The International Triathlon Union (ITU) confirmed the locations of multiple World Championship events on Tuesday, after an ITU Executive Board meeting held in conjunction with the World Triathlon in Yokohama.

“We had a great amount of interest from cities in hosting an ITU event, and received some truly incredible bids for not only triathlon, but also for multisport races,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “Triathlon has a very bright future with so many spectacular sites secured to host races in the next several years.”

The 2018 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final has been granted to the Gold Coast, which has hosted World Championship races in 1991 and 2009.

The host of the 2018 Commonwealth Games hosted the World Triathlon Series for the first time this year and is expected to welcome the Series again in 2016 and 2017, before both elite and age group athletes compete for World Championship titles in 2018. 

“This is a fantastic result for Queensland and triathlon, we are very excited to be able to host the world’s best ITU age group and professional athletes here on the Gold Coast,” said IRONMAN Asia-Pacific CEO Geoff Meyer.

Leeds will now host the World Triathlon Series in 2016, taking the place of World Triathlon London. A cycling superhighway is being built throughout the Yorkshire city, with construction work to take place in Hyde Park in 2016.

“It’s fantastic news that Leeds’ bid has been successful,” said reigning Olympic champion and Leeds resident Alistair Brownlee.

“I am sure the crowds will come out in force to see a major triathlon event in Leeds for the first time, and I’m sure it will be a brilliant event. 

Leeds serves as the training grounds for several of the UK’s top triathletes. 

In addition to the World Triathlon Series announcements, the ITU Executive Board voted on several multisport championship events. 

In 2017, Penticton, Canada will organize the first Multisport World Championships Festival, which will see duathlon, long distance triathlon, aquathlon and cross triathlon championship races organized together during a week-long festival.

This innovative format now allows for athletes to compete in various multisport races, as opposed to electing only one each season. 

“We are extremely honoured to be chosen to host the 2017 Multisport World Championships,” said race director Michael Brown. “Penticton has a deep history in triathlon and we look to build on a strong foundation created by this great community. With the support of the city, the Mayor, his council and all of Penticton’s citizens I know we will create a 10-day festival that will live up to all the athletes expectations.”

The Executive Board awarded the 2018 Multisport Festival to Odense, Denmark.

Lake Crackenback, Australia has been announced as the site of the 2016 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships – the last year that will see each multisport World Championships organized as stand-alone events.

 “This is fantastic news for the sport of triathlon in Australia,” said Anne Gripper, CEO of Triathlon Australia.

“To have the world’s best elite and age group athletes competing on the Gold Coast in 2018, as well as in the magnificent Snowy Mountains at Cross Triathlon World Championships in 2016, provides Australian triathletes of all ages with a great incentive to train and compete over the next three years as they strive to wear the green and gold on home soil.”

The ITU also confirmed that it will be suspending its membership of SportAccord, with the International Weightlifting Federation following suit to take the number of Olympic sport federations leaving SportAccord to ten.  

ITU said it will shortly release the bidding conditions for the 2016 Triathlon World Cup events, the 2017 World Triathlon Series races, the 2019 World Triathlon Grand Final, and the 2019 Multisport Festival. The full 2016 ITU World Triathlon Series will also be announced soon. 

[Source: SportAccord] New President Raffaele Chiulli of SportAccord and GAISF hailed the successful Gold Coast edition of SportAccord and the many accomplishments achieved during an action-packed week, was down to the ‘energetic participation’ of everyone involved in the 17th edition of SportAccord. President Chiulli went on to say:

“The success of SportAccord 2019 proves the importance and commitment of our organisation to our stakeholders and members, delegates, exhibitors and partners involved in the sport landscape. SportAccord will continue to adapt to the needs of our delegates and provide a platform that allows us to gather and move forward on the activities and collaborations crucial to the development of our sports, athletes and fans, ensuring a voice for everyone.”

Held in the Oceania region for the first time, SportAccord 2019 followed hot on the heels of the XXI Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast – billed as the Games of Firsts.

The SportAccord Review magazine looks back at some of the many highlights that took place across the event.

Delegates were treated to a traditional Aussie welcome when SportAccord 2019 was officially launched with an Opening Ceremony welcoming a global gathering to include: 1700 delegates from 830+ organisations, including 109 international sports federations, 176 cities and regions, and over 80 nationalities present.

At the annual General Assembly Raffaele Chiulli was unanimously elected as President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) at SportAccord. President Chiulli’s ‘Work Programme’ for GAISF comprises 4 pillars, aimed at addressing the needs of its members and the wider sports movement, and building on the services it offers.

H. E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations, Chairman of the IOC Ethics Commission and Honorary President of 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Masterships, delivered the Welcome Address at the SportAccord Summit conference, and highlighted the ‘transformative power of sport’ as well as the importance of big data and analytics. Commenting to The Daily, Mr Ban said: “SportAccord can play an important role in solving the problems and developing and promoting a sporting community through Conferences, Summits, Sports Festivals and other events, helping to disseminate the values of sport and a healthy community to people worldwide.”

The SportAccord Summit theme focused on ‘The Future of Big Data and Analytics’ with technology and learning being the key focus this year. Delegates heard how technology can influence ‘the spirit of sport’, and IFs were encouraged to forge brand partnerships and collaborate on big data, this being instrumental in helping to drive fan engagement.

The SportAccord Conference programme saw nearly 100 speakers participating in the event across: the Summit, LawAccord, HealthAccord, CityAccord, and MediaAccord.

Following its debut in Bangkok, the 3-day SportAccord United Through Sports Festival took place in Kurrawa Park in the Gold Coast, and enabled 5,000 children to try around 60 different sports with federations. The United Through Sports Youth Conference highlighted the need to continue to build on the outstanding legacy from Bangkok, with several projects being identified during the SportAccord Sports Festival in the Gold Coast.

The SportAccord event platform was used by World Lacrosse, the global governing body, to unveil its new name, logo and brand. Other exclusives at SportAccord came from: UK Sport confirming London will host the World Skate Street League Skateboarding World Championships and Birmingham will host The World Trampoline Championships in 2023; Gracenote offered its first look at the virtual medal table forecast for Tokyo 2020; and the Commonwealth Games Federation returned to meet representatives from the 2018 Games, to continue to learn from their experiences, in preparation for the best possible Games for Birmingham and the West Midlands.

The organisers of the Gold Coast’s biennial Pan Pacific Masters Games used the SportAccord platform to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the team behind the Kansai 2021 World Masters Games in Japan.

The World Academy of Sport released research findings on the challenges for student-athletes maintaining a dual career; and the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) announced Moscow will host the first University World Powerlifting Championship. IPF also attracted many delegates to their exhibition stand to test their strength, including IF Presidents and dignitaries including H. E. Ban Ki-moon.

At the International World Games Association’s (IWGA) General Assembly during SportAccord, the Chinese city of Chengdu was confirmed as host of The World Games 2025. “By signing a contract with one of the most forward-looking and dynamic cities in China, we have signalled our arrival as a major power in international sport,” IWGA President José Perurena told The Daily.

At other General Assemblies, AIOWF praised the 2026 presentations given by both city candidates, Stockholm-Åre (Sweden) and Milan-Cortina (Italy) via video at SportAccord 2019, and acknowledged the progress being made for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

ASOIF took the opportunity to discuss their recently published report, ‘Vision for the Future of Sports 2019 to 2040’, which sets out 10 recommendations under the themes of governance and entrepreneurialism. ASOIF’s President Francesco Ricci Bitti also advised IFs to use the SportAccord platform to continue discussions with the Tokyo 2020 delegation.

At the AIMS General Assembly, President Stephan Fox’s continuing role as the Alliance’s representative on the GAISF Council was confirmed. Stephan Fox is also the Vice President of GAISF, and a leading supporter of the SportAccord United Through Sports Festival – one of the key highlights of SportAccord.

More high-level meetings took place including the ARISF General Assembly, where President Raffaele Chiulli confirmed the presence of President Bach from the IOC was ‘a very strong sign of his appreciation for what ARISF members are doing’.

Raffaele Chiulli was also confirmed President of SportAccord at its General Assembly.

Looking forwards to future events, in an exclusive interview with iSportconnect, Raffaele Chiulli shared his vision for the expansion of SportAccord into regional saying ‘relevance is the aim’. Regional SportAccord Pan America will take place for the first time, from 10 to 12 December 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

The Pan American sports business event will bring together around 500 delegates from 400 organisations, representing over 30 cities and regions, over 15 industry sectors and more than 40 international and regional sports federations. Event accreditation is priced at USD $1,500 and organisations who would like to take part can register here for Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019.

The 18^th edition of SportAccord will return to Beijing, China from 19 – 24 April 2020. The key decision makers in sport will gather at the China National Convention Center for a week of networking and meetings. Organisations can register and take advantage of the myriad opportunities, high-profile events and social occasions being organised for SportAccord Beijing.

To take part in either event, organisations can register online or contact the sales team to become an exhibitor or partner. 

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

[Source: EventScotland] It has been another outstanding 12 months for EventScotland and the Scottish events and festivals sector since last year’s SportAccord Conference.

Our continued record in successfully attracting and delivering some of the world’s biggest events alongside our enviable portfolio of annual events and festivals reaffirms Scotland’s reputation as a world-leading events destination.

Among the highlights in 2018 was the successful delivery of the inaugural European Championships, which saw Glasgow and Scotland provide 11 days of sporting and cultural action with co-hosts Berlin.

The event was hugely popular with viewers throughout the continent. 567 million hours of action was viewed across 10 key national markets over 10 days of broadcasting, while in Glasgow more than 500,000 people attended a sports session, a Festival 2018 offering or visited the hugely popular live sites at George Square and Glasgow Green

The successful delivery of the event, which surpassed all expectations, showed what can be achieved when you are brave, ambitious and innovative.

Summer 2018 was also undoubtedly the biggest and best year for golf events in Scotland. There were no fewer than nine top-class golf events taking place across Scotland, featuring not only the biggest names from the men’s and women’s game but also the rising stars of the future and the legends of yesteryear.

Alongside the annual Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open, the history making European Golf Team Championships as part of Glasgow 2018, and Senior Open Championship, The 147^th Open at Carnoustie was undoubtedly the highlight of Scotland’s golfing summer. The Open attracted a record 172,000 fans, delivering an economic impact of £69 million according to the study by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre.  

Scotland also benefited from £51 million in destination marketing activity thanks to The Open being broadcast on television to more than 600 million households in 193 countries worldwide.

The success of our golf portfolio confirms Scotland’s reputation as, the Home of Golf and as we look ahead to The 2019 Solheim Cup, the biggest event in women’s golf, at Gleneagles this September, it continues to be the envy of countries around the world.

The last 12 months have also seen Scotland secure the rights to four international events over the next four years, most notably the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023. It, together with the IFSC European Championships 2019 for Lead and Speed, the Sprint World Orienteering Championships 2022, and the 2023 Island Games, join a strong pipeline of events in the coming years, including the UEFA EURO 2020, in which Glasgow will be one of 12 cities who will host the tournament to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the Championship. All these events will continue to provide the opportunities to showcase Scotland’s expertise in delivering major international events.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, said: “It has been another outstanding 12 months for EventScotland and the Scottish events and festivals sector. Together we have continued to build on our reputation as a world-leader in event delivery by pushing the boundaries and not being afraid to take on new challenges.

“The successful delivery of the 2018 European Championships along with securing a competition of such global magnitude as the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships reinforces Scotland’s position as the perfect stage for events and one of the world’s leading sports destinations.

“All this success wouldn’t be possible without SportAccord. The Conference plays a hugely important role in helping us build and maintain positive relationships with rights-holders and International Federations. It has allowed us to meet and network with key decision-makers to both understand their ambitions for their events while showcasing our experience and expertise, and is often the starting place for our bids.”

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is delighted to confirm five Bronze Partners for the Gold Coast edition of the World Sport & Business Summit set to take place from 5 – 10 May 2019. This year’s Bronze Partners have all renewed their partnerships for SportAccord 2019 and include: Chuncheongbuk-do Province, Commonwealth Games Federation, the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and Visit Victoria from Australia.

SportAccord brings together international sports federations, cities and regions, and top decision-makers from the global sports community. Over 50% of those attending use the World Sport & Business Summit platform to share breaking news, or drive sporting initiatives and key strategies.

Chuncheongbuk-do Province is gaining attention as a centre for martial art. The Province has international organisations related to martial art such as International Center of Martial Art (UNESCO-ICM), World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU), and World Martial Arts Mastership Committee (WMC). The 2019 World Martial Arts Masterships (August 30 to September 6), approved by the Korean government, will be held in Chungju City, Chungcheongbuk-do Province under the patronage of GAISF.

The Commonwealth Games Federation’s most recent event on Gold Coast was billed as the “Games of Firsts” – historic first-ever medals for five Commonwealth islands and states; an equal number of medals for women and men for the first-time at a global multi-sport Games; and a ground-breaking Reconciliation Action Plan to acknowledge, respect and support Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities. The next Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham, England from 27 July to 7 August 2022.

The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance is a non-governmental, member-based, capacity building organisation promoting sport tourism as a grassroots economic development initiative at the community level. The CSTA services over 500 members across Canada, including 150 municipalities, 300 national and provincial sport, multi-sport and major games organisations and a variety of other sport and tourism industry partners. Sport tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry in Canada with approximately $6.8 billion in annual spending by domestic and international visitors. Once again, Team Canada will be hosting their popular annual cocktail evening on Wednesday 8 May, Pool side at The Star Grand, (official Headquarter hotel for SportAccord).

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is the world governing body for basketball. It is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world and recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). FIBA are the official sponsor of the SportAccord 2019 pen.

Visit Victoria is the primary tourism and events company for the State of Victoria in Australia. Its primary objective is to build Melbourne and Victoria into Australia’s number one tourism destination by delivering strong and sustainable growth across priority markets. Since Visit Victoria’s establishment, the region has hosted more than 450 business events, 70 major events and over 180 regional events.

Commenting on the Bronze partnerships, Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord said:

“We are delighted to welcome back our Bronze Partners for this year’s edition of SportAccord in Gold Coast, all of whom have been partners for several years. We appreciate their continued involvement, support and loyalty and wish them all the very best at the 17^th edition of the World Sport & Business Summit.”

SportAccord enables attendees to enjoy multiple networking events and access to 50+ conference sessions. The high-profile event gives organisations the opportunity to increase their visibility by becoming a Partner. Organisations can find out more about becoming involved in Gold Coast by taking a look at this year’s recently published interactive Preview e-magazine and contact sales@sportaccord.sport.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is delighted to confirm its Silver Partners Edmonton Events, EventScotland and Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) for the 17^th edition of the World Sport & Business Summit set to take place from 5 – 10 May 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia, home to last year’s Commonwealth Games.

SportAccord brings together international sports federations, cities and regions, and top decision-makers from the global sports community. Over 50% of those attending use the World Sport & Business Summit platform to share breaking news, or drive sporting initiatives and key strategies.

With less than a month away before SportAccord begins, organisations who still want to be involved can take advantage of an exclusive offer (CHF 3,750) and experience the benefits of attending a high profile event. By applying code EO2019 (available for a limited time only) during registration, secures this investment. This includes a delegate pass, 5-nights accommodation and breakfast, not to mention the opportunity to meet and discuss future sporting opportunities and events with the Silver Partners.

EventScotland has a strong track record and international reputation for hosting major cultural, business and sporting events and has been a keen supporter and partner of SportAccord over the years. Through the work of EventScotland and partners, Scotland will host a number of world-class events in the coming years, including the 2019 Solheim Cup, Euro 2020 - also the 60^th anniversary of the European Championship competition – with Glasgow as one of the 12 host cities, and the recently secured inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. As in previous years, EventScotland are also sponsoring the official notepad used at SportAccord. Meet the EventScotland team at Stand 50.

Edmonton Events have also renewed their partnership with SportAccord and will sponsor the ‘Edmonton Events Zen Zone’ featuring a Reef within the Exhibition Hall, enabling delegates to take a few moments to relax from their busy schedules. Edmonton has a reputation for hosting a wide range of major events from the ITU World Triathlon Final and IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championships, to extreme events like the FISE World Series and Red Bull Crashed Ice. A spirited city that loves sports and radiates culture, its sporting pulse is palpable to visitors and fans alike. Meet Edmonton Events at Stand 64.

Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) was set up in August 2009 to carry forward the Olympic spirit. Its organisation encourages the development of public welfare relating to the Olympic culture, education, sports, youth and citizen involvement, and conducts sport-related exchanges as part of the Olympic movement. Beijing will be host to SportAccord 2020, and BODA will become the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18^th edition. BODA are sponsoring The Recharge Zone which features The Outback – this year’s destination theme for Tourism and Events Queensland. Meet BODA at Stand 54.

Commenting on the silver partnerships, Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord said:

“We are delighted to welcome the return of Edmonton Events and EventScotland as Silver Partners for the 17^th edition of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit and heartily appreciate their continued involvement, support and loyalty to the event.

“We are also honoured to welcome BODA onboard this year as a Silver Partner and look forward to working with them on the 18^th edition of SportAccord, scheduled to take place in Beijing from 19 – 24 April 2020.

“Our Silver Partners are exceptional and we wish them the very best for SportAccord in Gold Coast.”

SportAccord enables attendees to enjoy multiple networking events and access to 50+ conference sessions. The high-profile event gives organisations the opportunity to increase their visibility by becoming a Partner. Organisations can learn more about the unique benefits of becoming a partner via Daily Highlights and contact sales@sportaccord.sport to become involved.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is proud to announce H.E. Ban Ki-moon will deliver the Opening Welcome Address at the SportAccord Summit on Wednesday 8 May 2019 at 11.00hrs in Gold Coast Australia, as well as take part in the United Through Sports Youth Conference.

Former United Nations (UN) Secretary General and former South Korean Foreign Minister, championed the world’s vulnerable by putting sustainable development, climate change, and gender equality at the top of the UN agenda.

“I, as an Honorary president of 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Masterships, a Chairperson of IOC Ethics Commission and the 8^th Secretary General of the United Nations, am very pleased to participate in 2019 SportAccord, which will be held in Gold Coast. Of 2019 SportAccord programs,

SportAccord Summit will be an important stage to share the knowledge and information on the topic of “The Future of Big Data and Analytics” among leaders in the sporting world. I hope all participants and colleagues of 2019 SportAccord endeavor to promote sport for development and peace in the world through the SportAccord Summit. Thank you!”

Sporting leaders and delegates represented at the highest levels will gather at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit in Gold Coast for a week of networking and key meetings, and hear the latest from around 100 subject matter experts involved in this year’s conference programme.

Commenting on the participation of H. E. Ban Ki-moon, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said: “It is an absolute pleasure and honour to be welcoming His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon to the SportAccord Summit 2019. His vision, leadership and accomplishments over the years have made a significant impact around the world. His leadership continues to inspire as one of the world’s top global thinkers. We look forward with anticipation to hear what His Excellency will impart to the international sports community during his Welcome Address at this year’s SportAccord Summit in Gold Coast.”

Delegates can register and hear first-hand from a stellar line-up of Summit speakers and panellists, as well as take part in the newly formed interactive Summit Hub sessions planned for Day 2 of the SportAccord Summit. Each hub (5 in total) will be led by a Summit speaker, where attendees will be able to discuss the Summit conference sessions from Day 1 in more detail with peers.

H.E. Ban Ki-moon will also speak at this year’s United Through Youth Opening Conference taking place 7 May 2019 during SportAccord and forms part of the Sports Festival hosted by United Through Sports. The events embrace a number of key drivers which have become part of the DNA for United Through Sports. These comprise: inclusivity; unity in diversity; the future, our youth; non-discrimination; gender quality; providing opportunities for the youth via sport; building alliances to give back.

The Sports Festival was formed to make a real difference to the lives of countless children, giving them a chance to showcase their talents regardless of ability or life circumstances. This year’s Sports Festival is under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

With the full support of the IOC and the Queensland government, around 5,000 children from 170 schools are set to take part in the Sports Festival (7 – 10 May 2019). Children will have the opportunity to try as many sports as they wish (around 60 sports federations are involved including well-known athletes and celebrities). Morning programmes, a mix of promoting an active lifestyle and education, will be exclusively for the youth of Australia, and doors will be opened to the general public for the afternoon and evening sessions.

The Festival Opening Ceremony involves over 200 youth with a history-making performance planned. The ceremony promises to be an eye-opening, educational and action-packed extravaganza with many exclusives and ‘firsts’ being revealed from the moment the Sports Festival begins with the entire Opening Ceremony also performed in ‘sign’.

To benefit from these exclusive opportunities, organisations can register for SportAccord and take advantage of the full conference programme and all that the Sports Festival has to offer.

To become an Exhibitor or Partner contact the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 612 3070. To register as a delegate and watch past SportAccord footage visit www.sportaccord.sport.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

[Source: SportAccord] “Queensland is my home and I am proud of everything we do in the world of sport and all the other industries it touches.” This sentiment was shared by Natalie Cook OLY, five-time Olympian, Gold and Bronze Medallist for Beach Volleyball, Australia; and is a sentiment echoed by many Queenslanders and those who come to live there, when they talk about the vibrant Gold Coast, its spectacular surroundings and all that Queensland has to offer.

From miles of golden sandy beaches, to the Great Barrier Reef and waters teeming with marine life; to national parks and rainforests, the Outback, World Heritage sites, culinary delights and so much more; delegates will be spoilt for choice when they gather for the Gold Coast edition of SportAccord in Queensland, Australia (5-10 May 2019).

“So inspired by what we heard and saw, it didn’t take much persuading when the Host City team suggested bringing some of Queensland right into the heart of SportAccord.” said Carl Langdon, Exhibition Manager for SportAccord.

With this in mind, organisations who register for SportAccord will get a taste of what Queensland has to offer, with four stunning feature zones to be staged in the Exhibition Hall.

Right now, Queenslanders are celebrating the ‘Year of Outback Tourism’ and this theme will be adopted for the Recharging Zone. With its vibrant ochre-coloured sands, a well-known feature of the Outback, delegates will have the opportunity to network and hold meetings with their peers.

When it comes to relaxation, the Zen Zone represented by a Reef and sponsored by Edmonton Events, is likely to be a popular spot for delegates to kick-back, relax and soak up the atmosphere with peers.

Knowing what it takes to stage major cultural and sporting events, Doug McLean, Director of Edmonton Events and a SportAccord Silver Partner, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting SportAccord again through our partnership. As Canada’s top city at number 23 in Sportcal’s 2018 Global Sports Cities Index, we value the expertise we’ve gained and the connections we’ve developed, through attending SportAccord over the years. We are looking forward to yet another successful event in Gold Coast, Australia.”

This year’s Media Zone will become a lush Rainforest, where international sports federations and organisations can work with media to get their stories heard.

Gracenote Sports, a regular exhibitor at SportAccord commented: "SportAccord has given Gracenote Sports great opportunities to engage with our clients, partners and industry suppliers. We serve many international federations, media organizations and event organisers, so meeting them all in one place is very effective." said Guido Bouw, Managing Director.

“With an exciting cast of exhibitors raring to go, delegates will be in for a real treat as they go about their daily business at SportAccord. You can understand why Queensland’s moto is - beautiful one day, perfect the next.” enthused Malcolm Hardman, Business Development Manager, SportAccord.

Always a crowd-pleaser, this year’s SportAccord Café will bring Gold Coast’s beach scene into the thematic mix. Delegates will be able to enjoy refreshing drinks and eats at the ‘Beach Café’, or take a well-earned rest along the boardwalk. As Paul Yeomans, a CityAccord speaker and Managing Director for PMY Group fondly said: “See you on the Goldy!”

Speakers’ Corner, now a SportAccord regular will also be located in the Exhibition Hall. Organisations can take centre-stage and launch a product or service, share breaking news, or raise awareness around a cause close to their heart. Contact alexey.mikhailov@sportaccord.sport (+41 (0)21 612 30 79) to sign-up or for further details.

As part of Speakers’ Corner, ‘Sports Tech Start-up Showcase’ will be a new competition feature at the Gold Coast edition of SportAccord. This will be delivered by the Queensland Government in partnership with Austrade and the Australian Sports Technology Network. The competition will give 9 Australian start-ups the opportunity to pitch their product or service in the following categories: (1) Sports data and performance (2) Digital, media and business (3) Wearable and equipment.

The winner will be awarded a 90-day placement with Austrade Landing Pad of their choice (Berlin, Shanghai, Singapore, Tel Aviv, San Francisco) valued at $25,000, helping the startup or scaleup to take their business global.

In just over a month (5-10 May 2019), SportAccord will welcome around 1,500 plus attendees to Gold Coast in Queensland. To take advantage of this opportunity and become an Exhibitor or Partner, or take part in Speakers’ Corner, contact sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 612 3070.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is delighted to confirm its Principal Media Partners for SportAccord 2019 taking place from 5 – 10 May in Gold Coast, a vibrant coastal city located in Queensland Australia.

Selected as ‘principal’ media partners for their exceptional coverage, media reach and expertise, they will provide media and marketing support for SportAccord 2019.

iSportconnect is considered to be the world’s largest private sports business network. For the first time, iSportconnect has moved up a tier to a principal media partnership for SportAccord 2019, following their excellent television coverage at previous editions of SportAccord.

Sportcal has supported SportAccord since its inception in 2003. Sportcal is a world-leading market intelligence service, providing news, data, reports and insights into the competitive world of sport.

SportsPro is a leading sports business media company in print, digital and events. SportsPro delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, opinion and in-depth reports across multiple platforms.

Yutang Sports delivers sports market intelligence and sports marketing through their sports media outlet and sponsorship agency. Yutang Sports opens windows between the Chinese and international sports industry, and became the first Chinese media partnership for SportAccord.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord commented:

“SportAccord is delighted to have the support of our 4 principal media partners. The breadth of reporting they bring, together with the audiences they are connected to, helps to ensure SportAccord coverage reaches the farthest corners of the world.

“The tiered media partnership approach was introduced in 2016 and has seen wide-reaching results for SportAccord, its stakeholders, and organisations involved in the business of support. Stories are covered across multiple platforms including TV, radio, digital and print.

“We look forward to this year’s news coverage for Gold Coast.”

The SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit is taking place in Oceania for the first time in its history. Organisations can learn more about the unique benefits of attending SportAccord in Gold Coast by watching the video and register for SportAccord to become involved.

The Official Schedule enables attendees to enjoy multiple networking events, the popular 3-day Exhibition, access 50+ conference sessions, visit the Sports Festival and take part in cultural activities in Gold Coast.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

[Source: SportAccord} SportAccord, the leading annual global gathering for sporting leaders involved in the business of sport, today confirmed its MediaAccord conference programme: Media’s Ever Important Role and Contribution to Sport and Society, taking place on Thursday 9 May 2019 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

‘The rate of change in women’s sports is one of the most exciting trends in the sports industry,’ ran the headline in a recent Nielsen Sports Women’s Sports research report (2018) which covered 8 markets including Australia and New Zealand.

However, normalising sports for every woman and girl is still a big challenge for many countries around the world.

Jennah Wootten, General Manager Partnerships and Communications, Sport New Zealand said:

“Sport New Zealand is leading our sector’s response to a new central government strategy designed to empower women and girls to reach their potential through sport and active recreation.

“Like many other countries we have concerning underrepresentation of women and girls being physically active, occupying leadership roles and lagging behind men in terms of value and visibility.

“This new strategy has energised the sector and builds on recent successes such as securing the hosting rights for International Working Group on Women in Sport Conference 2022. It is an exciting time to be a female working in sport within New Zealand.”

During her MediaAccord case study, Jennah will share details of the new government strategy for New Zealand, its fresh initiatives and how the sport and recreation sector has responded to them, as well as the hardest obstacles to overcome in the future.

In the last few years, increasing numbers of professional leagues can now be found worldwide, and in Australia, women’s leagues such as the Rebel Women’s Big Bash and the Women’s Australian Rules Football League (AFLW), are attracting large audiences, stand-alone sponsorships and broadcast revenue.

While coverage of female athletes and women’s sport have increased considerably, there are still challenges for women working, or hoping to work, in sports media. What can be done to help create positive media guidelines with regard to gender equality in competition schedules and coverage?

What are some pro-active steps for ensuring better female representation within written, tv and photographer media circles? What is the media’s role in how female athletes are/should be portrayed? And, how can sports media best engage the public to promote a healthier, more active society?

A panel session discussing Women in Sport Media will address these challenges. Panellists taking part include: Clare Briegal, Chief Executive Officer, International Netball Federation; Belinda Clarke AO, Interim Executive General Manager Team Performance Cricket Australia; Tracey Holmes, Senior Reporter/Presenter, News Radio ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation); and Jennah Wootten.

This will follow with a debate on Major Event Bidding and Media and discuss how cities can get the public onboard with: Alain Mercier, Editor in Chief, Francs Jeux; Philip Pope, General Manager Communications, Queensland Rugby Union; Wayne Smith, Senior Sport Writer, The Australian.

MediaAccord will conclude with the Case Study: Brand Architecture and Social Media Monetisation for federations and athletes presented by Ben Parsons, Founder, Ministry of Sport & Playa Power.

In addition to MediaAccord moderated by James Pearce, Sports Broadcaster, BBC, a full conference programme will take place across the week with 4 additional conference streams: SportAccord Summit, LawAccord, CityAccord and HealthAccord.

Organisations can register for SportAccord and attend conference sessions as well as the many networking opportunities offered within the Official Schedule during the World Sport & Business Summit.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord has announced the first confirmed speakers for its Summit conference: The Future of Big Data and Analytics, taking place from 8 – 9 May 2019 at the Gold Coast Conference & Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord commented:

“We have a strong line-up of speakers for this year’s SportAccord Summit sharing their views and expertise on why big data and analytics matter to sport, with sessions covering key touchpoints such as teams, athletes, brands, manufacturers and of course - fans.

“This year’s Summit places fan engagement and experiences at the heart of the matter and looks at the ways technology, content, media and entertainment interconnect.

“As technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, blockchain and others start to go mainstream, fans will be able to take a much more active role and feel richer for the experience.”

Global leaders from across the sporting industry are among the first speakers (in session order) confirmed for this year’s SportAccord Summit, including:

• Deon Newman (Keynote), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Vice President of Strategy, IBM Asia Pacific
• Darren Birch, General Manager - Growth, Digital and Audiences, Australian Football League (AFL)
• Nick Hockley, Chief Executive Officer, ICC T20 World Cup Australia 2020
• Chris Nunn, Managing Director APAC, Futures Sport & Entertainment
• Luke Bould, CCO & CMO, Football Federation Australia
• Sally Hancock, Managing Partner, Y Sport
• Matt Kamienski, Vice President and Executive Director - Presidents Cup, PGA TOUR
• Andrew Reid, General Manager, TEG Analytics and TEG Insights
• Barbara Kendall, Vice President, International Surfing Association (ISA), Non-Executive Director of ARRIA
• Heinrich Zetlmayer, General Partner, Blockchain Valley Ventures (BVV)
• Stephen Smith, CEO & Founder, Kitman Labs
• Ian K. Partilla, Vice President - Head of Global Revenue, GumGum Sports 
• Natalie Cook, 5 x Olympian and Gold Medallist – Australia, Beach Volleyball 

Delegates will also have the opportunity to discuss the Summit topics further with speakers and panellists on Day 2 during the five Summit Hub Breakout track sessions:

• Big Data and Fan Engagement
• Marketing and Customer Behaviour
• Athlete/Player Performance via Wearable Technology, Big Data
• Application of AI for International Federation (IF), Event, & Sponsor Performance
• Blockchain Technology in Sport

 In addition to the SportAccord Summit, the full conference programme includes 4 other conference streams taking place across the week: LawAccord, CityAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord.

Delegates can register for SportAccord and attend conference sessions and the many networking opportunities offered within the Official Schedule.

To become an Exhibitor or Partner contact the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 612 3070. To register as a delegate and watch past SportAccord footage visit www.sportaccord.sport.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.