So that’s that then. Another year more or less consigned to the archives.
It began against the background of political instability in the Middle East and continued amid the fear of financial meltdown in Europe. An early casualty was the season-opening Bahrain Formula One grand prix, postponed and then cancelled as a result of pressure from the teams after civil unrest and what appeared to be a brutal reaction from the local authorities to a political uprising.
While the impact of the Arab Spring was felt across the region, financial turmoil elsewhere in the world simply meant that one small part of the Arab World became a magnet for anyone with a sports plan and need of funding.
In December last year Qatar was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup and this year came to the decision to have a second crack at hosting the Olympic Games, this time in 2020. These events, coupled with the evident prosperity and ambition of Qatar and other Gulf States in comparison to the austerity-bound economies of the ‘old world’ of Europe and North America, conspired to make Qatar and Abu Dhabi in particular the new Eldorado.
You could’ve mistaken the lounge at Doha airport for a sports business convention at any single moment in 2011 and among the men who graced it more than once was FIFA president Sepp Blatter who may not remember 2011 with particular fondness. He started off by blowing a gasket over media accusations of skulduggery by FIFA officials but before the year was out had managed to get himself re-elected on the basis of a drive to rid the organisation of the sleaze he’s spent most of his life denying ever existed. Then, just for good measure, he spent November inflaming opinion everywhere by suggesting that racism could be solved with a simple handshake.
In a year without either of global sport’s genuinely mega events, perhaps the title of event of the year has to be contested by the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany and the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Both delivered drama in spades but with Japan winning the Women’s World Cup final against the dead certs of the USA, the former just about gets the nod.
Here’s how this month’s panel of experts reflect on the year that was.
Lucien Boyer President and CEO, Havas Sports & Entertainment: “No doubt between now and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, we’ll see continued efforts in outreach and development, driven by the state’s ambitious goals, determined leaders and financial strength.”
Michael Payne Former Marketing and Broadcast Rights Director, IOC: “The year 2011: annus horribilis for FIFA, and one that in years to come people will look back on as the turning point, just as 1999 became the turning point for the IOC.”
Giles Morgan Group Head of Sponsorship, HSBC: “Sport and its protagonists seem to be on a mission of moral self-destruction - and the potential impact for the sports sponsorship market could be significant.”
Phil Lines Media Consultant, CAA Sports: “The ECJ decision may impact the Premier League’s policy to sell live rights to all its matches everywhere except in the UK… for me that’s been an outdated stance for a number of years.”
For the full debate see the latest edition of SportBusiness International published December 1.