WFF 2016: "FIFA Club World Cup partnership allows us to reach new audiences" (Wang Dong, Ali Sports)

"Aggressively being involved in the global sports market is very important to increase our global exposure. Partnering with the FIFA Club World Cup (see below) allows Alibaba to reach new audiences, but also become much more integrated with the events themselves. This is an effective way to raise the profile of sports in China, and the level of football in the country. This partnership will raise the bar of football in China," stated Wang Dong (left in the picture), the vice-president of Ali Sports, the new sports branch of the Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group, on 08/07/2016, during the second day of the World Football Forum 2016.

This convention took place on 07 and 08/07/2016 in Paris (FRA), around the theme of "The New Geography of Football", which analysed China's impact on world football and its economy, the emergence of India in football, and opportunities in emerging football markets: Russia (host of the 2018 World Cup), Qatar (host of the 2022 World Cup), Southeast Asia and Africa.

"This (economic) 'bubble' is good, as it shows that the sports industry in China…