Dalian Wanda announces Wanda Sports: World’s leading sports business integrates Infront Sports & Media and World Triathlon Corporation (IRONMAN)

Zug, Switzerland/Tampa, USA – Dalian Wanda Group Co., Ltd., one of the leading Chinese conglomerates and China's largest investor in cultural and entertainment sector, has announced today that Infront Sports & Media and the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) with its IRONMAN brand will be integrated in a newly formed entity named Wanda Sports Holding Co., Ltd. and are to be rebranded accordingly. The announcement follows the formal closing of the WTC’s acquisition by Wanda Group.

Dalian Wanda Group Co., Ltd. announced a new holding: Wanda Sports Holding Co., Ltd. will incorporate both Infront Sports & Media and the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) with its IRONMAN brand. Logo: Dalian Wanda Group

Logo: Infront Sports & Media 

Logo: World Triathlon Corporation, Inc.

Infront’s President & CEO Philippe Blatter will step up to lead the Wanda Sports’ business as President & CEO with the experienced top management of both Infront and the WTC (IRONMAN) remaining in place.

Wanda Sports will build on the successful strategies of Infront and WTC (IRONMAN). It will be based on three core business pillars – Spectator Sports (Media & Marketing business), Participation Sports (Active Lifestyle business) and Services (Production, Digital & Service business).

Relying on a truly international network, Wanda Sports’ operational headquarters will be in Zug, Switzerland. The holding company is based in China. The Active Lifestyle business will be led by WTC (IRONMAN) Chief Executive Officer Andrew Messick from Tampa, Florida, USA.

Wang Jianlin, Chairman of Wanda Group, said: “Wanda has a very high expectation for the development and prospects of the sports industry. The significance of establishing Wanda Sports is not only to integrate Wanda's interests in sports, but also to truly expand and strengthen Wanda's businesses in the industry, while at the same time grasping the rapidly growing opportunities in the Chinese sports market. We want to truly impact the development of sport around the world.”

Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Wanda Sports, added: “The integration of Infront and the WTC with its iconic IRONMAN brand under the roof of Wanda Sports represents an important step in the expansion of Wanda Group’s strategic investment in the global sports business. Under the new structure we expect the growth and acceleration of the company’s impressive portfolio of both spectator and participation sports based on the shared networks and resources of the integrated companies. All valued partners and clients as well as millions of sports enthusiasts worldwide will benefit. The new structure will provide continuity and stability, a much enhanced service offering and strengthened resources in event development and delivery.”

In the following months, the management of Wanda Sports will further review the entity’s structure to maximise strategic alignment. Further details will be announced in the course of Q1/2016.

1. Dalian Wanda Group
2. Infront Sports & Media
3. World Triathlon Corporation

2015 IRONMAN race prediction: El Niño could impact the race and favourbigger athletes

As every year since 1998 a brief and crisp outlook and guess on the 2015 IRONMAN World Championship race, coming up 10th of October 2015 is available on 3athlon. The global weather phenomen El Niño is already having an impact on the climate in Hawaii. A hot and humid summer was followed by a lot of rain on the Big Island - the lava is green like never seen before the last decade. Race day is expected to be a bit "cooler", cloudy, less humid with solid wind. A setup for strong athletes like defending champion Sebastian Kienle, runner-up Daniela Ryf and "bigger" athletes like Andy Potts, Jan Frodeno or Caroline Steffen.

So, who is gonna win, based on last years Kona performance and overall progress the last 12 months? Putting  controversial race marshall judging or mysterious technical issues right in or out of T1 aside all eyes are for sure on Mirinda Carfrae and Daniela Ryf as well as Sebastian Kienle and Jan Frodeno. These Aussi-Swiss and German-German Doubles are spiced up with last year's top 3 Ben Hofmann and Rachel Joyce. We'll see - again - a fast female wire-to-wire like race. On the men's side, spectators could miss all that tactic in a big group on the bike due the fact of some serious swim-bike- (runners) in the mix. If the wind is there, they might crush the Hawi train pretty early already around Kawaihae.

Who will win the 2015 IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon World Championship? Photo: 3athlon.org

2015 Men's Ironman Hawaii predictions

1. Jan Frodeno
2. Sebastian Kienle
3. Marino Vanhoenacker
4. Brent McMahon
5. Frederik Van Lierde
6. Andy Potts
7. Ben Hofmann
8. Nils Frommhold
9. Luke McKenzie 
10. Andreas Raelert
11. Bart Aernouts

2015 Women's Ironman Hawaii predictions

1. Daniela Ryf
2. Leanda Cave 
3. Mirinda Carfae
4. Rachel Joyce
5. Liz Blatchford 
6. Mary Beth Ellis
7. Eva Wutti
8. Caroline Steffen
9. Julia Gajer
10. Meredith Kessler

Changelog: no chances so far (based on withdraws, injuries, or other issues), afecting our top 10.