Event Management - Host City

Shanaze Reade to champion young people in new role as Ambassador for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

Photo credit – SWPix and Cameron Prentice

[Source: EventScotland] Five-time UCI BMX and Track Cycling World Champion, Shanaze Reade, has been unveiled as the first in a series of ambassadors who will help drive forward the key policy drivers for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland.

With a huge passion for mentoring disadvantaged children, Shanaze will use her role as the Championships’ ambassador to make sure children and young people feel part of this once in a lifetime event, while also delving into the barriers that prevent or discourage them from riding bikes more often.

Shanaze understands first-hand the struggle to make ends meet and the limits it can put on a young person, including being able to access something as simple as a bike, having experienced it herself growing up. When she first got into cycling at age 10, she had to rent a bike until her grandmother bought her one for Christmas from a local supermarket. It was on this low-cost bike that Shanaze won her first national title, showing her drive and determination to be the best.  

She said: “I’m delighted and immensely honoured to be the first ambassador for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. It is going to be an amazing event, bringing together 13 individual cycling world championship disciplines into one mega event for the first time.

“For me, a bike represents freedom. It can open up so many possibilities and teach you so many vital life skills. I’m hugely passionate about helping young people and this role gives me a great opportunity to work with the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships team to share this message as well as understand the barriers they are facing when it comes to riding a bike.

“My single biggest ambition as an ambassador is to help to find opportunities for every single child in Scotland to access a bike so they too can experience the freedom it can bring to their lives.”

Shanaze’s role as brand ambassador complements her existing role as Co-opted member of the 2023 Cycling World Championships Ltd board.

Paul Bush OBE, Chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said: “Shanaze is already making an important contribution to this brand-new event in her role as Co-opted board member, sharing her knowledge and experience of competing at multiple world championships.

“To now have Shanaze as the first of our ambassadors is an outstanding endorsement of what we are aiming to achieve with this event, helping to accelerate key policy drivers around participation and health as well as transport, tourism, and the cycling industry.”

Taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland in August 2023, the UCI Cycling World Championships will be the biggest single cycling event in history, bringing together 13 existing individual World Championship cycling disciplines into one mega event, for the first time. After this first event in 2023, it will take place every four years in locations around the world.

The Championships is more than just an event. It will celebrate the unique power of the bike and all it can bring to our everyday lives, whether it’s physical and mental health benefits, easing congestion on the road to help the environment, or simply making it easier for people to get around.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is being delivered in a collaboration between cycling world governing body the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow Life, UK Sport, British Cycling and VisitScotland with its EventScotland team. The partnership aims to create a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative and distinctive.

Facebook, Olympics, Esports, Investors and Leagues star in Host City Americas debut

The elite of the international events sector is completing the line-up for the inaugural Host City Americas conference, taking place online on 29-30 June.

Recent additions include IOC Members and IF Presidents Ingmar De Vos and Prof. Ugur Erdener on the opening session, during which Prof. Erdener will address the safe staging of the Tokyo Olympic Games during the pandemic.

Peter Hutton, Director of Sports Partnerships at Facebook, Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services and Brian Sullivan, CEO of NEP Group join to discuss The Changing Media Landscape.

Paul J. Foster, CEO, Global Esports Federation, Dr. Melita N. Moore, Board Member and Chair of Health & Wellness Commission, Global Esports Federation and Beng Choo Low, Secretary General, World Baseball-Softball Confederation tackle conversations about leadership in Esports and its role in health.

American event hosts are showing up in force, including Monica Paul, Executive Director, Dallas Sports Commission, Nick Sellers, CEO, The World Games 2022 Organizing Committee and Chris Carroll of the Lake Placid 2023 Winter World University Games, joined by Gary Meador, Director of Event Services Team at Aggreko North America.

Jim Mercurio, Executive Vice President & General Manager at San Francisco 49ers – Levi’s Stadium, Russ Simons, Owner and Managing Partner at Venue Solutions Group, LLC, Tad Bowman, Venue Director, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Denver Coliseum, City and County of Denver and Jeremiah Yolkut, Director, Major League Baseball go “Back to the Future” with Jeff Keas, Senior Principal, Populous to question the impact of Covid-19, on a panel co-produced with the Association of Global Event Suppliers.

Sabrina Ibanez, Secretary General, FEI and Tom Dielen, Secretary General, World Archery join the Workshop on Hosting Events with International Federations, along with Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland and the International Association of Event Hosts.

In keeping with the conference theme of Investing in Events, Host City Americas welcomes Gareth Balch, CEO, Two Circles and David Goldberg, Senior Advisor, TPG and Board Member, GAN.

OnePlan Founder Paul Foster brings expertise and solutions from the frontier of major event planning technology.

Simon Johnson, Chair, Rugby Football League joins Iventis CEO and founder Joe Cusdin to present on event mapping.

And David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships Officer, Centre for Sports and Human Rights moderates the conversation on How Important are ESG Criteria to Event Audiences.

These speakers join other great experts already announced: IOC VP and LA28 Board Member Anita DeFrantz; Sports ETA President & CEO Al Kidd; UNESCO Asst DG Gabriela Ramos; Santiago 2023 chiefs Felipe de Pablo and Juan Carlos Chamy; World Athletics Championships Oregon22’s Niels de Vos; Sports Innovation Lab CEO Angela Ruggiero; World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin; Matt Archambault of Riot Games; Finn Taylor, CEO, Volleyball World; Matt Pound, Director, World Table Tennis; Sarah Lewis OBE; Emily Blitz of the Inter-Parliamentary Union; Mexican Olympic Committee VP Jimena Saldaña; Paralympian Karin Korb; Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee President Brian Lewis; Brazilian Basketball Federation CEO Ricardo Trade and World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr.

Host City Americas is supported by: Official Sustainability Partner Aggreko; Event Delivery Partner NEP Group; Gold Sponsors OnePlan and Orange Sports Forum; and Silver Sponsors Dallas Sports Commission and Iventis.

Global Esports Federation is a Strategic Partner of Host City Americas.

The conference is delivered on the Eden platform by Creative Technology, as part of NEP Group.

Join 1,000+ participants at Host City Americas to discover the opportunities ahead as we emerge from the pandemic to a landscape defined by digitalisation and large-scale investment.

IF events and vaccination show Tokyo Games will be safe, says IOC President Bach

With global Covid-19 cases only recently starting to fall from their highest level, and with just 59 days to go to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the safety of participants is a matter of urgent global concern.

In his address to the SportAccord IF (International Federation) Forum, to which Host City was invited, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Just like the athletes who are preparing for these Games with so much concentration and focus, we are also getting ready for this final sprint. In this final stretch our top priority continues to remain on organising a safe and secure Olympic Games for everyone – the athletes and all participants as well as our gracious hosts, the Japanese people.

“This is why, together with all our Japanese partners and friends,  we have put in place comprehensive Covid-19 countermeasures to ensure the athletes of the world can come together in  a safe environment for everyone.”

He referred to the recently updated Playbooks, which outline the responsibilities of all Games participants and the rules that must be followed.

“The Playbooks have been developed based on science, taking into account the latest medical expertise – and also built on experience from all of you, the IFs, who since last year have collectively organised more than 120 World Cups and World Championships with the participation of cumulatively more than 51,000 athletes.

“In doing so, you have demonstrated that sports competitions can be organised safely, even under current restrictions. This is why I’d like to thank all of you for leading the way in this respect. Your collective experience gives all of us confidence in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, because you gave proof that large international sports events can be organised successfully whilst safeguarding the health of everyone.

“And you accomplished this without having access to vaccination, from which we can greatly benefit at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.”

Bach highlighted offers from three vaccine producers to the IOC for Games participants. At least 70 per cent athletes and officials will be vaccinated before the Games, he said.

“We can only encourage all of you to continue these efforts, because vaccination is not only about protecting yourselves and protecting your athletes – it’s also a demonstration of respect and solidarity with our Japanese hosts.

“This is why I would like to say thank you to all of you for demonstrating in a great way that, whether in sport or in the many challenges of life, we are always stronger together.

“This is the lesson we have learned from the coronavirus crisis. We need more solidarity within societies and among societies. This lesson also applies to sports and sports organisations.”

 

The post-coronavirus world

“One thing is clear: the post-coronavirus world will need sport and its values,” said Bach. “The important role of sport in society is acknowledged in the meantime by the international community, from the UN to the WHO, the EU and many more. Numerous studies confirm the contribution of sport to promote physical and mental health, education, social inclusion, gender equality and many more.

“As countries round the world are starting the long journey of recovery, this IF forum sends an important message: sport and athletes everywhere are ready to contribute to rebuild a more human-centred and inclusive society.

“We at the IOC are happy to have such reliable partnerships with each of you, as we face not only the many challenges of this crisis but also, and even more, the opportunities it presents.

“So let us seize these opportunities, as we are used to in sport – giving it our best and embracing change.  In this Olympic spirit I wish you fruitful discussions and an excellent IF forum.”

Birmingham 2022 appoints CSM Live as Official Provider of Look, Wayfinding and Signage for the Commonwealth Games

CSM Live, the branding and live experience division of CSM Sport and Entertainment, has been appointed as the Official Provider of Look, Wayfinding and Signage for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Following a competitive tender process, CSM Live will be responsible for scoping, producing, installing and de-rigging all elements of venue dressing at competition and non-competition venues. This remit includes the Look and Feel, field of play branding, wayfinding and information signage, sponsor recognition, media treatments and Host City dressing, applying relevant experience from previous multi-sport events including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In line with Birmingham 2022’s sustainability pledge, which includes plans to deliver the first ever carbon-neutral Commonwealth Games, CSM Live will work to design and provide an entirely sustainable solution, maximising the re-use of the hardware with the aspiration that none of the produced materials goes to waste after the Games.

CSM Live has also committed to work with local companies, suppliers and staff on the programme with a target to procure over 65% of its requirements locally, in order to deliver tangible benefits to the business community in the region.

Working alongside the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee, venue scoping will begin immediately, with production due to commence in the early stages of next year. CSM Live will also engage with local students on the design process for the Wayfinding and Signage programme.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see athletes from 72 nations and territories compete in 19 sports across 14 competition venues from 28 July until 8 August 2022. The event is expected to have a global TV audience of 1.5 billion and attract more than one million spectators.

Giles Stanford, Director, Global Events at CSM Live, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Birmingham 2022 as we seek to deliver a sustainable, innovative and carbon-friendly Commonwealth Games. We have a strong pedigree in providing sustainable branding solutions for major events and combined with the expertise of the local business community, we hope to deliver a spectacular event for all those involved.”

Ian Reid, Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham 2022, said: “It is fantastic to have CSM Live join us as our Official Provider of Look, Wayfinding and Signage for Birmingham 2022. With a strong track record of working on major sporting events, I know we can rely on their expertise to help us deliver the most sustainable Commonwealth Games to date. In addition to their work on competition venues, CSM Live will also be working with us on our community engagement activities, which will support us developing positive relationships within local communities across the West Midlands.”

Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin said: “With CSM Live, we have the ideal partner to deliver the look and feel for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. I am delighted by the important pledge from CSM Live to ensure that no product used in its operations will go to waste after the Games.

A further commitment to work with local companies will ensure there will be positive benefits for the West Midlands from the Games. My thanks also goes to our CGF Partnerships (CGFP) team as they continue bring on board world-leading organisations to support the delivery of Birmingham 2022 as well as our long-term ambitions.”

ASOIF partners with IAEH to measure the value of major sports events

IAEH Chair Susan Sawbridge (on the right) pictured speaking at Host City with (L-R) Eva Szanto, CEO, FINA World Championships, IAEH Director Iain Edmondson, and Tracy Bury, World Confederation for Physical Therapy

[Source: IAEH] ASOIF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Association of Event Hosts (IAEH), aimed at jointly establishing appropriate "common event impact measures" which will be widely accepted and can be applied to all major sports events.

Common data standards for measuring tangible impacts of major sport events enable event stakeholders to cost-effectively assess the value of events and their return on investment. They also facilitate the comparison between events within the same sport over time as well as across different sports. Impacts to be measured include economic, reputational, social and environmental. 

 The common measures will be finalised in the second half of 2021. ASOIF and IAEH will then jointly endorse recommendations, guidance and tools to help their members implement the common event impact language. As a next step, both organisations will collaborate to obtain additional support, research and funding from third-party organisations to enhance the tools available for robust measurements of impacts currently regarded as intangible. 

ASOIF Executive Director Andrew Ryan will join IAEH members at the 2021 IAEH AGM on 15th June to speak about the landscape of IF events in the coming years and introduce the MoU signed between the associations. 

The Chair of IAEH, Susan Sawbridge, said of the partnership with ASOIF: “The IAEH exists, in part, for event hosts to share knowledge and generate greater long term social and economic benefits from hosting events. A common view of event impact measurement standards is extremely helpful if we are to do this well, building a shared language for understanding and growing international events as they move from destination to destination.”

The IAEH provides a platform for ‘not-for-profit’ event hosts to collaborate on generating the best possible value from hosting major sporting and cultural events. IAEH members can learn from successes and challenges in delivering major events, sharing knowledge and generating greater long term social and economic benefits from hosting events.

ASOIF Executive Director Andrew Ryan commented: “This is a significant step for the project’s progress, as ASOIF members and IAEH members, the International Federations and City Hosts, represent the key stakeholders in major sports event delivery and hosting.”

ASOIF began to facilitate and support better impact evaluation of its member federations’ major events in 2017.  This was thorough impact evaluations made by an external provider. In light of the experience and the outcomes identified, ASOIF decided to encourage and initiate the development of common event impact measurement standards across major sports events.  

Click here to read the full text of the MoU.

Watch the Host City 2020 Workshop: Event Impact Measures, ASOIF & IAEH here - and register for Host City Americas to join the next workshop on Hosting Events with International Federations. 

SportAccord Confirms Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as IF Forum 2021 Keynote Speaker

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has been a leading figure in the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, will deliver a Keynote Address on the theme of the conference – ‘Lessons We Are Learning from a Global Crisis and How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger’.

The address will follow welcome remarks by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and an opening address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations).

Having been elected to serve a five-year term at the helm by WHO Member States in 2017, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is recognised worldwide as a leading health scholar, researcher and diplomat with first-hand experience in research, operations and leadership in emergency responses to epidemics.

“We are excited that Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who delivered an excellent address at the IF Forum 2020, will return as a Keynote Speaker at the fully virtual IF Forum 2021,” Dr. Raffaele Chiulli said. “Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will provide a timely perspective on the role sport can play in improving health and welfare across society now and in the future.”

The 15th edition of the IF Forum will adopt a fully virtual format with expert speakers from across the global sports movement, including representatives of the IOC, umbrella sports associations and individual IFs, as well as sports industry executives.

Presentations, updates, case studies and panel sessions will be provided on several topics, including ‘Moving Forward, Pivoting and the Lessons We Are Learning’, ‘A Return to Competition and Lessons from the Bubble’, ‘Athlete Mental Health’, ‘Commercial Approaches for IFs in the New Normal’ and ‘The Virtual Experience and its Home within IFs’.

The invitation-only IF Forum 2021, which will be staged virtually via the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, will bring together more than 300 leaders from over 125 IFs, plus other virtual delegates and speakers. For further information, click here or download the brochure here.

Immediately after the closing remarks of the IF Forum, a #SA2021 Virtual Launch Celebration will take place via the same platform for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021, less than six months before the event in Ekaterinburg, Russia, from 7-12 November.

Vaccination important for communities, not just Olympic athletes – Prof. Erdener

IOC Member and World Archery President Prof. Ugur Erdener is speaking at Host City Americas. (Photo: Host City)

As Pfizer and BioNTech donate vaccines to athletes and their delegations attending Tokyo 2020, Prof. Uğur Erdener, Chair of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission highlights the wider value of vaccination globally.

“We see the importance of vaccination all around the world,” Prof. Erdener said in an IOC release. “We encourage the athletes and Games participants to take the vaccine whenever possible. Vaccination is an important tool to protect not only themselves, but also their communities.”

Prof. Erderner, who is also President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee and President of World Archery, is speaking at Host City Americas, taking place online on 29-30 June.

Following a meeting with Japanese government, the IOC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pfizer and BioNTech to donate doses of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine to Games participants from National Olympic and Paralympic Committees around the world.

“This donation of the vaccine is another tool in our toolbox of measures to help make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 safe and secure for all participants, and to show solidarity with our gracious Japanese hosts,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

“We are inviting the athletes and participating delegations of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to lead by example and accept the vaccine where and when possible. By taking the vaccine, they can send a powerful message that vaccination is not only about personal health, but also about solidarity and consideration of the wellbeing of others in their communities. We would like to thank Pfizer and BioNTech for this very generous donation to support the vaccination of athletes and Games participants ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.”

Any doses delivered by Pfizer and BioNTech under the agreement will not be taken out of existing vaccination programmes but will be in addition to existing quotas and planned deliveries around the world.

The IOC and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are working with the NOCs and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) to encourage and assist their athletes, officials and Games stakeholders to get vaccinated in their home countries in line with national immunisation guidelines, before they go to Japan.

The offer to donate the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 to athletes and their delegations participating in the Tokyo 2020 Games came about during a conversation between Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer, and Suga Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan.

“With hundreds of millions of vaccines already administered, and hundreds of millions more to go, Pfizer is committed, together with BioNTech, to doing all we can to help end this pandemic and help return the world to a sense of normalcy,” said Bourla.

“The return of the Olympic and Paralympic Games represents a monumental moment of world unity and peace after a gruelling year of isolation and devastation. We are proud to play a role in providing vaccines to athletes and their national Olympic delegations where possible.”

The IOC has also recently released the second edition of its Playbooks, which give detailed information and guidelines to the various stakeholder groups participating in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Virtual IF Forum 2021 to focus on how sport and society can learn lessons to emerge stronger from a crisis

[Source: SportAccord] The IF Forum 2021 has been brought forward to next month from its traditional autumn slot to allow the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 to be rescheduled for 7-12 November 2021 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The 15th edition of the IF Forum will adopt a fully virtual format with expert speakers from across the global sports movement, including representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), umbrella sports associations and individual IFs, as well as sports industry executives.

The IF Forum will start with a Welcome Address by IOC President Thomas Bach and an Opening Address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations), followed by an Address by Dr. Richard Budgett, Medical and Scientific Director, IOC.

Presentations, updates, case studies and panel sessions will be provided on several vital topics, including ‘Moving Forward, Pivoting and the Lessons We Are Learning’, ‘A Return to Competition and Lessons from the Bubble’, ‘Athlete Mental Health’, ‘Commercial Approaches for IFs in the New Normal’ and ‘The Virtual Experience and its Home within IFs’.

Immediately after the closing remarks of the IF Forum, which will be staged virtually via the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, a virtual launch celebration from around the world for SportAccord 2021 in Ekaterinburg will take place on the same day, 25 May.

Dr. Chiulli will be joined by dignitaries from Russia in welcoming the international sporting community to the launch event, which will take place less than six months before the start of SportAccord 2021. There will also be further details about the conference programme for sport’s most influential global gathering in Ekaterinburg.

“We are excited to connect with International Sport Federations worldwide for what will be a timely and important IF Forum 2021,” Dr. Chiulli said.

“The IF Forum will be an outstanding opportunity for our community to come together to discuss best practice ideas as sport explores strategies to accelerate on the road to recovery.

“The SportAccord 2021 virtual launch celebration will also whet the appetite for the most highly anticipated World Sport & Business Summit so far in stunning Ekaterinburg.”

The invitation-only IF Forum 2021 will bring together more than 300 leaders from over 125 IFs, plus other virtual delegates and speakers. For further information, click here or download the brochure here.

Aggreko joins forces with Host City as Sustainability Partner and Headline Sponsor for 2021 Events

Aggreko, the global leader in mobile and modular energy solutions, today announces a new partnership with Host City, the leading magazine and conference organisers for cities, rights holders, organisers, venues and suppliers of major international events.

As part of the new partnership, Aggreko will become the headline sponsor of the flagship Host City 2021 Conference, as well as Official Sustainability Partner of the Host City Americas Conference. Today’s announcement is the latest in a long and successful partnership between the two organisations, with Aggreko having supported Host City since it moved to Glasgow in 2015.

In addition to the partnership, David De Behr, Head of Sales - Aggreko Event Services, has been appointed as Advisory Board Member for Host City. David has worked within the events team at Aggreko for over 20 years, delivering innovative energy solutions for some of the biggest events in the world, including the Olympics and Glastonbury Festival. David’s role as an Advisory Board Member will focus on helping Host City to develop their sustainability efforts.

David De Behr, Head of Sales – Aggreko Event Services, said: “As the energy transition gathers pace, the global events sector continues to take the changing landscape in its stride, with events organisers continually adapting the way they operate to reduce their carbon footprint. As a key player in events, we’re proud to be supporting Host City in its efforts to achieve its sustainability targets.

“As an Advisory Board Member, I look forward to working closely with the Host City team. This partnership brings our two organisations even closer together after many years of successful collaboration, and demonstrates our collective commitment to leading carbon reduction efforts in event energy solutions”.

Ben Avison, Editorial and Conference Director at Host City said: “The topic of how to stage sustainable events gets more prominent every year at Host City and we are pleased to provide a platform for Aggreko to share its leadership in the urgent field of carbon reduction. We look forward to shaping the agenda with David’s expert input, and to welcoming him to the stage alongside other world class speakers in Glasgow and the Americas.”

 

About Aggreko

Aggreko is a world-leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services. We are working at the forefront of a rapidly changing energy market and are focused on solving our customers’ challenges to provide cost-effective, flexible and greener solutions across the globe.

We harness innovation that helps us maintain a global reach and supply portable equipment for a wide range of uses. From unique commercial industrial projects, through to utility provision and humanitarian emergencies.  We bring expertise and equipment to any location, from the world’s busiest cities to its most remote places.

Aggreko specialises in serving eight key sectors: Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Mining, Petrochemicals & Refining, Business Services & Construction, Events, Data Centres and Utilities.

Across these, our equipment offers maximum fuel flexibility, using gas, diesel (including HFO), and renewable fuel sources. We offer microgrid and storage solutions and are developing our offer to include more tools to help our customers adapt to the energy transition the world is experiencing. What makes us unique is our extensive expertise, experience and values.  This means we put our customers first, innovate and deliver leaner and more efficient equipment quickly.

Since 1962, Aggreko has grown from a small local business to a global energy pioneer. We have more than 6,000 employees, operating in around 79 countries. With revenues of approximately GBP 1.6bn (USD 2.0 bn or Euros 1.8bn) in 2019, we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (AGK.L) and headquartered in Scotland.

Aggreko draws together global expertise and technology development to go further for customers. The ability to provide power, heating and cooling will continue to open-up opportunity and create potential for individuals, communities, industries and societies all over the world.

Together and over time, we believe our services will make a massive difference.

 

About Host City

Host City is the event and media brand that connects the owners, hosts and organisers of major events.

Through its conference, exhibition and online publishing platforms, Host City shares best practice within the international community of international sports, business and cultural events.

Host City events are renowned for the highest level of speakers, content and networking.

Launched in 2014, the annual global Host City conference takes place in Glasgow each November/December. The first Host City Americas takes place online on 29-30 June 2021, following the success of Host City Asia events in 2018 and 2019.

For more information visit www.hostcity.com 

Staying in the game: how IFs are surviving the Covid crisis

 Clare Briegal, CEO of the International Netball Federation speaking at the MEI International Federations Summit

Make no mistake, the rights holders of international events are in the middle of a fight for survival.

“With no ability to travel around the world for international events, it’s an existential crisis for international federations,” said Clare Briegal, CEO of the International Netball Federation.

“We’ve faced major disruption to our events and are revising our international calendar,” said Jim Scherr, CEO of World Lacrosse. “We’re hoping to get thought this immediate Covid crisis but it’s going to change the world forever, the way we govern and administer sports.

“This is going to affect all of us for probably the rest of our careers.”

 

Facing the same enemy

“We’re all facing the same enemy,” said Damiano Zamana, deputy CEO of the International Motorcycling Federation.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going – and the IFs, IOC, event hosts and national governments have all played their part.

“The Swiss government were quick to put in place tools supporting the international federations. The IOC brokered the position of the IFs very well, so they made partial unemployment for personnel available. There were also funds available from Swiss banks at favourable interest rates.

“We set up several working groups: one dealing with promoters who have main responsibility of organising and hosting the events; and another organising disciplines where we do not have a promoter – working with cities and local clubs.

“For commercial partners with difficulties, we reached ad hoc agreements with them.

“Despite a consistent loss, as everybody, with the support of Swiss government and with cost containment we were able to break even at the end of the year and be a bit more confident facing 2021.”

Event cancellation and postponement creates issues that reach beyond the immediate impact of lost ticket sales.

“We took a set of financial actions in order to cancel the cancellation fees for the rider licenses,” said Zamana. “We were able to keep almost 80 per cent of the Junior Series going, which was important to avoid the ‘Covid gap’ for young athletes. If you are six to eight years old, you cannot be an elite athlete so you can’t train.”

 

Risk too much to bear

The INF’s junior events were not as fortunate as its World Cup, which took place in 2019 and is due to place again in 2023.

“The Covid gap is a key consideration,” said Briegal. “We took the decision with a heavy heart to cancel our under 21s, as it’s a key pathway event. By the time we get to ‘23 and ‘27 there will be athletes that won’t have had that experience.

“Our approach was to protect the senior events which are more critical for our member countries and where we get most of our exposure and income. That has to be protected, the qualifiers have to be protected – the risk of staging the under 21s was just too much to bear for us.”

2021 remains a year of uncertainty for event organisers. “Some federations have decided not to run events this year. We are one of the federations who hope to run two events this year,” said Joern Verleger, President, International Fistball Association. “We are crossing our fingers and preparing. Let’s see how these things develop.”

Throughout the crisis, the federations have supported their members and communities.

“One of our challenges was to help our national governing bodies return to play. We formed a task force with our chief medical officer,” said Scherr.

“We scuttled about a third of a budget – then reallocated funds to our national members so they could stay in business.”

The INF worked with NETFIT and its members all over the world to provide online coaching, including coaching sessions for young people in Liberia. “When there’s no international netball what are we there for? To keep the international family together,” said Briegal.

“And if you want to think about the power of fans, think about what happened in UK and Italy around the European Super League. The fans are very much still there. We need to capture and amplify this.”

 

Supply chain stretched

The event supply chain has also been massively hit by the crisis, affecting some sports more than others.

“Our sport depends on suppliers – you need a motorcycle!” said Zamana.

Despite Covid, motorcycle sales were up 13 per cent last year – but not everyone has been able to access the equipment they need.

“In Australia, if you need to order a motorcycle the production and distribution time has become so stretched you have to wait four years. Fortunately this is not the situation in Europe, which is closer to the source of production.

“This is having an impact, so we need to modify our planning. The plants are back to normal production and we hope that this gap will be absorbed completely within 24 months.”

On a different scale, fistball also requires specialist equipment. “The ball is very important, and so is our relationship with sport equipment manufacturers,” said Verleger. “We’re interested to establish more connection with service providers.”

 

Digital reorganisation

Like all organisations, the IFs have faced governance challenges, with closed offices, remote workers and virtual congresses. “We’re a very friendly sport, used to meeting to celebrate the sport,” said Briegal. “The challenge is how to make these online conferences enjoyable for delegates!”

Scherr said “We had to do a complete pivot, all of a sudden working remotely. We worked hard to make sure we all have the same connectivity, moving to cloud storage – and then making sure volunteers had the same. We settled on zoom for external and teams on internal for functionality and privacy. Our biggest concern is that now people are using their own hardware, how do we manage GDPR?

“We are trying to aggressively build digital and social media following for the sport on the back of our events.”

Digitalisation has proved less of a barrier to World Obstacle, whose globally disparate membership has meeting virtually for years. “We have General Assemblies by Zoom since 2015, so we are used to having these kinds of meetings,” said Michel Cutait, deputy Secretary General of World Obstacle (FISO).

“It suits our structure – we have a committed team, a young federation, but we are very connected with young people and we think we have a great future. We have ambitious plans for our World Series and World Championships involving AR and VR, partnering with technology companies – and a very natural location for broadcasting and streaming.”

 

Brighter later

No matter how dark the climate is right now, the future is surely much brighter in comparison.

“The vaccination is going on with different results in different areas of the world – moving on quite well in Middle East, UK, and US, but slow in other parts of Europe,” said Zamana. “I hope the vaccination will continue with speed to give us a bit more freedom of movement while respecting the protocol.”

The progress of protection against the virus impacts how long it takes federations to recover.

“It depends on how 2022 will go,” said Zamana. “We’re already switching to our ‘plan B’ budget for this year.

“If for 2022 we go back to 100% of activity, we’ll recover in 5-8 years to where we were before, in terms of investment, sports developments, junior development and commitment to antidoping.”

Access to insurance is an issue for all event organisers. “The majority of IFs don’t have shareholders; they are not for profit. I’m struggling to renew a simple insurance policy – they are asking for a lot of financial information, because the insurance companies are not willing to take a risk on a small federation. We ask the insurance industry to support us: I understand the concerns, but please understand who have in front of you – we are not Nestle or Novartis!”

Scherr said “We have to navigate the world of liability – to manage the risk to the athletes, the spectators. What we do know is there is still demand from the public to consume sport. We need to work together to face this new world.”

A quick rebound is possible, said Briegal, responding to a question from Andy Bough of Cube International. “There’s a lot of pent up money. Licensing and merchandising are important to us, after ticketing and broadcasting. It’s a big growing area – a lot of our fans love to shop.”

Major events don’t always make the most of this retail opportunity, she said. “Organising committees have been conservative about the investment they are prepared to make up front and, in all cases, we’ve sold out in two days.

“Let’s hope the 2022 Commonwealth Games is a good retail opportunity. We encourage organising committee to look at the commercial opportunities of merchandise. I’m very positive – I think there’s demand out there.”

Even when events can’t take place, retail is an important source of income for federations. “If they can’t go to events, people want to demonstrate support for their teams in other ways. International fans can’t go to the Olympic Games, so how are people going to celebrate? In fan sites in their own countries. There are always opportunities.”

A challenge the sector faces is uncertainty around the recovery of international tourism. “You’ve got to make people feel comfortable travelling – it’s a big problem we’re going to have to solve together,” said Briegal.

Michiel Aulbers, Commercial Head for Global Business and Partnerships, ATPI said “We are an international travel association. In our marine and energy division we’ve had mission-critical travel, moving staff from oil rigs home – we’ve learned a lot.

“The big challenge for the sports world will be availability – a lot of the airlines have downscaled on flights and staff. We want to find connections to your event from airlines.”

 

Get with the Olympic programme

Looking further in the future, Los Angeles is hosting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Could lacrosse, which originated in North America from indigenous peoples, be part of the programme?

“We hope we have an opportunity to join LA28. It’s been in five Olympic games,” said Scherr, who was CEO of the US Olympic Committee from 2003 to 2009. “Given the sports selection process we think there’s an opportunity. There’s a tremendous amount of competition, but we think it would great for the LA28 Games. It certainly should be a great game changer for the sport of lacrosse around the world.

“LA28 have almost all their venues built already, or existing venues. There’s quite a bit of overlay to do. It’s a great Games, they’ve announced two founding partners on the sponsorship side, it’s an interesting proposition. The IOC Agenda 2020+5 and the question of cost and complexity of the Games might change how all federations fit into the Games.

“We’re looking forward to a fantastic Games in LA in 28 and hope we can be part of it.”

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