[Source: Nordic FAs] The Nordic countries bid for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 with a strong vision of involving and developing women’s football. Nordic values and sustainable development are the core power of the joint bid.

The Nordic football associations have worked closely together for four years to make a joint bid for a major championship. Now Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have announced their preliminary bid for the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 with support from the Faroe Islands and Iceland.

“Football is a powerful opportunity to make a change. Together with our Nordic allies we want to show the world through football we have a chance to enhance ethics, transparency and bright and diverse future of the sports”, says president of the Finnish Football Association, Ari Lahti.

In Denmark, they draw on experiences from EURO2020, where four matches were very successfully staged in Copenhagen.

In the last few years, the Nordic Football Associations have researched for stadiums, host cities, base camps, and other facilities to form the complete picture of how to develop the best possible host for the UEFA Women's EURO 2025. This work will continue until October 2022 when a final bid should be submitted.

In December 2022, UEFA's executive committee will announce the host of the UEFA Women's EURO 2025. If awarded to the Nordic team, it will be a spectacular final at Friends Arena in Stockholm – the largest stadium in the Nordic region with room for 50,000 spectators.

Karl-Erik Nilsson, President of the Swedish Football Association says: “All Nordic football associations agrees about the importance of organizing major championships in our countries, and together we have great ambitions for the development of women’s football. We know that a UEFA Women’s Euro in the Nordic countries will strengthen the women’s football, and become an unforgettable experience for both players and supporters.”

Jesper Møller, President of the Danish Football Association says: "The Nordic bid for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 is much more than a championship – it is a team work to ensure the continued development of women's football for more diversity across our common, Nordic visions and values. With EURO 2020 in fresh memory, where Denmark showed its event potential, we will reuse and refine all the good experiences. With a joint Nordic bid, we will display not just Denmark but the entire Nordic approach to women's football and innovative event management"

Lise Klaveness, President of Norway Football Association says: “UEFA Women's EURO 2025 in Norway and the Nordic countries will be a celebration of inclusion, tolerance, and community for all football fans at the stadiums and events in the hosting cities. The spectacle of the finals will be an integrated part of our strategy to strengthen the position of women and girls on and off the pitch in Norwegian football. Great progress has been made in Norway and internationally in recent years developing the women’s game where we are proud to be a pioneer. A Nordic UEFA Women's EURO 2025 tournament will be a powerful showcase for even greater impact and legacy.”

With a decision due soon on which cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico will host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, I am confident that if Houston has the honor of being selected as a host city, we are 100% ready to provide a world-class experience for players, officials and fans. Why? Because we’ve hosted more major sporting events than any other candidate host city since 2004, including two Super Bowls, two NCAA Final Fours and multiple NBA, MLB, and MLS All-Star Games.

Our state-of-the-art venues and facilities, including the 70,000-plus seat NRG Stadium, which boasts a retractable roof, have successfully hosted some of the biggest teams in soccer. FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Manchester United, have all come through Houston and praised the incredible noise and passion from the soccer community here – including legendary soccer manager Sir Alex Ferguson who, when speaking about the 2010 MLS All-Star Game at Houston’s NRG Stadium, said, “Houston was an amazing venue; to my mind the 70,000 supporters inside the stadium had an electrifying effect on all of us.”

The NRG Stadium has averaged 60,000 attendees for over 20 international events featuring national soccer teams since 2003 – so I have no doubt that a World Cup in Houston in 2026 would be a truly global festival of soccer for the whole family to enjoy. In fact, hosting the most prestigious sporting event in the world will not only grow the game in Houston, but it will also serve as a catalyst for the significant growth of soccer across the region. It would also generate significant and lasting benefits for the community.

Recently ranked as the third-fastest growing tech ecosystem for early-stage companies in the US, according to a study, we’re bringing things to the table that only Houston can deliver to help advance the game of soccer.

Houston is home to some of the brightest and most industrious minds in the world. And we don’t do anything halfway, from being home to the world’s largest medical center, to planning large scale missions to outer space, we can accomplish anything here. That’s why we’ve harnessed the unique Spirit of Houston and its vast innovation resources to create a non-profit institution called the Soccer Innovation Institute.

The Soccer Innovation Institute will carry out the city’s legacy vision around the 2026 FIFA World Cup and serve to advance the game globally. It’s our way of saying that not only are we invested and committed to hosting an incredible series of games for fans all over the world for 32 days, but we’re here to leave a lasting impact in the community that will be recognized for generations to come.

As the fourth largest city in the US, with more than 145 languages spoken, over 20 ethnic and racial groups represented, we hope to have the opportunity to invite the world to join us in what would be a truly global celebration of soccer.

[Source: AIPH, 8th March) The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) gave its approval for a Category B International Horticultural Exhibition in the city of Udon Thani, Thailand for 2026.

The approval took place at the AIPH General Meeting on 8 March in accordance with the AIPH Regulations for International Horticultural Exhibitions.

Thrilled to gain approval

The Governor of Udon Thani, Mr Siam Sirimongkol, is thrilled to learn that their city has gained full support.

Mr Sirimongkol says: “As the agricultural business and trading centre of the Greater Mekong Region, Udon Thani is exceptionally proud to bring AIPH’s International Horticultural Expo back to Thailand. The event will be called ‘The Garden of Mekong’ to celebrate the abundance of the Mekong wetland, where people are blessed with biodiversity and harmony. This prestigious global event with the central theme “Diversity of Life: People, Water and Plants” will bring well-deserved attention to our fertile but fragile land on the great international river where our ancestors have learnt co-living for millennia.

“We are aiming to achieve at least 13 out of 17 UN Sustainability Development Goals, with this Expo. Udon Thani will be delighted to welcome our friends of the Mekong, the ASEAN community and the people across the globe to visit the Expo.

“The 164.8-hectares expo site encompasses a small lake to showcase the mesmerising Mekong wetland. We hope the world will get to know the diversity along the Mekong and be inspired by our sustainable way of living.”

A world stage to promote the relationship between people and plants

AIPH Secretary General, Mr Tim Briercliffe, says: “Expo 2026 will introduce Udon Thani and the horticulture of this region to the global stage. The event will create opportunities to exchange knowledge and technological advancement as well as promoting city greening and the importance of the relationship between people and plants.”

The approval for Udon-Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026 comes after a successful site inspection in February and an excellent presentation by the Udon Thani Expo organising team at the AIPH Expo Conference on 7 March.

A commitment to sustainable living

AIPH approved the Thai proposal for the International Horticultural Expo 2026 will be hosted in Udon Thani province from 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027. The inspiration for the Expo’s theme “Diversity of Life: Connecting Water, Plants, and People” reflects the unique wetland area and the people living here. Their connection with the water and natural resources and the need to promote sustainable living will be the Expo’s main goal.

Presenting Udon Thani Expo’s proposal to host an International Horticultural Expo at the AIPH Spring Meeting was H.E. Dr Chalermchai Sree-on, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. He is head of the Thai delegation.

He expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Thai government to the AIPH members for the trust and support given to Thailand and cited the success upon a fruitful collaboration among various government agencies and private organisations, led by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

According to Dr Chalermchai, Thailand is committed to contributing to global food security through the Three Sustainable ‘3S’ farming and food policy, which brings attention to Food Safety, Food Security, and Sustainability. This declaration is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while adhering to the climate aspiration of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Such commitment can serve the theme and presentation of the Expo in Udon Thani and will help shed light on sustainability innovations, and, inspire and ignite collaboration on global actionable measures towards sustainability living with minimal cost to the ecosystem.

Guaranteeing a diverse display of cultures and floras

Mr Sirimongkol reaffirmed the city’s readiness to ensure the success of the Expo. He says: “The Udon Thani Expo 2026 will be the first International Horticultural Expo ever held in a wetland area. Furthermore, the province’s status as the gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion and a transportation and economic hub of the area will guarantee a diverse display of cultures and floras befitting the theme.”

Mr Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), who represented Thailand in the official bid for the Expo, expressed Thailand’s confidence in hosting the landmark global event, portraying the success of the past two horticultural expos hosted by Thailand in Chiang Mai province.

He also emphasised the government’s development strategy and national agenda to promote the Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model (BCG) as a new development model that seeks to drive socio-economic growth while minimizing and even reversing the negative impacts on the environment. The strategy will be of great contribution to Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026.

The Udon Thani Expo 2026 is expected to cost 2,500 million baht in investment and attract 3.6 million visitors over 134 days during the expo.

For more information about Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026, and future forthcoming AIPH approved International Horticultural Expos visit www.aiph.org/expos.

[Source: Nitro Rallycross] Today Nitro Rallycross, a disruptive new force in motorsports, announced its inaugural global season. The expanded Nitro RX series kicks off June 18-19, 2022 at England’s legendary Lydden Hill Race Circuit for the first of ten races staged in six countries, including Sweden, Finland, Canada and Saudi Arabia. Nitro RX will then bridge the calendar year to culminate in March 2023 with a championship event held in the U.S. A full schedule is listed below. 

In 2022-23, Nitro RX is taking its groundbreaking tracks, with huge jumps and steep banked turns, to a host of new settings worldwide. Nitro RX will grow beyond its roots in outdoor dirt tracks, with drivers also set to battle on tarmac, inside stadiums, through street circuits and over snow and ice for a diverse range of race environments.

Travis Pastrana, Nitro RX mastermind and 2021 series champion says, “I’m so excited to see Nitro Rallycross expand into a full worldwide series. This is the action-packed, no limits racing that teams, drivers and fans have been looking for, and going global has been our goal from the beginning. We also have the fantastic opportunity to get things started at historic Lydden Hill, an iconic track that is the birthplace of rallycross and home to some of its biggest moments. We are going back to the beginning and making the changes we think are needed to take the sport to the next level.” 

The 2022-23 Nitro RX season will also feature an expanded racing lineup led by the competition debut of the FC1-X, the most powerful vehicle in rallycross. Created by First Corner, LLC, in collaboration with QEV Technologies and Nitro RX, the FC1-X delivers the electric equivalent of 1,070 peak horsepower (800 kW) and accelerates from 0-60 in just 1.4 seconds, launching faster off the line than an F1 car.  

Andreas Bakkerud, a highly decorated driver who got an early taste of what the new vehicle is capable of in demo sessions at Race of Champions, says, “The FC1-X blew my mind straight out the box, not only from a performance point of view but also with its toughness given the amount of laps we could do on a frozen lake up north in Sweden. The car itself is very promising to drive, loads of power – just like us rallycross drivers like it. It’s going be a blast going head to head with this new car and to see which team can first find that little detail in performance gain for the first few races.”

The FC1-X will flex its muscles in Nitro RX’s new top Group E division. Just as the legendary Group B cars set the rallycross world ablaze in the 1980s, Nitro RX’s new Group E class is set to make another quantum leap. That inspiration, supercharged by Nitro Circus’ limit-pushing DNA, will show the massive performance potential of electric vehicles unleashed by the fastest rallycross cars ever seen.

Pastrana adds, “I can’t wait to get on the starting line in the FC1-X and see what it can do in the heat of competition. With the car’s game-changing power, Group E will more than live up to the legacy of the Group B’s as it sets a new standard for the sport. This is what Nitro Rallycross is all about: getting the best cars in the hands of the best drivers so they can throw down on the best tracks, anywhere in the world.”

The FC1-X will serve as the A SHOC Energy #GoNitro star car, which returns for 2022-23. Last year, two NASCAR Cup Series champions - Kyle Busch and A SHOC Energy athlete Chase Elliott - put in strong performances in the #GoNitro driver’s seat, with Busch nearly making the podium. As fan engagement spiked, more stars from across the racing world took notice and now a growing lineup is eager to participate, including stars from F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP and more.

In addition to the competition debuts of the FC1-X and Group E, Nitro RX 2022-23 will feature an expanded offering of high-impact racing. The iconic Supercar class will return, giving fans a double dose of elite rallycross competition while the developmental NRX Next division is back as well, providing a pathway for the next generation of drivers. Each series stop will also include additional special disciplines offering fans even more wide-open action.

On sale information will be announced shortly, and enthusiasts will also be able to watch the action away from the track through a robust slate of broadcast partners. In 2021, Nitro RX was available in over 200 territories on more than 14 platforms, including an exclusive U.S. partnership with NBCU featuring live coverage on Peacock. Look for more details on Nitro RX’s 2022-23 broadcast plans very soon.

Leading Nitro RX’s roster of commercial partners is innovative energy drink brand A SHOC Energy, who earlier this year announced a strategic alliance with Nitro RX’s parent company, Thrill One Sports & Entertainment. Foundational Nitro RX series partner Yokohama Tire is also set to return with more additions to the sponsorship roster to be announced.

Joe Carr, CEO of Thrill One Sports & Entertainment – Nitro RX’s parent company - says, “We’re thrilled to see Nitro Rallycross step onto the world stage and become a global motorsports property. Expanding to six countries, doubling the event calendar and running through the winter months shows the rising demand for this brand of high-adrenaline, fast-paced racing. We have exciting plans with broadcast and commercial partners that we look forward to sharing as anticipation builds for the 2022-23 season.”

2022–23 NITRO RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE*

June 18-19, 2022 // England (Lydden Hill Race Circuit)

July 30-31, 2022 // Sweden

August 27-28, 2022 // Finland

October 1-2, 2022 // Minneapolis, USA

October 29-30, 2022 // Los Angeles, USA

November 12-13, 2022 // Phoenix, USA

December 10-11, 2022 // Saudi Arabia

January 21-22, 2023 // Quebec, Canada

February 4-5, 2023 // Alberta, Canada

March TBA, 2023 // Nitro RX 2022-23 Series Finale // TBA, USA

(*Subject to change)

[Source: World Triathlon] Organisers of the World Triathlon Multisport Championships have today announced that the event will be heading to Townsville, Australia, in 2024. The 10-day event will be held in the charming town in North Queensland in 2024, with thousands of athletes from around the world expected to take part.

The World Triathlon Multisport Championships will see duathlon, long distance triathlon, long distance aquabike, aquathlon, cross triathlon and cross duathlon world championship races organized together during a week-long festival. This ground-breaking event now allows for athletes to compete in various multisport races, as opposed to electing only one each season. And participants can even vie for the Multisport Legend, a title reserved for those who compete in four events.

World Triathlon President and IOC member Marisol Casado said that the organisation was looking forward to heading to Townsville in 2024. "We are absolutely delighted to return to Queensland after such a long time without events in Australia, this time for one of our flagship events: the Multisport World Championships in Townsville,” she said. “Over the last years, Australia has become synonymous of triathlon on its multiple variations, and has proved to be a magnificent host for the triathlon family, playing host to some truly memorable performances and great champions, staging races the results of which have helped shape the path of entire seasons.

“Being able to hold these important races in one fantastic location and all under the banner of one festival has proved to be hugely beneficial for athletes, spectators and media alike, allowing the global World Triathlon family the opportunity to gather together for a true celebration of the sport, and we are extremely excited to head to Townsville in 2024,” she said.

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said the Multisport World Championships cemented Townsville’s place as the sporting events capital of northern Australia. “I’m looking forward to seeing the Multisport World Championships come to life here in the North, bringing together thousands of elite and age-group athletes,” Mr Stewart said. “The Palaszczuk Government is proud to support the Multisport World Championships because we understand the importance of events to local jobs and Townsville’s visitor economy.

“This event is great news for North Queensland tourism operators, accommodation and transport providers, and local retailers,” he said. “It’s also a golden opportunity for competitors and spectators to build extra time into their stay to explore Townsville’s amazing tourism and Indigenous cultural experiences, world-class dining, the reef, and breathtaking tropical islands and rainforests.”

Mayor Jenny Hill said the Townsville City Council and the wider community was looking forward to welcoming the Multisport World Championships to the city.

“Hosting this event is a real coup of Townsville and further reinforces our city’s reputation as the events capital of Northern Australia,” Cr Hill said. “With our beautiful natural environment and ideal weather, I can think of no better place for the world’s best athletes to test their skills and endurance.

“The championships will also provide a platform to promote our city and region to the world, which will boost our tourism industry for years to come.”

Miles Stewart OAM OLY, Triathlon Australia CEO, welcomed news that the event would be held in Townsville in 2024. “This is fantastic news for triathlon and multisport in Australia, and for our members who have been anticipating, and looking forward to racing and officiating at these world championships on home soil,” said Stewart. “We’re expecting our largest Australian representative team on record for Townsville 2024 with seven championships on the schedule from cross-triathlon, aquathlon to long course.

“The festival format will mean athletes can race across multiple disciplines on multiple days, which is really exciting, and will be a great boost for Australian events with athletes racing to qualify for a spot on the team from 2023,” he said. “Australia has some of the best triathlon events in the world, and we can’t wait to welcome the world’s best to Townsville, and continue to build on our legacy of hosting world-class events.

Official dates for the Townsville Multisport World Championships will be announced in the near future.

The World Triathlon Multisport Championships made its debut in the World Triathlon calendar in 2017 in Penticton (Canada), a successful event that was followed by Fyn (Denmark) in 2018 and Pontevedra (Spain) in 2019. After the event being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, in 2021 the races were held in multiple locations (Almere, El Anillo and Aviles). In 2022 the event will travel to Romania and Slovakia, and will return to the original format of all races in one location during a 10-day festival in Ibiza (Spain) in 2023 and Townsville (Australia) in 2024.

The International Association for Vehicle System Dynamics (IAVSD) has chosen Ottawa to host the 28th IAVSD Symposium on Dynamics of Vehicle on Roads and on Tracks from 21 to 25 August, 2023 at the Shaw Centre.

The IAVSD’s biannual conference brings together international researchers, scientists and engineers from government, academia and industry, in the field of ground vehicle dynamics, to exchange the latest ideas and research results.  It offers an opportunity to promote the development of the science of vehicle dynamics, a discipline that is based upon the theory of motion of ground-based vehicle systems, and to encourage engineering applications in this field of science.

To develop the event, the Ottawa IAVSD organising committee, including the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Carleton University and Ottawa Tourism, has been working closely with Invest Ottawa and the Shaw Centre as well as several key local partners.  This includes Invest Ottawa’s Area XO, a research and development complex that helps accelerate the commercial adoption of next-generation technology.  Specifically, Area XO includes a world leading CAV (connected and autonomous vehicle) test track, which will be built into the delegate experience and conference program. https://areaxo.com/ 

Theresa Gatto, Senior Manager-Business Events at Ottawa Tourism commented: “Invest Ottawa, The Shaw Centre and Ottawa Tourism launched a combined Think Ottawa programme to inspire key sectors and create ambassadors that would drive leading Association Congresses to the City.  This win is a perfect example of the three stakeholders working in partnership to create an inspiring solution for the client. Roll on August 2023, when we will have a chance to see the delegates make the most of our city as they deliver an estimated $850,000 in economic impact to Ottawa.”

The last time the Symposium was hosted in Canada was in 1989 at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.  Previously it has taken place in different countries around the world.

Further information on the IAVSD is available here: https://iavsd.org/

With the crisis in the Ukraine deepening, SportAccord will no longer be taking place in 2022 in Russia as planned.

A statement sent to Host City, signed by SportAccord and GAISF President Ivo Ferriani, read: "The SportAccord Executive Committee met today and unanimously decided to cancel the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit, 15-20 May 2022 in Ekaterinburg, Russia".

The statement reached Host City shortly after the IOC Executive Board urged all International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.

"They should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes absolute priority. The IOC itself has no events planned in Russia or Belarus," the IOC statement said.

"In addition, the IOC EB urges that no Russian or Belarussian national flag be displayed and no Russian or Belarussian anthem be played in international sports events which are not already part of the respective World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions for Russia.

"At the same time, the IOC EB expresses its full support to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

"The IOC EB expresses its deep concerns about the safety of the members of the Olympic Community in Ukraine and stands in full solidarity. It notes that the special IOC task force is in contact with the Olympic Community in the country to coordinate humanitarian assistance where possible.

"The IOC EB asks the task force to continue to closely monitor the situation and to keep the IOC EB informed and updated, also with regard to potential amendments of today’s resolution."

The Centre for Sport and Human Rights also contacted Host City with a statement, in which it said, "We welcome decisions to relocate events from Russia at this time, believe that discussions on sporting sanctions are appropriate, and salute the bravery of athletes from both Russia and Ukraine in taking a stand for peace and human rights."

[Source: Commonwealth Sport] The CGF has been in discussions with multiple countries across the Commonwealth regarding hosting the 2026 Games, with negotiations accelerating following the launch of the 2026/30 Strategic Roadmap in October 2021. The Roadmap provides future hosts and sports with the renewed flexibility to be innovative and creative in delivering the Games.

Following ongoing discussions, the CGF, the Victorian Government and CGAus have signed a Heads of Agreement to formally enter an exclusive dialogue period to agree the parameters for a 2026 Commonwealth Games, to be hosted in the State in South-Eastern Australia.

Premier Daniel Andrews and the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula have confirmed that, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would be hosted across the State.

The Government and CGAus will now develop Victoria’s 2026 Commonwealth Games Submission. It will focus on a new way to host the Games, showing how events could be held in multiple locations across regional Victoria to showcase the best of what the State has to offer and ensure a uniquely Victorian experience for the athletes and spectators. The CGF will assess this submission prior to any decision being made to award the Games to Victoria.

Australia has staged the Commonwealth Games on five occasions, with Victoria playing host to the Melbourne 2006 Games; widely considered one of the most successful editions of the event in history.

The country has also staged the Games in Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982 and most recently Gold Coast in 2018. The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be staged in Birmingham, England from 28 July – 8 August.

Victoria is a world leading major events and tourism destination. The State has a strong track record for staging high profile sporting competition including The Australian Open tennis grand slam, the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup. Victoria also regularly hosts elite cricket, golf and Australian Rules Football competition. 

Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin DBE said: “We are pleased to have entered into an exclusive dialogue with Victoria and Commonwealth Games Australia to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Following months of positive discussions, it is clear that Victoria has an exciting vision for a future Games which will provide many benefits for the community whilst leaving a significant legacy for the state.

This vision is aligned with our 2026/30 Strategic Roadmap, which has proved to be a catalyst for positive and exciting conversations on how our event will look in four years’ time.

Victoria is one of the world’s greatest sporting States and there is no doubt it has the venues, infrastructure, and people to stage a world class edition of the Games.

We are very excited to be working closely with Victoria and Commonwealth Games Australia to explore the potential staging of the event in the State.”

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said: “Victoria is Australia’s sporting state, and, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would demonstrate to the world a new way to deliver the competition. We would hope to have the majority of events in our regional cities – to display the best of Victoria, create jobs and housing and infrastructure that will deliver for the long term.”

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said: “Bringing the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Victoria will showcase our state globally, deliver major economic benefits and support jobs across our great state.”

Commonwealth Games Australia President Ben Houston said: “Hosting Great Games is a key pillar in the Commonwealth Games Australia strategic plan and given our window for hosting the Games is 2026, we are thrilled to join the CGF in exclusive dialogue with Victoria to host the Commonwealth Games once again.

A home Games provides immeasurable benefits for our Member sports and athletes and we look forward to working with both the CGF and the Victorian Government to bring a final Games plan to life.”

[Source: The Sports Consultancy] The National Football League (NFL) has confirmed that Munich has been chosen to stage the first-ever regular-season game in Germany during the 2022 season.

Following a competitive application process, FC Bayern Munich Stadium, the home of the Bundesliga champions, was selected as the venue for two of the four International Series games to be played in Germany over the next four years. Frankfurt Stadium will also host two games.

The NFL engaged London-based agency The Sports Consultancy (TSC) to design and deliver a structured host selection process, commencing in June 2021. TSC supported the NFL to engage cities across Germany, with in-house law firm TSC Legal providing contract drafting and negotiation services.

“We are very pleased to welcome Munich and Frankfurt to the NFL family and are excited to reward our fans in Germany for their passion by bringing them the spectacle of regular-season NFL football,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We look forward to staging our first game in Germany at FC Bayern Munich’s fantastic stadium later this year and to exploring areas of broader collaboration with the Bundesliga.”

The game in Munich will be one of five international games staged by the NFL in 2022, including one in Mexico and three in the UK – two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a Jacksonville Jaguars home game at Wembley Stadium. Home teams for international games will be announced in the coming weeks, with dates and matchups to be confirmed in conjunction with the 2022 NFL schedule announcement later this year.

The NFL has staged 30 regular-season games in London since 2007. As part of the NFL’s 17-game schedule, each team is required to stage at least one international game every eight years

Dieter Reiter, Lord Mayor of Munich, said: “We are very pleased to welcome the NFL International Series to Munich. It is a great honor for the state capital Munich to be the first German city to stage a regular-season NFL game. Many Munich residents are big football fans and they will be thrilled that this spectacular sporting event is coming to their city.”

"We have been collaborating with the NFL since 2014 when we opened our US office,” said Oliver Kahn, CEO of FC Bayern Munich. “Our ambition was to reach and engage fans in each other’s respective home countries. We are delighted to take this next step in our long-term partnership to host a regular-season NFL game at our home stadium.”

Frankfurt Sports Councillor Mike Josef said: “American football was and still is at home in Frankfurt. That’s why I’m very pleased about the NFL’s decision to come to Frankfurt on a regular basis. The NFL is not just coming to Frankfurt for a game. With its sustainable engagement in our community, we are sure to achieve a great boost for sports in Frankfurt. We are looking forward to working with the NFL.”

Axel Hellman, CEO of Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, said: “We are totally excited to be hosting two matches in the next years here in Frankfurt. Welcome to Eintracht Frankfurt. Welcome to the heart of Europe.”

Bundesliga CEO Donata Hopfen said: “We are pleased that the NFL has consulted with the Bundesliga in the planning of its first regular-season NFL games in Germany. These conversations have led both leagues to agree to explore the potential of a mutually beneficial collaborative partnership, which is very exciting for clubs in both leagues.”

Host selection process

The selection process for NFL games in Germany began last year with initial expressions of interest from nine cities, after which Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich were invited to participate in a full evaluation of the opportunities offered by each city. The partnerships between the NFL and Munich and Frankfurt include a joint commitment to deliver fan engagements activities, community participation programs and other NFL initiatives.

“We are looking forward to partnerships with Munich and Frankfurt that will extend beyond the games and help us to deliver accelerated growth in Germany,” said Brett Gosper, NFL Head of Europe and UK. “The strong interest we received underlined what a fantastic opportunity regular-season games offer for a host, ranging from significant economic benefits and global exposure to the chance to become a hub for the growth of the NFL’s fan engagement, community and grassroots activities.

“We also thank Düsseldorf, which presented a strong aligned consortium with ambitious plans. We look forward to developing a partnership there, with a potential for hosting games in the future.”

The staging of regular-season games is part of the NFL’s growing commitment to Germany. The League has recently appointed Alexander Steinforth as its dedicated general manager for the territory and is committed to establishing a permanent headquarters in the country. It has also committed to investing in grassroots and community programs in Germany.

In December, the NFL announced that four NFL teams – Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – have been granted access to Germany for marketing, fan engagement and commercialization as part of its International Home Marketing Areas (IHMA) initiative.

The NFL has enjoyed a number of strong years of fan growth in Germany, where it now has 19 million fans.  Weekly NFL television viewership on partners ProSieben and DAZN has grown by more than 20 percent annually since 2017, and millions of fans tuned in for Super Bowl LV last February, making it the third consecutive season of record German Super Bowl viewership. Germany is a leading market outside North America for NFL Shop sales, fantasy football participation and sales of the Madden NFL video game.

A new survey by AFG Videoforschung found that American football has become the second-most popular television sport in Germany, with one in three people having watched in the past year.

FC Bayern Munich has won 30 national championships, 20 domestic cups and six UEFA Champions League titles, making it the most successful German team in history. The club’s unique ownership structure sees more than 290,000 club members own a majority share

Florian Kraus, Munich’s Head of Department, Education and Sport said: “It's great for the image of the sports city of Munich to be able to present this sports event, which has such international appeal. After the European Championships, it will be the second major sporting highlight this year. Anyone who follows the current NFL playoffs knows that an exciting spectacle awaits us.”

Andreas Jung, FC Bayern Munich Board Member for Marketing said: “Our state-of-the-art stadium was opened in 2005, providing one of the best atmospheres within sports. The 2022 NFL game will become our first-ever non-soccer event at the stadium, making this a landmark event. We look forward to hosting the NFL and welcoming American football fans.”

Mike Josef, Frankfurt Sports Councillor said: “Having NFL games at two venues is ideal. It shows that we as the city put a lot of effort into it and delivered, together with Eintracht Frankfurt and many supporters, a good overall concept. This gives us the opportunity to enable more fans to enjoy an NFL game after our stadium extension in 2023. The stadium will be broadcast around the world and presented to an audience of millions. The event will be a tremendous asset, not only for sports, but for our hotels, hospitality and retail in the city. Particularly in the current times, this is an important signal to all sectors of the economy in the city and the region. This strengthens the reputation of Frankfurt as a sports-city and delivers another success story for the many football fans in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region.”

Patrik Meyer, Managing Director, Eintracht Frankfurt said: “As well as our glorious home team, Eintracht Frankfurt, this stadium has seen a lot of amazing events. But with the NFL coming to town we are really taking it to the next level. We are absolutely excited about NFL games coming to Frankfurt.”

David Knower, Frankfurt Galaxy/Advisory Board of the European League of Football: “As an American in Germany I am thrilled the NFL has chosen to play games here. We love the old days of the NFL Europe. We are very excited by the Frankfurt Galaxy here now, but the ultimate prize is an NFL game in Germany and in Frankfurt.”

Those wishing to register their interest in attending and receiving further information about the first NFL regular-season game in Munich should visit: www.nfl.com/munich  

[Source: Global Esports Federation] The inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championships and Commonwealth Esports Forum will be staged in Birmingham, England this summer. The Championships is a tangible result of the Strategic Partnership between the Global Esports Federation and the Commonwealth Games Federation, announced in May 2020. The new competition in Birmingham will be supported by the British Esports Association, the not-for-profit national body established in 2016 to promote esports in the UK, increase its level of awareness, improve standards and inspire future talent.

The Commonwealth Esports Championships will take place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham on August 6-7, 2022. The Commonwealth Esports Forum – a global convention of thought leaders and idea creators – will be held at the same venue in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Esports Championships, on August 5, 2022.

The Commonwealth Esports Championships will feature esports athletes from across the Commonwealth. Renowned multi-genre global titles are in the final stages of confirmation and will be announced shortly. The event is set to feature exciting demonstrations showcasing Active Esports and the powerful technologies that support the convergence of sport and esports.

The Commonwealth Esports Championships was sanctioned by the CGF Executive Board to be held at the same time as the 2022 Commonwealth Games whilst being independent of Birmingham 2022 and its sports programme. The Commonwealth Esports Championships will have separate branding, medals, organisation, and governance, led by the GEF and its community of partners.

Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation said, “I am delighted that we are announcing the first Commonwealth Esports Championships and Commonwealth Esports Forum to take place in Birmingham this summer. Esports is continuing to grow dramatically in terms of popularity and participation, particularly amongst young people, and we are continuing to look at ways to explore how it can align with the Commonwealth Sports Movement. Commonwealth Esports Championships provides an excellent opportunity to pilot esports close to the Commonwealth Games. This will allow us to review the long-term relationship between the Commonwealth Games and esports as we continue to evolve and explore future editions of our event and what they could look like. I would like to thank the Global Esports Federation for their partnership with this exciting event, including the British Esports Association and the Business and Tourism Programme, who will help us bring this concept to life.”

“We are proud to establish yet another first for the world’s esports community. The inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championships comes hot on the heels of the first-ever Singapore 2021 Global Esports Games staged in December 2021, capturing more than 500 million views from around the world. The Commonwealth Esports Championships offers our community another exciting event in the global esports calendar. We look forward to welcoming the esports community to Birmingham in August,” said Chris Chan, President of the Global Esports Federation.

The event is supported by the Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), which aims to maximise the economic legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well as the regional economic development agency, the West Midlands Growth Company, which drives long-term tourism, investment, and major events into the region.

Exploring esports is one of the recommendations outlined in the new Commonwealth Sport 2026/30 Strategic Roadmap. The aspiration is that the innovative inaugural event will engage new audiences, showcase the digital and gaming credentials of the West Midlands and enable the Commonwealth Sport Movement to further explore the impact and potential of esports as part of the roadmap.