This announcement builds on the initial overview of road routes revealed last September during the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia. It includes new details and full routes for the road races (Men Elite, Women Elite and Men Under 23), Individual Time Trials (all categories) and Team Time Trial Mixed Relay.

Today’s announcement also unveils the first details of the route for the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships that will take place in Dumfries and Galloway, including the Road Race, Individual Time Trial and Team Relay.

Road races and Team Time Trial Mixed Relay

Throughout these events, the world’s best cyclists will savour some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery, with racing taking place across the country. The Men Elite road race takes in Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat from its start in the capital on Sunday 6 August, before heading north across the Firth of Forth via the iconic Queensferry Crossing, then heading west through Fife towards Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling, passing near world-renowned landmarks including  the Kelpies, the Falkirk Wheel, Carron Valley and the Crow Road, before turning towards Glasgow and the specially designed finishing circuit, looping through the west end to the city centre for a spectacular finish alongside George Square.

The Women Elite and Men Under 23 road races will also finish on the Glasgow city circuit, though starting on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond at Balloch, weaving through West and East Dunbartonshire en route via the Crow Road to the finish line in George Square. The Men Under 23 road race takes place on Saturday 12 August with the Women Elite road race, which includes the Women Under 23 category, closing this inaugural and history making competition on Sunday 13 August.

In addition, the Men and Women Junior road races and the Team Time Trial Mixed Relay will start and finish on the Glasgow city circuit on Saturday 5 August and Tuesday 8 August respectively.

Individual Time Trials

Stirling and its surrounding area will host the Individual Time Trials for all categories, with competition beginning on Wednesday 9 August and continuing across three days until Friday 11 August. Riders will set off from the King and Queens Knot in the shadow of Stirling Castle on a fast course that will take them, through the flats of the River Forth to the west across the countryside, before heading back towards Stirling city centre, and finishing on Stirling Castle esplanade.

Para-cycling road

Dumfries and Galloway will welcome the world’s best para-cyclists for four days as they host the para-cycling road competition at the 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 UCI World Championship titles across the varied para-cycling sport classes and the right to wear the coveted rainbow jersey.

Competition will start with Individual Time Trials on Wednesday 9 August and will finish with road races on Saturday 12 August. The routes, which take advantage of Dumfries and Galloway’s stunning cycling terrain, have been designed in conjunction with local partners to showcase the region and present a fitting challenge to the athletes.

Teams will then travel to Glasgow for the Team Relay, which will take place on Sunday 13 August.

Full details for each event, including routes and technical information can be found in the Notes to Editors alongside links to course maps on the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships website. Please note the full course details for the Gran Fondo will be announced in due course.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will bring together 13 existing UCI World Championships into a new mega event in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3 – 13 August.

2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Chair Paul Bush OBE said: “The announcement of further details for road races and the unveiling of the para-cycling road routes for the first time is another exciting milestone as we continue the final countdown to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships this August.

“The routes will take in some of the country’s most iconic cities and countryside, providing a spectacular backdrop to the action taking place on road and showcasing why Scotland is the perfect stage for events.”

David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale said: “Today’s announcement detailing the road and para-cycling road routes confirms that the competitions will be spectacular. Challenging from a sporting point of view, the routes will also highlight Scotland’s wonderful scenery and rich history. We have all the ingredients for intense and sensational racing, and I cannot wait to witness the action unfold as the athletes battle for glory at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.”

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “It’s fantastic to see just how many communities across Scotland will play their part by hosting the road races for this year’s UCI Cycling World Championships. The routes showcase the best of Scotland to both visitors and those watching from home. Scotland’s breath-taking views and iconic landmarks will provide a great backdrop for the drama of the races. I would encourage all those who can do so to get out and see this world-class sporting action right on your doorstep.”

Leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Susan Aitken, said: “We are excited to see the full road race routes now announced for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. Glasgow’s iconic George Square, in the heart of the city centre, will provide the exciting, fast finishing straight for most of the Elite races, and before that the athletes will take in laps of the city centre circuit designed to be technically challenging, while showcasing the city to the global tv audience.”

“These races will be a real highlight of our sporting calendar with stars from across the world competing, and of course including these events as part of the competition schedule gives local, national and international sports fans and visitors a fantastic opportunity to see elite riders race past their doorsteps, this summer - for free.”

With something for everyone to enjoy, the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds will feature 13 high-adrenaline, exciting UCI World Championships including Track and Para-cycling Track at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, BMX Racing at Glasgow BMX Centre, BMX Freestyle (Park and Flatland) and Trials at Glasgow Green, Indoor Cycling (artistic cycling and cycle-ball) at the Emirates Arena, Mountain Bike Cross-Country, and Marathon in Glentress Forest, Tweed Valley. Mountain Bike Downhill in Fort William and Road and Para-cycling Road across Scotland (a full list of the UCI World Championships is included in the Notes to Editors).

Tickets are on sale now from as little as £8, with concessions from £5, plus there are many free events to watch throughout the Championships.

[Source: ESA] Sponsorship across Europe continued its post-pandemic recovery in 2022 as the sport sector achieved a record high, according to research from the European Sponsorship Association [ESA] and Nielsen Sports. 

The 2023 ESA Sponsorship Market Overview found that the total value of Europe’s sponsorship market increased by 4.3% over the past year from €27.85bn to €29.05bn. The total volume remained more than €1bn lower than 2018 and 2019 levels, with a record high of €30.69bn measured in 2019. 

The Sponsorship Market Overview covers sport and non-sport, and both sectors enjoyed an increase in 2022 but sport went from surviving to thriving with a record high volume of €20.69bn compared with €19.80bn in 2021 and €20.26bn in 2019. The recovery of the non-sport sector was modest in comparison but still significant with a 3.85% gain from €8.05bn to €8.36bn. 

Nielsen Sports, which has been delivering this annual report since 2008, concluded that the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions was the main contributor to the market growth across sport events, festivals and concerts. Sport also benefited from the staging of major events such as UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 and the Commonwealth Games, as well as spill-over from the Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup.  

The authors also noted that the rapid increase in crypto sponsorship had both a positive and negative impact on the industry, bringing a cash injection alongside a degree of volatility due to the instability of the sector. They also acknowledged the negative impact on all markets caused by Russia’s military occupation of Ukraine. 

The Sponsorship Market Overview measures the top 10 markets in Europe, and it found that Spain (14%) and the United Kingdom (10%) were this year’s fastest growers. The report found that Spain had benefited from market stabilisation after the ban on betting sponsorship in 2021, with renewed commercial growth driven by FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, along with the emergence of female athletes as ambassadors. The continued growth of the Premier League was a major contributor to increases in UK sponsorship. 

Samantha Lamberti, Managing Director International, Nielsen Sports, commented: “A look at the figures confirms 2021’s trend: the sponsorship market in Europe is growing for the second year in a row. Lifted restrictions and the increased adaptation of Web 3.0 technologies served as drivers of growth.” 

Andy Westlake, ESA Chairman, added: “The continued recovery of the sponsorship industry is highlighted by Nielsen Sports’ latest Sponsorship Market Overview, which paints a picture of a dynamic and resilient sector. 

“It’s remarkable how well sponsorship has bounced back after the devastating effects of the pandemic, and we all enjoyed the full resumption of in-person sporting and cultural events that contributed to the regrowth of the sector in 2022.  

“To see the volume of the 2022 industry come close to matching pre-pandemic levels underlines the importance of sponsorship to companies across Europe that need to achieve tangible connection with their customers. Sport sponsorship reached record levels last year and I am sure 2023 will see a continued regrowth in non-sport sponsorship. 

“This good news comes in spite of some very profound challenges affecting business stability, not least Russia’s continued military occupation of Ukraine. The 2023 Sponsorship Market Overview also highlights the positive and negative impact of crypto sponsorship on our industry. It’s more important than ever that companies use reliable data to inform their sponsorship decision-making – and this vital annual analysis by Nielsen Sports leads the way in that category.” 

ESA members can click here to see the full report. This report was produced using Nielsen Sports Market Intelligence and is available exclusively to ESA members. The ESA Sponsorship Market Overview has been conducted annually since 2008. 

ESA is a Strategic Partner of Host City.

[Source: Aggreko] Aggreko, the world’s leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy solutions, has announced that they will be providing their industry-leading temporary power modules to Cirque du Soleil for several of the entertainment company’s North American Big Top shows in 2023. The agreement continues Aggreko’s long-standing partnership with Cirque du Soleil, which began in 2012.

For Cirque du Soleil's 2023 season, Aggreko is providing power generators North American runs of Kooza in Houston and Toronto.

Aggreko will coordinate 2,500 kW of reliable, temporary power for each of the 134 performances across the two North American markets. The seamless mobility of Aggreko’s energy solutions guarantees that Cirque du Soleil can tour the continent without experiencing power outages while astonishing audiences with their world-renowned theatrics.

Aggreko’s temporary power solutions ensure that audiences at Cirque du Soleil shows will have uninterrupted experiences, even if power to the grid is cut. The short-term nature of touring shows, and the unique experience of sitting under the “Big Top”, also means that area grids may be stressed by demand from performances, making generators powered by Aggreko’s decades of experience a benefit for the communities hosting the shows as well.

“We’re thrilled to partner again with Cirque du Soleil to manage their temporary power needs, marking the eleventh year of our relationship,“ said Don Gray of Aggreko. “We understand that the immersive experiences of Cirque du Soleil’s shows require no interruptions, which is why we’re happy to lend our expertise in temporary power solutions to guarantee the greatest enjoyment by audiences across North America. Aggreko looks forward to another exciting year of working with Cirque du Soleil to bring the magic of modern circus arts to over 130 audiences in the United States and Canada.”

“Aggreko has successfully provided energy supply for our international touring shows for over a decade, and we’re happy to partner with them for another year ensuring a positive experience for both our performers and the audience,” said Philippe Rochette, Specialist – Electric & HVAC of Cirque du Soleil. “Our North American runs of KOOZA are cornerstones of our international touring plan and thanks to Aggreko’s reliable energy service, we’re confident that we will continue to perform knowing that our energy supply is in good hands.”

Those interested in learning more about the Aggreko power solutions used in the Cirque du Soleil shows can visit https://www.aggreko.com/, and the full Cirque du Soleil calendar for 2023 can be viewed at https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/.

About Aggreko

Aggreko is a world-leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services. Operating in a rapidly changing energy market, our priority is to support our customers through the energy transition by providing cost-effective and flexible answers to the simple or complex challenges our customers face.

Founded in Scotland in 1962, Aggreko has grown from a small local business to a global energy pioneer, employing more than 6,000 people. Headquartered in Glasgow, we’ve remained true to our roots, and have operations in over 204 locations, ready to deliver energy solutions to every corner of the globe.

Aggreko creates bespoke solutions to provide all electricity, heating and cooling needs using the latest fuels and storage solutions. This is powered by our trademark passion, unrivaled international experience, and local knowledge.

We recognize our position as partners in the energy transition and are constantly evolving our products to provide better solutions no matter the sector.

[Source: AIPH] Expo organisers from future AIPH-approved International Horticultural Expos will travel to the Portuguese Iberostar Selection Lisboa hotel in Lisbon to present their progress reports at the International Horticultural Expo Conference on 13 March.

AIPH-Approved International Horticultural Expos are beautiful events that showcase the power of flowers and plants. The Expo parks are enjoyed by millions of visitors and leave environmentally positive legacies for the host city’s residents.

What is an AIPH Approved International Horticultural Expo?

For more than 60 years, AIPH has had a mandate agreed upon by the 1928 Paris Convention and subsequent protocols to approve and regulate these major horticultural events.

Millions are spent developing these international spectacles that can stimulate the development of entire cities and transform the international reputation of hosting regions. Each Expo attracts many international participants and millions of visitors and lasts up to six months, with sites ranging from the smallest of 25 hectares to the largest of 500 hectares or more. Every Expo is carefully regulated, steered, and monitored by AIPH.

AIPH Guide to Master Planning an Expo

Mr John Boon, Director of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design at ARCADIS – a global design, engineering, and management consulting company – will talk about his collaboration with AIPH and present a new master planning guide for World and International Horticultural Expos.

The guide focuses on the key elements to be considered when starting an Expo project. It provides several methodologies and best practices beneficial for the master planning of both the Expo site and its legacy.

Backed by previous Expo case studies, examples of Masterplans and their pros and cons, and consideration of broader urban integration, this work will be of interest to every urbanist, landscape architect, city planner or developer.

Mr Boon has more than 25 years of experience as a landscape architect. He was appointed chief designer of the World Horticultural Expo Floriade 2012 in Venlo, Netherlands.

He is also at the forefront of sustainable and healthy outdoor space design. In the Netherlands, he introduced the Healthy City Index.

Learn from other prominent major event experts

For all major special events, efficient and effective transportation will be the first and last impact on every visitor. Mr David McCrae, Vice-President and Managing Director of TMS – Transportation Management Services – will discuss planning a capable transportation system.

That will set the tone for the visitor experience’s totality and shape every visitor’s lasting memory.
Also presenting to Expo Conference delegates will be a multi-tasking event manager, Biblo Event. This organisation has been enthusiastically planning innovative, creative, and perfect events since 2013. At the Expo Conference, they will share their experience creating spectacular events.

World Green City Awards 2024

AIPH is keen to engage and put nature in the heart and the centre of urban living; through our Green City Programme, we held the first World Green City Awards 2022. Two AIPH-Approved Expos host cities were among the finalists. At the Expo Conference, entry for the World Green City Awards 2024 will officially open. For more information or to register an interest, visit this link.

Learn how to host, participate, or support an AIPH-Approved International Horticultural Expo

The Expo Conference is an excellent opportunity to learn about future International Horticultural Expos, how to host or participate in future World and International Horticultural Expos, and plenty of opportunities to network with Expo organisers, city representatives, urban developers, landscape designers, NGOs, international city and environmental organisations, and suppliers to major events.

Audiences will also listen to updates from our host cities in Türkiye affected by the devastating earthquakes on 6 February. The Expo organisers will report about the next steps, particularly Kahramanmaraş, which was due to open at the end of April.

Major event suppliers on hand to support Expo organisers

Expo organisers can benefit from the many networking opportunities at this Expo Conference. Representatives from the AIPH Preferred Partner programme will be in attendance. And we welcome Mosimann’s, our newest quality event service provider for catering. Find out more on the AIPH website.

For more information and to book tickets, please visit the Event Page.

Until 2028, AIPH has approved International Horticultural Expos in China, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand, and Türkiye.

Expo 2023 Doha, Qatar, will be opening in October.

FORTHCOMING AIPH-APPROVED EXPOS:

A1 World Horticultural Expos

■ Expo 2023 Doha, Qatar

2 October 2023–28 March 2024

Theme: Green Desert, Better Environment

■ World Horticultural Exhibition 2027 Yokohama, Japan

March–September 2027

Theme: Scenery of the Future for Happiness

B International Horticultural Exhibitions

■ Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye

23 April–31 October 2023

Theme: Nature-Friendly City and Sensitivity

■ Suncheonman International Garden Expo 2023, South Korea

1 April–22 October 2023

Theme: The Garden of the Earth

■ International Horticultural Exhibition Chengdu 2024, China

26 April-28 October 2024

Theme: City in parks and life in poetries

■ Expo İzmir 2026, Türkiye

1 May-31 October 2026

Theme: Living in Harmony

■ Udon-Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026, Thailand

1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027

Theme: Diversity of Life: People, Water and Plants

■ Malatya International Horticultural Expo 2028, Türkiye

23 April to 29 October 2028

AIPH thanks Spring Meeting Headline Sponsor Biblo and Expo Conference Headline Sponsor TMS – Transportation Management Services.

Such is the draw of high-action, high-energy sports content that in 2023, Deloitte predicts that streamers will spend more than $6 billion on exclusive major sports rights in the largest global markets. For context, in 2021, streaming providers spent a combined $50 billion on all content: they are investing a significant proportion of their entire content budget on sports. 

For sports organisations, this presents four key opportunities: 

1. Monetising rights further: For premium sports competitions, streamers’ interest provides added competition for rights and/or distribution to reach a broader audience. For smaller and newer sports and leagues, streaming platforms can offer the benefits of coverage for the first time to increase awareness, and alternative commercialisation models (e.g. advertising-supported) beyond the traditional rights fee.

2. Appealing to younger consumers: While younger generations are less likely to watch full matches, their overall content consumption continues to increase, and that consumption takes place increasingly on digital platforms. In 2022, we witnessed a rush among clubs, leagues and governing bodies to respond to fans’ growing demand for sports content by partnering with streaming platforms to produce additional content taking fans beyond the live match. 

3. Making it personal: Streaming services could provide new innovations around personalisation, interaction and real-time data analysis. In the future, we expect to see further experimentation from streaming providers looking to offer more tailored experiences, such as offering multiple live feeds in-game. 

4. Growing global audiences: Giving viewers in different countries easier access to sports they might not be as familiar with and providing sports organisations with greater transparency of the popularity of their content. 

The challenges to overcome 

Streaming platforms may provide fans with access to even more content related to their favourite sports – such as original documentaries, behind-the-scenes content and associated secondary competitions. However, the fragmentation of rights across even more platforms could make it more difficult, and costly, for fans to access what they want to watch when they want to watch it. Rightsholders and streamers must work closely together to ensure that they aren’t creating artificial barriers to fan engagement.  

What’s more, there are technical challenges when streaming live sport. Sports content is often fast-paced and therefore necessitates a higher frame rate than other media genres. In addition, live sporting events are more sensitive to latency issues and, when streamed, delays can be a minute or more. This could be a real issue for many, particularly with premium-priced subscriptions, as sports fans will demand high picture quality and superb reliability.  

Meanwhile, rights holders may not want to risk a critical revenue stream when current linear broadcasts are already high-quality, low-latency, and have significant pre-existing production and distribution infrastructure already in place.  

What’s to come 

It will take at least a couple of rights cycles before the future of watching live sports is realised.  For some major sports, the next opportunity for streaming providers to bid for rights and grow their share will not be until the early 2030s, by which time underlying industry economics may have evolved, possibly markedly.  

For sports streaming to go the distance, sports organisations and entertainment companies should consider several things: 

• Put the fan first: Skilfully used, first-party data can provide insight into fans’ needs and preferences. As a result, careful analysis of audience engagement will help organisations to deliver the right amount of quality content, easy access, an engaging user experience and exclusive perks, all at a reasonable cost. 

• Expand the streaming service’s influence: The next generation of fans will consume sport across several platforms. Brands should consider how best to integrate social media, online games, fantasy sports and other digital engagement channels into the overall offer. 

• Improve streaming’s technical aspects: In order to enhance broadcast quality – eventually moving from 4k to 8k resolution, reducing latency and eliminating service interruptions. This will help ensure live sport remains truly ‘live’ when streamed. 

Ultimately, the question for sports organisations is whether media deals are both meeting their current fans’ needs and helping to build a future fan base. For many, streaming platforms, as part of a broader media strategy, may provide an opportunity to do both. 

About Deloitte’s Sports Business Group 

Deloitte is a leading advisor to the sports business market, with more than 1,000 experts advising clients across sport. 

We equip our clients with knowledge and insight that will resolve challenges, grasp opportunities and deliver transformational change.

Drawing on Deloitte's global network of expertise and capabilities, we work with some of the world’s largest sports organisations, governments and investors. 

Our global sport capability hubs lead industry innovation in areas such as: data and analytics; digital services; major event capabilities; sports and transformation advisory, M&A advisory and transaction support; cyber security, risk management and ESG; tax and legal. 

Find out more here.

From delivering Beijing 2022 during the pandemic to the ramifications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 2022 was a challenging year for the Olympic Movement – but according to President Bach, the IOC can nonetheless look ahead with “hope and optimism” in a year that includes qualifiers for Paris 2024, and the first Olympic Esports Week.

“The power of sport as a force for good in the world is widely acknowledged – and it is needed more than ever. Especially in a time when division and conflict is gaining ground over dialogue and cooperation – in a time, when, tragically, it is not people but the guns of war that are doing the talking,” said Bach in his New Year’s Message.

This year will highlight the achievements of athletes on the road to Paris 2024. “The Olympic Qualifier Season is ongoing and already now has generated over 100 million additional engagements across Olympic social media platforms – thereby promoting the athletes and their sports in new and exciting ways.

“Another highlight of how we are opening new horizons and reaching new audiences with our values will be the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in 2023. Held in Singapore next June, the Olympic Esports Week will be the next major step for us to engage even deeper with the young generation."

Singapore also hosted the inaugural Global Esports Games in 2021 - an independent initiative of the Global Esports Federation.  

“Thanks to the great preparation by the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, we can look forward to Olympic Games of a new era: inspired by Olympic Agenda from start to finish. The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be more inclusive, more youthful, more urban, more sustainable – and they will be the very first Olympic Games with full gender parity. And all of this in one of the most beautiful cities in the world," said Bach.

“This positive momentum is something that we can carry into the new year. Our values, our solidarity, our unity, our peace-mission – all this makes our beloved Olympic Movement so unique. This is the solid foundation on which we can build our future – on which we can build a better and more peaceful world through sport.”

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is pressing ahead with vital structural changes, after Martin Gibbs was confirmed as the organisation’s new permanent Managing Director.

This appointment is one of several concrete steps taken by SportAccord since the dissolution of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) was voted by its members in late November.

With professional services provider Ernst & Young handling GAISF’s liquidation, the ongoing integration of various activities, responsibilities, and staff members into SportAccord is firmly on track, ensuring continuity for International Federations and the broader sports movement.

Statutes are being revised to fulfil commitments given to the global sporting community, and SportAccord is working on terms of reference for a new Membership Commission, which will oversee the application process for International Federations to join the Alliance of Independent recognised Members of Sport (AIMS).

Under SportAccord’s revised governance structure, the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) and Alliance of Independent recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) will become Members. They will join the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF).

[Source: Cube] Cube Partnership has been appointed Master Licensee of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – Glasgow and across Scotland.

The Championships, to be held 3-13 August 2023, will be the biggest cycling event in history, with 13 UCI World Championships taking place across seven disciplines in Glasgow and across Scotland.

As Master Licensee, Cube Partnership will be responsible for designing, sourcing, delivering, and retailing licensed products at the Championships’ official venue shops, other local and national retail outlets and via a dedicated online store. The online store, to be designed and operated by Cube, will include a comprehensive range of exciting merchandise products, and will bring a world class ecommerce service to fans across the globe. The official online store is due to be launched early spring next year.

In line with Cube and the Championships’ social value commitments, the official range of products and merchandise will have a strong commitment to sustainability, with a focus on limiting single use plastics, responsibly managing waste materials, and reducing carbon emissions.

Trudy Lindblade, CEO of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships said: “We are so very pleased to welcome Cube Partnership as the Master Licensee for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

Having a bespoke range of inspiring memorabilia to commemorate this truly extraordinary event is one we welcome.  The inaugural event is a celebration, and a take home piece of history will be a trusted gift to give and or receive.

Andy Bough, Cube’s CRO said: “We are delighted to have been appointed Master Licensee for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. Through this partnership, and the Championships’ An Event For Everyone ethos, Cube will leverage its extensive global event experience and unrivalled merch design expertise to bring to life an exciting and sustainable retail and merchandise programme for cycling fans across the globe.”

[Source: Sport Event Denmark / Wonderful Copenhagen] This year’s Tour de France started in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, when the teams were presented in front of 10,000 cheering fans, and ended with Jonas Vingegaard returning triumphantly dressed in yellow.

Vingegaard however, is not the only Dane thinking back at Tour de France with fond memories. A new report shows how the Danish Grand Départ had great impact both in terms of tourism income, exposure, and not least in engaging the whole nation.

Of the 1,665,789 spectators for the three Tour de France stages in Denmark, 722,167 were tourists, both domestic and international, spending more than EUR 100m.

The event also generated massive media attention, with Denmark and Tour de France mentioned together in 80,000 editorial articles from June 2021 to July 2022.

“For us, Tour de France was an engine boosting our focus on promoting everyday cycling and showcasing the infrastructure solutions we have in Copenhagen. And these numbers just show what a powerful platform a major event can be. We have hosted major medias from all over the world, including The Guardian, Le Monde, and The Times returning home sharing stories showing what the transformation bike infrastructure can do for a city and how it helps Copenhagen to become a healthier, cleaner, and less congested city, says Lars Vallentin, senior manager at Wonderful Copenhagen, the Official Destination Management Organisation of Copenhagen.

However, the biggest success of the Danish tour start was probably the enormous local engagement and the many projects, carried out in relation to Copenhagen and Denmark hosting the Tour de France – Grand Départ. In the last 100 days before the event, a total of 744 Tour de France related events were carried out all over Denmark engaging everything from schools to shops and even a hospice, where the visitors helped knit an enormous yellow jersey.

Sport Event Denmark are very happy for the huge impact of Tour de France in Denmark and believe this is the perfect platform for attracting big events for the future.

“We must take advantage of the fact that we have created such a strong image of our unique cycling DNA and hosting role in Denmark. We at Sport Event Denmark dream of Denmark hosting even more big cycling events. The UCI Road World Championships could be an option. Denmark successfully staged the event in 2011 so why not repeat it with the insights we have now from the staging of the Grand Départ Tour de France?” says Lars Lundov, CEO, Sport Event Denmark.

Lundov and Vallentin both point to the close collaboration with the rights holders, ASO, as an important part of the Danish success bringing the event to life all over Denmark, with everything from bike shops and bakers to events using the official city dressing.

A design developed in collaboration with the French organization. A partnership which helped create an unprecedented celebration of everyday cycling and Denmark as a cycling nation and destination.

[Source: Citec] The end of 2022 marks the coming together of two key players in the organization of major events. Playground, specialist in the design, planning and operational coordination of sporting events, joins Citec, transport engineering consultancy group, particularly involved in 2024/2026 Olympic Games, 2018 and 2022 Football World Cup, or the European Football Championships since 2008.
Playground is involved in many major events in France such as the 2019 Women's Football World Cup, Roland-Garros, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Torch Relay of Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, and produces its own events such as La Grande Course du Grand Paris, the Montpellier marathon and the Boulogne-Billancourt half-marathon via its General Public Events division.

What are the benefits of this merger for Citec/Playground customers?
Citec and Playground successfully operated on joint projects in the past already, as the Ryder Cup in 2018, among the most participated events worldwide. Both companies now share the same ambition "To globally support event organizers, by offering a complete set of services, from planning to operations" explains Franco Tufo, CEO and founder of the Citec group. This merger enlarges the range of both players’ expertise, so that their client who will now benefit from recognized skills in the areas of accommodation, food&beverage and transport, for the organization of major events.

Continuity, trust, growth
This merger will allow the two companies to develop common and unique offers for organizers of major events, from strategy to the delivery of operations. Citec group will also provide the necessary support to Playground to continue its growth in a serene way, by giving it access to the financial, commercial, and administrative resources of a sustainable human-scale group.
The current management team as well as all of Playground's employees are not only maintained but reinforced, with the recruitment of new employees to support the requests which have already confirmed the interest in a complete service. Stefano Manelli, Citec Large Events Manager and Franco Tufo, Citec CEO will be the go-between with the Citec group.
“Since the beginning of our collaboration and exchanges, our vision of the future of major sporting events and the human and professional values that drive us have always been in perfect harmony. This merger marks a major turning point in the history of Playground, and we are convinced that this new adventure will be beneficial to all players in the sports movement, in particular our clients, partners and our teams", adds Yoann Arzur, Playground Managing Director.
After the acquisition of Interface Transport, firm specialized in logistics, in 2018, and shares in IMDM, expert in asset management, in 2021, Citec completes its range of services and continues its growth dynamic in 2022.

About Citec
Founded in 1994, Citec is an independent group of engineers and consultants specialized in the planning, management, development, and regulation of transport. The design of mobility systems for large events is at the heart of Citec activity, with more than 30 major events organized in 15 countries to its credit. Based in Switzerland, the group has a hundred employees in 9 agencies in Switzerland, France, and Italy. The group, 100% owned by its employees, achieved a turnover of CHF 14 million in 2021.
www.citec.ch

About Playground
Playground is an event engineering company supporting organizers in the design, planning and operational coordination of their events, with recognized expertise in accommodation, transport, and catering. Founded in 2017, this company based in Paris and Bordeaux has more than 120 events to its credit.
www.playground-event.fr