Global Business Development’s Post

**🌍 Global Business Development Reports !! Investigation Requested into Wrestler Vinesh Phogat's Disqualification from the Olympics** At **Global Business Development**, we uphold and respect the **rules and regulations of sports**. We expect the same commitment to integrity from all parties involved. Recent insider information has raised serious suspicions regarding the **disqualification of Wrestler Vinesh Phogat** from the Olympics. Consequently, we are calling upon **higher authorities** to conduct a thorough investigation. ### **Key Points of Concern** - **Respect for Rules:** We respect the integrity of sports and expect the same from everyone. - **Suspicious Intentions:** Insider information suggests potential misconduct related to Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification. - **Investigation Requested:** We urge the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into these allegations. ### **Impact on International Relations** Our key stakeholder, **World Daddy**, has advised investors to withhold support from France until the investigation is completed. Future support will depend on the investigation's findings. ### **Potential Economic Implications** If any wrongdoing by France is confirmed, **Global Business Development** and our network of associates, partners, and investors will reconsider our support for France. This could significantly impact the economic conditions in France. We urge the authorities to address any mistakes transparently. ### **Call to Action for Authorities** - **Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi** - **President of France, Emmanuel Macron** - **United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres** - **President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach** - **Heads of global regulatory bodies and international sports federations** ### **Ensuring Transparency and Fairness** We urge these authorities to: 1. **Acknowledge and Investigate** any mistakes promptly. 2. **Ensure Transparency and Fairness** in the process. 3. **Protect the Integrity of Sports** and national reputations. ### **United for Integrity** On behalf of our entire team, we emphasize that our intention is not to harm anyone unjustly, nor will we tolerate any harm to our reputation. This issue transcends the disqualification of an athlete; it concerns the **integrity and values of our nation**. ### **Our Commitment** We are committed to ensuring that our team and investors do not make hasty decisions. However, we cannot ignore the stance of World Daddy, who is committed to justice and transparency. We stand united as a nation and will not accept any threats to our national reputation. ### **Global Solidarity** We urge all involved parties to address this issue with the seriousness it deserves. The integrity of our nations and the principles of fair play are at stake. Thanks #VineshPhogat #Olympics #Investigation #IntegrityInSports #EconomicImpact #InternationalRelations #BBC #Fox #Transparency #FairPlay

Last month, some highly distinguished sports professionals and I spoke at the INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION on the subject of an independent integrity agency for sport. Here are some of the key takeaways from that session... 🙋♂️ An independent sports integrity agency concept, whether regional, global, sport-specific (as with tennis) or pan-sport, could help address the pertinent integrity issues and challenges faced today. This could be a role similar to that played by WADA in the anti-doping arena. 📛 The current landscape is sub-optimal. There are clear conflicts of interest, significant cultural obstacles and an all-too-common unwillingness to address problems. There is also room for improvement in efficiency and transparency. ⚽🏏🎾 Different sports and governing bodies approach different integrity issues in different ways. Consistency is lacking. 👟 Athletes and participants should be keen on the idea: ultimately it is about protecting them, as well as the fans, sponsors and businesses engaged in sport. Trust is paramount. 📑 At the very least, there should be a review that identifies the key issues and how best to address them. 💬 Quote of the day: "Everything seems difficult until it is done".

Ahead of the Paris Olympics... Rumors and actual incidents of corruption abound in China's sports world. In recent months 中纪委 has initiated investigations into the national ruling bodies of football and basketball - two of China's most popular sports. However, the biggest catch announced by 中纪委 was the arrest of 苟仲文, the former head of 国家体育总局 (General Administration of Sport of China), the national regulatory body for all sports. While the national sports media are reporting on 苟's missteps in supervising the Chinese Football Association, pointedly, it is more about the kickbacks that he and his underlings received during his tenure. With the ongoing 中纪委 investigation, Beijing insiders are attributing 苟's downfall to the financial improprieties emanating from the controversial decision by Eileen Gu to ski for China beginning in 2019 and into the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics - a topic now shunned by the media. With the Paris Olympics around the corner, the investigations are a distraction to the incoming leadership at 国家体育总局 and the national teams in training. One thing is certain - the transgressions occurred under the previous inept leadership have resulted in the Men's National Basketball Team from failing to qualify for the upcoming Olympics, and the Men's National Football Team from qualifying for the World Cup - major disappointments to their fan base. Finally, I have touched on the disappointing turn of events in China's sports industry in previous posts. I know the sector and the national ruling body well as I served as an advisor to the late General 伍绍祖, then chairman of 国家体委, forerunner to 国家体育总局, in the 1990s. In fact, I drafted the proposal to privatize all municipal and provincial sports teams and assets in order to structurally and legally prepare for the eventual formation of the major pro sports leagues that we see in China today. Furthermore, I was a former founder and co-owner of a franchise in the CBA, the top tier professional men's basketball league in China. #china #sports #corruption

Ever wondered how sports transformed from local competitions to a global business empire? 🤔 From early beginnings to modern-day multi-billion-dollar industries, explore the key milestones that shaped the sports we love today. 🏟️📈 The history of Sport Business https://hubs.la/Q02TGc2x0

A recent report from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Investigative Journalism Network unveils how investment funds are reshaping European football. I recommend everyone to have a read and judge for themselves, but a few key issues stand out for me. Key Issues: ⚽ Fan Disconnection: Rising costs and a focus on profitability alienate local fan bases, eroding the cultural essence of football. ⚽ Integrity Risks: Smaller clubs are often held back for business gains, compromising the sport’s fairness. ⚽ Conflict of Interest: Multi-club ownership raises questions about fair competition, especially in international tournaments. ⚽ Ethical Concerns: Investments from Gulf states highlight associations with regimes with questionable human rights records. The Future: As football becomes an industrial asset, valued at €51.7 billion, the need for robust regulations is evident. Both UEFA and FIFA face challenges in maintaining fair play and financial transparency. The EBU’s investigation underscores the urgent need for transparency and regulation to balance commercial interests with preserving football's cultural heritage. Final Thoughts: European football stands at a crossroads. Balancing profitability with integrity and cultural values is essential. Cross-border collaboration in investigative journalism has proven vital in shedding light on these critical issues. Let’s keep this topic hot, lines of communication open, stay informed and advocate for the true spirit of the Beautiful Game! ⚽️ #Football #FootballIntegrity #FootballFinance #SportsConsulting #EBUInvestigation #IntegrityInSports #EuropeanFootball #Transparency

Critical reporting weakens the effect of “sportswashing” On December 11, the FIFA World Cup 2034 is expected to be awarded to Saudi Arabia. The decision has been criticised, mainly because of the country's human rights record. Critics argue that Saudi Arabia's authoritarian regime could use the World Cup to project an image of progressiveness that doesn't align with reality. A recent study by researchers from the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, the Universität Konstanz, and SCRIPTS Berlin investigated how critical media reporting can undermine the phenomenon of "sportswashing". The experiment, which surveyed 14,000 individuals across eight European countries regarding their perceptions of #Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, revealed: ➡️ Negative information about human rights violations and deaths during World Cup preparations had a significant and often stronger impact on how participants viewed Qatar, even outweighing positive narratives about the event's organization. ➡️ The media landscape of a respondent's country played a pivotal role in shaping these perceptions. In nations with less diverse and lower-quality media systems, such as Hungary and Romania, negative information had a more profound effect, as it was often new and therefore more impactful. Conversely, in countries with robust, independent media like Germany and Sweden, awareness of issues related to Qatar’s human rights record was already well-established. “Major sporting events are always also political events,” says WZB Director Michael Zürn. "Our study highlights the significance of plural reporting accompanying such sporting events. If, as expected, the 2034 World Cup is awarded to Saudi Arabia, it will be crucial to engage in a critical debate about the human rights situation in the country," explains Eda Keremoǧlu from the University of Konstanz. 📰 You can find our press release and the study here: https://lnkd.in/e63RkznN Authors: Johannes Gerschewksi, Heiko Giebler, Sebastian Hellmeier, Eda Keremoǧlu and Michael Zürn Freie Universität Berlin, The Guardian, kicker, 11FREUNDE, GOAL, Eurosport, Sport1 GmbH #FIFA #Saudi2034bid

‘Football can be a uniting force—a sport to celebrate diversity and foster empathy. It can also be a terribly divisive space where the most extreme elements of society find strength in numbers and unity through hate. Thus, it worth learning from Mbappé and the French national team, who remind us that some things—like defeating far-right populism—are more important than football.’ Everyone has a responsibility to fight against hatred, xenophobia, racism. Including sport, and athletes. Often, sport discourages its participants from engaging in important social issues, but these issues affect athletes and their families, and fans domestically and internationally. Why should athletes be immune from their responsibility as humans? Of course, athletes are free to advocate for different causes and you may not agree, however some things, actually most, are bigger than sport. The French national team players made an important statement in past weeks that reached far beyond the field. And well beyond France’s borders.

📢 Exciting Announcement! Our latest article has just been published! 🚀 Have you ever wondered why certain states persist in managing sports for almost a century? Our retrospective study delves deep into this question, uncovering insights beyond just economic factors. In our research, we found that from ideologies to external influences, and from politics to pervasive corruption, various forces intertwine to uphold this enduring state-run sport system phenomenon. You can access our paper for free in the Turkish Studies journal, available now in early online access. Thank you for your support, and happy reading! 📚✨ with Tolga Şinoforoğlu #Research #Publication #SportsManagement #Ideologies #Politics #Corruption #TurkishStudies

How did some of the 20th century’s worst human rights abusers secure hosting or sponsoring some of the most prestigious international sporting events? Long before the Olympics, sports have been used to distract, test policies, ease tensions, and send political messages. With the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1920s, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini pioneered the weaponization of sports for political propaganda, social control, and international soft power projection. In 1932, #FIFA awarded the World Cup’s second edition to Italy, allowing Mussolini to promote fascism. The Italian victory was marked by Mussolini’s grand spectacle, including a massive, fascist-themed trophy, la Coppa del Duce, which he presented to the team. In 1936, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded Tokyo the 1940 Olympics. Tokyo had been seen as an international pariah since leaving the League of Nations in 1933 over its invasion of Manchuria. Japan secured the bid through a secret pact with Mussolini and lavish spending on the IOC. However, after the Nanking Massacre, Japan forfeited the Olympics, which were ultimately canceled due to World War II. HRF’s four-part series will delve into the history of sportswashing, analyzing its ancient roots, its popularity among dictators in the 20th century, and its modern evolution. Read HRF’s latest blog post:

📖 New Book Sunday 📖 States of Play by Miguel Delaney Book overview ⬇️ The definitive account of how capitalism and the world's elite corrupted modern football As the 2022 World Cup in Qatar drew to a close, there was a bitter undercurrent to Argentina's triumph. Throughout the tournament, numerous allegations of sportswashing and financial misconduct had been made against the state of Qatar, moving what had previously been a smaller conversation into the worldwide spotlight. The question had been asked, who really owns and runs football? Journeying from Abu Dhabi to Newcastle, and onto London, Paris, Moscow and New York, journalist Miguel Delaney investigates the allegations of sportswashing and misconduct in the beautiful game. The result is a gripping account of how football has been taken over by the world's wealthiest businessmen, state-backed corporations, media tycoons and oil-rich oligarchs. From Neymar's £198 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain and Abu Dhabi's construction empire in Manchester to failed Financial Fair Play constraints and the dawn of the European Super League, Miguel draws on exclusive interviews and unprecedented access to key stakeholders to produce an all-encompassing exposé of modern footballs highest echelons. Jay O'Neill | Hitz Rao | Julian Swift