Open for business: Nigel Rushman on taking Cuban sport to the world
23 September 2016 | Posted in Features - Interviews | By Michael Long | images/mail.png") 0% 50% no-repeat scroll transparent;" rel="noindex nofollow">Contact the author
Earlier this week, Monaco-based strategic sports advisory Rushmans announced a deal to distribute, market and co-produce Cuban sports content and events to the international marketplace on behalf of RTVC, the commercial arm of Cuba’s state broadcaster, RTV.
Described as ‘the first of its type’ and ‘a groundbreaking move’, the deal covers live and recorded content, with Cuba's National Baseball Series, boxing and other sports events staged in Cuba - including next month’s soccer friendly against the USA in Havana - set to be made available to international audiences for the first time.
The new partnership, announced on Monday, comes after Rushmans partnered with LGC Capital, a Cuba-focused investment company, on a 50/50 joint venture earlier this year. In June, Rushmans appointed Hector Villar, a popular Cuban television presenter and sports commentator, to act as a strategic advisor to the JV, which goes by the name of Rushmans Cuba.
Following Monday’s announcement, SportsPro caught up with Rushmans founder Nigel Rushman to find out more about the Englishman’s work in Cuba and what the new RTVC partnership means for Cuban sport.