In January, Japan set its new single day record for Covid 19 infections and there is polling reported by The Times indicating that 80% of the country’s population are against the Games going ahead. That same newspaper also reports a Japanese government source as saying they are searching for a way out of staging the Games this summer because “the consensus is that it’s too difficult”. Sir Keith Mills, deputy chairman of the London 2012 Games, said earlier this month that it was unlikely the Games would proceed.

The official mood music from those actually involved in the Games' organisation though is much more positive. “Our task is to organise the Games, not to cancel them,” said IOC President, Thomas Bach, earlier this month. “And our task is to make the Olympic dreams of athletes come true. This is why we are working day and night to organise a safe Olympic Games in Tokyo.” So, the focus now appears to be shifting towards how exactly the IOC and the Tokyo organising committee plan to make it happen.

Next week they will publish their “playbook”, a set of strategies and proposals to explain how they see the Games being held this Summer, safely. While Bach had said back in November 2020 he was “very, very confident” that spectators would be able to attend the Games this Summer, there is a growing acceptance that full stadia are unlikely and that stadia with no fans at all are a distinct possibility. When asked earlier this month whether full crowds would be able to cheer on the athletes in Tokyo, Bach replied, “This I cannot tell you. Because our priority is to ensure a safe Olympic Games and we will do whatever is needed to do that. Everybody would love to have full-capacity stadia and the roaring crowds. But if that is not possible we will respect our principles, safety is our first priority.”

Other sporting events, from Europe’s leading football leagues and the NBA to the handball World Championships have been successfully staged in the midst of the pandemic. So there is a body of learning regarding event operations for the Olympic organisers to draw on. The truth though is that none of those events really get close to the scale of the Olympics, with over 200 nations represented and over 15,000 athletes taking part. UEFA’s Euro 2020, itself postponed from last Summer, will probably be the closest in terms of scale but is due to finish a mere two weeks before the Olympics begin, by which time the Olympic plans will be fully crystallised.

Returning to that impending playbook announcement, one can well imagine what measures might be included in there. Social distancing, hygiene and regular testing will be essential pillars. Other possible measures that have been mentioned include a wave system where athletes arrive in the country and depart within a five day window, insistence on a negative Covid 19 test immediately before departure to Japan and, somewhat jarringly, a ban on fans cheering.

Needless to say, there are financial pressures too, with the Tokyo organising committee expecting around USD 800 million in ticket sales and the Japanese government having invested tens of billions of dollars in the event. To the extent those sums are underwritten by the Japanese government, might there be good reason for them to be in favour of a further rescheduling (very difficult) or, dare we say, cancellation? If the event is cancelled, a report in The Times refers to the possibility of Tokyo putting its hat in back in the ring for the next “available” Games, in 2032.

The approach in the sports industry to the Covid crisis from where I have been sitting has in most cases been a sensible and practical one. There have been tough conversations and there have been threats but most stakeholders acknowledge that the pandemic was an unforeseen event, blame for which cannot be laid on a single doorstep. So, the necessary pain has in most cases been shared out. To paraphrase the character in Full Metal Jacket played by John Terry – the US actor, rather than Chelsea’s finest – “It’s a huge $#!@ sandwich and we are all going to have to take a bite.”

My own guess for what it is worth, and it really does have to be a guess at this stage, is that the Games will take place this Summer but with significant restrictions on fans in the stadia, together of course with a host of other virus management measures. If the Games do end up being cancelled, expect the IOC, the organising committee, Japanese government, International Federations and National Olympic Committees, broadcasters, sponsors and athletes all to have their share of an unappetising sandwich.

This opinion editorial was written by Nick White, Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys. Read more insights at www.charlesrussellspeechlys.com

[Source: SportAccord, 07.01.21] Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko has been appointed as Chairman of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 Local Organising Committee. 

His Deputy will be the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin with First Deputy Minister of Sports Azat Kadyrov appointed as Secretary of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 Local Organising Committee.

Independent sports marketing consultancy, Inside Edge, has been appointed as the global sponsorship sales agency for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and will be responsible for marketing the sponsorship rights for the inaugural event to be held in Glasgow and Scotland.

This is a major milestone for the Championships as it looks to establish purpose-led partnerships with brands that will help drive forward the event’s ambition to deliver meaningful societal change by creating and supporting programmes and ideas that help more people to ride bikes more often.

Over the next three years, Inside Edge will have international exclusivity in marketing all available rights for the Championships and through an innovative ‘one partnership team’ approach, the agency will work alongside the host and the cycling governing body to pool all rights and develop a single set of innovative packages for global sponsors.

As well as being the single biggest cycling event in history, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be a catalyst for behaviour change across Scotland from now until long after the event. It will celebrate the power of the bike and all it can bring to our everyday lives, whether it’s physical and mental health, easing congestion on the road to help the environment or simply making it easier for people to get around.

It is this vision and ambition that will provide brands with a unique opportunity to gain visibility around a new event concept with long lasting societal impacts.

Paul Bush, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Chair, said: “The appointment of Inside Edge is a key milestone on our journey to 2023 as we look to bring on board brand partners who will help us successfully deliver this brand-new event and create meaningful societal change by celebrating the unique power of the bike to deliver on our important policy outcomes.

“Inside Edge’s experience, shared vision and data-led approach to help create purpose-led partnership opportunities will be vital to our success, and we look forward to working with them over the next three years.”

Andrew Markham and Jon Naspe, Co-founders of Inside Edge, said: “Inside Edge is delighted to be representing the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and we will be applying our extensive experience of running international partnership sales processes for best in class rights holders to ensure that this ground-breaking platform is a commercial success. 

“We will start to reach out to organisations that align with the clear objectives of the Championships and its key stakeholders over the coming months. Principally we will be targeting brands that are looking to drive positive societal change through projects that encourage more diversity in sport, enhance physical and mental wellbeing and bring greater awareness to environmental sustainability initiatives.

“Cycling is more than a sport, it is a part of everyday life for over a billion people globally, be that as a way of commuting, spending time with family and friends or just being active. There is a real opportunity for brands to work with us to build a meaningful dialogue with a desirable, highly engaged audience and leave a long-lasting legacy for Scotland, the UK and the wider world.”

UCI President David Lappartient said: “The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland will bring together thousands of cyclists around 13 of cycling's existing UCI World Championships into one mega event for the first time. This landmark cycling festival, celebrating the power of the bike, will delight athletes and fans for what will remain an unprecedented experience in our sport’s history. I am confident that Inside Edge, as global sponsorship sales agency for the Championships, will translate this ground-breaking event into a commercial success.”

Taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland in August 2023, the Championships is being delivered in collaboration between cycling’s governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Scottish Government, Glasgow Life, UK Sport, British Cycling and VisitScotland with its EventScotland team, with the partnership creating a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative and distinctive.

[Source: Global Esports Federation] The Global Esports Federation starts the new year following the successful staging of the first edition of the #worldconnected series (#wcs20) in December 2020. The event saw participation from 75 countries and territories across seven regions of the world.

The regional esports competitions hosted by the GEF’s Member Federations attracted close to 5,000 esports players worldwide competing in 11 titles, drawing over half a million spectators online. Top matches were streamed live on the GEF’s Twitch channel – twitch.tv/GEF.

In addition, the staging of the inaugural GEFcon attracted over 1,000 participants from around the world. GEFcon20, developed with Sports Innovation Lab, showcased 14 sessions with 50 global thought leaders from esports, sports, technology and innovation sectors. The GEFcon20 sessions remain available for free viewing at GEFcon.org/videos.

“While so many events around the world were cancelled or postponed in 2020, our #wcs20 program demonstrated the Global Esports Federation’s capability, drawing the world’s esports community together. We are encouraged by the support from our diverse Member Federations and are committed to continuous collaboration,” said Chris Chan, President, Global Esports Federation.

“We kick off 2021 with renewed determination and commitment to promoting the credibility, legitimacy and prestige of esports.”

“At the GEF’s December Board Meeting, we reaffirmed our commitment to provide an integrated service platform to our Member Federations, assisting further growth and development. This year we will focus on diverse strategic initiatives, as well as the development and delivery of our global events portfolio, including our annual flagship Global Esports Games,” added Chris Chan.

[Source: Event Scotland] Craig joins the 2023 Cycling Worlds team from Scottish Cycling and will take up the position in April, reporting directly to the Championships CEO, Trudy Lindblade. With a strong track record and a career spanning over 25 years with some of Scotland’s leading sports and leisure organisations, Craig is regarded as one of the country’s most experienced and accomplished sports management professionals. Craig spent his early career within the commercial leisure industry, before moving into broader sports development roles across local, regional and national sports organisations.

Under his leadership as CEO of Scottish Cycling since 2011, the governing body has undergone transformational change resulting in significant growth and modernisation. This has delivered substantial increases in membership, participation and revenue as well as developing a talent system that continues to deliver sustained medal success from Scottish athletes on the world stage. Scottish Cycling was also awarded Governing Body of the Year in 2018.

Craig is a vocal advocate with a huge passion for cycling and is determined to ensure the  2023 UCI Cycling World Championships can add value to the great work already going on across the cycling landscape in Scotland and importantly deliver an inspiring policy led event that positively impacts across the four key policy drivers of participation, transport, tourism and economy.

Trudy Lindblade, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships CEO, said: “I’m delighted to have Craig join the 2023 Cycling Worlds senior management team as Director of Strategy, Policy and Impacts. His extensive experience and in-depth understanding of the policy drivers, political landscape and priorities of the key partners and agencies in Scotland make him the ideal candidate to drive forward our plans for delivering a major event that delivers sustained positive impact across the four key policy areas of participation, transport, tourism and economy.  

“We have big ambitions for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to not only deliver an outstanding event but to also celebrate the unique power of the bike and all it can bring to our everyday lives. Craig’s work will be vital in achieving this as we work in collaboration with cycling and wider partners to amplify and unify their existing work and activity that will give everyone the opportunity to experience the freedom riding a bike can bring to their life.” 

Craig Burn said: “I’m delighted to be joining the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships team as Director of Strategy, Policy and Impacts. I genuinely believe this event, and cycling in its widest sense, can bring solutions and positive change to individuals and communities across Scotland.

 “Not only will the Championships shine a spotlight on Scotland and the UK, but it will provide a unique platform and catalyst for government, its agencies and wider stakeholders to collaborate on initiatives and key policy areas where cycling can bring about tangible, positive change before, during and after the event for decades to come.

“First and foremost, we must deliver a world class sporting event for the athletes, spectators, stakeholders and sponsors. However, the Championships must also inspire the nation to get involved and be a vehicle to promote and celebrate Scotland’s natural assets and culture of innovation to the world.

“I’m proud and honoured to be given this opportunity to play an integral part in ensuring the success of this inaugural mega event that will create history and build a blueprint for future major events in Scotland and across the globe.”

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.

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 Championships is being delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow Life, UK Sport, British Cycling and VisitScotland with its EventScotland team, with the partnership creating a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative and distinctive.

[Source: SportAccord] The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) Council met via video conference on Wednesday, 16 December 2020 for a GAISF Extraordinary Council Meeting chaired by President, Dr. Raffaele Chiulli. As previously communicated, the current Director, Philippe Gueisbuhler decided to pursue an opportunity outside of the organisation with the International Ski Federation (FIS) commencing 1 January 2021.

Following the Extraordinary Council Meeting, President Chiulli said: “It is truly a pleasure to announce today that in view of ensuring the continuity of GAISF administrative action, SportAccord, Managing Director, Mr. Nis Hatt, was unanimously endorsed as interim Manager of GAISF.”

President Chiulli went on to say: “I have the utmost confidence and trust in Mr. Hatt’s ability to oversee the operations of GAISF as he has a thorough and intrinsic understanding of the GAISF organisation and its relationship with its Members.”

Mr. Hatt will start his interim role effective immediately.

You can follow SportAccord’s portfolio of events via Twitter @sportaccord or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Flickr.

[Source: EventScotland] The Scottish Government has today (15 December) announced new funding of £13 million to provide further support for the events sector in Scotland, much of which has been unable to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this, £6 million has been committed for the establishment of a new fund which will open this week to support those event businesses which are critical to Scotland’s events sector, and without which the capacity to deliver major events would be significantly reduced.

The Pivotal Event Businesses Fund will provide grants from £25,000 up to a maximum of £150,000 to support approximately 50 to 100 event businesses whose primary role as organisers, suppliers, contractors and venues is critical to the survival of the events sector in Scotland, and upon whom the wider events industry and supply chain are most reliant for their own business and operations.

Organisations applying to the fund must meet the eligibility criteria including having an annual turnover in excess of £500k prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; be directly involved in the delivery and organisation of at least five major events, festival or business events each year; employ a minimum number of staff, and events must be the primary source of the organisation’s income. This Fund is intended to support those pivotal businesses who operate at a size and scale in their sector and/or location where the loss or insolvency of that business would have a significant and detrimental impact on Scotland’s ability to continue to host and stage major events. Additionally, the fund will be targeted to support businesses which are experiencing critical financial problems that threaten insolvency or significant job losses due to the impact of COVID-19.

The remaining funding will be used to set up a separate fund to provide broader support to businesses across the full range of the events sector, including the supply chain, and will be announced early in the new year.

The latest funding follows the £10 million announced by the Culture Secretary in July for the events industry, of which £6 million was allocated to the now closed Event Industry Support Fund while £2 million was allocated to Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund currently being run by EventScotland.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “The events sector has faced severe challenges throughout 2020 as the restrictions necessary to contain the coronavirus pandemic have left most businesses unable to operate. While the arrival of a vaccine offers grounds for hope, the events sector and its wider supply chain will continue to experience difficulties for some time to come.

“We were able to provide financial support for the events sector in the autumn but we have continued to listen and we acknowledge that further funding is required. This additional £13 million will allow us to help hard-pressed businesses going forward and ensure that they are ready to support the recovery when it is safe to operate again.

“Scotland has a well-earned reputation for delivering successful events at local, national and international level. We are working collaboratively with the industry to ensure that the sector has a future to look forward to and that we maintain our position as the perfect stage for events.”

The Pivotal Event Businesses Fund will be administered by VisitScotland, with eligible organisations first asked to complete an Expression of Interest form to demonstrate they meet the eligibility criteria. This form will go live at 12pm on Wednesday 16 December and will be open for one week until 5pm on Tuesday 22 December with full details of the process and requirements available at: https://www.visitscotland.org/events/funding/pivotal-event-businesses-fund

From the expressions of interest, approximately 50 - 100 organisations which meet or exceed the eligibility criteria, and which are assessed to represent a sectoral and geographical spread of the most significant event organisers, suppliers and venues operating in Scotland, will then be asked to submit a full application.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said: “Scotland’s events industry continues to be severely impacted by the ongoing effects of COVID-19. The £6 million Pivotal Event Businesses Fund will provide vital funding to businesses critical to our industry’s survival, and without whom our capacity to deliver major events would be significantly reduced.

“Events play a key role in our communities by sustaining livelihoods and bringing, social, cultural and economic change so ensuring the industry’s survival is key to Scotland’s recovery from this pandemic.”

The full application process has been designed to ensure that funding reaches the businesses where it is needed the most to ensure the recovery of the sector. Organisations who have been in receipt of other COVID-19 funding are not excluded from submitting an Expression of Interest as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.

For the purpose of this fund, events are defined as one off or annual occurrences including live sporting and cultural events and festivals that are open to the public to attend, and major business events, incentives and conferences.

[Source: SportAccord, 1/12/20] At a meeting in Ekaterinburg, Governor Evgeny Kuivashev and Managing Director of SportAccord, Nis Hatt, discussed the preparatory stages for the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit, which will be held in Ekaterinburg in the spring of 2021.  

Mr. Hatt is currently on a working visit to the Sverdlovsk region. He heads the evaluation commission in charge of working out the details of holding the sports event in the Ural capital. During the meeting, the Governor and Managing Director of SportAccord discussed the stages of organising the summit, possible topics for dialogue within its scope, and the formation of a list of guests and participants. It is anticipated that about two thousand heads of international sports federations, organisational committees, cities and regions, as well as a delegation of the International Olympic Committee will gather in Ekaterinburg.

A special topic of discussion was the preparation of responses to the challenges faced by the world community during the epidemic. 

"The dialogue between representatives of the international sports community and the exchange of best practices for the recovery of sports following the pandemic should be continuous. Cooperation to meet modern challenges must continue even after the forum events", Evgeny Kuyvashev said. 

Nis Hatt noted that both he and the entire SportAccord delegation are happy to be back in Ekaterinburg.

"From what we have seen here over the past few days, I can say that everything is being carried out at a very, very high level. I am happy with what we have seen, you've advanced in many areas", he said.

The meeting was held at Dom Sevastyanova, a historic mansion, which is an object of the cultural heritage of federal importance and is rightly considered to be one of Ekaterinburg's most notable landmarks. Mr. Hatt suggested that the Governor consider holding one of the summit's events in one of the halls of Dom Sevastyanova, describing the mansion as "breathtaking". Evgeny Kuyvashev supported the initiative and gave the head of the Association a tour of the mansion.

SportAccord has announced that the inaugural ArtAccord will bring a new creative concept to the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 in Ekaterinburg by showcasing the work of some of Russia’s best and brightest artists.

ArtAccord will take place during SportAccord 2021, which will run from 23-28 May, giving delegates the opportunity to experience pieces of art in an intimate, gallery-like setting after being introduced to some of the profiled artists.

The event will kick-off on Sunday, 23 May 2021 with Welcome Addresses from Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord, and other prominent Russian figures from the Sverdlovsk Region and visual arts community followed by cocktails and canapés to allow attendees to take in the pieces and connect with other art enthusiasts. 

The launch of ArtAccord builds on SportAccord’s embrace of art and culture at previous editions of the World Sport & Business Summit in Russia. Notably, delegates at SportAccord 2013 in Saint Petersburg were granted a private visit to the famous State Hermitage Museum, and the work of the late Tuman Zhumabaev, one of Russia's most prominent contemporary artists, was featured in an Art Gallery exhibition at SportAccord 2015 in Sochi and SportAccord 2019 in Gold Coast.

Ekaterinburg, the host of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021, has forged an international reputation as a hub of art and culture, as well as sport. The city is home to numerous globally renowned institutions, such as the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts and the Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

“We have always been keen to showcase local artistic and cultural offerings at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit, providing delegates with an insight into the fabric of our host cities, regions and countries,” SportAccord Managing Director Nis Hatt says.

“Ekaterinburg has a heritage that is steeped in arts and culture, and we have a wonderful opportunity to give attendees a unique experience through the inaugural ArtAccord. I would like to thank the Sverdlovsk Region, Ekaterinburg, and the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts for supporting this exciting initiative, which I am sure will prove to be a memorable addition to SportAccord 2021.”

Regional Minister of International and Foreign Economic Relations of the Sverdlovsk Region, Mr. Vasily Kozlov says: “ArtAccord will provide a platform for some of Russia’s most engaging artists to reach a wider audience through the international sporting community. We believe delegates will be inspired by what they see and experience during this innovative new part of the SportAccord 2021 programme in Ekaterinburg.”

The annual World Sport & Business Summit is a six-day event attended by leaders of the global sports community. As the only global sports industry event attended by all International Sport Federations and their stakeholders, SportAccord also brings together organising committees, hosting cities and regions, governments and administrations, rights-holders, agencies and athletes, as well as top-level experts and organisations from the sports media, technology, investment, medical and legal sectors.

Registration is open for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 in Ekaterinburg, the 19th 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 2021 exhibition space.

You can follow SportAccord’s portfolio of events via Twitter @sportaccord or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Flickr.

Seductive, wise and visionary. Copenhagen shares her story as a spectacular host for events in the new branding film This is me, where the city, a woman inspired by the spoken word tradition, shares her tale as an old yet inspirational lady: With the legacy of ancient old wisdom, I’m the recipe for shaking your whole system.

Over the years, Copenhagen has proved to be a creative event host punching above her weight by taking events to the streets, the sky, and even to the top of the opera house, from where contestants have dived  into the clean harbour water: I have the purest water running in my veins. To the Danes it remains basic fuel for the brains.

While other cities boast enormous arenas, Copenhagen brings events to the historic city centre, invites you to swim in the clean harbour and to ski down a waste management plant. This combined with world class organisational skills makes Copenhagen an event host like no other.

2021 will be a big year for the Danish Capital that is set to welcome both the postponed EURO2020, the combined World Pride and Eurogames and the Canoe Kayak Sprint World Championships. This will be followed by Tour de France - Grand Départ in 2022.

These events all highlight Copenhagen’s strengths as an inclusive and visionary city that is a frontrunner within sustainable solutions. Thus, Copenhagen aims to be carbon neutral as the first capital by 2025 through green transformation, renewable energy, upcycling and recycling, green mobility and smart city solutions.

The city’s approach to sustainability is reflected in events taking place in Copenhagen. Hosts make it a priority to limit their carbon footprint and make use of the city’s state of the art public transportation, environmentally certified hotels and restaurants and amazing cycling facilities, which represent an important part of the city’s DNA: My wheels are spinning with eagerness. For real cyclic living is a treat for less.

Have Some Copenhagen – the city is your arena.

See film here

Contact: Jonas Løvschall-Wedel, jlw@woco.dk