FIFA and UEFA, FIFPro and G-14, plus top clubs Manchester United and Olympiakos will be among the leading conference participants at Football Expo 2002 in Cannes from 9 to 11 January next.
Representatives from every aspect of the international game will take part in a series of conferences and workshops at the fifth annual Worldwide Football Trade Show & Symposium.
Michel Zen-Ruffinen, General Secretary of the world governing body FIFA, will head a conference panel on the new transfer regulations and their effect on youth investment. He will be joined by football agent Rachel Anderson, AS Monaco technical director Henri Biancheri, Belgian lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont, and Theo van Seggelen, General Secretary of the international players’ organisation, FIFPro.
UEFA director of professional football and marketing Lars-Christer Olsson, will speak on a conference focusing on the future of the European club competitions. He will be speaking on the panel alongside Thomas Kurth, general manager of the G-14 grouping of top clubs, David Sheepshanks, chairman of Ipswich Town, and Petros Kokkalis, vice-president of Greek champions Olympiakos.
Other conference topics include the economic and social impact of the first Asian-hosted World Cup, the future of women’s football, as well as the outlook for television rights and marketing.
Peter Kenyon, chief executive of Manchester United, will address the delegates alongside Glen Kirton of Fast Track Soccer, during a workshop on developing club brands internationally.
The increasing importance of the event in the world football calendar is emphasised by the number of private presentations and meetings to be held during the event.
The FESI (Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry) is organising a private board meeting on Wednesday 9 January. French sport business magazine, Sport Finance & Marketing will also be hosting a workshop on Football and Insurance featuring a top-class speaker line-up of insurance and legal experts.
On Thursday, The Football Association of England’s Commercial Director, Paul Barber will present a special marketing seminar entitled ‘Changing the World’s Oldest Football Association’. A G-14 Management Committee Meeting, attended by top-ranking officials from AC Milan, AFC Ajax, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Real Madrid will also take place. Additional club delegates may yet be confirmed.
Craig Johnston, founder of Grass Roots to Glory, will host the official programme launch of Sup@skills, the revolutionary skills measurement and ratings system endorsed by the FA Premier League of England, the same evening at 18:00.
For further information please contact
Sylvain Caranta
FOOTBALL EXPO France
T: + 33 (0)4 93 68 07 07
F: + 33 (0)4 93 38 33 68
E: media@footballexpo.com
W: www.footballexpo.com