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Asia’s top sports brands and events have been recognised this week at the 2017 SPIA Asia Awards - presented during the 3rd SPIA Asia, Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference.

Staged at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre in Thailand, the event was 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.

Having received almost 400 SPIA Asia award submissions from 47 countries in 23 categories (17 Asian categories and six Thailand-specific 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.

Eric M. Gottschalk, Chief Executive of MMC Sportz Marketing LLC, organiser of SPIA Asia – Sports Industry Awards & Conference 2017, commented “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 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.”

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 the Badminton World Federation were many homegrown Asian brands and events, underscoring the depth and professionalism of Asia’s rapidly growing sports industry.

The pubic voting category for Best Sportswear Brand resulted in over 30,000 online votes for 33 brands with adidas receiving the Gold award after securing 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. 

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 Organisation 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 Organisation of the Year recognised 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 US$250,000)
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 US$250,000)
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 Program (DFCP)
Silver: Chelsea Football Club International Development Program
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 Centre in Thailand
Gold: Black Mountain Golf Club
Silver: Pattana Golf Club & Resort
Bronze: Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort

Best Sport Event Organiser 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 Program
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

Image: Red Bull Air Race World Championships 2017 (top) and 2017 SPIA Asia Awards (below).

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