Sport Going Global

[thejuice]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/dec/07/2

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/dec/07/1


Tim Leiweke is a name you might not have heard before but he is behind what could be the globalisation of sports leagues such as the FA Premier League, NFL and the NBA. While I might sound hypocritical since I have attended both NFL games in Wembley and will probably do the same again nex year, but this for me is going a bit too far.

It seems that people like Tim cant be patient for sports to grow and develop on their own accord, as I have seen first hand with the rapid growth in participation in the IAFL and BAFL, not while theres millions of dollars to be made. The NFL has tried something similar before with NFL-Europe which failed, mostly i feel because it was "planted in" Europe rather than it "coming from" Europe.

Im sure there will be up-roar amoung soccer fans across England if the Premier league has to up-root and play on foreign soil but it has become a money making exercise now as much as it is a sport.

A few quotes from the article

He runs one of the fastest-growing, most successful businesses in the world, a company whose prize assets include David Beckham, the 02 arena in London, a similar development in Berlin and a host of sports clubs - more than are owned by any other organisation in the world.

according to Leiweke, we are about to see one of the biggest changes imaginable with a major sports league, expanding beyond its national borders.

there is only one league in the rest of the world that can do it and it's called the English Premier League.

'There are a lot of teams for sale over there,' Leiweke says. 'The problem with the Premier League, as an observer and a fan, are the haves and the have-nots and that worries me a lot. The rate card being established by the top four teams over there is scary. Unless you're prepared to pay that kind of money then the question is can you compete year in, year out?

[thejuice]

f**k sake even Micky Harte is getting in on it 

Harte calls for GAA 'world series'
08 December 2008

Mickey Harte has called on the GAA to replace the International Rules series with a 'world series' to help promote Gaelic games around the globe.

Speaking in San Francisco where his 2008 All-Stars lost to Pat O'Shea's 2007 selection in a typically high-scoring exhibition match on Sunday, the Tyrone All-Ireland manager reiterated his call for an end to the International Rules series and called on developing a 'world series' at club level.


He said: "If we continued to promote the whole idea of internationalisng Gaelic games it would be brilliant. I hope to one day see that.

"The All-Stars is a catalyst to awaken the imagination of what is possible for Gaelic games. I think when you realise how many clubs exist around the world, a series amount of clubs promoting Gaelic games, I think we have to create the Feile type of idea of a world series at a club level.

"That is where we begin to give it that international dimension and bring people together from all parts of the world to actually compete for a world title in Gaelic games.

"If it was at club level, even at junior club level to begin with, then I think that would be great.

"That would start the process of opening our minds to this possibility that some day down the line we can raise it to a higher level, to a still further higher level, and eventually make it international in the fullest sense of the world, playing Gaelic games in their purity."