12:40 p.m., April 27, 2007--Hank Steinbrecher, the secretary general emeritus of the United States Soccer Federation, will speak on “The Globalization of Sport: The World May be Flat But the Ball is Round” at 3 p.m., Thursday, May 3, in 114 Purnell Hall.

The talk is sponsored by the Center for International Studies, the Lerner College of Business and Economics, the master of business administration program and the sport management major.

“Hank Steinbrecher is one of the most recognized names in international sport business,” Matthew J. Robinson, UD associate professor of sport management, said. “Sport is not immune to globalization, in fact many ways it is at the forefront, and Hank has been one of the pioneers.”

Robinson and Steinbrecher are working together on a book about international sport.

Steinbrecher currently is president of Touchline Consulting, which specializes in international sports marketing and management consulting. He uses acquired experience to help third parties with insights on organizational management and product placement through global sports.

Steinbrecher served as the secretary general and executive director of the U.S. Soccer Federation from 1990-2001. As secretary general, he organized the men's soccer FIFA World Cup in 1994 and the event, held in the United States, was considered the most successful World Cup up to that time. He also organized the women's soccer FIFA World Cup in 1999, again in the United States, and was instrumental in the establishment of Major League Soccer.

Prior to becoming an international leader in soccer, Steinbrecher served as vice president of sports marketing for Gatorade at the Quaker Oats Company from 1984-1990. While there, he developed and marketed the Gatorade brand and negotiated contracts with sports leagues and teams to successfully launch Gatorade in international markets.

Over the course of his career, Steinbrecher has won many awards, including election to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005.