Broadcasters in Latin America, Asia and Europe have signed rights deals to show the 2012 SportAccord World Mind Games.
The IEC in Sports agency, the event’s television production coordinator and international distributor, said a total of 24 media platforms have been confirmed to air the Games. The event will take place in Beijing, China, covering the period December 12-19.
The agency has signed broadcast deals in 64 territories, including: China, with state-owned broadcaster Beijing Television which will also act as the host broadcaster; in Africa with pan-regional sports pay-television broadcaster Setanta Africa; in Asia with pan-Asian sports pay-television broadcaster ESPN Star Sports; in Bulgaria with sports broadcaster Ring TV; in the Indian subcontinent with pay-television channel Ten Sports, owned by Zee Entertainment; in the Philippines with Filipino pay-television broadcaster Solar Sports; in Croatia with free-to-air digital sports channel SPTV; in Afghanistan with pay-television broadcaster Saba; and in Hong Kong with free-to-air broadcaster TVB. The SportAccord Sports Hub channel on YouTube will stream coverage of the event.
“In 2012, we have a stronger media product with SportAccord emphasising the accessibility and global popularity of mind sports through the broadcast both of the online pre-competitions and the Games themselves,” Vincent Gaillard, director general of SportAccord, said.
The second edition of the World Mind Games features some of the world’s best players in bridge, chess, draughts, go and xiangqi. The event is organised by SportAccord, the umbrella body for 107 international sports federations and organisations.