Fosun takes on title sponsorship of FEI Best Athlete Award 2018

Fosun, one of China's largest privately-held multinational company, is to become title sponsor of the Best Athlete Award 2018.

The Fosun Best Athlete Award, alongside the Longines Rising Star, Best Groom, Against All Odds and FEI Solidarity awards, will be presented at the FEI Awards 2018 Gala presented by Longines in Manama (BRN) on 20 November. More than 250 distinguished guests, including top sporting legends, representatives of the 133 National Equestrian Federations, FEI partners and stakeholders will be in attendance at the prestigious ceremony which takes place at the conclusion of the FEI General Assembly.

The equestrian sports sector was officially added to the Fosun industry portfolio in early 2018 following their collaboration with the Longines China Tour Beijing event in 2017, with the company keen to further widen the sport’s fan base and increase their visibility in the international equestrian community.

“The FEI is delighted to have the support from Fosun to celebrate the achievements of our elite athletes,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said. “We feel this is an excellent opportunity for Fosun to engage with the wider equestrian community on an international level and we look forward to further collaboration with Fosun.”

Mr Xiaodong Wen, Global Partner of Fosun, said: “Following our successful launch of the CEID (China Equestrian International Development) Europe League in the Netherlands and Belgium, and the Longines China Tour of Beijing Great Wall, we were keen to extend our cooperation with the international equestrian community. The Fosun Best Athlete Award will showcase the best of the sport and we are honoured to be associated with this level of excellence.”

China has the second largest horse population in the world and is a key equestrian destination with 400,000 active equestrians, one in 1,000 fans riding regularly and 300,000 people directly employed in horse sport. International competitions are also growing fast in the country, with a record 1,600% increase in the number of international events, going from just one in 2009 to 17 in 2017.

The FEI Awards, including the Fosun Best Athlete Award, is determined by combining a public vote – close to 100,000 votes were received for the 2018 edition – with that of a star-studded expert judging panel. Fans will have the opportunity to watch highlights of the awards ceremony on FEI social media platforms to celebrate the best of the best in equestrian sport worldwide.

The FEI General Assembly 2018 takes place from 16-20 November 2018 at the Gulf Hotel in Manama (BRN).

About Fosun & CEID

Fosun was founded in 1992. Fosun International Limited is a family-focused multinational company that has been listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (00656.HK) since 2007, with total assets exceeded RMB560 billion (c.US$85 billion) as of 30 June 2018. With its roots in China, and through technology and innovation, Fosun's mission is to create customer-to-maker (C2M) ecosystems in health, happiness and wealth, providing high-quality products and services for families around the world.

In January 2018 Fosun became the majority shareholder of China Equestrian International Development (CEID), thereby deepening its overall support of the horse sports industry. CEID is the organiser of the annual Longines China Tour. CEID supports the Olympic Programme of the Chinese Equestrian Association and seeks international expertise and cooperation.