It would be impossible for me to craft my blog this week and avoid the FIFA corruption scandal.
Especially in light of our staging the Canadian Sponsorship Forum in Edmonton this week, with our host partner Canada Soccer. How do I avoid this topic when I am taking hundreds of delegates to the opening game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup? How do I turn the other way when we have panels dedicated to utilizing soccer as a marketing property? Can I really put my head in the sand when leading soccer organizations, while not part of FIFA, such as FC Barcelona, MLS, and NASL are involved with our conference? What do I say when I introduce speakers from Visa and Kia, whose organizations have spoken out quite loudly about the behaviour of one of the world’s most powerful sports bodies?
It’s not that I am afraid of controversy. There will be no denying this will be major coffee break fodder at CSFX. I have already received calls from journalists asking me to comment. I have had colleagues suggesting we publish an agency POV on the matter. I have personally considered revising my opening speech, Local Plays. Global Champions, to address this issue head on. You probably wouldn’t blame me given that this is potentially the biggest sports business controversy in modern history.
Where I struggle is not with the question of timeliness or relevance. It’s not that I don’t have an opinion on the matter. Of course I do and you can only imagine how strong it is. It is not that I am afraid that I don’t have something to add to the debate. While I am not so cocky to suggest that I have some inside scoop the thousands of professional journalists covering the matter don’t have. But I do have a perspective as a sports marketer on the matter. Regardless, I will share that at another time.
What bothers me the most, and by now you of course can consider this a blog about the scandal despite my earlier provocations, is the impact on the deserving people who now have to share the spotlight. Especially those involved in the Women’s World Cup.
From athletes to volunteers. From spectators to sponsors. From venue organizers to government officials. From ball kids to broadcasters, this coming weekend’s is the culmination of years of dreams, hard work, goodwill, training, heartbreak, and preparation by so many people.
This weekend kicks off the largest Women’s World Cup in history. Over 500 of the best footballers in the world will invade our country!
It will kick off a media frenzy in women’s soccer loving countries such as the USA, Japan, and of course Canada. It will kick off unbelievable coverage by CTV and TSN. It will kick off the creation of a national profile for sports business whiz Peter Montopoli. It will kick off the hopes and prayers for a Canadian opportunity for revenge of the 2012 Olympic defeat at the hands of the Americans. It will kick off song, dance, cheers, sweat, scoring, pain, victory, and defeat.
It’s a travesty this scandal broke so close to this triumphant event. It’s unfair that coverage that should dedicated to a triumph of women’s sports will be marred by this discussion. Every woman who has ever played soccer in Canada has waited all their lives for this moment. So let’s help them shine a light on it.
The Finals are sold out! The Opening Match in Edmonton will be sold out with over 50,000 screaming fans. Fox Sports in the US is providing more coverage to this event than any World Cup, Men’s or Women’s has ever received from them! This past Friday night in Hamilton, our Canadian women posted a final tune-up victory and my friends in attendance said the atmosphere was electric!
Get out to a game or a viewing party. Tune in to watch as many games as you can. Follow your favourite team online. Dress up in your country’s colours. Support the athletes, thank a volunteer, buy from a sponsor.
Tuesday night I head to Edmonton to put the final prep on our Sponsorship Forum planning. I am so excited to pull on my Team Canada jersey and cheer on our women this Saturday against China.
Join me, join Canada, join the world in supporting these amazing athletes!
Well said Mark – great post!
Kudos to you Mark and to Trojan One for giving the Women’s World Cup the spotlight it deserves! To a greater goal!!