[Source: EventScotland] Dumfries & Galloway will further etch its place in cycling history by welcoming the world’s best Para-cyclists after it was named as the host region for the historic Para-cycling Road at 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

The region, which lays claim to introducing the first pedal-driven bicycle to the world in 1839, will see athletes competing on single bikes, tandems, tricycles and hand-cycles for the World Championship titles across the varied Para-cycling disciplines and the right to wear the coveted rainbow jersey – an honour bestowed to every UCI World Champion.

Building on Dumfries & Galloway’s long association with hosting world-class cycling events, including the Tour of Britain on 10 separate occasions, the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds will cement the region’s reputation as a renowned cycling tourism destination on a global stage supporting innovation, equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Championships will also take advantage of Dumfries & Galloway’s stunning cycling terrain with the course routes for the multitude of races across the variety of classifications being designed in conjunction with local partners to showcase the region and present a fitting challenge to the competitors.

Para-cycling Road will create history as part of the inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships which will see 13 UCI World Championships brought together for the first time as one mega-event.

With more than 2,600 athletes competing from around 120 countries, an expected one million spectators and more than one billion viewers worldwide, the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds will be the biggest cycling event ever and one of the top 10 sporting events on the planet.

The Championships will take place in August 2023 in Glasgow and across Scotland and last month Glasgow was announced as the venue for eight of the 13 UCI Cycling World Championships. Now, Dumfries & Galloway becomes the first venue outside of Glasgow to be unveiled as a host, for an event that promises to bring the power of the bike to the whole of Scotland.

To mark the launch, Scottish Paralympic cycling medallists Fin Graham and Jenny Holl and world-record hand-cyclist Ken Talbot joined representatives from the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds, Dumfries & Galloway Council and South of Scotland Enterprise in the heart of Dumfries.

Graham, 21, who won two silver medals in Tokyo during  his first appearance in the Paralympics earlier this month, said: “Ever since I heard about the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships coming to Glasgow and Scotland I’ve been excited about it and it is great that Dumfries & Galloway will host the Para-cycling Road events. The landscape and scenery in the region is stunning and will be a great host to the Championships. To have the Para-cycling Road World Championships involved alongside the other Championships is huge for our sport and it is a huge ambition of mine to take part in front of a home crowd as well.”

Holl, 21, joined the British Para Cycling Team earlier this year following a successful junior track cycling career and secured a Paralympic silver medal alongside tandem partner Sophie Unwin in Tokyo, added: “I’ve raced in Dumfries & Galloway before and I know it will be a great host of the Para-cycling Road events as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds. It will be such a special occasion for the whole cycling family to come together and compete in one Championships and I’m especially proud that it will happen for the first time in my home country.”

American born Talbot, who now lives in Edinburgh holds the current speed world record for a hand cyclist at 51.86mph, said: “I’m incredibly excited that the Para-cycling Road World Championships are being held in Dumfries & Galloway as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds. It will be such a special experience to see hand-cyclists from all over the world competing alongside other world-class athletes from across multiple cycling disciplines. I think people will be hugely inspired when they see what can be achieved by these Para athletes and I would love it if it can attract more people into cycling either for sport, leisure or travel regardless of their physical abilities.”

The UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships will see upwards of 300 athletes from more than 30 countries compete with the Road Race and Time Trial events featuring in Dumfries & Galloway. The Mixed Team Relay will be held in Glasgow.

Trudy Lindblade, Chief Executive of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds, said: “I’m pleased that Dumfries & Galloway has been announced as our first venue outside Glasgow for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and I know the region will do a terrific job of hosting the Para-cycling Road World Championships. The 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds will be like nothing Scotland and the world has ever seen before so I’m excited that we can engage communities across the whole of the country in this event. Our colleagues at Dumfries & Galloway Council and South of Scotland Enterprise have been hugely positive about being a host region for the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds and we look forward to working with them over the next two years to maximise the benefits of bringing this global event here and showcasing the transformative power of the bike.”

Councillor Andrew Ferguson, Chair of Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Communities Committee, said: “Here in South West Scotland, we are serious about supporting cycling. It will be a privilege to host the UCI Para–cycling Road World Championships in August 2023 and play a part in showcasing Scotland’s cycling heritage to the World. Athletes, officials and spectators will receive the warmest of welcomes and I’m sure local people will turn out in their thousands to cheer on the para-cyclists and take in the races.”

Professor Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), said: “With Dumfries and Galloway credited with being the region which introduced the pedal bicycle to the world, it feels fitting that it will now play a major role in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

“As the economic and community development agency for the South of Scotland, our support for the Para-cycling Road event ties into our core values which centre around being bold, striving, inclusive and responsible, and will help bring a global focus to Dumfries and Galloway.

“Working with partners, we are committed to helping the South of Scotland build on its already impressive cycling reputation, highlighted by our involvement in the Borderlands Growth Deal project to create a mountain bike innovation centre, bike park and trail lab at Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders.”

Dumfries & Galloway is a fitting host of the Para-cycling Road as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds, not only because of its world-class cycling routes but because it also lays claim to being the region that gave the first pedal bicycle to the world in 1839 thanks to a design by local blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan.

A replica of Macmillan’s creation still exists in Dumfries Museum, as well as a plaque on the wall of his old Smithy. To commemorate the invention and Dumfries & Galloway’s hosting of the Para-cycling Road World Championships, a special video has also been released by the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds and can be seen on the Championships’ Youtube channel.

[Source: UCI] The 190th Congress of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – an electoral Congress - was held on 24^th September in Leuven (Belgium) during the 2021 UCI Road World Championships that are taking place in Flanders and mark the centenary of the event. The UCI Congress brought together representatives of 95 of the UCI’s member National Federations.

President of the International Federation since the UCI Congress held in Bergen (Norway) in September 2017, David Lappartient was re-elected in Leuven for a second term of four years at the head of the institution. As the only candidate, he was re-elected by acclamation.

The UCI Congress also had the responsibility of holding the election for members of the new UCI Management Committee, who will serve on the Federation’s executive for the next four years. The elected members are (by Confederation then in alphabetical order where relevant):

For the Confédération Africaine de Cyclisme (CAC)

Mr Mohammed BEN EL MAHI (MAR)

For the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC)

Mr Amarjit Singh Gill DARSHAN SINGH (MAS)

For the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC)

Mr Michel CALLOT (FRA)

Mr Rocco CATTANEO (SUI)

Ms Daniela ISETTI (ITA)

Mr Henrik Jess JENSEN (DEN)

Ms Agata LANG (POL)

Mr José Luis LÓPEZ CERRÓN (ESP)

Mr Igor Viktorovich MAKAROV (RUS)

For the Confederación Panamericana de Ciclismo (COPACI)

Ms Sonia Gregoria RAMOS ACUÑA (BOL)

For the Oceania Cycling Confederation (OCC)

Ms Anne GRIPPER (AUS)

These 11 new members join the Management Committee alongside the Presidents of the five Continental Confederations – elected at the beginning of this year – as well as the President of the UCI Athletes’ Commission, who all automatically serve on the UCI’s Management Committee. They are listed below (in alphabetical order):

Mr Osama Ahmed Abdullah AL SHAFAR (UAE), ACC President

Dr Mohamed Wagih AZZAM (EGY), CAC President

Mr Enrico DELLA CASA (ITA), UEC President

Mr Tony MITCHELL (NZL), OCC President

Ms Katerina NASH (CZE), President of the UCI Athletes’ Commission*

Mr José Manuel PELAEZ (CUB), COPACI President.

* until the election of the new President of the Commission by its members between November and December 2021.

Championship hosts revealed

At a ceremony organised during Congress, participants discovered the different UCI World Championships for the 2022-2027 period attributed earlier in the week by the UCI Management Committee. In total, the names of host cities for nine UCI World Championships – for a total of seven countries and five disciplines – were revealed:

2022 UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships: Ghent (Belgium)

2022 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championships: Barcelona (Spain)

2022 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships: Madonna di Campiglio (Italy)

2024 and 2025 UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships: Roubaix (France)

2025 UCI Road World Championships: Kigali (Rwanda)

2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships: Hulst (the Netherlands)

2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships: Victoriaville (Canada)

2027 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships: Ostend (Belgium).

The announcement that the 2025 UCI Road World Championships are awarded to the capital of Rwanda means this will be a first appearance in Africa of the UCI’s annual flagship event. It is a decisive step in the organisation of this historic event which featured among the major objectives of the UCI’s Agenda 2022.

Four new members joined the UCI at its 2021 Congress, which approved the affiliation of the National Federations of South Sudan, the Solomon Islands, Equatorial Guinea and the Vatican (the UCI is the only International Federation to have the Vatican among its members). The objective of reaching 200 affiliated National Federations by the end of David Lappartient’s first term as President of the UCI, in line with the Federation’s Agenda 2022, has been reached and exceeded. There are now 201 affiliated National Federations.

The Congress approved the 2020 UCI Annual Report, which contains the audited consolidated financial statements for the UCI and the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC). At more than 40 million Swiss francs, the reserves of the two entities at the end of 2020 remained almost unchanged compared to 2019, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The Congress also approved the UCI’s 2022 budget as well as an updated forecast for 2021. The UCI’s projected reserves over the new Olympic cycle were also presented to Congress. They show prudent growth in reserves through to 2024 and at the same time increasing funds available for the development of cycling worldwide.

The Congress also approved a modification to the UCI Constitution to increase the number of Vice-Presidents from three to four, and to ensure they include at least one representative of each gender.

Participants at Congress were informed of the delivery status of all objectives in the UCI’s Agenda 2022. Much progress has been made: as of the end of September 2021, close to 80% of the 300 objectives communicated have been totally or almost entirely achieved.

Congress participants welcomed the award of the UCI Bike City label to the city of Sakarya (Turkey) by the Federation’s Management Committee earlier in the week. This label is in recognition of the quality of each recipient’s strategy for developing and promoting everyday use of the bike, and of their commitment to organising events on the UCI International Calendar. Sakarya joins the 14 cities and regions that already hold the UCI Bike City label.

Sakarya hosted the 2020 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships, a round of the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon series, as well as a round of the 2020 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup. The Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality has developed a 10-year action plan and is investing heavily to become a city that not only hosts championships, but also ensures bikes are used more actively in transportation, encourages people to lead healthier lives, and promotes a cycling culture. Dedicating approximately 15% of the total annual budget to cycling, it has developed multiple cycling infrastructures and programmes, including the multi-disciplinary Cycling Valley, protected bicycle paths, traffic parks, road safety programmes, children’s cycling programmes and various events for the public.

Finally, the Congress awarded the UCI Merit, a distinction rewarding those who have made a remarkable contribution to cycling, to:

Mr Fazli Ahmad Fazli (AFG), President of the Afghanistan Cycling Federation, for his courageous commitment to the development of cycling, notably women’s cycling, in a country where fighting for this cause is a risk.

Mr Greg LeMond (USA), double road UCI World Champion and triple winner of the Tour de France, for his exceptional contribution to the legend of international cycling.

Mr Philippe Leuba (SUI), Head of the Department of Economy, Innovation and Sport in the canton of Vaud - which houses the UCI headquarters and UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) - for his efforts alongside the UCI to welcome to the UCI WCC, people threatened in Afghanistan due to their passion for cycling with no barriers.

Mr Tom Van Damme (BEL), member of the UCI Management Committee and President of the Royal Belgian Cycling League (RLVB) for his constant commitment to the development of cycling at international level.

In addition, Mr Renato Di Rocco (ITA), Vice-President of the UCI, and Mr Artur Lopes (POR), member of its Management Committee, who both leave their positions, become respectively UCI Honorary Vice-President and Honorary Member of the UCI Management Committee. Moreover, at its extraordinary session after the Congress, the Management Committee decided to renew Mr Tom Van Damme’s mandate as President of the Professional Cycling Council.

The UCI President David Lappartient declared: “I would like to whole-heartedly thank the National Federations affiliated to the UCI for renewing their confidence in me by electing me for a second term of four years. I look forward to continuing my work at the head of world cycling. After achieving a large majority of the objectives in the Agenda 2022, I now mean to work with our members to establish an Agenda 2030 whose goals will shape the future of cycling in the medium and long term.

I would also like to extend a welcome to the new members of our Management Committee that now includes considerably more women, with Ms Daniela Isetti, Ms Agata Lang, Ms Sonia Gregoria Ramos Acuña and Ms Anne Gripper. I am convinced that we will work together effectively for the development and promotion of cycling.

“I welcome the attribution of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships to Kigali, in Rwanda. Staging our biggest annual event in Africa was one of our dreams. Today, this is nearer to becoming a reality. I sincerely thank Tangier and Morocco for their bid of very high quality. The UCI encourages the country to submit new bids for future events. Given its love of cycling and its commitment for the development of our sport, it deserves to welcome major UCI events.”

More equal gender representation

Meeting for an extraordinary session after the Congress of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) organised during the 2021 UCI Road World Championships in Flanders (Belgium), the newly elected Management Committee carried out the election of the Federation’s Vice-Presidents for the next four years. In line with a modification to the UCI Constitution approved earlier in the day by its Congress, the UCI now counts at least one Vice-President of each gender, for a total of four Vice-Presidents (compared with three previously). The Vice-Presidents elected are:

Dr Mohamed Wagih AZZAM (EGY), President of the Confédération Africaine de Cyclisme (CAC)

Ms Katerina NASH (CZE), President of the UCI Athletes’ Commission

Mr Enrico DELLA CASA (ITA), President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC)

Mr Osama Ahmed Abdullah AL SHAFAR (UAE), President of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC).

Their term begins immediately and will finish after the 2025 UCI Congress.

The extraordinary meeting of the Management Committee also decided to bring in a co-opted member to the UCI Management Committee: Ms Yuan YUAN (CHN), Vice-President of the Asian Cycling Confederation and Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Cycling Association.

It also confirmed Ms Amina Lanaya in the position of Director General of the UCI.

The President of the UCI David Lappartient, re-elected during the Congress, declared: “I would like to congratulate my four Vice-Presidents for their election, and I look forward to working with them over the next four years.

“With the election of Ms Yuan Yuan to the UCI Management Committee, it now has six women members out of 18, as opposed to just one after the previous elections. This is a major step towards more equal gender representation in the governance of cycling, which is one of the UCI’s priorities.

“I would also like to thank Mr Renato Di Rocco, who has been one of my Vice-Presidents since 2017 until this week, after occupying this role for the first time between 2009 and 2013. His support, his experience and his extensive knowledge of cycling have been precious throughout the many years he has served our sport.”

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord has launched the host city application processes for future editions of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit from 2023 and the Regional SportAccord from 2022.

Cities interested in hosting the global sports industry’s most influential annual gathering have been invited to submit a Bid City Application Form for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit. The next edition of the event will take place from 15-20 May 2022 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The inaugural edition of Regional SportAccord Pan America took place in December 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, USA, and those interested in hosting future editions can complete a Bid City Application Form. Applications will be considered to host a dedicated Regional SportAccord for Europe, Asia, Africa or Oceania, as well as Pan America.

Information about who attends both events, as well as hotel accommodation requirements, short- and long-term hosting benefits, the financial commitments and hosting terms, and the bidding and selection processes can be found by accessing the City Application Information Packages for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit here and Regional SportAccord here.

The SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit, first held in 2003, is the only global sports business gathering attended by all international sport federations and their affiliated umbrella organisations, as well as organising committees, hosting cities and regions, governments and administrations, rights-holders, agencies and athletes, plus experts and organisations from the sports media, technology, investment, medical and legal sectors.

With more than 1,500 key decision-makers representing over 1,000 different organisations and over 150 cities and regions in attendance, the six-day event in March, April or May each year features high-level meetings, a conference programme split into multiple sector-specific ‘streams’, an exhibition and numerous social events.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, says: “We have been greatly encouraged by the significant number of destinations that have expressed an interest in hosting future editions of our industry-leading events as the global industry continues its recovery from the pandemic. We look forward to receiving formal applications in the coming weeks and months for these events, which will take place after the highly anticipated SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 in Ekaterinburg marks a milestone in the global sports movement’s resurgence.”

Regional SportAccord was launched in order to bring together international sport federations and organisations involved in the business of sport for a specific region, with the 2019 Regional SportAccord Pan America event attended by international sport federations, cities and ministries, rights-holders and industry experts. Designed to welcome more than 500 delegates from over 50 countries representing well over 200 different organisations, Regional SportAccord, held over three days, also showcases a two-day conference programme and an extensive sports industry exhibition.

Click here to check out the City Application Information Package and here to access the Bid City Application Form for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit. For Regional SportAccord, the City Application Information Package can be accessed here and the Bid City Application Form can be found here.

Each Bid City Application Form should be submitted along with a formal Letter of Commitment that has been signed on behalf of the prospective host city.

For any questions regarding the Bid City Application Process, please contact SportAccord Managing Director Nis Hatt by email at nis.hatt@sportaccord.sport or by phone at +41 79 126 62 28. Every Bid City Application will be presented to the SportAccord Executive Committee for review, and each city will receive feedback in due course.

Registration is open for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 in Ekaterinburg, the 19^th edition of SportAccord’s flagship annual event. Organisations interested in becoming an official partner or exhibitor can contact SportAccord to discuss these investment opportunities by emailing sales@sportaccord.sport, with SportAccord also offering an interactive exhibition floorplan and 3-D flyover of the SportAccord 2022 exhibition space.

[Source: SportAccord] GAISF has launched the host city selection process for future editions of various world multi-sport events, including the World Urban Games, World Combat Games and World Mind Games.

The world multi-sport events bring the best of sport to host cities, driving global exposure and creating the perfect bridge between elite sport and local communities.

GAISF and SportAccord President Raffaele Chiulli said:

“We are delighted to open the host city selection process for future multi-sport Games. All of these events bring the best of sport to the heart of a city, while engaging with youth communities through inspiring initiatives to encourage greater participation in physical activity.

“We are also excited to be working with SportAccord from an operational perspective on the delivery of these various events. SportAccord has extensive experience in the organisation of world-class events and a thorough understanding of the global sports community and multi-sport event landscape.”

Following the successful inaugural 2019 edition of the GAISF World Urban Games in Budapest, GAISF has scheduled a second edition for 2023. The initial version included BMX freestyle, inline roller freestyle, parkour, breaking, 3x3 basketball and freestyle flying disc, together with laser run and indoor rowing. The World Urban Games places sport at the heart of a family-friendly city-centre festival that also includes music and art.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia was recently selected as the next host of the World Combat Games with Riyadh set to become the beating heart of martial arts combat sports in 2023. Finally, the World Mind Games are a multi-sport event centred on the gymnasium of the mind and highlighting the great value of the mind sports.

City representatives who want to learn more should not hesitate to contact GAISF Director and SportAccord Managing Director Nis Hatt at nis.hatt@sportaccord.com.

[Orlando, Florida] Al Kidd, President & CEO of Sports ETA, the international association for the sports events and tourism industry, is one of a several influential voices hailing Orlando’s rapidly recovering tourism industry and identifying sport as a key driver.

“As we emerge from the restrictions and challenges of the pandemic and return to business, great cities like Orlando are poised to recover faster than others. Sports events and sports tourism in Orlando have shown to be the re-entry catalyst, generating new and much needed business”, he said.

Jesse Martinez, General Manager at The Alfond Inn, Chairman of the Central Florida Lodging Association Board of Directors, and Board Member at Visit Florida, agrees. “In my opinion, Central Florida has a tremendous head start on all other major city travel destinations. After seeing a huge influx of travelers this past spring break, we have not slowed down since.” 

“Sports tourism was an early bright spot when Orlando began to reopen in the summer of 2020 as we hosted the NBA bubble, the MLS is Back Tournament and youth events such as the AAU’s Jr.  National Volleyball Championship,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, who echoed the sentiments of Jesse Martinez by saying that “Orlando has a one-year head start”.  

To underline this, the 2021 edition of the same AAU Youth Volleyball event - hosted just a few weeks ago - drew over 130,000 participants and visitors.  Mark Tester, Executive Director at the Orange County Convention Center said: “The event drove one of our highest food and beverage totals in the Center’s history.”

Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International, added: “All eyes were on Orlando during the pandemic as the NBA and MLS restarted their seasons. It was impressive to watch their collaborative community come together to host in the most trying of circumstances.”  

Orlando believes its emphasis on encouraging sports-related travel and welcoming teams and players has been a game-changing factor in keeping its infrastructure ticking over.

“When business travel collapsed, some cities were saved by their youth and amateur sport travel business” said Jason Siegel, CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “There is no doubt in my mind that sports tourism is a viable pathway for generating visitor spending and promoting a destination – which is why Orlando puts such a high priority on it”.

In normal times, Orlando has the largest tourism industry in the USA, producing $26 billion a year, exceeding Las Vegas with $19 million. One in five workers in Orlando (21%) worked directly in hospitality and leisure in 2019. When COVID-19 struck, the unemployment rate skyrocketed. “Our neighbors at Port Canaveral, who derive significant revenue from the cruise industry, lost 43% of their workforce,” said Siegel.

But as life normalizes, the recovery is swift, much more so than many anticipated. Hotels are taking bookings; forward occupancy is very promising and optimism abounds.

According to a study authored by Adam Sacks of Tourism Economics, hotel room demand overall has reached 89% of 2019 figures and air passengers are at 71% (June 2021). Leisure trips will be nearly back to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, although business will take longer. He has said: “Overall, sports are outperforming the market as youth sports have returned well before other business-related events. In fact, we are hearing from clients that sports have been the star performer in what has been an otherwise dismal market”

Orlando, one of 17 US candidate host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, is hoping to be selected for the final 10. “I believe our reputation as a collaborative tourism community and reliable partner to sport – and our popularity as a destination – suggest we surely deserve a place” Siegel summed up.

[Source: City of Edmonton] The City of Edmonton has announced a comprehensive and growing level of public support for their candidature to be a host city of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, taking place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Collated feedback from surveys conducted in 2018 and 2020 show an increased level of public support for the hosting. Edmonton is one of three Canadian cities included in the United bid, alongside Montreal and Toronto, with the city’s Commonwealth Stadium having a capacity of 56,400 and located just minutes from the city centre.

Among the results, the surveys showed a 77% support among Edmonton residents for the hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, an increase of 6% from 2018, with prime reasons for support being the economic boost (40%), exposure for the city (32%), and benefits for tourism (21%). More than 1,200 residents were randomly recruited for the survey, while an additional open-link survey was completed by more than 3,700 residents, showing an increased level of 93% favourability for the hosting (up from 89% in 2018).

The release of the survey data has provided an extra boost to the city’s aspirations to be confirmed as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and serves as a positive reinforcement of its commitment to driving the recovery of sporting events following the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, Edmonton has played a leading role in North America in continuing to provide a platform for sports events, hosting events such as the NHL Stanley Cup Finals and the IIHF Junior World Championships, and receiving widespread praise for their handling of such occasions in a secure and safe environment.

On the surveys, Janelle Janis, Director of Edmonton Events said, “It is great to see public support for our hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ continue to grow. In Edmonton, we have had fantastic experiences of hosting FIFA events, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2014, the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in 2007, and the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in 2002, and we are incredibly excited for this next step. As these surveys help to show, we will be ready to welcome the world in 2026. With Edmonton, FIFA can truly expect the best.”

With FIFA’s final confirmation of host cities expected to be later this year, today Edmonton has launched their website for its 2026 candidature, to provide information about the city’s vision for hosting the World Cup, and to keep followers up to date with news. The website is available to view here.

Janelle Janis is speaking at Host City Americas online on 29-30 June - register here

[Source: Greater Orlando Sports Commission] The FIFA 2026 World Cup™ candidate city of Orlando will play host to some of the biggest names in international soccer following the announcement of a series of world class matches to be hosted in the city.

Orlando’s Camping World Stadium has been chosen as the venue for the 2021 Florida Cup featuring 2020 FA Cup winners Arsenal, Everton from the English Premier League and this year’s Italian Serie A champions Inter Milan, alongside Millonarios FC, the all- conquering Colombian team.

“We are so happy to be able to bring such a powerful international lineup to Orlando as we connect Europe and South America once again at this summer’s event," Florida Cup CEO Ricardo Villar said. "We look forward to delivering an outstanding training experience for our participating clubs, while also providing an exciting week of action and entertainment to local fans and club supporters in Central Florida for the festivities.”

The festival of football will take place on 25th and 28th July. Tickets went on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 3.

The news adds to the buzz around Orlando’s “Summer of Soccer”, which also sees the city playing host to international matches of the prestigious CONCACAF Gold Cup, also in July.

Jason Siegel, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission said: “It’s turning into an incredible year for soccer in Orlando and we are pleased and proud that organisers - including CONCACAF, US Soccer and Florida Cup - are recognising this and putting their trust in us. We will deliver a great experience for players and fans alike.”

Mikel Arteta, the Manager of Arsenal FC praised the choice of venue: “We’re very pleased to see our pre-season plans ramping up with the announcement of our trip to the United States to take part in the Florida Cup. The tournament features three good sides that will provide strong opposition, and the training and matchday facilities in Orlando will provide a first-class environment for our preparations for next season.”

Giuseppe Marotta, CEO Sport, FC Internazionale Milano said: “We couldn’t be happier to add a pair of Florida Cup fixtures to our training schedule as we continue our Scudetto celebrations in the U.S. along with our first team. The entire club is excited for the upcoming trip to Orlando for a challenging pair of matches, and the organization is eager for the opportunity to celebrate alongside our many American supporters.”

Enrique Camacho, President, Millonarios FC said: “We are incredibly excited to play in this year’s Florida Cup alongside three of Europe’s most recognizable and accomplished teams, including Everton and stars James Rodriguez and Yerry Mina. It is a fitting challenge and a momentous occasion as we celebrate 75 years of history in Colombia, and we are hungry to compete in front of our fans in Orlando.”

Orlando established itself as the “go to” venue for top flight football during the recent Covid pandemic, where 24 MLS teams were able to meet and compete in perfect safety, across 51 matches and 34 days of soccer.

As spectators return to live sport, Orlando has been awarded six matches of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, to be played as three double-headers on the 12/16/20 July in Orlando’s purpose-built Exploria Stadium, the home of Orlando City SC.

There were more than 40 bids from major markets across the United States interested in hosting the region’s most prestigious soccer tournament. Orlando is one of only seven cities selected.

[Source: Dallas Sports Commission] The tournament, previously held as the New York Open, is one of the longest-running American tournaments on the ATP Tour. Its rich history features some of the top names in tennis, including legends John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Michael Chang, and Andy Murray, and a current generation of stars like Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, and Reilly Opelka.

"GF Sports & Entertainment is proud to bring the Dallas Open, an elite ATP Tour tournament, to the premier Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex in Dallas, beginning in 2022," said Peter Lebedevs, Tournament Director, Dallas Open. "The Dallas Open will shine a global spotlight on the city and be much more than a one-week tennis tournament. In addition to entertainment programming and unique experiential opportunities throughout the tournament, our partnership with SMU and commitment to the community will be year-round and include business, community, tennis initiatives and events. We would like to thank the City of Dallas, our partners at SMU and the ATP for the incredible support during this process to help us bring this world-class tennis event to a world-class city."

The Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex opened in 2015 and is a preeminent, top-tier facility with both indoor and outdoor courts as well as a training center. The Dallas Open marks the return of ATP Tour level tennis to Dallas for the first time since 1989. The World Championship of Tennis Finals were held in Dallas from 1971-89. The tournament was held at SMU's Moody Coliseum for nine years from 1971-79 before moving to Reunion Arena in 1980, until the final year in 1989.

The Dallas Open will serve as the ultimate entertainment experience for tennis enthusiasts and sports fans in the region. The week-long Dallas Open tournament will showcase top men's singles and doubles talent as well as highlight local youth and collegiate tennis teams as part of GF Sports & Entertainment's commitment to growing the sport and building up the next generation of players. The event will also provide unique interactive opportunities for the business community, with customized platforms for corporate brands to engage with attendees and the community in a meaningful way and entertain with up close hospitality experiences.

The Dallas Open and GF Sports & Entertainment will have a year-round presence in Dallas, including community events and initiatives, partnerships with local business and tennis organizations, as well as support for local youth athletics. The Isner Family Foundation, established by 15-time ATP Tour Champion John Isner and his family, will serve as a non-profit partner for the event. The Isner Family Foundation provides financial support for qualified families to obtain necessities, such as meals, clothing, transportation, convenient lodging, car seats and medical supplies, while their children are under the care of Children's Health, one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas.

In addition to the Dallas Open, GF Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the Truist Atlanta Open, another ATP 250 tournament. GF Sports & Entertainment has retained Spectra Partnerships to lead sponsorship sales for the Dallas Open.

The waitlist for Dallas Open premium hospitality and tickets is now live. Fans can visit www.dallasopen.com to join the priority waitlist, and follow the event on social media @DALOpenTennis for all future updates.

John Isner, 15-Time ATP Tour Champion and Dallas Resident said: "I am excited to have an ATP Tour event in my home city and to show off Dallas to the other players on the tour. The Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex is a premier venue, the players are really going to enjoy playing there in front of a knowledgeable tennis crowd. I am also proud to have the Isner Family Foundation be one of the non-profit partners for the Dallas Open, and looking forward to the positive impact the event will have on the local community."

Andrea Gaudenzi, Chairman, ATP said: "It's exciting to have ATP Tour tennis coming to Dallas, a city with such a rich sporting culture and strong roots in tennis. This is an important opportunity for tennis to continue engaging its passionate American fanbase and we look forward to watching the Dallas Open establish itself in its new home from next season."

Rick Hart, Athletic Director, SMU said: "Our commitment to competing for championships and enhancing the student-athlete experience has required investments in our facilities, something made possible by the generous support of our donors. Because of these gifts, we have been able to build some of the finest facilities in the country, including the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex, Turpin Stadium and Brookshire Family Pavilion. Having a campus asset like this allows us to host a premier ATP Tour tennis event and bring top-level professional tennis back to Dallas at the Hilltop."

Monica Paul, Executive Director, Dallas Sports Commission said: "The Dallas Sports Commission is incredibly proud to partner with GF Sports & Entertainment and ATP to launch the 2022 Dallas Open. We are excited to host world-class play at the premier Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex, as the tournament grows roots in Texas and provides fresh opportunities for players and fans."

Everyone knows the saying "Music is the universal language of mankind" and this principle also underlies the work of the world's leading organizer of international choral competitions and festivals: INTERKULTUR. In this interview, we talked to founder and president Günter Titsch about his vision for the choral world, the background history of the worldwide organization INTERKULTUR and its global network between choirs, culture, cities and politics.

How does one come to establish an organization for choir competitions? What inspired you?

I have been active in choirs as a singer and chairman since my childhood and experienced early on how people and nations could be brought together through music. The power of music as a transcending link between nations is still the guiding principle of INTERKULTUR today: bringing nations together through song.

At the end of the 1980s, this vision began to become reality with the first choral trips from Germany to Hungary, behind the "Iron Curtain". At the first international choir competition we organized in 1988 in Budapest, the foundation was laid for today's global organization, and this set me on the path that would lead to the World Choir Games, also known as the Olympic Games of choral singing.

Were you able to imagine the success you would have with your vision and how influential your organization would become in a very short time?

I was aware of the power of music. The unifying element of enthusiasm for choral singing makes prejudices disappear, enables friendships across borders and creates a lively and peaceful togetherness beyond music without looking at nationalities, ideologies and religions.

In recent years, INTERKULTUR and the World Choir Games have created a great added value for their partner cities and organizations and have also gained a great economic importance. In general, the World Choir Games and all INTERKULTUR events have expanded tremendously over the past 30 years in terms of the audiences and markets they reach.

Looking back on the past decades, it fills me with pride how much our staff and partners have done and continue to do for choral music worldwide.

Your international team organizes events and competitions around the world all year round - what makes INTERKULTUR events so special compared to other choir competitions?

Probably the people and variety of our events. With our large international team, we are committed to reaching singers of all levels and ambitions.

One of our mottos is "participation is the highest honour" and this is also lived by many choirs. The competitions are open to all amateur choirs in the world. For singers, participating in an INTERKULTUR event can be a life-changing experience: Where else do you have the chance to meet people from all corners of the world, hear their music and experience their traditions in such a short time? Meeting people from other cultures and backgrounds changes your own view of the world and broadens your horizons.

And what about your partners, the host cities – what makes your events special to them?

The cities are the focus of the events and are a great additional incentive for the choirs to make the sometimes very long journeys. During the event, the city is filled with singing, music, international meetings, spontaneous street concerts and this unites not only the participating choirs, but above all the local population, retailers and restaurateurs.

At our major events, up to 30,000 participants from more than 70 nations come together, as well as an additional 300,000 visitors, making the cities vibrate with music and life. So, of course, the hosts also benefit economically. It is no coincidence that after hosting the World Choir Games, cities like Graz and Riga even decided to bring other major international events to their cities in subsequent years

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on culture and the performing arts. How are you, the choral world and your partners dealing with it? And what are your plans for "after the crisis"?

The restrictions and effects, both currently and in the long term, are really serious, especially also for the choirs of this world. Of course, since the beginning of the pandemic, we too have experienced some difficult moments and numerous setbacks due to the circumstances. But we are a strong organization, sustained by our incredibly dedicated staff and everyone's passion and commitment to our vision. The positive news for us is that in consultation with our local partners on the ground, we were only able to postpone all of our events to a later date and not cancel them completely. This shows impressively that we are all just waiting for the end of this pandemic, in order to then return to normal everyday life full of strength and zest for action - full of joie de vivre, music, singing and international encounters!

The exchange with our current partners and future host cities was and is very intensive. Even though the challenges for politics, business, culture and every individual were and are enormous, for many politicians the time has come to look ahead and adopt plans for the development and future of their city and region, now that the crisis is slowly being overcome. We know that in many places the question of how to promote new perspectives and a secure future is now increasingly on the table – and this is where we support our partners and the global choral scene.

This interview was conducted by Franziska Hellwig, Coordinator for Communication & Development, President‘s Office, INTERKULTUR

[Source: Super League Triathlon] Super League Triathlon has announced its biggest ever Championship Series with the sport’s brightest stars to race in four thrilling events at major destinations around the world.

Super League will move into major cities for the first time with stops in London, Munich and Malibu, as well as a return to Jersey. 

Reigning Super League champions Vincent Luis and Katie Zaferes will be back to defend their Championship Series crowns, and will compete against the cream of short course triathlon talent such as Georgia Taylor-Brown, Jonathan Brownlee, Beth Potter and Kristian Blummenfelt.

The four events will take place on back-to-back weekends throughout September, providing audiences with a compelling calendar that delivers greater engagement and a more exciting race Series.

Super League Triathlon’s 2021 Championship Series race calendar is:

• September 5: London, UK
• September 12: Munich, Germany
• September 18: Jersey, Channel Islands
• September 25: Malibu, USA

There will be 20 female and 20 male athletes competing at each event on a single day of racing over Super League’s exciting formats. As well as the athletes contracted across the Series, the start list for each event will include a small allocation of Wildcard slots to be filled nearer the time.

Racing in London will take place at West India Quay, at the Olympiapark in Munich and at Zuma Beach as part of the Malibu Triathlon, with Jersey’s event set to feature at St Helier for the fourth time. Individual event details and announcements around global broadcast deals will be made in the coming months.

Super League Triathlon CEO, Michael D’hulst, said: “This is a very significant and exciting day, not just for Super League but triathlon as a whole. Super League Triathlon’s 2021 Championship Series brings us closer to where the fans are and this is what we are about – making triathlon a spectator sport.

“To be able to deliver a Championship Series in a condensed time period in the calendar straight after the Olympics and to follow our strategic ambitions to visit major cities in key markets has been a goal we have been working towards since Super League was established just four years ago. Our first Championship Series events in the UK, Germany and the USA are significant milestones.

“Securing the best athletes in the world to race across the Series as we build on the success of the SLT Arena Games to host outdoor events again in iconic locations will help to elevate our sport.”

Multiple Super League Triathlon winner Vincent Luis said: “First of all, it is amazing that we can race and Super League puts such effort into us racing.

Jersey is my favourite venue of all time, and I look forward to seeing what London, Munich and Malibu have to offer. In these kinds of races, you enjoy from the start to the finish. It will be a really good build-up to the Olympics and then Super League to enjoy with four races in a row. I can’t wait. Putting the race tyres on the bike, getting the race suits ready… it’s just around the corner.”

For more information visit https://superleaguetriathlon.com/