UMB, May 26th, 2023
During the meetings held in Ho Chi Minh City over the past few days, AfreecaTV’s, Mr. Lee Min Won (Head of Social Media Business) along with Mr. Kim Cha Dol (Head of Sports Business Division), and Innocean’s Mr. Brian Choi (Director) requested increased globalization for UMB events. The UMB and Five&Six agreed that the 2024 Grand Prix 3-Cushion events will take place in three different countries in Asia and Europe, and will not all be held in Korea. Additionally, starting from 2024, the UMB will extend its World Cup events to South America (the UMB Calendar will be updated accordingly soon).
AfreecaTV has plans to promote 3-Cushion billiards worldwide in order to take the sport to a “higher than ever” level. Mr. Lee Min Won from AfreecaTV said, “We will make Billiards Sports and its industry premium in the world with a strong joint effort with UMB and Five&Six. The whole world and all generations will enjoy the sport and its culture anytime, anywhere.”
The first outcome from the cooperation between AfreecaTV and Five&Six was signed on May 24th, 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City, with the Premier TV company in Vietnam “VTV”, with Mr. Bui Huy Nam (VTVcab CEO), for the promotion of UMB events.
On Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023, UMB President Mr. Farouk Barki met with Mr. Tran The Thuan (Chairman of Culture and Sports Department, Ho Chi Minh City), and had a long meeting with Mr. Nguyen Nam Nhan (Deputy Chairman), and Mr. Tran Quang Ha (Deputy Head of Sport Administration). These fruitful meetings confirmed that according to the Vietnamese Government and Olympic Committee rules, all authorities in Vietnam can approve and cooperate in any international event in Vietnam as long as the International Federation is recognized by the IOC, therefore, as an IOC recognized organization, events in Vietnam must be under the umbrella of the UMB. A number of other major sports within Vietnam, such as Wrestling, are also under the same obligation.
On Thursday, May 25th, 2023 Mr. Farouk Barki met with Mr
. Park Bohwan (ACBC President) and Mr. Le Son Hai (VBSF President), the discussions were very helpful for both parties and for the future of billiards in Vietnam. Two events will take place in 2024, the 3-Cushion World Cup, Ho Chi Minh City, and the World Championship, 3-Cushion Individual event will take place in Vietnam in 2024. The UMB and the VBSF will be working together over the coming months to include a third international event to be held in Vietnam in 2024.
