At the cutting edge of the sports’ industry
Sportel Monaco took place at the Grimaldi Forum from October 20-23, 2019, organized under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
This highly recognized sports & media event gathered the elite of the International Sports Marketing and Media Industry, under the professional leadership of CEO Laurent Puons, CEO and Managing Director Amparo Di Fede. (Photo insert:View of networking room at Sportel Monaco 2019 @Sportel All Rights Reserved)
Prince Albert could not attend Sportel this year because he was in Japan for the Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito, in a royal ceremony that dates from the 7th century. Pierre Casiraghi, who is a true sports ambassador and supporter, was there to represent our sovereign.
Sportel Awards Monaco celebrated its 30th anniversary, confirming its ever-increasing success, as the event keeps expanding, continually innovating and adapting to changes in the marketplace, welcoming new media as well as the e-sport sector.
“Business leaders know that, for three days, we allow them to meet the main actors both from international sports media and the new technology sector. With 3126 participants, representing a 3% increase, and 980 companies from 73 countries, SPORTEL Monaco is now, more than ever before, the industry’s largest international gathering”, declared Laurent Puons.
For 30 years, top-level executives from around the world, representing sports networks, international sports federations, sports marketing agencies, production companies, sports content right owners, distributors, technology, and new media, reunite in Monaco. Together they determine the future of major sports events for the 21st-century media platforms, one of the essential conventions serving as B-to-B business podium and the perfect place to find valuable insight on influential business trends and practices.
The highly instructive conferences and expert panels, with a program offering richness and variety, are the source of the sports industry’s current evolution and progress. Over the last five years, SPORTEL has zeroed in on new technologies, revealing the key players in anti-pirating, monetization of content and fan engagement, proving to be always on the cutting edge.
Grand Prix de Monaco, La Legende
Yann-Antony Noghès presented the projection of the documentary Grand Prix de Monaco, la Legende that he produced to celebrate the 90th anniversary of its creation in 1929, by his grandfather Antony Noghès. It is the compelling story of how the smallest country in the world managed to become the world’s capital of motorsport while having virtually no space for a formal racetrack.
The documentary recounts the great moments of racing, legendary battles, spectacular accidents, money wars, and glamour. Excellently narrated by Prince Albert II of Monaco, it tells the story of the City Race that all drivers dream of winning.
Through the independent testimonies of the most significant drivers and leaders of Formula 1, rare archives, and scenes of reconstruction, the documentary offers an exceptional insiders view into the heart of the most legendary car racing that celebrated its 90th anniversary.
At the end of the screening, the audience broke into applause. Then attendees had the chance to participate in an interactive discussion with French world champion Alain Prost along with Michel Ferry, Vice-president of ACM, Christian Tornatore, General Commissioner of ACM and the documentary Producer Yann-Antony Noghès from Check Productions. (Photo @Sportel All Rights Reserved)
Golden Podium Awards 2019
It was a memorable and emotional experience to attend once again the SPORTEL Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Marc Maury was the MC and Pierre Casiraghi did the honors in presenting the prizes.
The evening began with a retrospective of the last 30 years, with a host of personalities parading on stage to present the awards to the year’s winners. The event honored the winners of the Georges Bertellotti Golden Podium Competition and Renaud de Laborderie Sports Book Competition. They respectively recognize the world’s most beautiful and breathtaking sports sequences of the year, and the best-illustrated sportsbooks, in the presence of Olympic Champions, International sports celebrities, and sports fans.
A prestigious Jury composed of sport and media industries personalities had not an easy task selecting the recipients of the Golden Podium Trophy. The overall message of this highly anticipated ceremony was of sport as a means for peace, gender equality, endurance, and hope.
The evening continued at the Sporting Monte-Carlo, transformed for the occasion into sports fields, and a giant 30th-anniversary birthday cake.
The Golden Podium prestigious Jury
- Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia – President of the Jury – Pole Vault Olympic Champion and Peace & Sport Champion
- Cheick Cisse, Ivory Coast – Taekwondo Olympic Champion, Ivory Coast
- Georgia Garinois – Melenikiotou, Greece – Executive Vice-President of Corporate Marketing The Estee Lauder Companies
- Jacques Glenat, France – Founder & CEO Glenat Editions
- Brita Heidemann, Germany – Fencing Olympic Champion
- H.E. Yvette Lambin-Berti, Monaco – General Secretary, The Monaco Olympic Committee
- Valerie Nicolas, France – Handball World Champion
(Photo: Giorgia Garinos, Britta Heidemann, Pierre Casiraghi, Yelena Ysinbayeva, Valerie Nicolas, HE Y. Lambin-Berti & Cheick Cisse @Sportel Press All Rights Reserved)
2019 Laureates
The audience applauded enthusiastically during the Golden Podiums ceremony rewarding the most beautiful sport videos of the year, as well as the Sports Book Prize-Renaud de Laborderie recognizing the best-illustrated sports book. (Photo: Pierre Casiraghi & Alain Prost with then ensemble of Golden Podium Award winners 2019 @Sportel All Rights Reserved)
Alain Prost recognized for his unparalleled career
For this anniversary edition, Sportel Awards honored Alain Prost, former French racing driver, and a four-time Formula One Driver’s Champion considered one of the greatest F1 drivers ever, who received The Sportel Lifetime Achievement Award 2019. Previously presented to Didier Deschamps, the objective of this prize is to honor an international athlete for his sporting achievements.
Best Slow Motion Prize – Formula 1 – FORMULA 1, United Kingdom
Discovery Prize (Supported by SEBMAN) – Mickey Corker – RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE GMBH, Austria
Innovation Prize – Follow me X Irek Rizaev – Dino Raffault – SUPERSIZE FILMS, France
Best Promotion Program Prize (Supported by CPC&Associes)– Piotr Jasinski – EKSTRAKLASA LIVE PARK SP. Z O.O., Poland
Advertising Prize – Christian Blachas – Aaron Stoller – BISCUIT FILMWORKS, USA
Second Screen Prize – European Championships – Livelike & Eurovision, USA
Digital Prize (Supported by A.S. Monaco FC) – Swish Live – SAS SWISH LIVE, France
Jury Prize – Presque Parfait (Almost Perfect) – Vincent Aix – CANAL+ – France
SPECIAL PRIZES
Peace and Sport Documentary Prize – Jaime Murciego – JAIME MURCIEGO, Spain
International Olympic Committee Grand Prize – Jones & tino – STINK FRANCE, France
Book Prize Renaud de Laborderie – The Sports Book Prize (Supported by Monegasque Olympic Committee) – Senna Inedito – Pino Allievi, Roberto Boccafogli, Carlo Cavicchi, Giorgio Piola, Carlos Sanchez – Giorgio Nada Editore, Italy
Mark your calendars!
Next year’s sports business’ gathering will take place in the USA. After a two-year absence, SPORTEL will be returning to Miami from March 3-6, 2020, under a brand new format, with an additional day to be set aside for high-level conferences.
Today’s Quote
“Sports teaches you character; it teaches you to play by the rules; it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose; it teaches you about life.” Billie Jean King
Monaco Reporter 