300 delegates and 30 exhibitors from all around the world gathered in Glasgow over two days to hear a range of high-profile speakers from the fields of sport, culture, business and medicine deliver discussion and debate around the theme “Innovate; Reformulate; Co-Create”.

Speakers tackled a vast array of different topics including the drive for sustainability, community engagement, creating partnerships, addressing equality imbalance and adapting events to meet the needs of the digital era.

In her keynote address, Dame Louise Martin DBE, President, of the Commonwealth Games Federation, underlined how vital it has become for different parties to co-create and reformulate to deliver the best events possible.

She said: “Now more than ever, it is essential for rights holders and federations to collaborate with host city partners and stakeholders to develop sustainable, impactful, world-class and community-relevant events that engage and benefit the widest possible audience.

“I feel extremely optimistic about the future of Commonwealth Sport. There is still much to be done but we are very confident, although never complacent, about the positive impact and huge success that can be derived from Birmingham 2022 and beyond.

“The three pillars of this conference – Innovate, Reformulate, Cocreate – map almost exactly to three of our four strategic objectives. The one not covered is our final pillar in the strategic plan: our collective impact. That fundamentally drives our vision.

“Let’s make sure we widen the conversation beyond delivery and collaboration to our wider purpose. Let’s think not just about our models but our meaning.”

One of the best examples of co-creation in event planning was the 2018 European Championships co-hosted by Berlin and Glasgow.

Stefan Kuerten, Executive Director at Eurovision Sport, gave some insight into the process.

He said: “We had to do something for European sport. There was a risk in a few sports of the level of interest in their European Championships going down. So we put seven of them together to create a new event.

“We looked at cities that might be interested and two stood out: Glasgow and Berlin. They both had the same complaints and questions about sharing the event. But they understood that sharing was better as it helped reduce the cost. Both cities discovered that one plus one didn’t make two but three.”

Sven Bossu, Head of Innovation, ESTRO (European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology), revealed that planning medical events also requires co-operation with others and the need to engage with the local community.

He explained: “Our yearly congress welcomes 6500 people for four days. But we had to ask if it was having a positive impact on patients in that region. And the answer was no. We couldn’t end our annual congress, but we wanted to reinvent the process for selecting a host city.

“Of course, we wanted it have all the functional things we needed for a conference. But we also wanted to integrate a project that could be shaped and managed to have an impact on cancer patients in that region.”

Emily Blitz, Director of Conferences of the International AIDS Society, added: “Ours is a scientific conference. But because of the nature of HIV it goes beyond scientists to the people most affected.

“At our conference we also have an exhibition and programme that’s open to the local community. It means we can leave a little bit of the experience behind. It makes it more of a global village where research meets the real world.”

Frederik Nemeth, Chief Financial Officer of the Roskilde Festival Group, revealed how events must start to reflect the wishes of a more climate-conscious younger audience or pay the ultimate price.

He said: “The average person coming to our festival is 24 years old and they want to change the world and have no carbon emissions.

“And if we don’t fix that problem the festival will close within the next 10 years. The people won’t come to our event. So we need to address that issue.”

Mandy Keegan, Director of Media Operations at Expo 2020 Dubai, underscored the importance of varying an event’s focus for each of its target markets.

She said: “The biggest issue facing major events today is how you engage with such a wide variety of people around the world. At Expo 2020 Dubai we have so many things happening over the six months of the event. We need to tell our story to so many different types of people. We’re expecting 150000 visitors every day and we need to make it relevant to all of them.”

Markus Stenger, Managing Director of DFB EURO 2024, spoke about the important of co-creating the tournament in conjunction with different parties.

He said: “Everyone is aware that Germany is able to host big major events with infrastructure. But if we want to be successful, we have to deliver more. We’ve really focused on talking to stakeholders but also on listening. What are their demands, hopes and issues? We want to make it a tournament that brings out the best in everyone with transparency, integrity and sustainability.”

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, opened the conference with a keynote speech on his key takeaways from the world of sport in 2019.

He said: “Pay parity for me remains a topical subject in the events world. While tennis may have parity, the majority of other areas in our industry do not. At a recent men’s golf event in the USA the winner earned $1.5m. On the same weekend, at a European women’s tour event the winner got 23,000 Euros. Even here at the home of golf we have some work to do.

“All events require contingency planning but 2019 for me has raised a number of interesting scenarios that should require further consideration. The destruction and tragic loss of life caused by Typhoon Hagibis during the Rugby World Cup left many wanting, exposed and acting in haste.

“In my personal view, it lacked a detailed contingency plan that the event, sport, athletes, media, and supporters should have been afforded.”

Ian Reid, chief executive of the organising committee, spoke about the need to make the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games relevant to the area’s demographics.

He said: “We worked closely with the Federation to create a product that we hope will resonate with the people of the West Midlands. We are really focusing on youth, as Birmingham is the youngest city in Europe.

“So, our sports programme will have beach volleyball and three-on-three basketball, while we want to introduce city centre hubs that work around that with DJs and live site programmes to resonate with a demographic that perhaps hasn’t always engaged with the Commonwealth’s sports programme in the past.”

Dr Bridget McConnell CBE, chief executive of Glasgow Life, also emphasised the need to take local communities with you on the journey that is event planning.

She said: “In the next couple of weeks Glasgow will be awarded the accolade of the world’s top city for festivals and events. And it’s out already that we will be European Capital of Sport in 2023. That’s recognition of Glasgow seeing culture, sport and events as a way to regenerate the city.

“But I think this conference has to be aware of the very real challenges facing cities like Glasgow which is pressures on public funding for other priorities such as social care and education. The losers will often be the kinds of services like the ones we are delivering.”

David Lappartient, President, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) spoke about the need to co-create to deliver the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.

“Having strong partnerships is fundamental. If you want to be a huge success everyone has to be on board. And we have been working together with Glasgow to really co-create this.

“Cycling has reacted well to this new vision. We have disciplines that are totally different. But all of them use a bicycle and they are proud to be part of the same event.”

David de Behr, Head of Sales at Aggreko Event Services, spoke about the possibility of co-creating events that provide sustainability solution.

“The Solheim Cup was a huge success and that will change dynamics in the future. Do you bring events together to be sustainable? Could you have the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup at the same time and venue? Men’s and Women’s World Cup also? That is something to think about if you want to be sustainable.”

Sarah Lewis OBE, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the Association of Winter Olympic International Federations (AIOWF), said: “From the context of co-creation in the six FIS ski and snowboard disciplines which are on the Olympic Winter Games programme, they have diverse characteristics and wide range of cities, resorts and venues.

“Co-creation and partnerships are different depending on locations. So the model can’t be one size fits all. You have to find different ways of working together to achieve successful events. That's the key.”

Sir Craig Reedie GBE, Member of the International Olympic Committee, gave a heart-warming answer to the question of legacy definition.

“At London 2012, we rebuilt a scene of industrial devastation and turned it into a magical venue. Figures produced six months ago showed that within the six boroughs surrounding the London Stadium since the end of the Olympic Games there have been 125,000 new jobs. I don’t know what the definition of legacy is but that’s pretty high in my book.

“And there is supposed to be another 135,000 more jobs planned by 2030. So, I’m sure when the IOC get their minds around that they’ll be happy with that.”

In the run up to Host City 2019, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, Glasgow has been identified as the UK’s most cultural and creative city.

The latest recognition follows the city being named European Capital of Sport for 2023, and one of the world’s most sustainable business event destinations – all three accolades arriving in the space of just a few days.

[Source: SEC]: The naming of Glasgow as the UK’s top cultural and creative city is part of a landmark report by the European Commission.

The report puts Glasgow ahead of London, Bristol, Brighton and Manchester which make up the rest of the top five in the UK. Edinburgh is ranked 6^th in the list. As befits the city’s ‘People Make Glasgow’ slogan, the report also ranked Glasgow as Europe’s leader for ‘openness, tolerance and trust’.

The Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor 2019 report looked at 190 cities from across 30 European countries and ranks 29 different aspects of a city’s cultural health, including its cultural vibrancy, creative economy and ability to attract creative talent and stimulate cultural engagement.

The report states: “Glasgow was one of the first European Capitals of Culture, in 1990. Known as an industrial city, it has now gained recognition as a creative and cultural centre of European importance.”

Dr Bridget McConnell CBE, the Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “We always knew Glasgow was a global cultural leader and we’re delighted that the European Commission has confirmed our position of the UK’s leading cultural and creative city.

“Glasgow is a city bursting with energy, passion and creativity and filled with artists, designers, creators and innovators. We have world-class museums and galleries, incredible architecture and history and as a UNESCO City of Music, there’s nowhere better to enjoy a gig. A focus for the performing arts and a hub for the creative industries, it’s no wonder that we’ve come out top of the ranking.

“What’s more, our openness, tolerance and trust has been rated as the best in Europe, confirming what we already know, that our people make Glasgow the best city in the world.”

Glasgow is home to more than 100 cultural organisations and five of Scotland’s six internationally renowned national performing arts companies, namely the Royal Scottish National Orchestra; National Theatre of Scotland; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet. It is also home to music venues including the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City Halls and Old Fruitmarket.

More people visit Glasgow’s museums each year than in any other UK city outside of London, with both Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Riverside Museum attracting more than 1.3 million visits each in the last year. The city is also investing £66 million in a full refurbishment and redisplay of The Burrell Collection, which is set to re-open to the public in 2021. Glasgow’s nine city museums are home to Europe’s largest civic arts collection, with masterpieces by Dali, Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, Whistler and Monet as well as stunning works by the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists – all on show for free in the city’s museums. In terms of contemporary art, Glasgow has no fewer than eight Turner Prize winners and 12 nominees who have hailed from, trained in, or worked out of the city in recent years.

The city is also the place to come to admire the genius of architect and designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, or a gig at the SSE Hydro which in 2018 was named the world’s best performing music venue by size, or to enjoy shows by trailblazing companies such as The Citizen’s Theatre. Glasgow is also home to a year-round calendar of major cultural events from the UK’s biggest Mela to the Merchant City Festival and the World Pipe Band Championships. Every January, the city’s Celtic Connections festival welcomes more than 2,000 artists from across the globe to take part in some 300 events on 35 city stages as part of an incredible celebration of traditional and folk music. The city is also home to the Glasgow Jazz Festival, Glasgow International Comedy Festival and the Glasgow Film Festival.

Dr McConnell added: “We’re proud to have a huge and diverse cultural offer that’s open to everyone, whether that’s enjoying a community pantomime in venues across the city or being inspired in our world-class museums. We also recognise that we need to invest in our cultural legacy and we are doing just that with a £66 million refurbishment of The Burrell Collection. I have no doubt that when we once again reveal Sir William’s incredible gift in its new home, Glasgow’s cultural credentials will be lifted to even greater heights.”

Work is progressing on a new Culture Plan for Glasgow which will set out ambitious new targets to build the city’s reputation as globally recognised creative and cultural world city, with citizens at its heart.

Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE is speaking on the opening panel of Host City 2019, “Let’s Do This Together!” on 26-27 November in Glasgow. Register here.

[Source: Glasgow Convention Bureau] Glasgow has been recognised as one of the world’s top five cities for its commitment to sustainable business tourism.

The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) published its 2019 rankings today (Thursday, October 31), with Scotland’s largest city climbing three places from joint-seventh to fourth.

The announcement comes at the close of the 58th annual International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) World Congress, which has been taking place in Houston, Texas this week.

It’s a huge boost for Glasgow as the city prepares to host the United Nations’ 26th Conference of the Parties Climate Change Conference (COP26) next year.

Governments and destinations around the world are responding to the global climate emergency and Glasgow’s ambitions include a pledge to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030. The Scottish Government has set a net zero emissions target for Scotland by 2045.

The GDS Index was launched in 2016 and promotes responsible business tourism best practice.

Compiled by global sustainability academics and policymakers, it ranks nearly 60 cities around the world based on four key criteria – environmental strategy and infrastructure; social sustainability performance; the strategy of the host city’s Convention Bureau; and industry supply chain support (from the likes of convention centres, meetings venues, hotels, restaurants and transport operators).

To date, Glasgow remains the only UK city to feature in the Index, which also includes Sydney, Barcelona and Kyoto.

Glasgow’s ranking recognises the city’s People Make Glasgow Greener campaign, which was launched by Glasgow Convention Bureau in 2017 and updated again this year.

A key feature of the campaign is a toolkit identifying some of the city’s leading sustainable businesses – from hotels and restaurants to conference venues, transport operators and corporate entertainment providers. It’s geared at simplifying the process of organising a sustainable conference in Glasgow and helping meetings organisers to find the services they require from suppliers with similar green objectives.

Glasgow’s ambition is to be at the forefront on climate action and we are determined to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030 and a world-leading centre for sustainable policy and innovation.

Being named as one of the world’s top five sustainable conference and business events destinations by the Global Destination Sustainability Index shows the great strides that we are making in that respect.

Glasgow is home to some of the world’s biggest energy companies and we’re internationally recognised as having one of the healthiest and most diverse energy industries globally; particularly in terms of low carbon industries, which has had a hugely positive impact on the volume of conferences that we’re attracting in these sectors.

Glasgow hosted 25 energy, sustainability and carbon reduction related conferences in the 2018/19 financial year, boosting the city’s economy by nearly £8m.

Aileen Crawford, Head of Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau said: “Today’s announcement is a fantastic achievement for Glasgow and it would not have been possible without strong partnership working and collaboration between the city’s tourism sector, academic and business communities, and the City Government.

Kathleen Warden, Director of Conferences Sales at the SEC said: “This is fantastic news for the city and we are proud to play a key role in helping to position Glasgow as the world’s 4th most sustainable conference destination. At the same time, being named a finalist for the GDS-Index’s Leadership in Sustainability Award is testament to our ambitious goals as a city.

“The SEC has been nominated to host COP26, which will put both our venue and the city on the global stage in terms of showcasing our green credentials. This is an incredibly important event for Glasgow, Scotland and the UK at a crucial time for governments across the world as they address climate change. We’re looking forward to working with partners across the city to build on our sustainability efforts and ensuring that we provide the best possible environment for world-class events.”

Guy Bigwood, Managing Director of the GDS-Index said: “Glasgow as a meetings and events destination has made a significant jump in sustainability performance in 2019. We are delighted to see that a UK city has risen to number 4 in the Global rankings, and has a strong strategy to develop even further. Glasgow is in the first division of pioneering cities that is defining what sustainability leadership stands for.”

[Source: Glasgow Life] British Athletics has today confirmed Glasgow as the host city for the 2020 British Indoor Season, with TWO major events being staged at the Emirates Arena in February.

The events will mark the start of the 2020 competition countdown to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. World class athletes will compete at Emirates Arena for the Müller Indoor Grand Prix on 15 February 2020, before the city hosts the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships for the first time ever between 22-23 February 2020, as athletes bid to qualify for March’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.

The Müller Indoor Grand Prix is the number one ranked Indoor meet in the world as the planet’s best athletes arrive in the city for an incredible afternoon of world-class sport.

Major Events Director for British Athletics, Cherry Alexander OBE, says Glasgow is the perfect venue for the 2020 Indoor Season: “The Müller Indoor Grand Prix will be best indoor event ever staged in Scotland, with athletics fans in for a treat as world stars come to town. Olympic and Paralympic year is always very special and I am sure that the atmosphere will be amazing at Emirates Arena.

“Staging the British Athletics Indoor Season in Glasgow truly reflects the UK-wide interest in our sport and I am proud that we are taking the SPAR British Indoor Championships to Scotland for the first time – it is long overdue. This announcement demonstrates the strength of collaboration between British Athletics and our home nations athletics partners”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events and I’m delighted Glasgow has been chosen to host this historic double-header. The city has a proud history of hosting athletics events as shown by the successful delivery of this year’s European Athletics Indoor Championships.

“Events play a key role in our visitor economy and these two outstanding athletics events in Glasgow next February reaffirms the Scotland’s position as a world-leading events destination.”

Billy Garrett, Director of Sport and Events at Glasgow Life said: “Glasgow is one of the world’s top five sporting cities and we’re proud to be the first Scottish host of the SPAR British Indoor Championships, as well as welcoming back the Müller Indoor Grand Prix to the city once again.

“Major events have a track record in getting more people, young and old, interested in sport and, as a city with a history of providing a strong legacy from sporting events, we have no doubt that these February 2020 events will have just as positive an impact.”

Guy Learmonth, Scottish and Great British Athlete, said: “It’s incredible – for British Athletics to share the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships across the UK, and to bring it to Glasgow for the first time, it’s massive for Scottish athletes and for the fans. With the Müller Indoor Grand Prix as well, crowds are going to see world-class athletics over back-to-back weekends.

“2020 will be such an important year with the Olympics, so to have these events in Scotland act as a springboard for the IAAF World Indoor Championships and for Tokyo as well, it’s just such a good feeling. It’s back home, on my doorstep, so for Scottish Athletics and for Scotland to have this all here – we’ll all step up our game.

“I’ve won two British indoor titles – adding a third on home soil would be huge”.

Ahead of the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow and SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships heading to Glasgow on 15 February and 22-23 February respectively, fans can register for news updates and ticketing information by signing up to the British Athletics mailing list via www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/2020-event-registration.

[Source: EventScotland] Scotland’s position as a world-leading host for major events has been reaffirmed with the announcement on 8^th February that it has been awarded the inaugural Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Cycling World Championships in 2023.

The Championships, which will take place at venues in Glasgow and across Scotland over two weeks in August 2023, has been awarded in recognition of the country’s proven expertise in delivering world-class and ground-breaking events.

The vision of UCI President, David Lappartient, this historic and innovative event will bring together 13 existing individual World Championships cycling disciplines into one mega event for the first time. The Championships will bring together thousands of the world’s best cyclists all vying to win the iconic rainbow jersey, in what will become the world’s biggest cycling event, broadcast to a global audience.

Speaking at today’s announcement at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, UCI President David Lappartient, said: I am delighted that the UCI has today awarded the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to Glasgow and Scotland. The creation and the implementation of this event was one of the commitments I had made during my campaign for UCI presidency and I am proud to have fulfilled it. I wish to thank EventScotland, Glasgow Life, UK Sport and British Cycling for their enthusiastic involvement in the very first edition of this historic event, which will uniquely showcase our sport and its different disciplines on an international stage. Glasgow and Scotland has a great deal of experience in the organisation of major sporting events, notably multi-sports, such as the first edition of the European Sports Championships that it organised in 2018. I am convinced that the UCI Cycling World Championships will be a great success, and I look forward enormously to preparing them with our Scottish partners.”

Both Glasgow and Scotland’s records are self-evident when it comes to delivering mega events, having hosted some of the world’s biggest sporting events in recent years; including the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 Ryder Cup and Glasgow 2018 European Championships, with the 2019 Solheim Cup and UEFA EURO 2020 to come over the next 18 months.

It is this unrivalled events experience, which also includes such cycling events as the annual Mercedes Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William, the 2007 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, OVO Energy Tour of Britain and the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in recent years, which made Scotland the UCI’s destination to host the maiden edition of what is destined to become every four years an outstanding fixture of the international cycling competition calendar.

Combined with Glasgow’s existing investment in world-class cycling infrastructure such as the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and the Glasgow BMX Centre in Knightswood, this ensures that Scotland will be able to host this event without having to build any new venues.

The opportunity to be the first-ever hosts of the UCI Cycling World Championships will also provide a visible focus to support the acceleration of a range of local and national policy initiatives across the areas of health, transport, sport and tourism, and which would see Scotland aspire to become one of Europe’s top cycling nations.

Reacting to the news, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said: “As the first ever host of this event, Scotland will cement its position as a leader and innovator in the planning and delivery of major sporting events. It builds upon the successes of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 Ryder Cup and last year’s European Championships.

“Our overall aim is for Scotland to become one of Europe’s top cycling nations with cycling firmly embedded across Scotland as the favoured way to travel to school and work, as an enjoyable leisure activity and an efficient way to improve health.”

Sir Chris Hoy, six-times Olympic gold medallist, said: “To see Glasgow build on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 - and more recently the European Championships - to become the first city to host a combined cycling world championships is a real coup for the city and Scotland. I’m looking forward to witnessing first-hand what I know will be another fantastic event not only on the velodrome track in 2023, but across all disciplines of our great sport.”

Katie Archibald, Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion, said: “I’ve competed in a few major events in Scotland, and they are amongst some of my career highlights thanks to the amazing support myself and my team mates get from the home crowd. The UCI World Championships 2023 sounds really exciting, it’ll be the year before the Paris Olympics, meaning all the nations will be ramping up their preparations so the racing will be great to watch. I also like the idea of being able to support my team mates from other disciplines in their world championships.”

Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life and Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “This is a huge announcement and achievement for the city. Being the first ever hosts of this event – which will become the pinnacle of the international cycling competition calendar – will cement Glasgow and Scotland’s position as a worldwide leader and innovator in the planning and delivery of major sporting events.

“Our city is one of the top five sporting cities in the world, and events like the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will help us continue to climb these rankings and realise our big aspirations. This event will be the biggest event staged in the city, and indeed the country, in the coming years – and we cannot wait to welcome athletes, officials, and spectators from around the world to Glasgow.”

Today’s announcement follows months of work by EventScotland, Glasgow Life, UK Sport and British Cycling to secure the event after the UCI announced its ambition to create this brand new cycling concept back in 2018.

Dame Katherine Grainger, Chair of UK Sport said: “UK Sport is delighted to see that Scotland has been chosen as the first ever host of the exciting new concept that is the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

“The decision from the UCI demonstrates once again that the UK remains a world leading innovator when it comes to hosting global sporting events as well as an open and welcoming place for athletes, coaches and fans across the globe.

“This move provides real confidence as we look to deliver our ambitious event hosting strategy and I would like to thank National Lottery players for their support because it is their backing that will allow us to bring more of the world’s top sporting competition to the UK.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “We are delighted that Scotland has been chosen to host the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023. I’d like to thank President Lappartient and the UCI for awarding the event to Glasgow and Scotland and for trusting us to bring the vision of this exciting and historical new event to fruition. Securing a competition of this global magnitude reinforces Scotland’s position as the perfect stage for events and one of the world’s leading sporting destinations.

“The competition will once again provide another significant opportunity for both visitors and locals to celebrate some of the world’s elite cycling talent across a range of events. We look forward to working closely with UCI and wider partners to deliver this landmark event for Scotland.”

It will also provide opportunities including volunteering and workforce development, as well as supporting British athletes in their preparation and qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Frank Slevin, Chair of British Cycling, said: “At British Cycling, we do not judge the success of major events only by the medals won, but by the numbers of people inspired to get active by getting on their bikes. Hosting the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships reflects the pioneering success of Scotland’s national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage, and also represents an amazing opportunity to transform a whole nation’s relationship with the bicycle. We look forward to working with our colleagues at Scottish Cycling to ensure the benefits of this event will be felt in Scotland long after the final race has been won.”

Today’s announcement highlights the continued success of Scotland’s national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage, in ensuring a solid pipeline of events which deliver sustainable impact and international profile for the country. The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will join a portfolio of major events in the coming years, including The 2019 Solheim Cup and UEFA EURO 2020 and will continue Scotland’s journey to being the perfect stage for events.

The UCI currently stages annual World Championships in each of its disciplines across the year in different host cities around the world. The newly proposed UCI Cycling World Championships will, in a single region, bring 13 disciplines together every four years starting from 2023. These are:

• UCI Road World Championships
• UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships
• UCI Track Cycling World Championships presented by Tissot
• UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships
• UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz
• UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz
• UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships
• UCI Mountain Bike Cross Country Eliminator World Championships
• UCI Trials World Championships
• UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Championships
• UCI BMX World Championships
• UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships
• UCI Gran Fondo World Championships

The organisers of Host City are delighted to announce that the Host City 2019 Expo & Conference will take place in Glasgow across two floors of the Technology & Innovation Centre for two full days on 26th and 27th November, with a welcome reception on 25th.

Now with full run of the entire venue, Host City Expo & Conference has greatly expanded the marketplace of stands and number of attendees.

Extending the programme to two full days gives delegates even more business and networking opportunities around the world class international conference for which the event is famed.

Rights holders and destinations now have even more opportunities to meet, display and present to one another.

Suppliers have greatly increased opportunities to meet, display and present to event organisers, including organising committees and other future event hosts.

- Cities & Destinations: Why should cities host? How do cities attract and bid for events? How do they best engage with their citizens?
- Rights Holders: Discover new hosting opportunities and learn best practice from other event owners.
- Opportunities for suppliers to engage with events organisers, project managers, decision makers, and each other.
- Event Organisers: Learn about successful event hosting from a range of different events of many sizes and profiles

We look forward to welcoming you to Glasgow on 25th November at the largest international meeting of sports, business and cultural events.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Host City organisers if you have any questions.

SPONSORSHIP & DELEGATE ENQUIRIES:
Adam Soroka
Group Managing Director
+44 (0)203 675 9531
adam.soroka@cavendishgroup.co.uk

SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES:
Ben Avison
Editorial and Conference Director
+44 (0)203 675 9530
ben.avison@hostcity.com

(Los Angeles, CA USA)  Following a packed September, which saw the debuts of both the You Got This world tour as well as the Nitro Rallycross competition, Nitro Circus is getting ready to heat up European arenas this winter. Now, with You Got This coming to Glasgow’s SSE Hydro on 21 November, Nitro Circus President Andy Edwards and other company executives will appear at Host City 2018 to detail the youth entertainment brand’s transformative year and its exciting plans for 2019.

To close out the event in high-adrenaline style, Nitro Circus and Host City invite conference attendees to the 21 November You Got This show at the SSE Hydro, as well as take a behind-the-scenes look at the stunt spectacular reviewers are calling, “a must see.” Meet action sports icon and Nitro Circus co-founder Travis Pastrana as well as other Nitro Circus stars. The VIP tour begins at 6:00 PM with the show starting at 7:30 PM.  For more information and to RSVP go here (deadline to RSVP is Monday 19, November) 

With the all-new You Got This tour, Travis Pastrana debuts as executive producer for the greatest, craziest, funniest show in Nitro Circus history. You Got This features multiple X Games medalists and several Nitro World Games champions attempting never before seen feats on a huge stage set. The new 17-metre tall Giganta ramp, incorporating a takeoff kicker that is three metres taller than anything Nitro Circus has toured before, launches BMX, Skate and Scooter athletes five stories into the air. “The tricks are getting out of hand,” Travis Pastrana reports. “The guys are throwing like nothing on this new ramp!”

Pastrana himself also leads an all-star roster of Freestyle Motocross riders who send it with jaw-dropping new tricks, and both sides will battle it out in FMX and Giganta competitions, both for prize money and - even more importantly - bragging rights. Look out for new crazy contraptions, too; who thought that a jet ski should fly? Without a doubt You Got This is totally wide open, with more thrills, more excitement and more irreverence than ever before. For a preview of the thrills Nitro Circus: You Got This has in store for Glasgow fans, go here.

For more Nitro Circus news, including tour updates, exclusive behind-the-scenes content and more, go to http://www.nitrocircus.com and follow Nitro Circus on Instagram and Facebook.

About Nitro Circus:

Nitro Circus, the world’s biggest action sports entertainment brand, creates electrifying live events and unbelievable original content that at once exhilarates, captivates and inspires thrill-seeking fans worldwide.  Co-founded by global superstar Travis Pastrana in 2003, Nitro Circus has since grown into a multiplatform phenomenon producing hit television shows, critically acclaimed documentaries and innovative digital offerings. That success gave rise to the Nitro Circus Live tour. Created in 2010, Nitro Circus Live has travelled the globe, playing to sold-out stadiums on five continents. The company introduced an innovative breakthrough in 2016 with the debut of Nitro World Games, completely rebooting action sports competition in the process. With over three million tickets sold to date, television programming that has aired in over 60 countries, more than 20 million engaged fans across its social media platforms and a burgeoning consumer products business, Nitro Circus is at the forefront of action sports and entertainment. For more information visit www.nitrocircus.com.

About Host City:

Host City Conference & Exhibition evolved from the network that grew out of the HOST City magazine, which is read by event owners, organising committees, cities and suppliers worldwide in their quest to host successful major sports, business and cultural events. It became clear that there was a need for an event that brings Cities, Rights Holders and Suppliers together to learn from each other's experiences of hosting sports, business and cultural events.

The inaugural Host City conference took place in London in 2014. A year later the event had doubled in size and grown to incorporate an Exhibition alongside the conference programme. The 2015 event was hailed as a big success and gained the support of leading industry figures across the board, including organisations such as the International Olympic Committee, the Commonwealth Games Federation, FIFA, International Federations, Capitals of Culture and World Expos.

2018 sees Host City returning to Glasgow for another year of growth where we will be welcoming attendees from cities and destination marketing organisations, cross-sector rights holders and suppliers from across the world. Host City is a Cavendish Group brand.

Register for Host City 2018 here to qualify for your VIP Nitro Circus experience. 

About the Cavendish Group:

A business publisher and meeting/events organiser with special focus on the emerging BRIC markets. Cavendish Group is a European business publisher and conference organiser with a focus on delivering business information to the fast-growing and emerging markets.

Host City, the world’s largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, took another major step forward this week, recording its greatest participation yet and with the announcement that the event will be returning to Glasgow in 2018 with a greatly increased exhibition.

More cities, event owners and organisers than ever joined the fourth Host City conference and exhibition in Glasgow to hear VIP speakers from international sports federations, cultural events, large scale congresses and mega event organising committees speak on the theme of “High Impact Events in the Current Climate”.

Attendees included more than 50 city representatives, 30 event owners, 20 organising committees, 15 media and two hundred delegates.

Around the two-day conference, Host City’s sponsors presented the event’s biggest exhibition yet, with a 500 square metre exhibition area filled with 10 large stands from organising committees, sports federations, architects and suppliers.

Host City 2017 was opened by the event’s Chairmen, Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland and Sir Craig Reedie CBE, IOC Member and President of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Paul Bush OBE said: “It is great to see so many city representatives, event owners, organising committees and events practitioners in Glasgow for this fantastic conference. While it is an exciting time for the industry with all the technological advancements and the rise in social media allowing events and audiences to be more engaged, it is also a very challenging time. The current security climate, the transparency and governance around the bid process, as well doping and corruption in sport, are all adversely affecting the confidence the public has in bidding for and delivering of major events. This year’s Host City programme has provided the ideal opportunity to tackle these challenges head on and ensure we maintain public support for high impact events around the world.

“That said, I’m delighted Host City will be returning to Glasgow in 2018 and shows the continued positive impact hosting high impact events can have when you have a strong legacy plan in place to build on the success. The return of Host City for a fourth consecutive year is a real endorsement and clearly shows the legacy that’s been built from hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the work Glasgow has done to re-positioned itself as an events and tourism city.”

Sir Craig Reedie said: “Host City 2017’s debate on High Impact Events, with panels and discussions on practically every aspect – the size of the city, safety, technology, entertainment and others – is interesting in the extreme.

“When Host City comes back to Glasgow in 2018 we can expect even more interest and attendance than this year, which is this best attended yet.”

Participants in Host City 2017 included: Christophe Dubi, Olympic Games Executive Director, International Olympic Committee; Patrick Baumann, President, General Association of International Sports Federations; Sarah Lewis, Secretary General, Association of International Olympic Winter Federations; David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Executive, Commonwealth Games Federation; Hiromi Kawamura, Public Relations Secretary, Tokyo 2020; Jooho Kim, Executive Vice President of Games Planning and Operations, PyeongChang 2018; Alexandra Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Deputy Mayor of Budapest and senior figures from non-sports events including Cirque du Soleil and World Expos.

Conference Director Ben Avison said “We are delighted to be returning next November to Glasgow and Scotland, where Host City has developed so rapidly over the last three years. With the incredibly high standard of participation this year, we look forward to a great flourishing of the exhibition space in 2018 around this peerless, world class conference of cities and cross-sector events.”

For further information on the panel sessions and other world class speakers for Host City 2017, please visit: www.hostcity.com

Host City, the world leading event hosting conference, returns to Glasgow for a third consecutive year on 28 to 29 November 2017.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at EventScotland and Chairman of Host City 2017, said: “I’m delighted Host City is returning to Glasgow for the third year running.

“I’ve always enjoyed attending the conference and exhibition and not just because they keep choosing to come to one of Scotland’s great cities. 

“I’m always impressed with the high-quality delegates and excellent speakers that attend Host City. The combination of exciting and relevant content means you can really delve into the issues facing the sector, while also creating more meaningful debate. It also allows for greater opportunities to network and make those all-important industry contacts.

“My expectations for this year is an exciting programme of interesting panel discussions, keynote speeches and networking opportunities with high quality delegates from the sporting, cultural and business events sector.”

The conference theme this year is High Impact Events in the Current Climate.

Paul Bush OBE said: “It is an exciting but also a challenging time for hosts of High Impact Events. The recent events in London, Manchester and the rest of the world have again brought security to the fore.

“The current security climate and the rising costs this brings is a major issue for events for all sizes, especially ones of High Impact that attract wide-spread attention and large crowds, so the session on ‘Strategies for hosting safe and accessible events’ is especially pertinent.

“Alongside the challenges there are also great opportunities. The rise in technology means that audiences engage with an event in a whole new and exciting way. The session on ‘How technology can enhance the live experience’ will be particularly apt for events adjusting to this new way of engagement and delivery.

“For High Impact Events in the current climate, dealing with these challenges while harnessing these new opportunities is vital and it’s great to see the conference programme reflecting these current issues.”

There are many benefits to staging Host City conference and exhibition, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events.

Paul Bush said: “The economic impact of any event like this is significant. It is also a fantastic opportunity to showcase Scotland as the perfect stage for events, and for delegates to see first-hand what Glasgow has to offer.

“For us at EventScotland it is also a wonderful opportunity to welcome the international family of the events industry. We have a packed programme of major events taking place in the coming years, including the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, the 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships and The 2019 Solheim Cup so it will be great to have some of the world’s foremost event practitioners coming to Glasgow for Host City where we’ll be able to swap ideas and discuss how we manage some of the current challenges whilst making the most of the upcoming opportunities together.

“My other expectation for this year is for a greater opportunity for delegate cross-over between Host City and our own National Events Conference, which takes place the day before Host City.”

The full transcript of a wide-ranging interview with Paul Bush will be published in the Autumn issue of Host City magazine.

Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) has announced Glasgow has been successful in its bid to host the European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019.

Delivered in partnership by Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow City Council, EventScotland, British Swimming and UK Sport, the Championships will take place in Tollcross International Swimming Centre between 4-8 December 2019.

The biennial event, which was last held in the UK in 1998 in Sheffield, will see athletes from all across Europe make their way to Glasgow to compete in 40 short course (25metre) swimming events.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “I am delighted Scotland has been awarded the European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019. This is a fantastic event and a great addition to our already impressive calendar of swimming events taking place in the coming years including the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow and the European Junior Championships in Aberdeen in 2020.

“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and securing this bid shows the true legacy provided by the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Glasgow 2018 European Championships. EventScotland, together with the other bid partners, looks forward to working closely with LEN to deliver a truly memorable Championships.

Ian Hooper, Glasgow Life’s Director of Sport, said: “Glasgow has a strong reputation for delivering successful swimming events, including the IPC World Swimming Championships 2015, and Duel in the Pool 2013.

“This event will leave a lasting legacy for Glasgow, inspiring a new generation of swimmers and encouraging young people to make the most of our free swimming initiative. It will also provide an early legacy success from Glasgow hosting the 2018 European Championships.

“As one of the top five sporting cities in the world, we are confident our experience in delivering world-class events, and our close relationship with partners, will help us ensure the European Short course Swimming Championships 2019 is a hugely successful and stand-out event.”

British Swimming Chief Executive, David Sparkes, said: “This is a really important Championships which will be the last event of 2019 – the year before the Olympics in Tokyo.

“We’re delighted that it will be held in Glasgow, following the successful bid and efforts of all partners, and we will be looking forward to seeing some strong performances as new talent emerges on the eve of the Olympic Games.”

Simon Morton, Chief Operating Officer of UK Sport, said: “We are delighted that the UK has been chosen to stage the European Short Course Swimming Championships in 2019. Hosting this event following the incredible success of Team GB in the pool in Rio will allow spectators to see world-class athletes in action before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

“This event forms part of a UK-wide series of major international events supported by UK Sport, backed by National Lottery funding, to inspire the nation.”

The European Short Course Swimming Championships 2019 builds on the bid partners existing strong partnership with LEN, working together to deliver the Glasgow 2018 European Championships and the European Junior Championships for swimming and diving in Aberdeen in 2020.

Source: EventScotland