Sam Pearson has spent the last eight years working in the Chinese sports industry, most recently in the role of Senior Manager, Marketing Solutions Asia Pacific for the WTA, after previous stints with Ruder Finn and OCEANS Sports Marketing . He returns home to Wellington, New Zealand, to take up a position as Regional Sales & Marketing Manager for the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015. Shortly before leaving China, Pearson spoke to China Sports Insider about the current state of the sports industry, as well as the changes he’s witnessed, the future of men’s and women’s tennis in China – and being linked to a tennis star in China’s gossip pages.
中国男足需要努力才对得起球迷
作为中国国家男子足球队的主教练，阿兰•佩林应该确保让他的球队度过一个忙碌的世界杯月份。除去备战对阵马其顿和马里的友谊赛之外，他应该带队员外出到当地的酒吧里，给他们买一些不含酒精的饮料，和他们一起坐到电视机前，尽可能多看几场世界杯比赛。
Why Chinese players should be forced to watch the World Cup
Alain Perrin, coach of the Chinese national men’s soccer team, should make sure his squad have a busy month. When they are not preparing for friendly games against Macedonia and Mali, he should take them out to the local bars, sit them down in front of the TV, buy them a nice non-alcoholic beverage, and make them watch as many World Cup matches as possible.
Continue reading Why Chinese players should be forced to watch the World Cup
The Ma the merrier for Guangzhou Evergrande
Jack Ma is no idiot – he presides over a company that is set to go public at an estimated value of $152 billion dollars – but Evergrande looks to have got the better of the deal that sees Alibaba take a 50% stake in Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande for $192 million.
Continue reading The Ma the merrier for Guangzhou Evergrande
解决申世闹剧 FIFA需取经
上周，国际上的一系列报道隐隐暗示现在没有国家愿意举办2022冬奥会了。无巧不成书，当有一家媒体表达出这样的观点时，大家都会人云亦云。
中国致力于打造全球性体育明星
上周，年轻的中国短跑选手莫有雪被《SportsPro》杂志评选为全球最具市场价值的运动员之一，排名47位，而且他是唯一进入年度排行榜前50的中国选手——这种表述可能有点儿轻描淡写。即便是中国的铁杆体育迷也很少有人知道莫有雪是何方神圣，外国观众更是一头雾水。但他的入围仍然极具代表性。
Month of mayhem
May was a busy month.
World’s new golfing prodigy “wants to play for Hong Kong”
Remember the Chinese American kids who won at Augusta last month? One of them – 11-year-old Lucy Li – has just qualified for the US Women’s Open at Pinehurst and will become the youngest ever qualifier to play in the June 19-22 tournament, beating Lexi Thompson’s record (who was 12 in 2007). What’s more, Li wants to play for Hong Kong, where her family is from.
According to the SCMP, Li was born in Santa Clara, lives in Redwood Shores, California, and holds a US passport, but her mother has a Hong Kong identity card and “the family has told [Hong Kong national team coach Brad] Schadewitz she wants to play for Hong Kong.” Continue reading World’s new golfing prodigy “wants to play for Hong Kong”
Li Na hits the cover of GQ China [PHOTOS]
The French Open, famously won by Li Na in 2011, gets underway in less than two weeks, and to mark the highlight of the clay court season, GQ China has done a photo shoot with the Chinese star. Li called it one of the most fun shoots she’s done “in years” and the results are below (photos via Sina and Li Na’s Facebook page). Check out the crazy tan lines on her wrists (from her wristbands) and on her right knee (from the SpiderTech tape she’s worn since 2009).
Chinese Super League announces Ford deal [UPDATE]
Changan Ford has announced a deal worth as much as 390 million yuan (US $63 million) over four years to become an official senior partner of the Chinese Super League, as well as the league’s promotion and development partner and its official vehicle supplier.
Continue reading Chinese Super League announces Ford deal [UPDATE]