Host City: Congratulations on your appointment as chair of the recently formed Future Host Commission. What is the Commission’s primary role?

Kristin Kloster Aasen: First of all, I am honoured and excited to have been appointed to chair the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Games and YOG (Summer). Together with the other members of the Commission, who each hold important expertise and knowledge and the support of the highly skilled IOC Olympic Games Department and Future Olympic Hosts team, we will do our best to fulfil the mandate of the Commission provided to us.

The Future Host Commissions, one for summer and one for winter Games, have been established (approved by the IOC Session in June 2019) to undertake a whole new approach to electing future hosts of the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games, advising and providing recommendations to the IOC Executive Board in this regard.

The overarching goal is to ensure that the Olympic Games may be fully aligned with future hosts’ long-term development plans. And that a dynamic and engaging new approach will benefit future hosts and provide the best possible Games for the athletes and participants.

The Future Host Commissions will oversee interest in future Games by establishing a permanent, non-edition-specific dialogue to explore interest among cities/regions/ countries and National Olympic Committees. This means that “host” does not necessarily refer to a single city as in the past but opens the door to multiple cities, regions and countries. Election timings are now flexible and adjusted to local opportunities and context – meaning that the former seven-year rule no longer applies.

This “Continuous Dialogue” as we call it is non-committal for both parties and will not require the interested parties to submit any reports. And this alone will contribute to cost reduction for the city/region/country as well as the NOC. The Commissions will monitor and analyse the projects, provide feasibility assessments, the results of which will form the basis for recommendations to the IOC Executive Board. The Commissions will report regularly to the Executive Board.

When the Executive Board makes a strategic decision to move forward with one or more Preferred Host(s) for a specific edition of the Games, this defines the start of a “Targeted Dialogue.”

At this time the preferred host(s) will be asked to submit a set of streamlined documents, including guarantees. The requirements and timelines will be the same for all preferred hosts. The Future Host Commissions will continue our work by making more detailed evaluations of the projects. This part is similar to the previous “Candidature Process”.

It is the responsibility of the Executive Board to put forward one or more preferred hosts for election at the IOC Session. Meaning that the IOC Membership will continue to be the final decision-makers on future hosts of the Olympic Games.

Host City: The Olympic bidding process now starts with an “invitation phase”. Who takes the initiative here – does the IOC identify and contact suitable cities, or do cities tend to come to you? Who is invited and how?

Kristin Kloster Aasen: The role of the Commissions is to permanently explore, monitor and encourage interest in future Olympic Games, Olympic Winter Games and Youth Olympic Games.

I believe it is likely that the initiative to the dialogue will arise from the interested parties themselves. However, referring to the role of the Commissions, the IOC has laid the foundation for a dynamic and open approach working both ways.

Host City: Some regions are already looking to bid – Queensland and Rhine-Ruhr, for example. What advantages might a regional bid have over a city bid – and would national, or even international bids be conceivable in the future?

Kristin Kloster Aasen: Sustainability is one of the pillars of IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms. Therefore, we now say that new permanent venues should only be considered by a host if they align with the long-term plans of the local community. When this is not the case, the most suitable existing venue should be used, even if located in different cities, regions or countries.

The door is open for any interested party however way they chose to form. There is no “one size fits all” solution. We now provide the flexibility for Games projects to adapt to the future objectives of the hosts, and the best ones will be those that most successfully achieve this goal. However, the NOC of the country in question is of course still key.

Host City: What would you say is the most important issue facing the major event hosting sector today, and what needs to be done to address this issue?

Kristin Kloster Aasen: Whereas the Future Host Commissions will monitor and promote interest in future Olympic Games, they will also study long-term challenges facing the Olympic Games, such as climate change and legacy use of competition venues, in which the IOC Sustainability and Legacy strategies will play an important part.

The new election approach will increase IOC flexibility, and enable us and interested parties to better react to various developments and opportunities such as geographic, strategic, economic and societal.

Host City: What was your impression of Lausanne 2020 – how is the Youth Olympic Games developing as an event?

Kristin Kloster Aasen: Visiting Lausanne 2020 was a fantastic experience. These Winter YOG have manifested themselves as unique, sustainable and inspiring Games; by, for and with youth.

The concept of the use of several locations for venues, use of a unique public transport network for athletes, support personnel and spectators really highlight a modern approach in line with the ambitions set out in Olympic Agenda 2020.

The number of spectators at every venue and competition I visited was impressive and gave the Games a real feeling of home support for the Swiss (and French) people. Also, Lausanne which is normally a quiet city was full of life and young people every day. Great fun!

Host City: How are sports at Tokyo 2020 reflecting a new focus on young and urban audiences?

Kristin Kloster Aasen: The Olympic Games are more urban, more youthful and more gender balanced than ever before. Not only are new sports and disciplines like 3x3 Basketball, BMX freestyle, Skateboarding, Surfing, and Sport Climbing youth-focused events, they will feature in an atmosphere that puts the fan in front. The diversity of new and established sports and disciplines reflects well Tokyo’s cultural blend of tradition and innovation.

We have also re-imagined how the Olympic Games could be organised, simplifying venue plans, and using existing facilities, which has led to more than USD 4 billion in savings. All of this while making sure the Games are more exciting and engaging for fans both young and old around the world.

[Source: Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy] H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), described hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022 as 'transformational' for Qatar and the entire Middle East during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting Davos 2020.

Al Thawadi held a number of bilateral meetings, took part in a panel discussion where he explored the economic prosperity in the Middle East with a number of notable figures, and conducted interviews with global broadcasters such as CNBC, CNN and Astro Awani on the sidelines of this year's forum.

During an interview with CNBC presenter Hadley Gamble, Al Thawadi said the tournament had the power the unite people from across the world.

"Major sporting events – particularly football and the FIFA World Cup – provide incredible opportunities for bringing people together," said Al Thawadi. "If you look at the recent FIFA Club World Cup, we had people in Qatar from five continents engaging with each other and celebrating football. It was a true festivity."

Al Thawadi continued: "We also appreciate the value and power of sport in building bridges between people from every walk of life. The recent Gulf Cup, held in Qatar, was a fantastic example. It was the first time Bahrain won the tournament and the emotion of the fans was incredible.

"Sporting events can be truly transformational and something that leaves a legacy – not only for us but for generations to come. We're working hard to ensure that everyone appreciates the powerful tool we have in bringing people together and the unique opportunity we have been granted. In an age where divisiveness and nationalism are on the rise, we must work to use these platforms to showcase our common humanity and celebrate our shared values and harness this once in a lifetime opportunity."

In line with this year's sustainability theme at WEF, Al Thawadi also discussed the tournament's sustainability credentials during the interview, noting the launch of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Sustainability Strategy this week – the first to be planned and delivered jointly by FIFA, the host country and the local organisers. Al Thawadi also reiterated Qatar's commitment to hosting the world's first truly carbon neutral tournament in 2022.

Speaking about tournament preparations, Al Thawadi said 2020 would be a busy year for the SC. Qatar will host the CAF Super Cup in February and the FIFA Club World Cup™ in December 2020, welcoming thousands of fans from around the world to the region once again. Al Thawadi noted that two stadiums will be unveiled during the first half of the year, Education City and Al Bayt, and that all tournament infrastructure will be delivered by 2021.

Al Thawadi also took part in a panel discussion at a Qatar Investment Authority event on the sidelines of this year's WEF Annual Meeting. Titled 'Perspectives from Qatar: The Reality of Economic Prosperity in the Middle East', Al Thawadi joined fellow panelists H.E. Ali Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Qatar's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mirek Dusek, Deputy Head of the Centre for Geopolitical and Regional Affairs and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum, and Henry Lawrence Culp Jr., CEO, General Electric.

Bilateral meetings were also held throughout the week with figures including Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman, World Economic Forum, Will.i.am, entertainer and tech entrepreneur, David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the ITUC, Ian Bremmer, CEO of Eurasia Group, and Mirek Dusek, Deputy Head of the Centre for Geopolitical and Regional Affairs and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum.

The WEF Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, is the foremost creative force for engaging the world's top leaders in collaborative activities to shape the global, regional and industry agendas at the beginning of each year. 2020, which marked the forum's 50^th year, attracted 3,000 participants from around the world and aimed to give concrete meaning to "stakeholder capitalism", assist governments and international institutions in tracking progress towards the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, and facilitate discussions on technology and trade governance.

See the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXI1nTqxmzY&feature=emb_logo

Beijing’s municipal bureau of culture and tourism today announced the cancelation of “large-scale activities”, in a bid to hold back the spread of the potentially deadly coronavirus.

Events being cancelled include the city’s temple fairs, winter sports events and exhibitions that traditionally take place as part of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.

Big public gatherings in the city’s parks are a major part of New Year celebrations, due to take place on 25 January.

Last year, more than 2 million visitors gathered in Beijing's 11 municipal parks and the Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture, according to state media.

The move follows the shutdown of Wuhan and two neighbouring cities, where the first human outbreaks of the coronavirus originated, 715 miles from Beijing.

The State Railway Group is also offering full reimbursements on tickets in order to minimise the impact of the world’s largest annual movement of people, known as “chunyun”.

Reported cases of the disease now exceed 500, including one near Tokyo and one in Washington State, USA. 17 people have died so far, in China.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a hugely influential global event. Although only 3,000 delegates are invited to the conference, 30,000 others are attracted to the Swiss resort of Davos every year to get involved in fringe activities. This takes it into the realms of the large-scale events showcased at Host City.

And it’s not just scale that links WEF with the world’s biggest sports and cultural events – it is the scope and reach of the event’s content. The themes of WEF20 are all extremely pertinent to the stakeholders of major sports and cultural events.

Take the first theme, “Healthy Futures”. A major objective of major sports events is for on-field performances to inspire people to be more active and improve public health. Major events can also have a catalytic effect on the healthcare sector – the standard of medical provision in Beijing improved as a result of hosting the Games in 2008, for example.

The next question of “How to Save the Planet” will be as complex for the delegates flying into Davos as it is for the owners, hosts and organisers of major sports, business and cultural events. Many areas of business and society are rapidly increasing their focus on sustainability, and major events are no exception. It will be fascinating to see how the world’s most powerful business and government leaders at WEF20 set out their approach to this challenge. Large scale event organisers must also play a greater role in the rapid transition that is so urgently needed to prevent runaway climate change and environmental degradation.

The third and related theme, “Better Business” focuses on how industries can “shift their time horizons, look beyond short-term profits, and transform themselves into sustainable and inclusive organisations.”

It’s not just businesses that struggle to take this long view. Democratic governments cannot be certain of any power beyond the typical 5-year electoral cycle. In contrast, the timelines of major event organisers are extremely long – 13 years from bid to delivery, in the case of Los Angeles 2028 – and the aim of the organizing committees is not to generate profit.

Major events can also be trailblazers for inclusion and equality – the 2021 Rugby League World Cup for example will be hosting women’s, disabled and men’s events concurrently for the first time. Perhaps global business leaders could learn something from such projects.

Next, WEF20 takes a look “Beyond Geopolitics”, promoting the power of cross-border cooperation to tackle big global challenges. International cooperation is crucial to the success of major events, from knowledge transfer initiatives between past and future hosts to new initiatives such as Paris 2024’s agreement to support the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games.

And the prospect of multiple countries hosting major events is now becoming a reality. The 2026 World Cup takes place in USA, Canada and Mexico. The 2022 Commonwealth Games is primarily staged in Birmingham, UK, but India could host Shooting and Archery at the same time. While this possibility has arisen through sporting demands, could it pave the way for pan-global events that could help “save the planet” by localizing audiences?

Leaders at Davos will also be grappling with how to deploy and develop “Tech for Good”. Robotics, AI, IoT and Data (RAID) are converging to disrupt all industries – and sports and entertainment is no exception. At worst, such technologies pose an existential threat to humanity; at best, they are revolutionizing the way sports and entertainment are experienced. In a world of esports, virtual influencers and OTT media consumption, what does this mean for our traditional communities of rights holders, broadcasters, stars and fans?

Discussion about “Society and the Future of Work” at Davos will focus on the displacement and disruption of human labour by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but also touches on the impact of technology on societies and communities. Sports and culture have a huge role to play in place-making and civic pride; it would be great to see this brought to the fore at WEF. The 15-hour working week envisioned by Keynes has not come to pass yet, but if it does, organized leisure will no doubt play an even greater role in what it means to be human.  

Finally, delegates at Davos will visualise “Fairer Economies”. While they are not in a position to directly redistribute wealth, major events already play a massive role in rebalancing economies. The Games staged in East London, Glasgow and Birmingham – with some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK – all bring a major local economic impact. The cities / capitals of culture Hull 2017 and Coventry 2021 inhabit similar socioeconomic spaces (look out for Bradford 2025!)

I’m not suggesting that major sports, business and cultural events have any greater power to change the world than the government and business leaders converging in Davos. But it is interesting to note how pertinent the WEF themes are to Host City, and vice versa. If we can build a dialogue between our sector and the wider world of business and government perhaps we can help build a better world together. Now – where’s my invitation?

[Source: AISTS] Each year, the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS), offers a Future Female Leader in Sport scholarship, open globally to women pursuing a career in the sports industry, or looking to advance their careers. The deadline for the next scholarship is 1 February 2020.

The AISTS is home to the World’s No.1 Sports Management Master Program (Eduniversal rankings) and located in the heart of the Olympic Capital, Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Academy was co-founded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the degree is signed by three leading Swiss universities; EPFL, University of Lausanne, and University of Geneva.

Each year the scholarship – which has a value of CHF 14,950 (EUR 13,817, 50% of the tuition fee) – is available to a promising female leader.

“It’s no secret that there is a lack of women in leadership positions within the sports industry,” says Claude Stricker, AISTS executive director. “We’re proud to offer the AISTS Future Female Leader in Sport Scholarship, to help address this imbalance and assist an inspiring woman in achieving her goals within the industry.”

The AISTS Future Female Leader in Sport Scholarship was established in 2011 by the June Canavan Foundation in honour of June Canavan, an AISTS alumni who tragically lost her life in a plane crash in 2009. 

Due to limited funding, 2013 was the last year the scholarship was offered by the June Canavan Foundation. However, the AISTS re-established the scholarship with the unchanged aim of rewarding a female applicant committed to ethical sport leadership. 

Previous recipients of the scholarship include Thayssa Plum from Brazil who currently works as senior media relations manager at FIFA

“It’s important that there are scholarship programs like the AISTS Future Female Leadership in Sport,” says Thayssa. “In my case, it’s pretty simple. It changed my life. Every girl has dreams, but not all of them have the same means. Reaching out to them, supporting their dream and making things possible is the push they need to succeed.”

Other recipients Rida Ahmed who currently works in Athlete Relations & Engagement at the International Olympic Committee.

“The AISTS Future Female Leader in Sport Scholarship was the reason I was able to make it here and learn so much  about the industry and make so many connections,” says Rida.”The scholarship has so much potential to help other who want to transition into the field and I look forward to seeing the journeys of future applicants. “

To apply for the scholarship or to find out more about the AISTS Master of Advanced Studies in Sports Administration and Technology please visit https://aists.org/education/masters-degree/about-the-degree/

[Source: IOC]

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched a new guide to help the sports community address plastic pollution.

The guide, entitled Plastic Game Plan for Sport, was published in collaboration with UN Environment and includes contributions from World Sailing. Referencing successful examples from across the sports world, it provides guidance to event organisers on creating an effective plan to reduce plastic waste. This includes key steps such as eliminating single-use plastic items, reducing the amount of plastic used, reusing plastic items and recycling.

“Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing our environment today and sport – like any other industry – has an urgent responsibility to address it,” said Marie Sallois, IOC Director of Corporate and Sustainable Development. “The IOC’s Plastic Game Plan for Sport aims to provide sports organisations, event organisers, athletes and fans with clear, step-by-step guidance on how to eliminate plastic waste from their operations and everyday lives.”

The guide’s recommendations include introducing reusable or compostable cups and tableware at events, providing water refill points, recycling bins and reducing the use of ‘hidden plastic’ such as merchandise, signage, branding and ticketing. In addition, the guide encourages event organisers to leverage their reach to raise awareness of plastic pollution. It also offers tips for athletes and fans on how to cut down their own plastic waste and inspire others to do the same.

In line with Olympic Agenda 2020 – the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement – the IOC has committed to driving sustainable practices across the International Sports Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and the wider sports community. The IOC itself is reducing waste at its headquarters and is working with suppliers to ensure materials used at its events are sourced responsibly.

In June 2018, the IOC joined the UN Environment's Clean Seas campaign to fight plastic pollution in the oceans, calling on the entire Olympic Movement to follow suit. Eleven IFs, four NOCs and three commercial partners have so far committed to the initiative, putting concrete measures in place to reduce plastic waste.

In September 2019, the IOC supported the Big Plastic Pledge campaign, launched by Olympic sailing champion Hannah Mills. The campaign calls on athletes and fans to reduce their use of single-use plastic. Almost 200 elite athletes have signed the pledge so far, committing to reducing plastic use in their own lives and encouraging others to do the same.

The Plastic Game Plan for Sport is the latest installment in the IOC’s ‘Sustainability Essentials’ series, which provides practical guidance on key aspects of sustainability for NOCs, IFs and other sports organisations. Previous guides in the series include Introduction to sustainability, Sports for climate action and Sustainable sourcing in sport.

The Commonwealth Games Federation has described a proposal from Commonwealth Games India (CGI) to host a Commonwealth shooting event and potentially an archery event in India during 2022 as “innovative” that could set “manageable precedents”.

“The proposal will be reviewed and considered in January and February by the CGF and discussed with Birmingham 2022 Delivery Partners,” said David Grevemberg CBE, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation in a statement issued to media including Host City.

The UK city of Birmingham is hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games. 

“Key aspects of this assessment will be to ensure that the proposal conforms with our rules and regulations, is operationally deliverable, sets manageable precedents for the Commonwealth Games and ultimately adds value to athletes and the Commonwealth Sports Movement," said Grevemberg.

“We would like to thank the CGI, the NRAI, the Government of India and the entire sporting community of India for their leadership and significant efforts taken to submit an innovative proposal with the ambition of strengthening Commonwealth Sport.”

The CGF also said the proposal is supported by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Government of India, the International Shooting Sport Federation and World Archery.

Tom Dielen, Secretary General of World Archery expressed his support in a letter, shared with Host City, to Dr. Nalinder Batra, President of the lndian Olympic Association and President of Commonwealth Games India.

“World Archery is giving its full support to this proposal to have an Archery competition in India as part of the Commonwealth Games friendship programme,” Dielen wrote.

A CGF source told Host City that the “Commonwealth Games friendship programme” referenced by World Archery is not an official term but a working title for India’s proposal.Dielen also suggested “adding the mixed team events which will also feature in Tokyo 2020”.

“World Archery would recognise the event for World Records as well as enter it on the World Ranking. We will promote the event among our member associations and provide the necessary technical assistance.”

The Archery Association of India (AAI) is currently excluded from world sport over governance issues.

“We are currently facing some issues with the Indian Archery Association but these should be resolved during the coming months and we will work with the newly elected President to make this event a success,” Dielen wrote. 

“In the meantime, we will continue the dialogue with the Commonwealth Games Federation to include Archery in the programme of Commonwealth Games.”

The CGF also confirmed to Host City that the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) have fully backed the proposal and would recognise and ratify the potential shooting event, if held.

Shooting, which is an optional sport for host cities, was dropped from the Games by Birmingham 2022 in 2018 and Archery followed suit in 2019.

India had threatened to boycott the Birmingham 2022 Olympic Games over the exclusion of shooting. But on 30 December 2020, India’s participation was confirmed in a statement by CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE.

"Following a useful and constructive CGF visit to India in November, we felt confident and reassured that the athletes and sports community of India places huge value and importance on the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Sport Movement,” she said.

"We are delighted that India have expressed an ambition to host another Commonwealth Games in the future."

The State Government of Queensland confirmed on Monday 9^th December that it has given the green light to bidding for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The State Government said in a statement that it “will pursue hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, if all levels of government get behind the State’s efforts and provide appropriate financial support”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a detailed value proposition assessment had shown that a Queensland based Games in 2032 could deliver significant economic and community benefits for the State.

“This is about so much more than a few weeks of sport,” she said.

“Hosting the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics could be a game changer and deliver 20 years of accelerated opportunity for our State.

“That’s why Cabinet has today made the decision to continue working towards securing a Games – and we will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure we receive the financial support we require from all levels of Government.

“There’s more work to do to ensure we are in a position to put a compelling case to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“As I’ve said all along, we will only proceed if it is in the best interests of Queenslanders.

“A strong partnership, including the right funding commitments, is vital – and our focus now is to secure that ahead of key discussions with the IOC at the Tokyo Olympics in July next year.”

Palaszczuk said the value assessment had shown the Games could: create 130,000 jobs; accelerate infrastructure development; boost international tourism spending by more than $20 billion; deliver up to $8.6 billion in new trade opportunities; and deliver procurement and supply chain opportunities for businesses throughout the State.

The approach towards the Games bid will be pursued in stages, with the next stage being to secure financial agreement between all levels of government, followed by finalisation of the candidature file.

“The world’s greatest event provides a platform like no other. It’s an opportunity to showcase Queensland to the rest of the world,” said Palaszczuk.

“Hosting around 11,000 athletes from 206 countries, and an estimated television audience of 3.2 billion people would see the world watching Queensland at its best.

“Queensland’s climate and world-class facilities provide an ideal environment for elite athletes to train and perform at their best, but it also has the ability to motivate our communities to participate in sport and lead a healthier lifestyle.”

She said the IOC’s “New Norm” rules meant it was the ideal time for the State to pursue the opportunity, with the IOC prepared to put in a significant investment towards Games delivery and provide flexibility.

“We are well placed with more than 80 per cent of venues existing or proposed to be temporary.

“This is not only about a few weeks of sport. This would leave a legacy supporting Queenslanders for decades into the future.”

The news comes shortly after a delegation from Tourism and Events Queensland participated in Host City 2019, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, on 26-27 November.

(Source: The Sports Consultancy) Nitro Circus, the world’s largest action sports brand, has appointed The Sports Consultancy (TSC) to run simultaneous host city procurement processes for their biggest global properties - Nitro World Games, Nitro Rallycross and Nitro Park & Air.

Nitro Circus has a reputation for delivering awe-inspiring innovations in sport and entertainment to audiences across the globe. Now the brand is teaming up with TSC to build on that success. Through this process, Nitro Circus will appoint multiple host city partners with whom they will co-create bespoke events that bring together world-class athletes and groundbreaking competition formats, uniquely showcase the host destination and inspire the next generation of stars.

To kick off this campaign, Nitro Circus is further expanding on their Nitro World Games showcase event which next year will be hosted for the first time outside of the US – the premier competition is coming to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in May 2020.  By taking a portfolio approach, Nitro Circus is offering bespoke, multi-year host city partnerships, coupled with year-round Nitro Circus Media House content, with opportunities starting from 2021 onwards.

Commenting on the appointment Antony Warren, SVP Business Development, Events at Nitro Circus said:

“By partnering with TSC, we are signaling our intent to take our largest events to our fans in cities around the world.  Our first step on this journey, after three years in the US, is hosting the 2020 Nitro World Games in Cardiff, Wales and from there we look forward to crossing many more borders as we build relationships with cities, fans and competitors in all corners of the globe.”

TSC Director, Consulting Matt Wilson added:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Nitro Circus.  These events are truly disrupting the world of major events and, with their ability to drive global media exposure, youth engagement, year-round destination marketing and strong social and infrastructure legacies, are perfectly suited to future hosts seeking to challenge perceptions and boundaries.”

[Source: EventScotland] EventScotland and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a meeting between the two organisations at Host City 2019.

The sixth Host City Conference and Exhibition was the ideal place for the signing of the agreement as 300 representatives from some of the world’s leading event cities, destination marketing organisations, cross-sector rightsholders, organising committees and suppliers gathered together for two days. The conference and exhibition included plenary presentations, panels, VIP dialogues and workshops on how to attract, bid for and host secure and engaging events with positive long-term legacies. The MOU will see EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, and TEQ work in collaboration over the next three years, sharing information and insights into the securing and delivering of major sporting, cultural and business events.

It will also build on the strong relationship both Scotland and Queensland developed during their respective hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and 2018 as both organisations look to build meaningful social and economic impacts for their country and region through event tourism.

Areas of collaboration outlined in the MOU include information sharing, event bidding and prospecting, impact measurement, delivery capability, and strategy development.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events and our reputation as a world-leader in event delivery has seen us secure and deliver some of the world’s biggest events, including The 2019 Solheim Cup and the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023.

“Events play a key role in our society by helping to bring strong social and economic benefits to the whole country. We are delighted to be signing this MOU with TEQ that will allow both organisations to flourish through the regular sharing of knowledge and insights into this incredibly dynamic and exciting industry.”

TEQ CEO Leanne Coddington said the partnership would prove beneficial to both parties.

“We’ve worked incredibly hard over the past decade to build Australia’s most diverse events calendar that sees unique events held in Australia’s best destinations from the Gold Coast to Cape York and the Outback,” Ms Coddington said.

“Events not only drive visitors to Queensland but also contribute strongly to the economy in their own right, whether they be large-scale sporting events, business events, cultural events or community events.

“We look forward to collaborating with EventScotland in the coming years as we continue to build the value of the It’s Live! in Queensland calendar.”

The signing of the MOU also comes at an exciting time as recruitment for key positions to oversee and deliver the 2023 Cycling World Championships will shortly commence.

Paul Bush added: “It has been an exciting year for the events industry, especially for us here in Scotland. During my opening keynote address on day one of Host City 2019 I touched on the impact of three aspects on the events landscape this year – the growth of women’s sport and women’s events; contingency planning; and audience engagement.

“Unlike any other year I believe we have seen the tectonic plates of the world sporting events shift, collide and indeed, totally reshape. We have seen record crowds and TV audiences for major international events including The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles and the Women’s World Cup in France.

“We’ve also seen pay parity and equality and diversity continue to be topical subjects and while we’ve seen great strides in the last 12 months, there is still much work to be done within the equality and diversity agenda as sport still lags society.  As an events industry we can and should take a lead whether its gender balance, LGBTQ, BAME or disabled representation; providing the platform for all people from the field of play right up to the boardroom.

“The year has also raised a number of interesting scenarios within the area of contingency planning. While some organisers like the Cricket World Cup got it spot on, others did not, and it is an area we need to focus our minds and give further consideration to ensure we are not left wanting.

“We have also seen a seismic change in audience and fan engagement, with some events like World Athletics Championships failing to ignite the interest of locals, leaving stadiums unfilled while others like the Women’s Netball World Cup in Liverpool and England women’s football team’s recent match against Germany playing to sell-out crowds.

“With the world changing at a rate of knots, as an industry we need to respond at the same pace to the many variables that now exist.”