Despite India’s infatuation for cricket, sports is yet to be seriously in the country. We need to encourage budding athletes in their formative years, but instead parents consider academic progress a priority which rarely allows children to dream of professional sports careers. In an attempt to propel the sports industry and to create an additional positive impact on the business of sports, The Times of India aligns with government initiatives like Make in India and Skill India by announcing ‘ Global Sports Business Show’ on 21, 22, 23 December 2016.
Currently, the Make in India initiative is centred on showcasing the manufacturing prowess of the Indian industry across various domains and sectors. It is a major national initiative designed to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property and build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure.
It is expected that this advanced expertise and accountability will now translate into the Sports Industry as well. The sports goods industry in India has witnessed a phenomenal growth over the past five decades and now occupies a place of prominence in the Indian economy. In view of its humongous potential for employment, growth and export, there has been an increased emphasis on its planned development, aimed at optimal utilisation of resources for maximising the returns, particularly from exports.
The Indian sports goods industry exports majorly to countries like the UK, Germany, France, among others where major items that are exported are inflatable balls, hockey sticks and balls, cricket bats and balls, boxing equipment, fishing equipment, indoor games like carom and chess boards and different kinds of protective equipment. The Indian sports goods industry is a highly labour intensive industry, which provides employment to the weaker sections of society and also employs a large number of women.
In light to this, The Times of India Global Sports Business Show will feature a three day sports exhibition and strategic conferences with the participation of sports enthusiasts, vendors, dealers, delegates, and B2B dealers. Expectations about results on the business of sports remain high at Times ofIndia Global Sports Business Show which promises engagements between stakeholders, buyers and decision makers aiming to enhance the domain, resulting in innovation and advancement of sports in the country.
The event aims to bring together exhibitors from around the globe to invest and display their products ranging from sporting goods, apparel, broadcasting rights, sponsorship and gate revenues along with giving the attendees a first-hand experience of the goods and services on display. Seminars and allied events on other fitness-related aspects including nutrition, sports medicine will also be hosted.
The 2016 Rio Olympics brought to the forefront the immediate need to address sports-related issues and make it a viable sector. The country witnessed some glorious moments with badminton star P.V. Sindhu and wrestler Sakshi Malik bringing home the silver and bronze respectfully. India, as a nation with a huge youth population is capable of overcoming problems like scarce resources, mis-allocation of funds, corruption, and bureaucratic red tapism.
In keeping with the dramatic shift that the sports industry has undergone in the past 20 years, the Global Sports Business Show is expected to restore the unifying appeal that the sports industry boasts of the world over by ensuring a sustainable, secure and prosperous future for the succeeding generations in our country.
