PSG Dir of Diversification Fabien Allegre came out publicly to "dismiss rumours that the club sold 800,000 Lionel Messi jerseys last week" during the Argentine's first week with the club. Allegre "wouldn't talk exact numbers." But he said, "The sales so far have been phenomenal (the best early jersey sales of all time), but we're very far off from one million sold. The deal with Messi came together so quickly, it wasn't something we were able to prepare for." Allegre noted over the past two seasons, PSG as an entire club has not reached one million total jersey sales until "after the third and fourth kits are released." PSG's third kit for this season will be unveiled in "early September" (L'EQUIPE, 8/17).

Chinese mobile streaming platform Migu has acquired Serie A streaming rights in a deal covering a "three-season cycle" starting from the '21-22 season beginning this weekend. Migu will show live coverage of matches, as well as supporting content including match previews and reviews. The company said it will also work with the Italian league on "various initiatives for fans in China," including in "areas of e-commerce, youth training and the development of fan culture."

Last week, Migu also announced streaming rights deals for the '21-22 season for the EPL and Bundesliga. The company said it will cooperate with the EPL on "content and marketing projects" in a four-season sublicensing deal (CALCIO E FINANZA, 8/17).

The Australian Football League is "prepared to postpone its grand final," scheduled for Sept. 25, by a week "under the doomsday scenario of a Covid-19 outbreak days before the season decider," according to sources. Under "no circumstances will the AFL play its grand final without a crowd if another option is possible." The approach would "buy the league seven days to chase a crowd." Perth is the "hottest of favourites to host this year’s grand final but the AFL will not make a call on a relocation until it is obvious Victoria’s Covid situation would prevent a crowd of around 50,000" at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A decision "could come in early September" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/17).

Profits at Chinese sportswear company Li-Ning rose 187% in the first half of its most recent fiscal year on a 65% revenue gain to $1.57B. Operating cash flow increased by over 590% to $3.32B (SGB MEDIA, 8/17). Sales from directly-operated stores surged by 88.5% during the current period, which Li Ning said was "due to the success in pandemic control and consumers' preference towards Chinese brands." Revenue from the e-commerce channel grew 77.8% (THE STANDARD, 8/13).

Li Ning's positive results come as stocks in China's sportswear companies are "running ahead, giving investors an alternative China consumer play" to falling technology stocks. Shares of Li Ning have "gained 983% since the end" of '18. Shares in Anta "have more than quadrupled over the same period." These Chinese brands are now "making products with better quality and design, shaking off their image of being cheap knockoffs," which is "reflected in their rising profit margins" (WSJ, 8/17).

The 2022 London Marathon will take place on Oct. 2 as the event is "moved from its traditional April date for a third successive year." Event Dir Hugh Brasher confirmed the race has been moved to allow for the "best chances" of a full-capacity event, including crowds. This year's event will take place on Oct. 3 and is set to be the "largest marathon staged in the world," with up to 50,000 runners on the traditional course and up to 50,000 participants completing the 26.2 miles on a course of their choice. Brasher: "We believe that by moving the 2022 event to October we give ourselves the best chances of welcoming the world to the streets of London, enabling tens of millions to be raised for good causes." The '23 London Marathon has been "confirmed in its traditional slot in the calendar" (BBC, 8/17).

Asian betting firm BK8 signed one-year sponsorship agreements with five LaLiga clubs -- Athletic Club, Elche, Mallorca, Valencia and Villarreal -- "strengthening its presence in the football space." BK8 will "gain branding exposure via the five team’s digital and social media channels in Asian markets," in addition to regional-focused virtual perimeter advertising rights and promotional activities with different players from the clubs. BK8's recent agreement with promoted EPL club Norwich City "ended in controversy" after a number of fans voiced concerns over "sexually provocative" social media marketing campaigns published across BK8’s channels (SBC NEWS, 8/17).

Chinese live-streaming platform Huya generated net revenues of $457M for Q2 '21, marking an increase of 9.8% compared to the same period last year. This comes despite Huya’s total number of paying users falling to 5.6 million, a 9.7% drop year-over-year from 6.2 million. Huya’s major source of revenues was its live streaming business, which generated $395M, or roughly 95% of total revenues. In total, Huya ended the quarter with a net profit of $31.87M, up 11.4% year-over-year (Tobias Seck, SBJ).

The Tokyo Games athletes' village reopened Tuesday a week before the start of the Paralympics as Japan "continues to grapple with an alarming rise in coronavirus infections." The welcoming of the first Paralympic delegations to the 44-hectare villagecame a day after organizers decided to hold competitions behind closed doors at all venues (KYODO, 8/17).

Afghanistan's first ever female athlete to compete at the Paralympics, Zakia Khudadadi, will be "denied the opportunity to make history in Tokyo after Taliban forces shut down travel from the country" (London TELEGRAPH, 8/16).

Serie A clubs have agreed to launch their own Arabic-language channel on YouTube to live-stream some matches in the Middle East and North Africa (Serie A).

The Professional Triathletes Organisation and beIN Sports have agreed to a partnership that will see the inaugural Collins Cup "screened live and on demand" in the U.S., Canada, and 24 other countries (ADVANCED TELEVISION, 8/17).

"It's a historic agreement, but it's a shameful agreement. We're dealing with the biggest case of decapitalization of clubs in the history of Spanish football. If an agreement is approved by a majority, that's good, but doesn't make it legal" -- Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales, on LaLiga's deal with CVC Capital Partners (REUTERS, 8/17).

"This year there has been a lot of racism and it has been draining and it has been tiring. Every year we see myself and a lot of the Aboriginal boys standing up and trying to call it out, trying to make a stand. ... We have got to somehow catch these people and make them accountable for what they say online or over the fence" -- Retiring Carlton FC player Eddie Betts, on racism within the Australian Football League (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/17).

The Athletic's Oliver Kay looks back on soccer's social media blackout, writing under the header, "Football was right to call out social media companies. But what happens now abuse is back in grounds?"

🤝

Another reinforcement for the Giallorossi: welcome to the team, @StatsBomb! 📊💥 pic.twitter.com/g1fyEpJDfU

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 17, 2021

⬇️ From the South Side and Down Under ⬇️@Giavonna_Heath takes a look at the unique journeys that led @WNBA Legends @YGriffith3313 and @laurenej15 to their upcoming induction into the @HoopHall#21HoopClass #CountIt pic.twitter.com/oQNT9d819M

— NBA Alumni 🏀 (@NBAalumni) August 17, 2021

3 main models of football ownership. Football bodies have no idea of how to regulate them and maintain competitive integrity.

1. State funded
2. Individual/company owned
3. Member owned

1 will always trump 2 and 3. 1 and 2 can inject cash, 3 can’t. Result = current mess

— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) August 17, 2021

🏔️🤩

▶️ https://t.co/Q36KiTkAGo#MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/pxkdhZO60b

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 17, 2021

Congratulations to Katie Sadleir who has been appointed as the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation!👏

More here👇#WeAreWorldNetball https://t.co/Wn0UYhKNiw

— World Netball (@WorldNetball_) August 17, 2021