Zug, Switzerland – The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) has extended its media and marketing partnership with Infront Sports & Media for another four years. The agreement means Infront, a Wanda Sports company, will continue to manage worldwide distribution of all media rights for the Men’s and Women’s BMW IBSF World Cup and World Championships in both bobsleigh and skeleton, and be responsible for the marketing of major sponsorship packages. Infront also retains responsibility for all TV production for BMW IBSF World Cup and World Championships.
A lasting partnership
Bruno Marty, Executive Director Winter Sports at Infront, said: "We are very pleased to extend the contract. We’ve been working with our friends at the IBSF for well over a decade now, and it’s a partnership which has only grown stronger over time. The extension is another indication of Infront’s strength when it comes to winter sports, and a central plank of our portfolio in this area. We’re looking forward to continuing to showcase all the excitement of the IBSF World Cup and World Championships.”
Ivo Ferriani, IBSF President: “With Infront we have the right partner to further develop our sports Bobsleigh & Skeleton for the next quadrennial as they show the same passion and professionalism our athletes have for our sports. Infront allows us to focus on sports whereas they develop the strategies in marketing and media in our best interest. The past has shown that we are on the right track with this partnership. Therefore we are very much looking forward to enhance our presence in media as well to set new horizons in marketing strategies.”
The partnership between Infront and IBSF first began 15 years ago. In 2014, it was extended to include responsibility for media production for IBSF World Cups and World Championships. Since the beginning of the collaboration, there have been many significant improvements. Specifically, the huge increase in the cumulative audience across all IBSF World Cup disciplines, the modification of the marketing concept with the internationally-recognised car brand BMW as Title Sponsor for the World Cup and World Championships and the state-of-the-art TV production handled by a dedicated core team throughout the entire season have all led to the continued success of the events.
The 2017/2018 IBSF calendar includes 151 races in eight countries on three different continents. The BMW IBSF World Cup season gets underway in North America with the BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup Lake Placid (USA) from 5 to 10 November.
The 2017/2018 IBSF highlights:
1. BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup Lake Placid (USA) 5-10 November 20172. BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup Park City (USA) 13-18 November 20173. BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup Whistler Mountain (CAN) 20-25 November 20174. BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup Winterberg (GER) 4-10 December 20175. BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup Innsbruck (AUT) 11-17 December 20176. BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup Altenberg (GER) 1-7 January 20187. BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup St. Moritz (SUI) 8-14 January 20188. BMW IBSF Bobsleigh + Skeleton World Cup Königssee (GER) 15-21 January 2018
About Infront Sports & Media
Infront Sports & Media, a Wanda Sports company, is one of the most respected sports marketing companies in the world, managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production, event operation and digital solutions – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer and endurance sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 170 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of more than 900 experienced staff working from over 35 offices across more than 15 countries, delivering 4,100 event days of top class sport around the world every year. In November 2015, Infront was integrated into Wanda Sports Group, part of the Chinese conglomerate the Dalian Wanda Group.
About Wanda Sports Group
Wanda Sports Group is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Led by President & Vice Chairman Philippe Blatter, Wanda Sports incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.
