July

NIKE AND ADIDAS BATTLE ON AT WIMBLEDON 2009

IFM Sports Marketing Surveys has completed the 25th official Racket, Clothing and Equipment Census at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships.

A difference of only 5 players separates Nike and adidas in the shoe count this year, with Lotto and Fila coming in third and fourth position. The record-breaking 77-game Men’s Singles final was contested by Roger Federer’s Nike shoes and Andy Roddick’s Babolats for 4 hours and 16 minutes.

WILSON WINS AGAIN AT WIMBLEDON 2009

IFM Sports Marketing Surveys has completed the 25th official Racket, Clothing and Equipment Census at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships.

Wilson has maintained its position as the top racket brand at the 2009 Championships, with over a third of all competitors choosing Wilson. This includes Ladies’ Singles winner Serena Williams and Men’s Singles winner Roger Federer, both undefeated through the fortnight with Wilson rackets.

June

A positive outlook for sponsorship - A business view

IFM Sports Marketing Surveys launched their Business Survey last week and early indications from the movers and shakers in the industry suggest that the sponsorship market is beginning to recover. A fifth of respondents are looking forward to growth towards the end of the year and almost a half believe that the market will settle down in the next six months.

IFM Sports Marketing Surveys go East!

Japan and Korea are the latest additions to the IFM Sports Marketing Surveys world network.

In May 2009, new offices have been opened in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, Korea to service existing clients in the region and take advantage of local far Eastern companies expanding across the World.

2009 European Tour Season - Winner’s Profiles to 1st June 2009 (First 22 events)

The 22 winners of European Tour events in the Race to Dubai have come from 13 different countries so far, with Richard Sterne of South Africa, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and England’s Paul Casey having all won twice. France, Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Spain and Northern Ireland have also produced two winners each.

April

Formula One Audiences Race Ahead

The later start time and increased interest in Formula One gave impressive audiences in the UK for the rain soaked Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend. BBC1 drew an average audience of 4.3 million with a peak of 5.4 million during the shortened race. This was nearly three times the audience compared with last year according to IFM Sports Marketing Surveys, the sports market research company.

New Managing Director for IFM Sports Marketing

After more than 20 years as head of the Company, Stephen Proctor has withdrawn from day to day operations. The role of Managing Director is being taken by Frank Saez. Stephen remains a director of IFM Sports Marketing Surveys and a member of the IFM Group Management Board.

March

2009 European Tour Season - Winner’s Profiles to 1st March 2009 (First 12 events)

• Winners of European Tour events in the Race to Dubai have come from 10 different countries so far with only Richard Sterne of South Africa winning twice.
• A total of 19 fairway woods were in the bag used by the 12 winners of tournaments so far this season. 5 winners carried one fairway wood and 7 winners carried 2 fairway woods.

International Sailing Federation signs IFM Sports Marketing Surveys

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has signed IFM Sports Marketing Surveys as an Official Partner to the new annual ISAF Sailing World Cup.

Consisting of seven of the worlds top sailing competitions that feature the Olympic events, the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup launched at the end of 2008 at Sail Melbourne, Australia. Having moved on to Miami USA in January, the series continues to 4 events across Europe finishing in September in Weymouth, GBR at the venue of the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition.

January

ADULT UK GOLF PARTICIPATION HOVERS AROUND 4,000,000

The number of golfers in Great Britain who play on a full length course remains just under the 4 million mark. This figure is supplemented by recreational golfers who do not play at full length courses, pushing the total number of adults in Great Britain who play some form of golf to just over 4 million. This equates to a participation rate of approximately 8% of the adult population.