This November in Glasgow leading executives from the global major events industry met at the first in-person ‘Host City’ conference since the pandemic. The theme of the conference was exploring the new realities for major events in the post-COVID era. As a consultant and prior panellist, I was asked to chair a panel looking at “Partnership paradigms of event hosting and delivery”. Our panel included representatives of a major host city, a global sporting rights-holder and two event organisers – one traditional and one disruptive. In discussion with the panellists, we agreed to explore why it feels that cooperation between stakeholders in running major events is becoming ever more challenging.

At the start of the session, we polled the audience to test our theory. The question was simple: was this indeed the case? The results surprised me and are shown in the picture. Nearly half the delegates felt that compromise was ‘tricky’ while a worrying 9% felt it is ‘almost impossible’. 43% did feel that compromise is ’doable’ but no one, yes 0%, thought it was ‘easy’. This cannot be a good sign and these on-screen results certainly created an energy in the panel discussion.

As I write, we are watching an 11th hour dispute between Budweiser, a FIFA Partner, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup (FWC) Host Nation around who can drink a Bud Light, where and when [1]. Such a public dispute two days before a global event that was awarded in 2010 seems avoidable; was compromise not possible much earlier? In our discussions at Host City, we learnt that the Edinburgh Festivals need more visitors in 2023 for the operators to return to profit. Yet the City Council has moved to significantly reduce supply in the temporary accommodation stock [2]. This new supply and demand imbalance has also driven up rental prices for visitors, performers and their crews. It seems the festivals are set to be even further away from profit in 2023. Without some form of compromise Edinburgh City council seem set to kill their ‘golden goose’. One festival, the Edinburgh Film Festival, has already seemingly collapsed, the organisers citing “the perfect storm of sharply rising costs, in particular energy costs, alongside reduced trade due to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis” [3]. 

But if the Edinburgh Festivals can recover to viability, does attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to travel to Edinburgh sit comfortably with ESG considerations? Indeed, one can say the same of any large-scale event, such as a football world cup. ESG is becoming a major area of contention in sport. Just in the last few weeks we have seen the collapse of a lucrative sponsorship deal between a mining company and Australian Women’s Netball [4] and also one between British Cycling and Shell which cost the cycling CEO his job [5].

Likewise, FWC22 clearly shows that Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (D&EI) will only grow as a consideration in sport and other major events. FWC22 again is in the spotlight, following the collapse of plans by European captains to promote inclusion through a “One Love” armband. It appeared that purely financial penalties would not deter national teams from showing their support for the LGBTQ+ community. However, amidst threats of sporting sanctions, the teams chose to prioritise competition and performance although this might be overruled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) [6].

So, finding a way through the competing agendas of Host Cities, Organizers, Rights Holders, Athletes and participants, sponsors, broadcasters, the media and the wider public is indeed becoming ‘tricky’. But from my own experience, I can say that it is far from ‘almost impossible’. When I was CEO of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and Chair of the “Tennis Rules Committee” we needed to find a common, global position in the sport on the issue of betting sponsorship of both tournaments and broadcast coverage but also of the tennis players themselves. With different attitudes and dynamics in-play either side of the Atlantic and trade-offs required between commercial and integrity considerations, this seemed a gordian knot. But achieved it was; and tennis now has a very coherent and sustainable global position in this respect which is supported by the players.

My sense from this and other relevant experience dating back to working with the London 2012 ODA in the mid-noughties is that finding compromise in sport going forward will take three key ingredients.

1. Evidence Based Decisions. Returning to Edinburgh’s short-term lettings decision, it would seem that the veracity and completeness of the data which informed the council’s decision has been called into question [7]. Likewise, assertions on possible revenues to be made, or lost, in a decision must be verified by a trusted and neural body. This takes time, effort and resources but decisions based on incorrect or incomplete data sets will unravel, perhaps spectacularly.
2. Discussion and Debate. The panel at Host City all agreed that the quality of debate and discussion during COVID had decreased. Online meetings are fine for the passage of information. But there is no substitute for in-person meetings to discuss matters of common interest and to tease out any areas of possible concern. Working through these areas, taking evidence, and listening to differing points of view should only reduce areas of conflict. Footballer, Kylian Mbappe, recently refused to take part in sponsorship activations as part of his membership of the French national team [8]. He raised concerns about fast food and betting companies being associated with the team. The team have asked to be consulted on sponsorships going forward. This will be a growing requirement. One can only wonder if Australian netball took this step with its players before agreeing to the mining sponsorship? As ever, neutral consultants can more easily put themselves in the middle of these discussions to work through issues and concerns.
3. Arbitration and Compromise. The above process should reduce the number of areas of contention. But there will likely remain some. Lawyers may now be involved. But I remain firm in my view and experience that brokered arbitration and a willingness to compromise for the greater good can often be achieved if the evidence is sound and differing points of view are aired and understood.

The above arrangements should be underpinned by robust scenario planning. Host City delegate IPSEM Squared made a very valid point on the need for an effective and proactive crisis management approach to be in place should issues arise. Sponsors should also have a response plan that can be put in place quickly to change (or at least manage) the arising conversations better than is currently the case. We have already seen the almost complete removal of cigarette and nicotine sponsors from sport and the failure of other industries- such as alcoholic drinks, energy, extractives and fast food - to engage more effectively may see them go the same way.

Achieving consensus in how best to stage major events is going to only get harder as wider societal issues play into what was always a complex process of creating national or world class events, be those cultural festivals or major sporting occasions. However, Ankura would posit that with careful stakeholder management, agreed evidence on which to base dialogue and active listening most areas of dispute can be worked through to find compromises that create positive outcomes to the overall benefit of the event itself and indeed the wider community.

Jonny Gray is a Senior Managing Director in the Ankura sport practice and the former founding CEO of the ITIA. 

Copyright 2022. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily the views of Ankura Consulting Group, LLC., its management, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or its other professionals. Ankura is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice.

References

[1] https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/budweiser-world-cup-campaign-curbed-not-crashed-by-qatar-beer-ban-2022-11-19/

[2] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/holiday-let-changes-will-mean-shortage-of-beds-for-festivals-7pvdssmzf  

[3] https://deadline.com/2022/11/edinburgh-film-festival-new-campaign-launched-to-save-festival-filmhouse-cinemas-1235160292/

[4] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-24/netball-australia-hancock-prospecting-explainer/101569486

[5] https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/31/british-cycling-chief-brian-facer-steps-down-three-weeks-after-controversial-shell-deal

[6] https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/12753559/world-cup-german-fa-taking-fifa-to-court-of-arbitration-for-sport-over-one-love-armband-ban

[7] https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/new-edinburgh-restrictions-short-term-27631993

[8] https://talksport.com/football/1198477/kylian-mbappe-france-paris-saint-germain-sponsorship-deal/

Host City: Hi Paul, we’re really excited about bringing Host City back to Glasgow in person on 15-16 November. How are you feeling about Host City returning to Scotland after 2 years hosting in the virtual world?
Paul Bush: I’m looking forward to the return of the first in-person Host City to Glasgow and Scotland where we look forward to welcoming so many international event owners, organisers and hosts together in the first time in two years. Virtual events have played an important role in that time, allowing us to all stay connected and share key learnings as we navigated our way through uncertain times, however, for me, nothing beats the experience of an in-person event and being able to meet face-to-face allows for great relationship building and networking in a more fun and social way. 

Host City: The theme of the conference is “Face to Face with New Realities”. The world has certainly changed a lot since last year’s Host City event – what are the big issues facing you right now?
Paul Bush: Last time we met, we were operating in a climate of consistent uncertainty which had continued to push us all to work in different ways, developing a range of resilient responses, innovation, spirit and adaptation. While the last 12 months has seen the start of a return to a more consistent operating environment with the removal of Covid restrictions, other challenges remain. The increasing financial challenges now facing the sector, including reduced government budgets, rise in inflation and its affects on both the supply chain and on individuals facing the cost-of-living crisis as well as recruitment – both retaining and attracting staff to the industry, addressing sustainability and the role of events in supporting our health and wellbeing are the big issues facing the events sector right now. 

Host City: On the sustainability question – for such an international industry, it’s tricky isn’t it, but perhaps we do have an opportunity to show leadership here? 
Paul Bush: In our ever-changing world, the need to address our environmental impact is becoming more and more prevalent, and we all have a part to play both individually and as a sector. From an events perspective, the whole events eco-system is increasingly aware of its impact, including eventgoers, who expect events to be ‘walking the talk’ when it comes to socially and environmentally responsible practices in the planning, organisation and delivery of events. Creating sustainable events is no longer a nice ‘to-do’, it’s a necessity.
So, I do think the events industry across the world can take a lead role on addressing the environmental question as events themselves are hugely powerful in engaging the public in climate change through their programming, helping inspire and motivate people to make changes in their own lives.

Host City: And when it comes to wellbeing, how can event hosts make sure that their events really do help to improve their physical and mental health?  
Paul Bush: Over the last few years, the social benefits of events of have become even more recognised, especially the sense of pride they help build, and the valuable contribution they make towards our health and wellbeing. The Contribution to Events to Scotland’s Wellbeing research that we commissioned in collaboration with the Event Industry Advisory Group and published last October highlighted how attending or regularly taking part, either as a participant or as a volunteer at an event, can help improve wellbeing while the chance to interact with friends and family is a key driver for supporting mental health. Therefore having a diverse portfolio of events that engages a wide range of people will ensure as an industry we are helping support peoples wellbeing and providing opportunities for shared experiences. Articulating this benefit is particularly important, especially in the current financial climate, if want to retain investment from both the public and private sector. 

Host City: Our events sector has faced a range of challenges to say the least. What are you doing to support its recovery, and what role do you think events play in the economic mix these days?
Paul Bush: The economic benefits of events are widely recognised and now more than ever it’s important we continue to highlight them. Events support thousands of jobs, both directly within the industry itself as well as wider sectors including hospitality and tourism. Pre-covid, the 2020 UK Event Report highlighted a direct spend of £70bn in 2019 through live events and it is estimated that over £6bn of this could be attributed to Scotland.
Highlighting the value of the events industry in Scotland at government level as well as supporting the industry in Scotland to ensure its strong return has been a key focus for us. We have done this through working in collaboration with the Event Industry Advisory Group, through the Covid relief funding we have delivered over the last two years and through our regular funding programmes that have supported a range of major, national, local and community events this year, including The 150th Open, the Edinburgh International Festival and IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society Annual International Conference.
Despite the current economic challenges we are all facing, I do believe events play a vitally important role in our recovery. 

Host City: On the bright side, it’s amazing to be able to stage face to face events again. After Host City you’ve got some great events coming to Scotland, not least the UCI Cycling World Championships next year. What are your expectations? 
Paul Bush: Scotland is the perfect stage for events and in additional to our great range of annual events, we all have a number of exciting major events in the pipeline including The Tall Ships Races in Lerwick, Shetland, next July, 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships at Emirates Arena here in Glasgow, the World Orienteering Championships 2024 in Edinburgh, and the Orkney 2025 Island Games in addition to the biggest cycling event ever, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
We cannot wait to welcome the world’s best riders from across 13 UCI Cycling World Championships to Glasgow and across Scotland next year. It will be truly memorable not just for what happens across the 13 days in August next year, but also for our wider vision to inspire people to ride bikes and be a catalyst for change across Scotland, before, during and after the event.  Whether it is for health, sport, transport, tourism, industry or events, we want everyone to be able to experience the freedom and joy riding a bike can bring to our lives. Our policy led approach to delivering the event ensures participation, inclusion and accessibility, and sustainability is the focus of our Hub and Spoke delivery model, and I look forward to sharing more on this and our preparations on day two of the conference when I will be joined UCI President, David Lappartient, for the panel session on new event concepts.  
Thank you very much for your time and your support Paul; we’re really looking forward to Host City and the exciting times ahead for events in Scotland. 
Paul Bush: Thank you. I look forward to once again catching up in person with colleagues from across the events sector for a great two days of discussion and debate at the Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow on the 15th to 16th November.

Register for Host City 2022 here: https://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-2022/register

Host City 2022 takes place on 15-16 November, returning to Glasgow, Scotland with an illustrious line-up of international speakers joining in person.

Register here now to be part of the greatest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events.

The conference opens with Keynote Addresses on the conference theme of Face to Face with the New Realities from Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland and Ivo Ferriani, President, GAISF, SportAccord, AWOIF and IBSF, who are joined on the opening panel by Susan Deighan, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life, Sam Ramsamy, Honorary Member, IOC and Vice President, FINA and David De Behr, Head of Sales, Major Events, Aggreko.

The panel New Event Concepts – Disruption and Synergy stars Beng Choo Low, Secretary General, World Baseball-Softball Confederation, Tine Eriksen Green, Head of Major Events, City of Copenhagen, Prof. Andy Miah, Metaverse Council & Commission Member, Global Esports Federation and Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA and Robbie Clyde, Head of EventScotland.

A panel of experts including Alice John, Head of Economic Growth and Development Advisory, Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, Brendan Williams, Chair of the Athletes Advisory Commission, Commonwealth Games Federation and Mate Bor, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President, FITEQ Jonathan Coates, Marketing, Communications and Events Manager, ESA (European Sponsorship Association) and Communications Manager, UIPM and Mike Laflin, Director, Total Analysis explore the mindset of The Future Fan, following a Case Study from Antony Warren, Head of Business Development, World Supercross Championship (WSX).

Ian Ward, Leader, Birmingham City Council joins for a speech and Q&A on the delivery and legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A panel on Partnership Paradigms of Event Hosting and Delivery stars Hilary Atkinson, Director, FIH Pro League & Olympic Games, International Hockey Federation (FIH); Julia Amour, Director, Festivals Edinburgh, Helen Marriage, Director, Artichoke and Jonny Gray, Senior Managing Director, Ankura.

Stefano Manelli, Director, Citec Italy and Transportation Supervisor of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 gives an update on preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Yiannis Exarchos, Director, Olympic Channel Services, International Olympic Committee, John Tweardy, Managing Partner - Olympic, Paralympic & Major Events Practice, Deloitte, Joel Lavery, Strategic Lead Major Sporting Events, West Midlands Growth Company and Andy Meikle, Founder and CEO, Recast and Martin Fitchie, Director, Motion Technology Services join forces to Unlock the Power of Technology to Deliver Events to Fans.

A Case Study on the Tour de France Grand Départ Copenhagen Denmark 2022 follows, from Iben Rønholt, Deputy Head of Office, and Tine Eriksen Green, Head of Major Events, City of Copenhagen.

How Events Make a “World Sports Capital” is the topic tackled by Debra Gawrych, Secretary General, International Federation of Sport Climbing, Liese Abili, Vice President of Sports Development at the Florida Sports Foundation, Mathew Ratner, Associate Director, Sports & Entertainment Tourism, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Miami, Jennifer Arnold, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, U.S. Soccer Foundation and David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships Offi cer, Centre for Sports and Human Rights.

Day One closes with Keynote Addresses in the City Chambers from Sir Craig Reedie GBE, Honorary Member, International Olympic Committee and Bailee Leòdhas Massie, Glasgow City Council.

Day Two kicks off with a panel on Cities of the Future starring Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH – International Association of Horticultural Producers; Maxwell de Silva, Secretary General, National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka; Carine Saloffe-Coste, Head of Green Spaces and Environment, City of Paris and Andrew Dixon, Director, Culture, Creativity, Place.

David Lappartient, President, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) joins Paul Bush OBE for a Q&A with Martin Ross, Global News Editor, SportBusiness on Showcasing the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

Aggreko sponsor the panel Sustainability Solutions in Action, starring Georgina Grenon, Director of Environmental Excellence, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Arlette Anderson, Director of Sustainable Golf, The R&A, David Stubbs, Independent Sustainability Expert and Daniel Cordey, Chairman, Association of Global Event Suppliers.

Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Vice President, Badminton World Federation and IOC Member, Jennifer Arnold, Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications, U.S. Soccer Foundation, Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, Global Sports Leader and Claire Nelson, CEO, Netball Scotland join Duncan Mackay, Founding Editor of insidethegames.biz for the panel on The Rise of Women's Sport and Entertainment.

Justifying the Impact and Benefit of Events is the topic for Toni Jorba, Head of Event Operations, World Athletics, Jack Nixon, Strategy Director, Nielsen Sports, Perttu Pesä, Director, Major Events, City of Tampere and Iain Edmondson, Honorary Member, IAEH.

The conference closes on a positive note, with Martin Boyle, CEO, The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), Jason Ferguson, Chairman, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, Gayle Shepherd, Director of People, Projects and Technology, Scottish Event Campus (SEC) and Chris Barrett, Editor, Access All Areas setting out how to Design a Better Events Industry.

Host City 2022 takes place at the Technology & Innovation Centre, Glasgow with the support of Global Presenting Partners and Hosts, EventScotland and Glasgow Life. To register visit https://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-2022/register and for further information contact ben.avison@hostcity.com.

Notes to Editors

Host City 2022 is supported by EventScotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow Convention Bureau.

Press can register for free here https://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-2022/register using the code MEDIAFREE

The opening panel, looking at the forces shaping today’s events industry, features Ivo Ferriani, President, GAISF, SportAccord, AWOIF and IBSF, Sam Ramsamy, Honorary Member, IOC and Vice President, FINA, Susan Deighan, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life and David De Behr, Head of Sales, Major Events, Aggreko. 

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland and David Lappartient, President, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) share their exclusive top-level insights into plans for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, the mega event hosted by Glasgow and across Scotland. 

The question of how to actively implement sustainability solutions is high on the agenda, with Arlette Anderson, Director of Sustainable Golf, The R&A and Carine Saloffe-Coste, Head of Green Spaces and Environment, City of Paris joined by Georgina Grenon, Director of Environmental Excellence, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Yiannis Exarchos, Director, Olympic Channel Services, International Olympic Committee, Kelly Fairweather, Chief Executive Officer, International Tennis Federation and Andy Meikle, Founder and CEO, Recast set out how to unlock the power of technology to deliver events to fans. 

Fanta Diallo, Director of Youth Engagement, Organising Committee of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and Brendan Williams, Chair of the Athletes Advisory Commission, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) give insights into the mindset of the future fan. 

Beng Choo Low, Secretary General, World Baseball-Softball Confederation, Tine Eriksen Green, Head of Project Tour de France, City of Copenhagen and Prof. Andy Miah, Metaverse Council & Commission Member, Global Esports Federation explore new event concepts. 

The rise of women's sport and entertainment is addressed by Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, IOC Member and Deputy President, Badminton World Federation, Jennifer Arnold, Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications, U.S. Soccer Foundation and Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, Managing Director, Global Sports Leader.

Julia Amour, Director, Festivals Edinburgh and Helen Marriage, Director, Artichoke join with Senthil Gopinath, CEO, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and Hilary Atkinson, Director, FIH Pro League & Olympic Games, International Hockey Federation (FIH) to share partnership paradigms of event hosting and delivery. 

Vlad Marinescu, Director General, International Judo Federation and Martin Boyle, CEO, The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) share their views on how to design a better events industry.  

Debra Gawrych, Secretary General, International Federation of Sport Climbing, Liese Abili, Vice President of Sports Development at the Florida Sports Foundation and Mathew Ratner, Associate Director, Sports & Entertainment Tourism, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Miami look at how major events can benefit host cities.

Other speakers coming to Glasgow include Lars Lundov, CEO, Sport Event Denmark, Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH – International Association of Horticultural Producers, Maxwell de Silva, Secretary General, National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, Andrew Dixon, Director, Culture, Creativity, Place, Jason Ferguson, Chairman, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, James Latham, Producer, The Iceberg (JMIC), senior representation from the World Curling Federation and many more to be announced.  

Host City 2022 takes place with the support of Global Presenting Partners and Host, EventScotland and Glasgow Life.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland, said: Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland, said: "EventScotland is delighted to continue its strong headline partnership with Host City, having been a supporter of the conference since its inception in 2014.

“The economic and social benefits of sporting, cultural and business events are widely recognised. Events help support jobs, both directly within the industry as well as in wider sectors including tourism and hospitality, and make a valuable contribution towards our health and wellbeing. This year’s conference theme of ‘Face to Face with the New Realities’ will ensure as an industry we can continue to deliver these key benefits as part of the dynamic and ever-changing world we operate in. 

“I look forward to see you all in November and hearing from the esteemed line up of speakers the Host City team has assembled.” 

Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, said: “As one of the world’s leading host cities for major cultural, sports and business events, Glasgow has a strong, long-standing partnership with the Host City Conference and Exhibition, and we’re delighted to be welcoming it back to our city for the eighth consecutive year. 

“This year’s conference will provide an invaluable opportunity for destination representatives, rightsholders, organising committees and suppliers from all over the world to reconnect and share their expertise, experience, and best practice. 

“And as cities everywhere continue to focus on post-pandemic recovery, there has never been a more important time to discuss the future of our events landscape; from creating genuine legacies and ensuring the positive impact of events benefits local communities, to designing and adapting events with sustainability in mind, and looking at new models for engaging and attracting more diverse audiences, as well as the role events can play in supporting a wider health and wellbeing agenda, and the regeneration of the visitor economy.”    

For sponsorship and participation enquiries contact adam.soroka@cavendishgroup.co.uk or ben.avison@hostcity.com
For more information visit www.hostcity.com
 
Host City 2022 is supported by EventScotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow Convention Bureau.

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

Host City 2022 builds on the phenomenal success of recent digital editions and anticipates a welcome return to face-to-face content, exhibition and networking in the Technology and Innovation Centre, where Host City was staged from 2015 to 2019.
By 2019, Host City attracted 350 delegates and 35 exhibitors to Glasgow. Host City’s growth continued online through the pandemic, reaching 500 to 1000 attendees in 2020 and 2021. The brand is also expanding globally, with the second Host City Americas taking place online on 29 June.
Host City 2022 is supported by EventScotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow Convention Bureau Scotland and Glasgow for the eighth consecutive year.
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland said: "EventScotland has a strong partnership with Host City and we are delighted to be continuing our support of the conference as we welcome it back to Scotland and Glasgow in 2022.
"Over the last 22 months the global events industry has shown its ability to adapt, respond and innovate and as we move forward with optimism, Host City 2022 will once again provide the ideal platform for cities and sport event businesses to come together and share new ideas and best practice.
"We look forward to seeing everyone in person this November."
Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, said: "We’re delighted to welcome Host City back to Glasgow for the eighth time, and for the first in-person event since 2019.
"Like all other cities across the world, Glasgow is intensely focussed on our recovery from the pandemic and a key factor in that recovery is hosting major international events. We’ve got a strong track record in that regard and that’s why we’re, once again, the ideal hosts for the 2022 conference.
"We’re very much looking forward to welcoming all delegates and organisations to the city later this year."
In his opening address to Host City 2021, Ivo Ferriani, President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) and SportAccord said:
"After this invitation I am very much looking forward to come to Scotland. I will come to meet my great maestro Craig Reedie but also my great friend Kate Caithness, President of the World Curling Federation. For sure I cannot wait to visit you in Glasgow, because you are role models for all of us."
Host City’s owner, Cavendish Group is also staging its second Host City Americas event online on 29 June, under the tagline Where Events and Tech Meet.
Ben Avison, Editorial and Conference Director of Host City said "Since its move to Glasgow in 2015, Host City has grown immensely, in both physical and online formats. Two Asian editions and our recent expansion into the Americas have also helped to increase our reach.
"There is immense pent-up demand for the events industry to meet face-to-face in 2022, and there is no better forum than Host City in Glasgow on Scotland’s perfect stage.
"We anticipate an extremely lively gathering on 15-16 November 2022. And with many pressing global issues on the agenda, we can look forward to important exchanges that shape the course of major events for good."
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About Host City
Host City is the event and media brand that connects the owners, hosts and organisers of major events.
Through its conference, exhibition and online publishing platforms, Host City shares best practice within the international community of international sports, business and cultural events.
Host City events are renowned for the highest level of speakers, content and networking.
For more information visit www.hostcity.com or email ben.avison@hostcity.com