Sportel Monaco wraps up its 33rd edition

Sportel Monaco successfully concluded on 25 October, two days after the conclusion of Sportel Awards 2023, which ended with an Awards Ceremony, held at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco. “We are thankful to you all for the exceptional support of our events in Monaco, and across the world," CEO of Sportel, Laurent Puons said. "The 2024 season will kick off with the second edition of Sportel Rendez-vous Bali, before heading to Buenos Aires for the spring market. Sportel, as always, is dedicated to continue providing the world’s very best environment for our community to meet in person, share knowledge and sign contracts."

Over the course of three days, influential decision makers, representing more than 44% of C-level executives, gathered in the Principality to discuss the latest developments and the challenges ahead. Approximately 2000 participants from all over the world attended the sold-out 7,000 square meters of exhibition space to learn about the latest innovations in sports rights, as well as major technology trends in the broadcast industry. 

Live on stage from Speakers Corner, content met technology with, two keynotes, eight masterclasses and eighteen presentation and customer case studies. Speakers featured a line-up of key international experts addressed the latest trends and evolutions including topics covering AI and automated production, FAST, monetization, entertainment, D2C, fan engagement, content delivery, anti-piracy, regional spotlights on India and Italy and much more who lead the debate. 

The award's ceremony was broadcasted live on TV Monaco, the first national public channel of Monaco within the TV5 Monde network. During the ceremony, hosted by Marc Maury, former decathlete and rugby player, the 2023 awards were revealed, honoring the most outstanding sports moments of the year with the Georges Bertellotti Golden Podiums and the best illustrated sports book with the Sports Book Prize Renaud de Laborderie. A multitude of champions were called on stage to present the trophies to the winners, chosen by an expert jury presided over by the vice-world champion and French discus record holder, 22-time French champion, and Olympic runner-up, Mélina Robert Michon. 

In the company of the French discus thrower was one of the world's best skiers, Tessa Worley, the renowned British sports photographer, Richard Pelham, the prominent reporter, Stéphane Le Goff, the Creative Director at Publicis Sport, Olivier Henry, the mogul skiing star, Perrine Laffont, who boasts one of the most impressive mogul skiing records globally and represents the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, Robert Colle, Vice President of the Monegasque Ski Federation representing the Monegasque Olympic Committee, and the famous Ivorian taekwondo practitioner, Ruth Gbagbi, double Olympic medalist, 2020 world taekwondo ranking leader, and Champion for Peace of Peace & Sport. 

Several highlights from the ceremony include the freestyle basketball tricks performed by Bulldog Mack and George Torch, the famous Harlem Globe-trotters, as well as the emotion of newly crowned world medalist gymnasts Marine Boyer, Morgane Osyssek-Reimer, Djenna Laroui, Lorette Charpy, and Coline Devillard, who were interviewed about their historic performance at the recent World Championships. 

Mr. Pierre Casiraghi, representing H.S.H. Prince Albert II, closed the ceremony by presenting the Legend Award to Katarina Witt, the most decorated figure skater of the modern era, double Olympic champion, four-time world champion, eight-time European champion, and eight-time German champion. Katarina Witt now joins the ranks of Sportel Awards Legends, following Didier Deschamps in 2018 and Alain Prost in 2019. "Through the most outstanding sporting images of the year that have been rewarded this evening, we are honouring all the champions of all disciplines, and that is the soul of our event. All these top sportsmen and women inspire admiration for their rigour and courage. It's important to give them the recognition they deserve" Loris Menoni, Executive Director of the Sportel Awards said.