A number of high profile figures have confirmed to speak at the Association of Global Event Management (AGES) 2016 annual event, which takes place in St. Augustine, Florida, USA on 29 February and 1 March. 

Internationally recognised figures speaking at the conference on day one of the event include: Gilbert Felli, IOC’s Senior Olympic Games Advisor; 

Jerry Anderson, founder and Senior Principal of Populous; John Baker, VP Games Overlay and Broadcast Integration, Toronto 2015, José Quiñones González, President of the Peruvian Olympic Committee and Member of the board COPAL 2019 (Pan Am and ParaPan Am Games 2019, Lima) and Patrick D. Sandusky, Chief External Affairs Officer, United States Olympic Committee. 

AGES has also announced that former Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli is now an Honorary Member of AGES. 

According to AGES, a large majority of its members, associate members and partners have confirmed their presence at our event. 

AGES also announced that its membership is growing, with two new members joining recently: Pro Construction, a market leader in Poland and that delivers event infrastructure works at international level, and Unitec Systems, a leading event supplier in Korea specialising in seating. 

The AGES 2016 event is hosted by CAT ES, an AGES member and leading supplier of temporary power.

The second day of the event will include presentations from AGES partners EY and SOS Global, as well as working group activities. 

One working group is developing a state-of-the art contract template for the delivery of overlay works while another is elaborating a table showing temporary import and export provisions for all major large events until 2020. 

AGES members ES Global, GL events, Nüssli and MTD have delegated experts to these working groups. AGES says it will focus on finding suitable industry partners in the area of technology and sustainability in 2016. 

For more information visit www.ages.international

The Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES) and SOS Global Express has signed a three year agreement for “Logistics and Transportation” under the AGES Industry Partnership Program. 

“SOS Global is honoured to team up with AGES as their Logistics Partner,” said Stephen O’Connell, Vice President of SOS Global.

“Since we started the company in 1986 we have consistently expanded our reach into Global Events and we believe this Partnership is a natural expansion that will benefit all involved.” 

With the expertise and support of SOS Global AGES will develop new standards, procedures and other tools to increase efficiency and reduce costs for event logistics.

“It is not just about reliability and costs. Through our partnership we want to explore and find smarter solutions for our industry”, said Daniel Cordey, chairman of AGES. 

The Industry Partnership Program is a program created by AGES for leading industrial companies who are directly connected with the business of its members and are willing to support the initiatives of AGES in specific thematic categories. Through knowledge transfer and active involvement by the partners, the IPP shall contribute to the elaboration of new standards and policies for the event suppliers industry. AGES and EY recently signed a partnership for the category “Assurance, Tax and Legal”. 

SOS Global Express has provided freight forwarding and logistics for global events from the 1987 NFL Super Bowl and 1988 Olympic Games to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, Nanjing Youth Olympic Games and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. 

Daniel Cordey, who was an executive director of Nüssli Group from 1990 to 2014, is moderating the panel discussion on Innovations in Event Infrastructure at HOST CITY 2015, the leading EU-based meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, which takes place in Glasgow on 9th to 10th November.

The Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES) has launched its Industry Partner Program with a partnership with EY (Ernst & Young). Representing the category “Assurance, Tax and Legal”, EY will use its expertise to support AGES in developing standards, procedures and any other appropriate tools to support the members of AGES when developing their business.

“Our members often need to assess business opportunities outside their core markets quickly and comprehensively before they enter into any commitments,” said Daniel Cordey, chairman of AGES.

“It is key to know exactly the import and export regulations or the tax implications when delivering works at an event in a new country, so we are pleased to get the expertise of EY to elaborate the necessary tools.”

EY has already supported AGES members. Wim Kurvers, partner at EY said “In recent years, sustainability has become one of the most important criteria in organizing large events. This has led to a significant increase in the use of temporary infrastructures.

“We see our partnership with AGES as a unique opportunity to further develop this fast growing industry and thus help building a better working world.”

AGES’ Industry Partner Program (IPP) is created for leading industrial companies who are directly connected with the business of its members and associate members and are willing to support the objectives of AGES in specific thematic categories.

Through knowledge transfer and active involvement by the partners, new standards and policies will be established for the event suppliers industry.

The IPP has identified 5 categories and AGES is now seeking an industry Partner for each of these categories.

The Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Switzerland which has been formed to become the label for quality and reliability for temporary infrastructure works for major events.

[Source: Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES)] With the increasing demands on infrastructure, the limited lead-time and the ever louder call from an increasingly sceptical public for cost effective and sustainable solutions, temporary event infrastructure – often described as event overlays – has become an indispensable factor for event organisers and city authorities.

And yet, the event suppliers’ industry has been challenged by respected commentators suggesting that “organisers often do not understand your business”. In March 2019 AGES stepped forward to take up that challenge with the publication of the “Practice Guide for the Planning, Procurement and Delivery of Temporary Infrastructure for Major Events”, Part I General Information. Development of the response has continued, and AGES now releases a second volume to the Guide, Part II Technical information.

This latest volume has been elaborated by a group of authors and overlay professionals, each with profound international experience in their field, coordinated, guided, and supervised by AGES.

The Guide, as a whole, provides an inclusive, encyclopaedic reference for event organisers, building authorities, governmental bodies, students, educators and educational establishments; in fact, all those involved in event infrastructure. It offers introductory and contextual information, general information, and technical information, to become the international advisory document.

In particular, this 300-page volume includes the sections, Products, Services and Regulatory Framework, providing technical and illustrative information and references and deals with the large majority of the temporary works categories and technical services used by organisers of large events.

Each volume of the “Practice Guide for the Planning, Procurement and Delivery of Temporary Infrastructure for Major Events”, Part I General Information and Part II Technical Information is now available, at  https://www.ages.international/shop/ which also offers informative previews of both publications.

About AGES

The Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES) is a none-for-profit organization based in Switzerland which was formed 2014 to become the label for quality and reliability for temporary and demountable infrastructure works for major events.

The worldwide members are market leaders and front runners in the development of new products and services; each has a unique track record and outstanding work experience. Together they provide services worth over EUR 2 billion each year.

AGES wants to address the capabilities of the industry to organizers of large sports events, governmental bodies and building authorities to enhance and expand opportunities for hosting to a wider pool of venues, cities and nations; to facilitate interactions between hosts and industry, and to improve the viability, sustainability and cost- effectiveness of solutions through the creative use of temporary infrastructure.

For more information visit  www.ages.international contact Daniel Cordey, Chairman at info@ages.international or by telephone +41 79 407 06 06.

A major event brings together players from many industries. It is a temporary city, a microcosm of society, that requires power, transport, infrastructure, lighting, project management and so on – many of which are provided by private companies on short term contracts. Coordinating this is inevitably more complex than for a permanent economy with an established supply chain for its services.

Considering the sheer amount of products, services and equipment required to stage a major event like an Olympic Games or a major festival, you would think that it would be easy for any number of suppliers to get involved.

Sadly though, not everyone knows how to access these major event procurement opportunities.

What are the barriers to getting involved in major event projects?

Firstly, when it comes to a mega event like the Olympic Games, they generally involve a large proportion of public funding. This means organisers are under great pressure from the public, amplified by the press, to demonstrate how funds are being distributed.

This can result in protectionism, incentivising domestic companies and making the procurement process less attractive to overseas providers. Or some processes can result in projects being contracted to the lowest bidder rather than the best solution provider.

In other cases, there can be a lack of transparency. Half of the stadiums used for the FIFA 2014 World Cup have come under scrutiny for alleged irregularities and bribery, with officials having been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for contracts.

Other barriers to contract opportunities come from within. A company may simply not have enough contacts or experience in the major events sectors, or the confidence to gain those contacts. While there is not a lot a private company can do about how procurement processes are run, there is a lot that can be done to raise your profile and gain confidence.

Top tips for smaller suppliers

1. Promote your activities through the media. Talk about your event successes at every opportunity – be active and build up a following on social media, engage in conversations, become known in your field.

2. Get involved in events of all sizes. It’s not all about the Olympic Games. Annual festivals and smaller local events provide constant earning opportunities and are easier to establish long-term relationships with.

3. Get Networking. Come to the best events in the sector where you get face to face with buyers. Events like Host City and the Event Production Show are all about the business of hosting major events.

4. Join an association. These can offer great advice and support from other members and confer quality status on their members. For example, Host City 2019’s Strategic Partners are the leading international associations in the event hosting supply chain.

5. Always believe in your soul. You are gold!

What is the Department for International Trade responsible for?
“We are a UK government department working with businesses based in the United Kingdom to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice. Trade and Investment has never been more important to the country’s economic prospects. We help UK companies of all sizes to grow their businesses through international trade by offering expert advice and practical support through a range of programmes. We also connect businesses to the world’s top commercial opportunities and drive targeted campaigns centred around them.”

Why is the major sports event sector a key focus for you?
“The budgets for the world’s Top 50 major sporting events between 2016 and 2025 are estimated to be worth a total £230 billion. With 30% of procurement made internationally, this creates a potential export market of nearly £70 billion for UK companies. Obviously the Olympic Games is a key focus for the companies we work with, but we have been encouraging them to remember that there are also opportunities to explore around the Paralympics which we feel don’t always get the exposure they deserve.”

Have UK companies been particularly successful in securing business at Rio 2016?
“The special relationship that exists between countries that host back-to-back Olympic and Paralympic Games, and enhanced through a yearly UK-Brazil dialogue which has taken place since 2012, has led to 40 UK companies winning contracts worth so far in excess of £150m from the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Some of the areas where UK companies have been successful include: Architectural and design consultancy, Olympic Park Masterplan, Venue design consultancy, Security consultancy, Engineering and sustainability consultancy, Audio and video operations, Temporary structures and event overlay consultancy, Cost Consultancy, Temporary Kitchens.”

What is the Department for International Trade’s history with the IPC Academy Campus?
“The UK government has  been involved with the IPC Academy Campus since the London 2012 Paralympics where we sponsored and hosted the Inclusion Summit which was a great success. Apart from the insightful programme and networking, it was an opportunity for us to make the event venue - Lancaster House - accessible for people with physical impairments for the first time ever through the fitting of wheelchair ramps for example. For Sochi 2014, we sponsored the Closing Cocktail Reception at the Campus.”

What will you be sponsoring specifically at the 2016 IPC Academy Campus in Rio?
“As was the case in Sochi, we will be sponsoring the Closing Cocktail Reception. This will bring proceedings of the 2016 IPC Academy Campus to a close on the relaxed roof terrace surroundings of the British House at the Shopping Metropolitano Barra. The reception will offer networking opportunities for all IPC Academy Campus participants and act as a ‘graduation ceremony’ for the Campus. Approximately 400-500 people will come together to celebrate the success of the Campus and will be the biggest event-learning gathering of major sport event organisers and their stakeholders ever held in the world. It really is a unique opportunity to rub shoulders with a wide range of people from the major events industry who have attended the Campus and also with industry people from Brazil and the UK who we will be inviting.”

Are you pleased with the engagement you have had from UK companies for the Paralympics and the Campus?
“Yes, definitely. We are bringing over a delegation of UK companies who are a mixture of ones familiar with the industry and others who are keen to explore new opportunities that may be linked to the Paralympics or other major events. In the coming weeks we will be working with them to ensure they get the most out of the trip and the opportunities that come within the unique environment of the Campus.”

What is your advice to organisations attending the IPC Academy Campus for the first time?
“What was great about the last Campus was being asked to stand up at the beginning of the Games Experience Programme and to go and speak to five new people that we had never met before. That was a great ice breaker and really got people integrating. Often people attend events like these and spend the whole time speaking to people they know already and that can be a wasted opportunity to not only to make new friends of course, but also to source new business opportunities. My advice for anyone attending Campus is to make the most of networking with the wide variety of people there and also to learn what you can from the experts who will be hosting the various elements.”

This interview was conducted by the World Academy of Sport (WAoS). Delivered by the IPC Academy – the International Paralympic Committee’s educational division created in 2009 as a partnership between the IPC and the WAoS – the 2016 IPC Academy Campus is a unique event-based learning initiative that will include an Observers’ Programme, Games Experience Programme, Inclusion Summit and Closing Cocktail Reception. The IPC Academy Campus will give stakeholders of major sports events the chance to learn from their peers during the Paralympic Games.
The IPC Academy Campus takes place in Rio de Janeiro between 6-17 September 2016. Its Event Partners include the Adecco Group and the UK’s Department for International Trade. Its Media Partners are Sportcal (Intelligence Partner), Major Events International (Digest Partner), Around the Rings (Online Partner), Host City (Magazine Partner) and AXS Chat (Social Media Partner). For further information about the the IPC Academy Campus, please visit www.ipcacademycampus.com or contact Claire Bennett, Project Coordinator, World Academy of Sport cbennett@worldacademysport.com.