Photo: Bildbyrån
Armand Duplantis noble collaborations with Chinese sponsors.
The spelling star’s agency has learned from the storm of criticism against Sarah Sjöströms Huawei cooperation.
– It became almost unsustainable, says agent Daniel Wessfeldt.
On Friday, the indoor World Cup will start in athletics in Nanjing. A championship that would have been arranged in 2020 but moved several times due to pandemic and previous coronary restrictions in China.
Duplantis refuses
Armand Duplantiswhich has won all major championships several times and set the world record eleven times, no Chinese sponsors yet have been despite several tenders.
– There are many Chinese who have wanted to do something with him. But it should be something that is right and right and that you can stand behind. So far, we have not associated ourselves with any Chinese company. The sponsors he has are still European, the agent says Daniel Wessfeldt and continues:
– We carefully weigh the pros and cons. You have to do an impact assessment. Is this worth it or not worth it?
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Wessfeldt’s agency Jrs Sports Management, which has Duplantis in its stable, has learned lessons from when the swimming star Sarah Sjöström Entered a collaboration with Huawei in 2020. The telecom company which was accused, among other things, of having links to China’s communist party and being a security risk.
Criticism of Sjöström
He admits that there may be problems with entering into collaborations with Chinese companies.
– Yes. I have some experience. We also take care of Sarah Sjöström. We had a collaboration for a while with Huawei but it became almost unsustainable in the end. Then it was most life about this. We never extended that agreement. Sure it can be, says Wessfeldt.
– At the same time, a lot of business is underway between China and Europe and China and Sweden in other contexts. So, where does the limit go? It’s hard to say. There are Chinese shoe companies that have also been prominent. But nothing we have done with yet.
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Mondo chases gold
Several social media are banned in China, such as Facebook and Instagram. It can affect how Armand Duplantis communicates with its followers during the indoor World Cup.
– I know there are other rules and such. If you want, you need a “Burner Phone” (temporary phone) or something to do it. We’ll see how I do. If it’s kind of two days I don’t need it. It might just be najs with a little break from social media, says the 25-year-old.
In April last year, the Swedish-American set a world record in the Diamond League premiere in Xiamen with a jump of 6.24 meters. Saturday’s competition, final directly at lunchtime, will be his first major championship since this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
– It’s exciting. Long trip. I had fun the last time I was in China. It is such a different place. I am tagged, says “Mondo” who jumped 6.27 this year.
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Sweden’s squad:
Ladies
Julia Henriksson, 60 meters
Wilma Nielsen, 800 m
Vera Sjöberg, 1,500 m
Maja thunderstorm, three steps
Emilia Sjöstrand, three steps
Fanny Roos, bullet
Sara Lennmann, bullet
Bianca Salming, pentathlon
Gentlemen
Samuel Pihlström, 1,500 m
Armand Duplantis, pole jump
Wictor Pettersson, bullet
The championship runs Friday to Sunday and will be broadcast on TV4 and TV4 Play.
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