The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has unveiled the official schedule of the inaugural multi-discipline cycling event, giving cycling fans around the world a first sight of the full scale of the historic festival of cycling coming to Glasgow and across Scotland for 11 days (August 3-13, 2023).

From the Highlands to the Borders and across the central belt, the carefully created schedule boasts a world class line-up of elite cycling competitions, designed to unite Scotland while sharing an inspirational cycling message with the world.

The schedule was designed by the UCI, the Organising Committee of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, host cities and key stakeholders to give an unrivalled live spectator and TV viewing experience, packed full of daily elite finals and nonstop action with at least three disciplines on display each day of the UCI Cycling Worlds.

Thousands of the world’s top cycling athletes will compete across the 13 UCI World Championships, with only a select few earning the title of UCI World Champion and the prestige of the rainbow jersey. With inclusivity at its core, the event will also feature para-cycling and junior competitions.

In a first for a UCI World Championships, the Women Elite road race will bring the curtain down on the competitions, on Sunday, August 13. In addition to championing female cyclists, the decision to stage the Men Elite road race on the opening weekend and the Women Elite road race on the closing day was taken to ensure the best possible alignment with the UCI Road International Calendar, in particular with respect to their respective Tours de France.

The opening weekend of the Championships (5-6 August) will include exhilarating action in Glasgow, Fort William and across Scotland. The Men Elite road race will take place in the stunning scenery of central Scotland while the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will host Track finals each day. Fans will be able to witness the fast and exhilarating Mountain Bike Downhill competitions against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Nevis Range.

At the other end of the country, Glentress Forest in the Tweed Valley will host tough endurance racing with the Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon.

The full schedule of events across all 11-days, including BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, Gran Fondo, Indoor Cycling and Trials can be found at the website for the cyclingworldchamps.com/schedule  

This is the first time all 13 UCI World Championships will be combined into one mega-event, making it a cycling event unmatched in size and scale. The anticipated global TV audience will place the Cycling World Championships in the top-10 most watched sporting events in the world, rivalling the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and placing Scotland on the world stage as a destination for

elite cycling and cycle tourism.

David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale said: “Glasgow and the whole of Scotland are creating sporting history by hosting this multi-discipline cycling event for the first time. The UCI Cycling World Championships were one of my visions when I was first elected President of the UCI in 2017. That vision is now becoming a reality and the inaugural edition is really taking shape. The unveiling of the schedule enables us to visualise what awaits during these 11 days of non-stop cycling action. The entire cycling community can definitely expect great things!”   

Paul Bush OBE, Chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said “Unveiling the full schedule for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is an incredibly exciting milestone in the build-up to the largest cycling event in history. Fans from around the world can start planning their trips to Scotland to celebrate the power of the bike across 13 exhilarating UCI World Championships. The first-of-its-kind event further strengthens our position as a world leading events destination and reinforces Scotland’s place as the perfect stage for events, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone in 2023.”

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “We are looking forward to welcoming people to Scotland for a packed 11 days of competition next August. The strength and breadth of competition and viewing experiences really does have something for everyone. What’s more, along with a host of diverse and wholly inclusive events, it feels fitting to close these UCI World Championships with the Women’s Elite road race.”

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “Glasgow is proud to be hosting 8 of the 13 UCI World Championships and we are delighted with the breadth of action taking place in the city throughout the 11 days, showcasing our amazing venues and giving citizens and visitors alike the chance to experience first-hand, elite sporting competitions. I am particularly excited to see the Women’s Elite road race scheduled as the final event, finishing in George Square, the civic heart of Glasgow.

“As a UCI Bike City and European Capital City of Sport for 2023, we look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to our wonderful city, not only to enjoy the event, but to embrace all that Glasgow has to offer in terms of art, culture and entertainment.”

The event is being delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport and British Cycling as principal funders. The partnership aims to create a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative, and distinctive whilst bringing all cycling disciplines together every four years, one year ahead of the Olympics.

For further information on the UCI Cycling World Championships, visit www.cyclingworldchamps.com

David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale and Paul Bush OBE, Chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are speaking at Host City 2022 on 15-16 November. Register for Host City 2022 here

[Source: GAISF] GAISF President Ivo Ferriani marked this year’s United Nations (UN) International Youth Day by calling on the global sports community to ensure the world’s youth have a voice in the development and future of sport.

Observed globally, International Youth Day provides an opportunity to celebrate and recognise young people’s voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement.

This year’s theme is “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages”. As part of strengthening intergenerational solidarity, ensuring that young people have a voice in decision-making mechanisms is vital in bridging generational gaps.

President Ferriani said: “Sport has a key role to play in the physical, mental and social development of young people, so it is key that the global sports community listens to their voice when guiding sport’s global development. By working collaboratively, we can help draw more young people to sport and increase participation to secure sport’s future.

“As an integral part of society, sport can also be a powerful intergenerational activity. At all levels older generations pass on their knowledge to young people, ensuring that younger generations can experience the joy of sport and benefit from an active lifestyle. In a time where solidarity and collaboration are more important than ever, it is vital that we harness sport’s role as a vehicle for promoting social cohesion among all ages.”

[Source: Paris 2024] Following initial validation by the Executive Board on 23 June, Paris 2024 is continuing its efforts to optimise the Olympic and Paralympic venues master plan, which ensures enhanced competition conditions, helps keep control of the budget, and preserves the legacy of the Games for local residents and regional authorities. The Board of Directors of Paris 2024 has approved the potential solutions identified, and granted a mandate to the organisation to continue working with the stakeholders involved, before the propositions are  officially presented to the IOC and IPC for final validation.

Châteauroux identified as a venue for shooting and shooting Para sport

The Board of Directors of Paris 2024 has confirmed that the shooting and shooting Para sport events are to be moved and the venue in Châteauroux as the favoured option offering the best conditions for the organisation of the competitions in 2024. Drawing upon the positive exchanges with the Fédération Nationale de Tir (National Shooting Federation), and the enthusiasm of the elected regional authorities, Paris 2024 is continuing discussions with the actors involved to finalise the technical and financial matters relating to this new host territory.

The “Terrain des Essences”, in La Courneuve, which was initially identified to host the shooting and shooting Para sport, will remain a competition venue. It will serve as the starting point for the Para marathon and the Mass Event Road cycling; there is less temporary infrastructure required for these two events. The large-scale decontamination and renaturing work will continue on the 13-hectare site, meaning the Games leave a lasting legacy that will benefit the area and its residents.

With Villepinte, new competitions will be hosted in Seine-Saint-Denis

The Board of Directors has approved the site of Villepinte, in Seine-Saint-Denis, to host the boxing preliminaries, the fencing ranking round of modern pentathlon and sitting volleyball during the Paralympic Games. The venue is subject to validation by the relevant international federations. The final stages of the boxing events will be held in Roland Garros, on the Philippe-Chatrier court, after the Tennis competition.

With Villepinte, and with the para cycling events being held at Clichy-Sous-Bois, in addition to all the sites that are already on the venues master plan, Seine-Saint-Denis is, even more than before, at the very heart of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille has been selected to host the basketball preliminary rounds

Following discussions with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the IOC, the Board of Directors has mandated Paris 2024 to propose the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille for the organisation of the preliminary phase of the basketball events.

Stade Pierre Mauroy has a history of hosting major international competitions. The record attendance for a basketball match in Europe was broken at Stade Pierre-Mauroy at the EuroBasket final in 2015 (27,372 spectators).

This new arrangement has the benefit of providing greater coherence between different team sports. With the basketball preliminaries being held in Lille, the handball preliminaries can be staged in Paris, in Hall 6 of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles. Thus, handball players will have the possibility of competing in Paris. From the quarterfinals onwards, the basketball competition will take place at Arena Bercy in the heart of Paris. This option also helps optimise the use of existing competition venues and keeps the budget under control thanks to the exceptional capacity of the competition site in Lille.

Next step

The IOC will  provide a final approval of these venues after full completion of the technical assessments as to the Pierre Mauroy Stadium's compliance with FIBA’s requirements.

Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games planned to take place in the very heart of the city

The Board of Directors has officially mandated Paris 2024 to present to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) the alternative concept of a Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in the heart of the host city, Paris. Organised on the iconic Place De La Concorde, the Ceremony would be offering Paralympic athletes a unique experience.

Discussions will be held in the coming weeks with the IPC to agree on areas such as spectator capacity, accessibility, athletes' experience and budget, to define the most appropriate scenario for the Paralympics Games Opening Ceremony.

The two closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place at the Stade De France, in Saint-Denis.

On the opening panel, Innovation, Technology and Sustainability in Major Events, the consensus was that technology is undoubtedly creating amazing opportunities – but humanity must come first.

Al Kidd, CEO & President, Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA) said : “You have a huge shift that tech has been able to impart. You’ve got chips in bats and balls. I’m amazed at how many dozens of tech companies are being formed every day. This shift is transformational at all levels.”

Abe Stein, Head of Innovation, Sports Innovation Lab said: "We need to think of AI and big data as a way to modernise our venues through infrastructure. But tech should be in service of our humanity. If it's not helping us, why do we have it in the first place? All data, starting at collecting, has perspective and position. We can get so excited about tech and data that we lose sight of ourselves.”

Cecilia J. Folz, Founder and CEO, CFC Collective said: “Sometimes you need to just do what you think is right – tech and data is important, but don’t lose sight of that gut instinct.”

The second panel discussion, also moderated by Katie Traxton, Board Director, European Sponsorship Association, explored Media Tech to Meet the Demands of Fans.

Andy Meikle, Founder and CEO, Recast said: “We need to think about the way in which we are able to give fans access to content. The ad model is lucrative for a few tech giants, but the subscription model limits reach.

“We are addressing the issue that many people cannot legally access content because they can’t afford to do that. We need to be able to give fans what they want when they want.”

Debra Gawrych, Secretary General, International Federation of Sport Climbing said: “There’s more to the sport than just the event. People are eager to know what’s going on behind the scenes. They want athlete profiles and interviews. They are hungry for detail – not just surface soundbites.”

Marcus Luer, CEO, Total Sports Asia challenged the topic of the panel, saying “I’m not sure media tech should be designed to meet the demands of fans, but the other way round. No one needed TikTok – we lived our lives without it, but someone designed it and it’s been hugely successful.”

In the panel on The Convergence of Sports and Esports, Gabriel Q. Chan, Director of Communications, Global Esports Federation highlighted the Commonwealth Esports Championships that will run concurrently with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in less than 40 days’ time.

“Players will have the opportunity to represent the country on the international stage; this opens up new opportunities,” he said.

Beng Choo Low, Secretary General of the World Baseball Softball Confederation said that Esports and traditional sports will not totally converge. “You will reach a stage where esports is another discipline, like softball or baseball, as part of all the other so-called traditional sports. Yes, you’re online, but there’s also a physical element to it. Athletes like to meet not just online; there must be some physical interaction.”

Yao Williams‎, VP, Global Brand Partnerships, ESL Gaming said the future is mobile. “At ESL we are very bullish on mobile. There are more people with smartphones than PCs or consoles. When with think about global growth we think about Indonesia, India and Africa.”

Ian Verchere, Co-founder and CEO, Session Games highlighted how esports can learn about commercial partnerships from the experience of sports events. “The presence of brands in sport is authentic in the way it might not be in Dota or one of those fantasy-based games. Working with a governing body gives you that legitimacy to go in and open doors that wouldn’t necessarily be open if you just went in as a gamer.”

“We are always innovating,” said Chan. “The key is to keep engaging with our community – publishers, gamers, fans and young people. There are so many opportunities – the metaverse is a new frontier; how can we tap into that to grow esports to a whole new level?”

The panel was moderated by Matt Traub, Managing Editor, SportsTravel.

World record-breaking gamer and content creator Callum Knight, also known as @seapeekay, said in a Q&A: “We are seeing a massive increase in people getting opportunities in the mainstream. Content creators have their own TV shows, or they are getting chosen for Strictly. We are seeing YouTubers turning into million-record selling artists. We are raw and unpolished, but if you want to take opportunities there’s a lot you can do."

Sustainability

The Association of Global Event Suppliers’ Board Member Dave Crump co-produced a panel, Can Innovations in Physical Technology Balance Sustainability with Cost? with Host City’s Official Sustainability Partner Aggreko.

The panel, featuring Karlan Jessen, Head of Sustainability, Lake Placid 2023 World University Games, David de Behr, Director of Sales Event Services, Aggreko, Steve Stum, VP Operations and Technical Production, NASCAR Productions and Greg Louw, Senior Technical Producer, ConCom revealed that new technology is far less power hungry, but there's also a lot more of it.

It was fascinating to hear from three very different events: a major one-off event; a fixed and recurrent event; and a major production company regularly touring with massive equipment, on the tension between the value of achieving sustainability goals versus the cost of the goal.

Audiences expect complex, large-scale productions instead of simple, spectator events and balancing sustainability goals with demand for bigger shows is difficult. Perfect solutions may not yet exist to all the challenges, but commitment to sustainability and energy transition means starting with something – exploring solutions, technologies and pilot schemes and sharing the results with other event organisers.

Speaking on the panel Fostering Impact, Legacy and DEI through Major Events, Cindy Medynski, Director of Edmonton Events said they are looking for event partners that have similar values and that align with their community goals. “It’s important that our stakeholders are buying local. It has to be a win-win for both sides of the coin.”

She also highlighted that Edmonton has the second highest indigenous population in Canada. ”It’s important for them to be at the table from the beginning and for us to be educated on how to incorporate them.”

Sarah Lewis OBE OLY said: “Sustainability, inclusion and DEI are part of the DNA of the event – that’s a win win win for everyone involved: for the value of the event, for the local community and the global community. We’ve got to be a diverse society, to respect and do things in a sustainable way - or the planet unfortunately won’t have the capacity to handle things anymore.”

Kathryn Schloessman, President & CEO, Los Angeles Sport & Entertainment Commission also highlighted the growing importance of community events for host cities. “If we’re not engaging our local community, our local businesses and our non-profits, and creating opportunities for our kids then we have failed.” She also stressed that these values are just as important for private and philanthropic funders of major events.

“Legacy is more than a buzzword, said Tania Braga, Head of Olympic Games Impact and Legacy, International Olympic Committee. “It’s part of why hosts have the Olympic Games; it’s about creating lasting benefits for the people of the host territory and the sports movement.

“Legacy is a living thing – it keeps evolving. We can still find educational programmes that exist many decades after the Games.”

She also highlighted the “very clear challenge” of climate change, and the Olympic movement’s “firm commitment” to be climate positive by 2030.

The panel was moderated by John Siner, Founder and Owner, Why Sport Matters.

On the panel The Role of Events in Promoting People and Places, Anita DeFrantz, Member, International Olympic Committee and Board Member, LA 28 Olympic & Paralympic Games, Jimena Saldaña, Vice President, Panam Sports Organization, Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH – International Association of Horticultural Producers, Steven Mifsud MBE, CEO, Direct Access and Grant MacDonald, Chief Operating Officer, Sport Tourism Canada held up engagement, community, inclusivity and accessibility as areas particularly affected by the hosting of major events.

There are so many layers to event hosting and part of that is about learning how to live and work together and understanding different cultures and communities.

Event hosting can also offer tangible benefits. Tim Briercliffe of AIPH, the International Association of Horticultural Producers highlighted the benefits of hosting a horticultural expo, including the lasting legacy of a beautiful city park.

The final panel, Summing Up: Prove Your Value, explored how right holders are structuring their financial models, monetising their rights and using technology to demonstrate the value of their brands and the importance of data analytics and DEI criteria for hosts and events to show their impact with credibility.

Matt Pound, Managing Director, World Table Tennis stressed the importance of staying relevant for traditional sports. “We need to offer people a product that’s worth their hard-earned cash, as the cost of living is going up. Table tennis is now competing with Netflix, with Candy Crush, with a Taylor Swift concert, with so many things. Do we need dancers, singers, light shows and entertainment to entice people to watch your sport? We’ve shortened our sessions so people can be entertained in a short, sharp experience.”

Gauging the impact of events is of growing importance for all stakeholders. “We are seeing more scrutiny of engagement of audiences rather than just volume,” said Mihir Warty, Chief Strategy Officer, World Rugby. “The world has moved on, looking at value and not just number of tweets and Facebook likes. That’s something we’ve got better at interpreting”. One barrier to change is the number of federations all trying to do similar things in terms of the explosion of digital and data opportunities. “Accessing skills is a real challenge”.

Babacar Djileh Dieng, Member of the IOC’s Digital & Technology Commission, joined the conference from Senegal, where the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will be hosted. “People say the YOG are the laboratory of the Olympic brand, but with every event you are trying to improve it. Every Games is the laboratory for the next one!”

The panel was moderated by Robert Livingstone, founder of GamesBids.com.

Keynotes: LA 28, FIFA, Santiago 2023 and Aser

John Harper, Chief Operating Officer, LA 28 Olympic & Paralympic Games gave an excellent presentation followed by a fireside chat, which gave a great sense of the excitement around the LA 28 programme. They set out to create an unparalleled Olympic and Paralympic experience for athletes, fans, partners, and the community. Harper outlined plans to celebrate the multi-faceted city of LA, a determination to fit the games around Los Angeles and a focus on creating a human legacy.

Host City’s Ben Avison also interviewed Colin Smith, Chief Tournaments & Events Officer, FIFA about the preparations for 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place later in the year in Qatar. He highlighted how the first World Cup taking place in the football-mad Arab world is important for the development of football, expanding its horizon and sharing the sport with the wider world.

The venues are available and ready well ahead of time and already in use for test matches, which allows for valuable early planning time. He also stressed the importance of the condensed match schedule, taking place over 28 days – and the celebrations that will happen in Qatar’s compact location.

Gianna Cunazza, CEO and Juan Carlos Chamy, CMO & CCO of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Organizing Committee gave a valuable update on preparations for the Games. The event is ready to gather more than 9,000 athletes in the biggest sports event of the Americas in the next year. "We believe in the social role of sports, so we are working hard to leave a sporting and social legacy for the whole country," they said.

Massimo Marinelli, Board Director of sports, media and tech investment company Aser Ventures also gave a fascinating interview. He said sports is a great industry to be in because it continues to be an industry of wins and performances, and that the sports industry will be more sustainable if it continues to create opportunities for investment. He also highlighted the importance of Leeds United’s partnership with San Francisco 49ers, and revealed that the expansion their Elland Road ground is back under discussion.

In his closing remarks with Adam Soroka, Avison highlighted the importance of diversity and diversification for major events in the years to come, which are likely to be characterized by financial, social and environmental considerations.

[Source: FIFA] A significant milestone on the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ was reached tonight as the 16 Host Cities that are due to stage matches at the first edition of football’s showpiece to feature 48 teams were unveiled by FIFA. The highly anticipated announcement was made on a TV show produced in cooperation with FOX and Telemundo from New York and broadcast live to host countries Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as the whole world via FIFA+.

Today’s announcement follows the most transparent and comprehensive bidding process in football history, with FIFA’s decision having been made in the best interests of the game, taking into consideration the needs of all stakeholders involved in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

“We congratulate the 16 FIFA World Cup Host Cities on their outstanding commitment and passion. Today is a historic day – for everyone in those cities and states, for FIFA, for Canada, the USA and Mexico who will put on the greatest show on Earth. We look forward to working together with them to deliver what will be an unprecedented FIFA World Cup and a game-changer as we strive to make football truly global,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“We were delighted by the unparalleled competitiveness of this selection process. We are extremely grateful not only to the 16 cities that have been selected, but also to the other six – with whom we look forward to continuing to engage and explore additional opportunities to welcome fans and participating teams. This has always been a FIFA World Cup of three countries, and that undoubtedly will have a tremendous impact on the whole region and the wider football community,” added FIFA Vice President and Concacaf President Victor Montagliani.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Ciites:

Atlanta

Boston

Dallas

Guadalajara

Houston

Kansas City

Los Angeles

Mexico City

Miami

Monterrey

New York / New Jersey

Philadelphia

San Francisco Bay Area

Seattle

Toronto

Vancouver

[Source: Explore Edmonton] The City of Edmonton has today confirmed its full support for ambitions to host matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

The news comes with the formal signing of an agreement with FIFA, the final step in the process of FIFA’s Official Host City selection. The agreement includes investment guarantees irrespective of FIFA’s allocation of matches, and a shortlist of firms to assist with the advancement of facilities at the stadium and training facilities.

An announcement by FIFA on the host cities is set to be made on 16 June in New York, completing a thorough two-year process. For Edmonton, this included a visit by FIFA delegates in November 2021, during which the city hosted Canada’s FIFA World Cup 2022™ qualification match against Mexico, selling over 51,000 tickets despite winter temperatures of -9˚ Celsius.

Edmonton is one of three Canadian cities awaiting confirmation as a host city, alongside Toronto and Vancouver. Should FIFA decide to allocate host cities according to the United 2026 bid, all three would become host cities, along with three in Mexico and ten in the United States.

The City’s ambition to become a 2026 host city also enjoys vast local support, with public surveys showing a 93% favourability for the event. Community and business leaders have also been an active part of the process, including via the FIFA Champions Committee, which advises and promotes the work of the candidature. The Committee is chaired by Chief Billy Morin, chief of the Enoch Cree Nation, which forms an especially key part of Edmonton’s candidature given the city’s location on Treaty Six territory.

Edmonton has successfully hosted a range of FIFA tournaments in the past, including the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship 2002, the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015. With such experience, the city has shown unwavering commitment throughout the 2026 process.

Upon signature of the final documents, Traci Bednard, CEO of Explore Edmonton, said: “We are more excited than ever by the partnership between FIFA and the City of Edmonton. We have had tremendous experiences in hosting FIFA tournaments in the past, not only in delivering great matches and events, but also in inspiring future generations of soccer players and fans. In 2026, Edmonton will be ready to deliver once again.”

In a recent interview with Inside World Football, Canadian soccer player Alphonso Davies, who grew up in Edmonton, said: “Whenever an international soccer event has come to Edmonton, people have supported the events very well. Edmonton is a beautiful, diverse place, and I have no doubt they will accept the rest of the world exactly how they accepted me and my family when we moved here. Edmonton has some great facilities and there are a lot of things happening in the city, especially in the summer seasons.”

More information of the vision of Edmonton’s plans for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ can be seen via their website here.

Register for Host City Americas, online on 29th June, for free here: https://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-americas/register

(Source: Aggreko) The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games aims to make these the most sustainable Games yet. It is working closely with its partners, suppliers, and wider stakeholder to reduce its carbon footprint wherever possible.

Central to this is the way the event is powered and as energy is a key part of the Games’ carbon footprint, focus has been given to driving emissions down.

The Games are taking a ‘mains first’ approach, using the existing infrastructure from venues reducing reliance on additional generators, and where temporary energy is needed, working closely with Aggreko to drive emissions down.

As the Official Modular Energy Solutions Supporter for Birmingham 2022, Aggreko is responsible for planning the temporary energy framework for all 15 of the Games’ venues. These include large-scale venues such as Alexander Stadium and Coventry Stadium & Arena, to greenfield sites of regional parks like Warwick and Sutton. They are also powering additional requirements in sites key to the Games, including the Birmingham 2022 Villages in Birmingham and Warwick and the remote vehicle security site.

The fleet includes 117 of Aggreko’s latest Stage V generators from 30kVA up to 600kVa running on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) – a more sustainable fuel source. Stage V engines provide greater efficiency than traditional generators as well as reducing NOx emissions, CO₂ emissions, and other harmful particulates. The acoustically designed equipment also results in a reduction of noise, considering the local surroundings of the venues.

The generators will be operating in Load on Demand configuration, meaning they will replace a large, constantly operating generator with a group of smaller generators that can power up or down automatically according to demand onsite.

To support the generator set-up, Aggreko will be supplying several batteries at 300 kVA.  A specialist Y-Cube energy storage battery will be used in the fleet depot centre at the University of Birmingham to power the Games’ electric vehicles.

The generators and batteries will be used in tandem to aid carbon and fuel savings and at Victoria Park solar power will also be garnered in conjunction with the hybrid generators.

Primary generation and distribution equipment will take advantage of Aggreko’s remote monitoring centre which will continually analyse performance to ensure equipment is always running at peak efficiency.

James Eade, Head of Energy for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, says: “As a client we have been receptive and encouraged Aggreko to avail of innovation in power generation and to rethink established paradigms in this area. Collectively we have worked hard to ensure that nearly all the venues display some element of new technology or techniques.”

Robert Wells, Managing Director of Event Solutions at Aggreko, says: “While Aggreko is well-versed in the planning of temporary power for large-scale global events, we always strive to improve on every project we take on. As such, the entire business is whole-heartedly committed to its responsibility as Modular Energy Solutions Supporter, and its impact on the environment in 2022 and beyond.

“The sustainability conversation has of course been ongoing for some time, but now our latest Greener Upgrades programme enables us to easily advise customers on the small changes they can make to reduce harmful emissions and the use of fuel. For the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games this means it can work to its goal of leaving a carbon neutral legacy, which we are incredibly proud to support.”

To hear David de Behr, Head of Sales Aggreko Event Services speak on the panel Can innovations in physical technology balance sustainability with cost? at Host City Americas on 29th June, REGISTER HERE for FREE: https://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-americas/register

[Source: Commonwealth Games Federation] 

The announcement follows a successful exclusive dialogue period between the CGF, Commonwealth Games Australia (CGAus) and Victoria, where an exciting proposal to stage the major multi-sport competition across the State was agreed.

The proposal capitalises on the 2026/30 Strategic Roadmap, which provides renewed flexibility to be innovative and creative in delivering the Games.

In what will be a first ever predominantly regional Commonwealth Games, Victoria 2026 will be staged in March 2026 across multiple cities and regional hubs including Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. The Opening Ceremony will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The approach will showcase the best of what the State has to offer and ensure a uniquely Victorian experience for the athletes and spectators.

There will be a phased approach in creating the sports programme for Victoria 2026. An initial 16 sports have been put forward for the Games, with further sports to be added later this year.

The CGF, CGAus and Victoria entered an exclusive dialogue period in February 2022. A CGF and CGAus visit to Victoria took place later that month. This was followed by a Victoria 2026 delegation presenting their 2026 Games Proposal to the CGF Executive Board in Birmingham, England in March 2022. The Proposal has now been approved by the CGF Executive Board, with the Host Contract to be signed in Victoria today.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “The Commonwealth Games Federation is absolutely delighted to award the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Victoria.

Commonwealth Games Australia and the Victorian Government have set out a bold and innovative vision for hosting our major multi-sport event.

In Victoria, we believe we have found the perfect partner for the next stage of our journey.

This is a very special moment for the Commonwealth Sport Family and on behalf of the entire Movement, I would like to congratulate Commonwealth Games Australia and Victoria on their successful Games submission. We now look forward to a bright future as we work together to stage a Commonwealth Games like no other.”

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said: “It’s a great honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games – we can’t wait to welcome the world to all of our state.”

“The Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria is great for jobs, hospitality and our economy.”

Australia has staged the Commonwealth Games on five occasions, with Victoria playing host to the Melbourne 2006 Games; widely considered one of the most successful editions of the event in history. The country has also staged the Games in Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982 and most recently Gold Coast in 2018. Victoria has also hosted the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo in 2004."

Commonwealth Games Australia President Ben Houston said: “Commonwealth Games Australia is thrilled to welcome the athletes of the Commonwealth back to Australia and we look forward to working with both the CGF and the Victorian Government to bring the Games to life across Victoria in 2026.”

“A home Games will provide immeasurable benefits for our Member sports and will inspire our athletes in what will be a unique and exciting Games”.

The 2026 Games will be the 23rd edition of the major multi-sport competition, which first began in Hamilton, Canada in 1930.

Victoria is a world-leading major events and tourism destination. The State has a strong track record for staging high profile sporting competitions including The Australian Open tennis grand slam, the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup. Victoria also regularly hosts elite cricket, golf and Australian Rules Football competition.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be staged in Birmingham, England from 28 July – 8 August.

[Source: IOC] The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Deloitte today announced a decade-long, five-Games TOP partnership through 2032. Deloitte will serve as a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner for the following Games: Paris 2024, the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026,  Los Angeles 2028, the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2030 and Brisbane 2032.

As a Worldwide Olympic Partner, Deloitte will apply its deep expertise in management and business consulting to help enhance and secure the IOC’s digital ecosystem supporting the Olympic Movement.

Deloitte and the IOC have formed a “partnership with purpose” that leverages Deloitte’s considerable business acumen to help the IOC realise the possibilities of its strategic roadmap for the future, Olympic Agenda 2020+5, and its vision to build a better world through sport. In partnership with the IOC, Deloitte will provide a global team with wide-ranging management and business consulting capabilities to deliver meaningful impact to the National Olympic Committees, billions of fans, and the thousands of athletes who make the Olympic Games possible.

Deloitte will utilise its environmental, social and governance services expertise to assist the Olympic Movement in driving progress on critical challenges identified in Olympic Agenda 2020+5 related to corporate governance, strategy, sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and athlete support and well-being.

“We are living through one of the most consequential moments in history. The Olympic Movement plays a vital role in uniting the world through friendship, solidarity and fair play, and never has this been more important than now. Together, Deloitte and the IOC aspire to make an impact that matters – to strengthen, enhance and create a long-lasting and positive impact on society through the Olympic Movement,” said Punit Renjen, Deloitte Global CEO.

“We are delighted to be working with Deloitte and excited by the opportunity this partnership presents for the entire Olympic Movement. Deloitte’s initiatives to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals align with the IOC’s philosophy of further change and transformation as expressed in the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5 strategic roadmap for the future,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

“Having worked with Deloitte for several years now, the IPC is enthusiastic to explore with Deloitte how its expertise and wide range of services can benefit the wider Paralympic Movement as we aim to use sport as a tool to drive social inclusion,” said International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons.

Enabling the transformation of the Olympic Movement

Deloitte will support the IOC with its digital transformation strategy. It will utilise its digital expertise to help advise in such areas as personalising the fan experience and enhancing digital services, connecting fans around the world and extending the appeal of the Olympic Games between editions.

Advancing the IOC’s purpose and efforts to address global challenges

As a leader in purpose-led organisational initiatives, Deloitte will bring that expertise to support and advise the IOC in the development of strategies that will help it achieve its vision of building a better world through sport.

Deloitte will work with the IOC on the development of programmes, legacy projects and playbooks on initiatives such as athlete support and mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion, sustainability and the reduction of the Games’ carbon footprint.

In recognition of the importance of good governance and transparency, as expressed in Olympic Agenda 2020+5, a “Centre of Excellence” will be developed through this partnership relating to best practices in administration and management operations for participating National Olympic Committees.

Michele Parmelee, Deloitte Global Chief People and Purpose Officer, said: “This partnership brings together two iconic global brands who share a passion for driving positive societal impact.  We see this spirit embodied in the Olympians and Paralympians who work for Deloitte and inspire us to see the possibility of what Deloitte and the IOC can accomplish together.”

Jiri Kejval, IOC Marketing Commission Chair, stated: “Deloitte’s relationship with the Olympic Movement is a clear example of how the Worldwide Olympic Partner Programme continues to attract the most renowned names in business. Deloitte’s commitment to providing world-class expertise to the Olympic Movement demonstrates the unique opportunity that the TOP Programme provides.”

This is Deloitte’s first global partnership with the IOC and is the culmination of Deloitte’s many years of support for various parties in the Olympic Movement. The new global partnership complements Deloitte’s ongoing agreement with the Olympic and Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028, as well as with the Canadian Olympic Committee, German Olympic and Paralympic Committees, Irish Olympic Committee, Polish Olympic Committee, and United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, where Deloitte’s member firms provide support to thousands of Olympians and Paralympians.

[Source: 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships] A senior delegation from cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, has visited Scotland to check in on plans to stage the world’s biggest cycling event in Glasgow and across the country in August 2023.

UCI President David Lappartient and Director General, Amina Lanaya, received a warm Scottish welcome during their two-day visit as they reviewed a number of venues for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and met key partners and stakeholders associated with the delivery of the historic event.

It was their first official visit since it was announced the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships would be held in Glasgow and across Scotland, bringing together 13 existing UCI World Championships into one mega event for the first time.

The group visited the Glasgow BMX Centre in Knightswood, where fans will see the world’s best compete in high-speed sprint races across a purpose-built racetrack, while also taking in the city’s iconic George Square, which will provide a stunning backdrop for the road race finishes in August 2023.

They also met with key partners including Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson, who chairs the Scottish Government’s 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Cabinet Group, Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council as host city for the Championships as well as representatives from British Cycling and UK Sport.

David Lappartient, UCI President, said: “The inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships are less than 18 months away, and I am delighted to see the work that has been carried out so far to ensure the success of this historic event. The rainbow jersey battles will take place in spectacular venues in Glasgow and across Scotland, and it has been fantastic to visit some of the sites this week. Our discussions with the organisers have been positive and exciting, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration in the lead-up to this ground-breaking mega event for cycling.”

Paul Bush, Chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome David and Amina to Scotland for the first time since the historic decision was made to host the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland.

“We are proud the UCI has entrusted us to host the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and having David and Amina here to see and hear about our progress is a great milestone. Alongside our partners at Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, British Cycling and UK Sport we are committed to delivering a Championships that will be truly ground-breaking for cycling.”

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will welcome more than 8,000 amateur and elite cyclists from more than 120 countries with more than 190 UCI World Champions crowned.

More than one million spectators are expected to attend the Championships, with a global TV audience of around one billion making it one of the Top 10 watched sporting events on the planet.

The 13 UCI World Championships included in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are: BMX Freestyle Flatland; BMX Freestyle Park; BMX Racing; Gran Fondo; Indoor Cycling; Mountain Bike Cross-country; Mountain Bike Downhill; Mountain Bike Marathon; Para-cycling Road; Para-cycling Track; Road; Track; Trials.

To date, five venues have been announced in Glasgow, with Dumfries & Galloway (para-cycling road) and Stirling (time trial) also hosting events across Scotland. Additional venues and locations elsewhere in the country will be confirmed in the coming weeks and months to ensure a pan-Scotland delivery and to capture the imagination of the entire country.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships were confirmed for Glasgow and across Scotland as a result of significant previous experience hosting high-profile sporting events. Glasgow and Scotland have become a sporting hotspot by welcoming unforgettable competitions such as UEFA EURO 2020 matches, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the multi-sport Glasgow 2018 European Championships as well as cultural events including the world-renowned Edinburgh Festivals.

Since the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, participation sessions at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome have experienced positive uptake and cycling numbers have risen across Scotland. It is hoped the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships can continue the increase of pedal power in Scotland, inspiring the next generation of riders across a variety of cycling disciplines.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are being delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow Life and VisitScotland. The partnership aims to create a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative and distinctive.

The UCI, cycling’s world governing body, currently stages annual World Championships in each of its disciplines across the year in different host cities around the world. The UCI Cycling World Championships will bring these championships together every four years, the year prior to the Olympics, starting with the inaugural event in 2023.

2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

From 3-13 August 2023, the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships will be hosted in Glasgow and across Scotland. It will be the single biggest cycling event in history, bringing together 13 existing individual UCI Cycling World Championships into one mega event.

This historic and innovative event will welcome 2,600 elite cyclists, including para-cyclists, from more than 120 countries and crown over 190 UCI World Champions. It will be a must see, must attend, much watch event as all these cyclists vie for the iconic rainbow jersey.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is more than just an event. It will be a catalyst for behavioural change across Scotland by giving everyone the opportunity to experience the freedom riding a bike can bring to their lives. By working in collaboration with cycling and wider partners, it will amplify and unify existing work and activity across health, transport, tourism and participation.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow Life and VisitScotland with its EventScotland team through 2023 Cycling World Championships Ltd, with the partnership creating a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative and distinctive. www.cyclingworldchamps.com

About the UCI

Founded on April 14, 1900, in Paris, France, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the worldwide governing body for cycling. It develops and oversees cycling in all its forms and for all people: as a competitive sport, a healthy recreational activity, a means of transport, and also just for fun. The UCI manages and promotes the nine cycling disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, cyclo-cross, trials, indoor cycling and cycling esports. Five of these are featured on the Olympic Games programme (road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle), two in the Paralympic Games (road and track) and four in the Youth Olympic Games (road, mountain bike, BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle). For more information: www.uci.org

VisitScotland

VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland. The organisation’s key objective is to contribute to Scotland Outlook 2030, the national tourism strategy ambition of pursuing a sustainable and responsible tourism agenda. This will be supported by five overarching strategies: Marketing, Events, Quality and Sustainability, Inclusive Tourism, International Engagement. Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/. Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh). For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com For information about business tourism in Scotland go to businessevents.visitscotland.com. Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews 

Glasgow Life

Glasgow Life is a charity working for the benefit of the people of Glasgow. We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and we find innovative ways to make this happen across the city’s diverse communities.  Our programmes, experiences and events range from grassroots community activities to large-scale cultural, artistic and sporting events which present Glasgow on an international stage. Our work is designed to promote inclusion, happiness and health, as well as support the city’s visitor economy, in order to enhance Glasgow’s mental, physical and economic wellbeing. For more information on our work, see http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk

UK Sport

UK Sport’s Major Events Programme is projected to invest almost £40 million of National Lottery funding through to 2025 to support the bidding and staging of major events on home soil, as well as providing specialist support to organisers. Events are supported not only for their likely performance impact on British athletes, but also to maximise wider sporting, social, cultural, and economic benefits. In addition, UK Sport also invests major event funding on behalf of Government including £9m into the 2019 UCI World Road Cycling Championships and £15m into the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

British Cycling

British Cycling is the national governing body for cycling as recognised by the UCI – the international federation for the sport. Based in Manchester at the National Cycling Centre, British Cycling works across all levels and six disciplines of the sport (BMX, Mountain Bike, Cyclo-cross, Road, Track and Cycle Speedway), from providing the support and encouragement people need to get riding their bikes for the first time, to being home to the hugely successful Great Britain Cycling Team. Continued success at the highest level is inspiring a boom in participation across the nation. There have never been more opportunities to ride a bike, be it for fun or sport, and British Cycling is at the heart of this growth. British Cycling also works hard to represent cyclists’ interests at all levels, including campaigning on important issues including road safety. As a membership organisation, British Cycling provides a suite of benefits and support to its members who currently number over 150,000. All membership revenue is invested back into cycling.