy, at a point where so much of the sports industry – not least the mass participation space – has had to rethink how and why it does things. The conversation covers how best to assess an organisation’s needs in an uncertain future, the realities of change management in the face of day-today priorities, bringing staff on board for the journey and judging progress along the way.  The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond.

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and deputy editor Sam Carp are joined by Ricardo Fort, founder of the Sport By Fort consultancy and former global head of sponsorship at Coca-Cola, to look ahead to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  They discuss the reported apprehension around the host city as athletes and media arrive before the opening ceremony, whether the story of the event can escape the shadow of Covid-19, and how activities for partners will have been adapted. They also consider what value the Olympics holds for brands, reflect on Toyota’s decision not to promote its Games sponsorship within Japan, and ask how the movement’s message can be taken forward – and whether it is fans and Olympians who are best placed to do that.  There’s also time for a brief dip into the pages of issue 114 of SportsPro magazine, which is available this week. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

As Tokyo 2020 looms, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Max Siegel, chief executive of USA Track & Field. They discuss preparing a team for the Olympics in pandemic conditions, how Covid-19 has affected the USATF, Sha’Carri Richardson’s THC ban, broader questions around anti-doping and competitive fairness, and how digital media and connected participation could shape the future of athletics. Max also talks about diversity in leadership, how to bring new perspectives and experiences into an organisation, and the importance of giving athletes a voice on social issues as well as the growth of their sport. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly is joined by Misha Sher, global head of sport, entertainment and culture at Mediacom, to talk about the growing role of athletes in media. They discuss the fallout from Uefa Euro 2020, with England players on the front foot over racist abuse on social platforms, what to expect from the Olympics and next year’s Uefa Women’s Euro 2022, and how brands should navigate athlete-led conversations on social issues. There’s also time to look at LeBron James’ version of the Looney Tunes basketball caper Space Jam, and consider how entertainment crossovers have changed since Michael Jordan’s film in 1997. Then (35.04), as the Open Championship approaches, soccer stars James Milner and Adam Lallana explain how they’re applying their experience to specialist golf agency White Rose Sports Management, appearing alongside new signing Ben Schmidt. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan talks to Claire Harvey MBE, former Paralympian turned global inclusion lead at telecoms brand Vodafone.  They talk about how to do better in the complex and sensitive area of inclusion and diversity, drawing on Claire’s experience in sport, business and beyond to try and set a path through new social norms and expectations. They also identify some positive steps that any organisation can take to improve their practices and their culture, and a few strong examples of where sport is getting things right. The SportsPro Playbook is the place to go for agenda-free, pragmatic advice to understand how to navigate your organisation through change. Head to sportspromedia.com/playbook to catch up on our library of articles and podcasts, and learn more about how our new Playbook Labs programme can help you lead your organisation to success in 2021 and beyond.

As Wembley Stadium gets ready to welcome England and Italy for the Uefa Euro 2020 final, SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly talks to Chris Bryant, tournament director at the Football Association.    They talk about the job of managing the demands of Uefa, public health authorities, local and national government as London’s role in the tournament has changed. They also discuss how Wembley Stadium has been prepared for the closing stages of the tournament, creating the right atmosphere for fans, the evolving identity of the ground and the surrounding area, Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 and the future. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and digital editor Tom Bassam welcome Jean-Baptiste Roy, founding partner of Asia Sports Tech, as they review the second and final day of SportsPro APAC.   On the agenda: the distinctive social media markets of India and China and what they mean for sports brands inside and outside those countries, the efforts of World Table Tennis to build an offering fit for the 2020s, and the power of the Paralympics to change perceptions of disability across Asia during Tokyo 2020.    The panel hear from Facebook India VP and managing director Ajit Mohan, Chelsea head of global fan engagement Adam Field, and The Valuable 500 founder Caroline Casey.    Find out more about SportsPro APAC and register for on-demand access at www.sportsproapac.com 

SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly and staff writer Ed Dixon are joined by Janna Jauhar, APEC director at Mailman Group, to wrap up the opening day of the SportsPro APAC virtual conference. They discuss topics ranging from fan engagement and content customisation during the pandemic, and how to address a breadth of local audiences, to the differing impact of esports and mobile and digital platforms across a diverse region. They also hear from Star and Disney India head of sports Sanjog Gupta, Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley, and Yoichiro Basso, the DAZN Group senior vice president for subscription growth in Japan. Find out more about SportsPro APAC and register for live and on-demand access at www.sportsproapac.com 

In a special edition of the podcast, SportsPro senior contributor Matt Rogan dives deep into his new book, All To Play For: How Sport Can Reboot Our Future, in conversation with editor at large Eoin Connolly.    Matt explains how a more connected vision can not only help the sport prepare for the challenges of the era to come, but also help deliver its social and health benefits more powerfully. He discusses how the industry can better communicate its values to win round the next generation of fans, how it is already finding innovative points of contact with communities, and where technology and creativity will open up new opportunities. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/    All To Play For: How Sport Can Reboot Our Future, by Matt Rogan with Kerry Potter, is available now in hardback and ebook from Ebury Publishing.

SportsPro deputy editor Sam Carp talks to James Rothwell, head of marketing for EMEA at TikTok, about the social media company’s partnership with Uefa Euro 2020. They cover how TikTok’s campaign was brought together in the months before the tournament, what it has been doing to bring the fan conversation to its platform, and the impact that has been having on its community and its profile. They also identify the type of content that has captured the imagination so far, from user-generated posts to Ed Sheeran's live-streamed concert. Then (31.26), Sport Buff co-founder and president Jonty Whitehead explains to SportsPro editor at large Eoin Connolly how gamification and interactive layers are encouraging deeper engagement with fans and giving rise to new monetisation opportunities. He also discusses the lessons sports broadcasters can learn from audience behaviour in esports and on streaming sites like Twitch. Music: Surf Inspector by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4447-surf-inspector License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/