The Global Esports Federation has signed an exploratory agreement with the Invictus Games Foundation to develop a global strategy to harness the power of esports as a catalyst for social benefit and change.

“We are proud to embark on this strategic collaboration with the Invictus Games Foundation, leveraging the power of esports to elevate the GEF’s values of equality, fair play, diversity, inclusion and innovation,” said Chris Chan, President, Global Esports Federation.

“This agreement offers a world of opportunity for the services community, particularly those suffering from injuries or illness to join the #worldconnected movement, promoting physical, psychological and social inclusion and a stronger global community.”

“The Invictus Games Foundation uses the power of sport and adventurous challenge to inspire, improve and influence the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. Our Invictus Games is at the heart of that as the epitome of international sports recovery, offering a platform for the armed forces community worldwide to rally together and demonstrate the power of the human spirit in overcoming adversity and achieving extraordinary feats beyond injury,” said Dominic Reid, CEO, Invictus Games Foundation.

“Sports recovery is a proven method to accelerate and reinforce rehabilitation, and we know that participation in an Invictus Games is transformative for competitors and their friends and family. We see a great potential in esports and are excited to collaborate with the Global Esports Federation to further explore the power of technology and innovation for good.”

The agreement aims at establishing a blueprint to inspire recovery and support rehabilitation for wounded servicemen and women through esports; and to further the understanding and inclusive reach of esports to the world’s population.

“Esports, as in traditional sport, showcases human competition and has tremendous cognitive, physical and social benefits. We have seen firsthand the benefits of esports in promoting communications between people, building stronger global communities, and encouraging the connection between people from around the world, wherever they are,” added Chester King, Vice President & Chair, Education, Culture and Wellness Commission, Global Esports Federation.

Event organisers today emphasised that the health and safety of athletes, spectators and staff is their number one priority in reopening for business in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

On the second day of Host City 2020, speakers from across the events and venues industry, including rights holders, organising committees, facility managers and suppliers, exchanged views about tackling the COVID challenges. They also discussed how they’ve used the unprecedented pause in event staging to rethink business models and strategies.

More than 1,000 delegates tuned in to listen to the 100-plus speakers at the largest annual meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events. The theme was “The Big Restart”, with panels over two days assessing how event stakeholders can bring about “Recovery with a Purpose for the Digital Age”.

The opening panel focused on the road to recovery, asking the question ‘What strengths have carried our sector through the storm?’.

Joe Ryan, Head of Health and Safety at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, talked about how they had dealt with COVID challenges and were well-positioned to react quickly to new public health messaging from government, the rollout of the coronavirus vaccination programme and changes in policy to bring people back to work in the office and accelerate preparations: “We need to monitor those and implement change where we need to and be very reactive.”

Michelle Hooper, Tournament Director of Rugby World Cup New Zealand 2021, said the event organisation had benefited from the government going “hard and early to stop COVID coming in at the border”. For the rugby showcase in autumn next year, the managed isolation and quarantine requirements for 12 teams was a critical collaborative effort with the government and World Rugby.

John Langford, Chief Operating Officer of AEG Europe, which operates multipurpose venues such as The O2 Arena in London and Staples Center in Los Angeles, said the sports and entertainment giant had worked hard on health and safety plans to prepare for a full re-opening of COVID-secure venues. But there were uncertainties over “what the future will look like” in terms of ticket demand, the economy and how existing business models might have to change.

He said government help was needed because commercial insurance was not available. “Without a government-backed insurance scheme we don’t believe we can open effectively. There’s so much risk about events being rescheduled or cancelled again.”

In the week when the first COVID vaccine jabs were administered, speakers were optimistic that 2021 would see a much-needed revival in the events business.

Jon Ridgeon, CEO of World Athletics, presented a fascinating case study on how track and field’s governing body had successfully staged the World Half Marathon championships in Gdynia, Poland, in October. It had been postponed from March.

He said it was “far from easy and only possible due to strict COVID protocols”. World Athletics had to “to take back control of the competition environment”. More than 100 men and a similar number of women, drawn from 53 member athletic federations, participated.

Ridgeon praised the “strong cooperation and can-do attitude” of the Polish government, local organising committee and city of Gdynia.

Athletes and officials were tested for coronavirus and accommodated in a COVID-secure bubble across two hotels. Managing the testing regime, including administering about 90 tests per hour for a peak inflow of athletes and their entourage, keeping the hotel bubble secure and understaffing of the medical team were among the challenges.

Although there were increased costs in holding the World Half Marathon amid the pandemic, coupled with significantly reduced income streams, it was deemed a major success. Ridgeon said athletics’ governing body was now better placed to upscale its COVID protocols and improve them for bigger events to come in 2021.

“We’ve got our head around the fact that the first half of 2021 is going to be compromised,” he added, saying he hoped more athletics events would be staged from summer onwards.

Tatsuo Ogura, Director of International Communications for the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, gave an update on the pandemic’s impacts and how organisers were working on a pathway to stage COVID-safe Games next summer. With 226 days to go, he said athletes were front and centre of plans and the Olympics “provides a symbol of hope, resilience and the power of humanity working as one”.

In a fascinating interview session, Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP, spoke about his transition from an Olympic gold medallist with five Americas Cup titles under his belt, to sports administrator. He has transformed sailing with the launch of what is billed as “the world's most cutting-edge sail racing league”.

“People looked at sailing as being far away and quite slow moving. SailGP couldn’t be further from that,” he said, adding that it was both financially viable and in a format that could be neatly packaged for broadcasters and consumed by a global audience. Coutts said there was a big effort on sustainability and youth engagement programmes and ensuring a low carbon footprint.

Another topic of discussion was the convergence of digital and real-world events. It brought examples from Super League Triathlon and golf’s European Tour about how they have innovated to stage virtual sports for elite athletes as they look to learn lessons from the Esports community and integrate VR and AR into event strategies.

Michael Dhulst, Co-Founder & CEO of Super League Triathlon, spoke about the SLT Arena Games held in Rotterdam in August. Developed in partnership with Zwift, the new concept blended real life and virtual racing and offered “a new level of immersive viewing experience” for fans.

He said it was a huge hit across triathlon’s digital channels and an opportunity for the sport to extend the concept beyond the pandemic to become part of its events portfolio.

Later on the conference programme, in a session led by Katie Traxton, Chief Communications Officer of Formula E, four young ‘Gen Zers’ explained the importance of social media channels in their lives and how they engage and share content with friends. It offered some eye-opening comments for the events industry about how young people connect with each other in 2020. They highlighted the importance of being authentic and when posting on their social platforms, and of only identifying with brands that reflect their values.

In the final panel session, sports officials from Florida spoke about how they are readying to welcome the world again once the pandemic has passed.

Angela Adams Suggs, President & CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation, said the not-for-profit corporation’s goal was to continue to grow partnerships and promote professional and amateur sport to maintain its thriving sports industry and attract international visitors in 2021.

Wrapping up Host City 2020 with final remarks, Paul Bush, director of events at VisitScotland, one of the conference’s supporting partners, described the level of discussions and debate across the two days as “phenomenal”. Among the highlights, was hearing speakers say that “events will return… we just don’t know when, how and what shape they will be”.

ENDS

Speakers at Host City 2020 are shedding new light on how rights holders and organising committees are adapting to the impacts of the COVID-2019 pandemic.

The largest annual meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, is being held virtually to debate the theme of “The Big Restart” and evaluate how event stakeholders can bring about “Recovery with a Purpose for the Digital Age”.

The two-day conference opened on Tuesday with welcome addresses from its supporting partners, Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, and Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life.

Bush sounded an optimistic note despite the difficulties being experienced by many in the events industry due to coronavirus. He said the next few years may be challenging for everyone: “We have not lost our drive, ambition and determination for Scotland to continue to be the perfect stage for events.

“We as an industry will have to be even more focused, brave and ambitious along with seeking logical pragmatic solutions that are evidence based.”

McConnell outlined Glasgow’s rich heritage and expertise in staging international events. She noted the roster of upcoming events including holding UEFA Euro 2020 matches and the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023, the year Glasgow is European Capital of Sport.

She spoke about the need for event organisers to remain ambitious, bolster strategic partnerships and focus on innovation and citizen engagement to deliver their visions.

Keynote addresses were given by Sir Craig Reedie GBE, a member of the International Olympic Committee, Etienne Thobois, CEO of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and H.E. Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Thobois said COVID-19 had forced Paris 2024 to “review our priorities and adapt our planning… but our vision has not changed”. There was a renewed focus on promoting sports participation, using sport as a tool to change society and showing through a major public engagement program that “everyone can play a role”. He cited the Le Club Paris 2024 digital platform as one area where the organising committee was increasing engagement to maximize the social impact of the Games.

Expo 2020 Dubai was scheduled to be one of this year’s biggest international events before it fell victim to COVID-19. Al Hashimy told said that when it runs from 1 October 2021 it may be the first mega-event to take place in the wake of the global pandemic.

Commenting on the resilience of Dubai, she said the Expo was a product of extensive international cooperation and even at the height of the pandemic “work continued apace with its partners”. The bulk of construction for the Expo will be completed in the next few weeks.

In the first panel ‘Hosting with a purpose in the digital, post-Covid era’, Paul Foster, COO of the Global Esports Federation, talked about the importance of connecting with Esports audiences, athletes and the communities in a sustainable and dynamic way. The huge growth of Esports, which has triggered plans to stage the first Global Esports Games in December 2021, was an opportunity for host cities “to think about how we consume entertainment”.

Despite the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to next summer, Reedie said the IOC was confident in Japan delivering and getting crowds back to sport, encouraged by the fact that Japan was now bringing spectators into baseball and soccer matches.

The theme of adaptability surfaced again and again in conference panels related to the repercussions of COVID-2019.

In one titled ‘Preparing to deliver the greatest shows on earth’, Paris 2024’s Thobois said the biggest shift for Olympic organisers was integrating new hires into the team while adopting a working from home philosophy during the pandemic. But he said Games preparations were “very much on time and on target into terms of planning” with construction on a limited number of projects due to start in early 2021.

Ian Reid, CEO of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, said the shake-up of the 2022 events calendar to incorporate the rescheduled world and European athletics championships in Oregon and Munich respectively, together with the 2022 UEFA Women's Championship, was one challenge.

Reid said the athletes’ village for Birmingham 2022 had “fallen foul to COVID” but led to a multiple village model welcomed by the Games family: “It has de-risked the project”. The impact of coronavirus lockdowns on office working was also being felt. Hiring through the pandemic has seen staff grow from 80 to 250; procurement had also become more difficult as Birmingham accelerates its preparations.

A panel discussion on the Black Lives Matter movement evaluated whether it was causing sports, business and cultural events industries to change for the better.

Densign White, Chair of Sporting Equals and CEO of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, said BLM had made people more aware about institutional racism and forced organizations “to rethink and re-evaluate how they do things to be more diverse and more inclusive”.

But he raised concerns about the ongoing lack of diversity in ethnic minority representation in the leadership of sport at board level and in coaching: “There’s a lot of talk but the needle has hardly moved into terms of those numbers”

“Unless there are targets and consequences for governing bodies for not making sure targets are met I don’t think we are going to see any change,” he said.

In a session on inclusion and diversity in the boardroom and playing field, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, winner of 16 Paralympic medals in a glittering career, said sports bodies needed to listen to the lived experience of disabled people and include more of them in coaching and administrator roles

On a future event delivery panels, Bruno Marie-Rose, Director of Technology at Paris 2024, said the organising committee was harnessing digital platforms to connect with the French population. Technology was also being used to contribute to the Games’ neutral carbon goal, he added.

Elsewhere on Day One, Saoud Al Ansari, Precinct Director of Al Thumama Stadium, Competition Venues, Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, gave an update about progress across the project. He spoke about the organiser’s responsibilities to deliver an outstanding World Cup while aligning with the long-term legacy vision of Qatar.

Three of the eight host stadiums are finished. All venues in the compact host city plan are within 75km distance, a “strong advantage for players and the fans,” Al Ansari said.

‘How major events are contributing to environmental goals’ was an interesting panel. Georgina Grenon, Director of Environmental Excellence for Paris 2024, said the environment was a focus in early concepts of Games preparations. It had guided decisions including a sustainable procurement strategy and throughout the supply chain.

Wrapping up the day was a session looking at ‘Aligning event strategies with green city plans.’

Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH – International Association of Horticultural Producers, said global horticultural expos “provide a great opportunity to showcase green innovation and to set the scene for the development of a city into the future”. They also provided huge economic benefits and stimulate environmental and sustainable best practices.

[Source: SIGA.] SIGA has taken another significant step to promote good governance in Sport by today establishing a Standing Committee on Race, Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion.

This new Standing Committee is set up against a background of increasing incidents relating to racism, gender inequity and other forms of negative discrimination across the global sports industry.

The new SIGA Standing Committee will build upon the important work of a multi-stakeholder Task Force that SIGA established earlier this year on this same topic, leading to a series of cutting-edge recommendations that were publicly announced just two months ago during the first-ever Sport Integrity Week. Such recommendations included a review of the SIGA Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport to include new evolving good practices in this area, such as unconscious bias training for employees of sports organisations, by way of example of a new gold standard.

This newly formed Standing Committee is Chaired by Brian Lewis, President of the Trinidad and Tobago National Olympic Committee (TTOC) and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and member of the SIGA Council, while Ju’Riese Colon, CEO of United States Center for SafeSport, will be the Vice-Chaired.

Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA and Chairman & CEO of SIGA AMERICA, stated:

“Look around us. Can any of us be insensitive to what’s happening around us and pretend it’s not our business? Of course, not! Sport can do more. Politicians and business leaders can do more. Each one of us can do a lot more to eradicate racism and inequality, in all its forms, from Sport and, through Sport, from our society. And, if we can, we must!

As we enter into a slow and painful recovery from the global pandemic, there is no better time to remember that, in Sport as in life, regardless of race, gender, place of birth, zip code, religious beliefs or sexual orientation, everyone must be entitled to the same rights and opportunities as others. This is a fundamental human right, and it is our moral imperative to do everything in our power to make sure that respect, tolerance and equality are more than just words. With the SIGA Standing Committee on Race, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion we will muster the leadership and foster the necessary culture change.”

Commenting on his appointment as Chair of the SIGA Standing Committee on Race, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion in Sport, Brain Lewis, who also holds the office of President of the Trinidad and Tobago National Olympic Committee (TTOC) and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committee (CANOC) and is a member of the SIGA Council, stated:

“The SIGA Standing Committee on Race, Gender, Inclusion and Diversity is historic and significant with an incredible opportunity to be a force and catalyst for positive change within global sport. To be asked to chair the Standing Committee is an awesome honour and responsibility. Coming from a small Caribbean Island it’s a significant statement of inclusion and diversity by SIGA.” Leading the Way for Sport Integrity Worldwide

Ju’Riese Colon, CEO of United States Center for SafeSport and newly appointed Vice-Chair of the SIGA Standing Committee on Race, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion in Sport, concluded:

“I am proud to help lead SIGA’s initiatives around race, gender, diversity, and inclusion, as we work toward sport environments inclusive of all athletes. Leveling the playing field and creating systemic culture change begins with promoting athlete safety and well-being. I welcome the opportunity to apply what we have learned here in the U.S. and to work with experts from around the world with the goal of influencing change on a global scale.

The full composition of the SIGA Standing Committee on Race, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion in Sport is a s follows:

Chair Brian Lewis President, TTOC & CANOC | Member, SIGA Council

Deputy Chair Ju’Reese Colón CEO, US Centre for SafeSport

Members Affy Sheikh Head of Starlizard Integrity Services, SIGA Member

Angela Smith Chair, Stoke City Supporters Council, Member of GB World Champion Squash Team & SIGA Mentor

Arun Kang OBE CEO, Sporting Equals

Densign White MBE CEO, IMMAF, SIGA Member

Karin Korb Wheelchair Tennis 2-Time Paralympian & 10 -time member of USA World Team & SIGA Champion

Michelle Chai COO, Olympic Council of Malaysia & SIGA Mentor

Stacey Copeland First British Woman to win the Commonwealth Title for Boxing & SIGA Champion

Taylor Green Member, SIGA Youth Council & SIGA Mentee

Hear Brian Lewis and Densign White speak about “The Impact of the Black Lives Matter Movement” at Host City 2020. Register for free here: https://www.hostcity.com/host-city-2020-free-registration

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has appointed Phil Heselwood, Jonathan Rigby and Kate Steven to its senior management team in the roles of Director of Sport, Director of Commercial, Marketing & Communications, and Director of Operations respectively.

Reporting directly to the Championships CEO, Trudy Lindblade, each brings a wealth of cycling and international major events experience and will work alongside Trudy, the UCI and the Event Partners to design and deliver the inaugural event in Glasgow and Scotland in August 2023.

Prior to joining the Championships team, Phil was part of British Cycling’s Major Events Team for 11 years, including two years as Major Events Development Manager, where he was responsible for the strategic development, governance, financial sustainability, growth and innovation for all the governing body’s major events. This depth of experience has meant he has been involved in major cycling events across most of the 13 major championships, including the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the 2012 UCI BMX World Championships, that make up the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

Jonathan brings a wealth of international commercial, marketing and communications experience to his new role having been Commercial Director at British Cycling, where he led the organisation’s commercial partnerships. He was also Commercial & Marketing Director at BBC Children in Need, helping to lift the annual total raised from £49m to £60m in just two years; and was International Head of Marketing at Manchester United for five years where he lead a team that worked alongside over 45 international commercial partners.

Kate joins having played a key role in the successful delivery of the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire where she was Head of Operations. In the role she was responsible for the operational strategy, structure and the event-time team of more than 2,000 people delivering the championships’ operations. She was part of the organising committee for the London Olympics and subsequently Head of Events at Glasgow Life during the preparation and delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. In Glasgow, she was responsible for the programme management of more than 30 major public events including the first use of the city’s race circuit for the British Road Race Championships in 2013.

Trudy Lindblade, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships CEO, said: “I’m delighted to have Phil, Jonathan and Kate joining the Cycling Worlds senior management team. They each bring a wealth of experience to their respective roles, which will be invaluable as we develop our plans for delivering this historic event in 2023 and build a blueprint for future editions.  

“The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is more than just an event. It is a chance to make significant change by celebrating the unique power of the bike and all it brings to our everyday lives, whether it’s for our health and well-being, our environment, tourism or the economy. Through their individual roles, Phil, Jonathan and Kate will each play a leading role in championing this vision to ensure our ambition of delivering a truly innovative and unique event is met.”

Phil said: “I am very excited to be part of such an innovative and ambitious event. Glasgow and Scotland have a well-deserved global reputation for delivering world class events, and there is no doubt they will again provide the perfect stage for the world’s best cyclists across all 13 disciplines to perform and inspire.

“The potential of this event for cycling and the positive impact it aims to have on people’s behaviours is hugely inspiring. I’m looking forward to working with all the great partners across the country to showcase both theirs, and Scotland’s, ambition to the world.”

Jonathan said: The vision for 2023 is to deliver a unique international event that also showcases and inspires people to make cycling part of their everyday lives. This presents a fantastic opportunity to not only engage communities but also for domestic and international sponsors to partner with a truly purpose-led event at a time when cycling is booming.  I’m delighted to be part of this bold ambition and I look forward to working with Trudy, the Event Partners and wider stakeholders to deliver this vision.”

Kate said: “I’m delighted to be joining the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships team. I have worked on a variety of sport operations around the world and am looking forward to working in collaboration with our national partners to build an exceptional team and operation here in my home nation. It is a privilege to help deliver the world’s largest ever cycle event and promote the power of the bike.

Phil will take up his position on the 1 December 2020, with Jonathan and Kate starting on the 1 January 2021.

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.

Underpinned by four key policy drivers - participation, transport, tourism and economy - the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be a catalyst for behavioural change across Scotland moving forward.

The Championships will be 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.

Host City 2020, taking place online on 8-9 December, is pleased to announce six Strategic Partners, underpinning the two principal Supporting Partners previously announced: EventScotland and Glasgow Life.

The Global Esports Federation (GEF) and the Association of International Convention Centres (AIPC) join as Strategic Partners for the first time. Returning Strategic Partners include the International Association of Event Hosts (IAEH), the Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES), AEG Europe and Glasgow Convention Bureau.

Host City is a “one-stop shop” for the owners, organisers, hosts and other stakeholders of sports, business and cultural events. Now in its 7th year, the 2020 event takes online, hosted from Glasgow, Scotland on 8-9 December under the conference theme of The Big Restart: Recovery with a Purpose for the Digital Age.

Host City 2020’s Strategic Partner programme encompasses world-leading organisations representing stakeholders in major sports, business and cultural events. The Strategic Partners provide vital input into the world-leading conference agenda, contributing expertise and speakers to panels and workshops. The Strategic Partnerships greatly increase access to the event for all stakeholders in major events, while helping to consolidate the major event hosting community around this unique focal point.

To register to attend Host City for free, visit www.hostcity.com.

For speaking opportunities contact ben.avison@hostcity.com and for sponsorship/exhibiting contact adam.soroka@cavendishgroup.co.uk

About Host City

Host City brings together cities and sports, business and cultural events for two full days of unrivalled insight, networking, workshops and business on 8-9 December online, hosted from Glasgow, Scotland.

This is where representatives of host destinations, federations and other rights holders, organisers, event suppliers and services from all over the world meet to discover opportunities and discuss the challenges of major event hosting. Participants are encouraged to use Host City as a platform to develop, workshop and announce new events, partnerships and formats.

www.hostcity.com

About The Global Esports Federation

The Global Esports Federation promotes the credibility, legitimacy and prestige of esports. We convene athletes, players, the world’s publishers, developers, industry partners and sporting organizations on one inclusive platform. We encourage and support the connection between sport, esports and technology. We develop visible initiatives that are in service to the esports community, powered by active, strategic partnerships that celebrate and inspire youth.

Founding Global Partner: Tencent

Global Partner: Refract

Global Supporter: Sports Innovation Lab; International Sports Broadcasting

Global Supplier: Nielsen

Strategic Partners: The Commonwealth Games Federation; Olympic Council of Asia; Organización Deportiva Suramericana (ODESUR); International Telecommunication Union (ITU); Dentsu Incl Global Sports Innovation Center Powered by Microsoft (GSIC)

#worldconnected. www.globalesports.org

About AIPC

AIPC – the International Association of Convention Centres – is the industry association for professional convention and exhibition centre managers worldwide. AIPC is committed to encouraging and recognizing excellence in convention centre management, while at the same time providing the tools to achieve such high standards through its research, educational and networking programs.

AIPC occupies a unique position amongst the various organizations that represent the meetings industry. It is a true international organization, with representation from over 60 countries around the world. It focuses specifically on the issues, opportunities and challenges facing convention and exhibition centres. It celebrates and promotes the multicultural dimension of the international meetings industry and the role facilities play in enhancing this. And it maintains close working relations with related industry organizations to ensure members are well connected to overall industry issues.

www.aipc.org

About IAEH

The International Association of Event Hosts (IAEH) exists for representatives of international destinations to collaborate to generate the best possible value from hosting major sporting and cultural events and provide a voice for ‘not for profit’ hosts of events.

IAEH provides a platform for members to learn from the successes and challenges of major events, share knowledge and generate greater long term social and economic benefits from hosting events.

www.eventhosts.org

About AGES

The Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES) is a professional and business-oriented association which offers to share and manage valuable information related to the temporary event infrastructure industry in order to streamline business for buyers and sellers.

The purpose is to build up awareness for industry-specific aspects and to promote and defend the interests of its members in the international event marketplace. AGES develops roadmaps together with event organizers, governmental bodies and key stakeholders to create procedures, standards and other tools to facilitate interaction with international event suppliers.

The members and associate members are market leaders of the international event supplier’s industry and front-runners in the development of new products and services.

www.ages.international

About Glasgow Convention Bureau

Voted Best UK Convention Bureau for the last 14 years, Glasgow’s experienced conventions team continuously develops its city-wide strategic partnerships, world leading Conference Ambassador Programme and bespoke public engagement activities to support UK, European and international clients with hosting a successful and memorable meeting in Glasgow.

www.glasgowconventionbureau.com

About AEG Europe

Headquartered in London, AEG Europe is a subsidiary of AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company.  In Europe, AEG owns or operates sports and music facilities and entertainment districts across the continent including The O2 in London; Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg; Mercedes Platz in Berlin; and Accor Arena in Paris.  Through its Global Partnerships division, AEG delivers corporate brands the largest sports and live music marketing network in the world. AEG’s music division, AEG Presents is a global leader in concert promotion and venue management, running European music festivals; American Express presents BST Hyde Park, All Points East and Rock en Seine.

https://www.aegworldwide.com/

[Source: SportAccord] International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, SportAccord and GAISF President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, and World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised sport’s resilience and influence at today’s fully virtual International Federation (IF) Forum 2020, with IFs assured that preparations are being put in place to deliver safe Olympic Games next year.

SportAccord and GAISF President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, referring to the theme of the IF Forum 2020 – ‘How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger from a Global Crisis’ – commended sport’s collective response to the pandemic.

“By working together and tapping into the experiences and knowledge of our colleagues across the world today, we have a huge learning resource at our disposal,” Dr. Chiulli said.

“This year has provided many challenges, but I think it is also important to recognise that our movement will be able to look back on 2020 with a lot of pride. I have been truly inspired to see the creativity of International Sport Federations in how they have engaged followers and stakeholders through innovative channels and campaigns.”

The International Olympic Committee President told the IF Forum’s delegates that collaborative work with the organising committee and other partners and stakeholders, including IFs, will ensure Tokyo is “the best prepared Olympic city” for the postponed Games.

He added to IF representatives, who were tuning in worldwide: “The health and safety of all concerned has always been and remains our top priority. Because of the fast-changing situation, we may not yet have all of the answers to the operational questions that are at the top of the minds of all IFs, but please rest assured that we are developing a toolbox of Covid countermeasures for every possible scenario.”

“In this context, the encouraging developments in so-called rapid testing and vaccines give us all good reason for cautious optimism. These developments will greatly facilitate the safe organization and give us additional countermeasure tools. In this way, we are prepared for safe Olympic Games, whatever conditions the world will be facing next summer.”

Dr. Tedros, who has been at the forefront of the international response to the pandemic, pledged WHO’s support to IFs, sports, event organising committees, sportspeople and fans.

“Working with representatives here today, we have issued guidance on running safe events. It calls for a risk-based approach to decide if and how an event should proceed,” Dr. Tedros said.  

“It is up to each of us to reinforce the essential role of sport as an enabler for better health, and WHO continues to strengthen our collaborations with sports entities, Federations and athletes. We are working to ensure that sports can be practiced safely, both at amateur and professional levels.”

The invitation-only IF Forum 2020 has brought together more than 200 leaders from over 125 IFs, with experts providing insights into areas such as crisis management, scenario planning, risk mitigation and staying connected with athletes, fans and stakeholders in times of crisis.

For further information about the IF Forum, click here or download the brochure here, and follow #IFFORUM2020 on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Super League Triathlon is set to establish itself in the USA with the acquisition of the Malibu Triathlon.

The prestigious event has welcomed world class athletes as well as Hollywood stars such as Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron during its long and illustrious history and secures Super League Triathlon a significant entry into the US market.

Malibu Triathlon will remain under its own branding and will also continue to support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), having raised more than $15m for the cause. Further announcements on Super League’s exciting plans for the event will be announced in early 2021.

Super League Triathlon CEO and co-founder, Michael D’hulst, said: “We handpicked the Malibu Triathlon for this investment due its incredible history in sprint and Olympic distance racing and its incredible potential for Super League Triathlon.

“Acquiring the Malibu Triathlon is a perfect opportunity for Super League to move into the USA and build our presence in a region that already has a strong affinity with our exciting and dynamic racing and the content that we offer. It also aligns with our wider strategy to add more major cities and regions to our portfolio.

“We would like to thank Michael Epstein and his team who have worked so hard down the years to build and enhance the event, as well as previous owners Motiv.

“The prospect of Super League being involved with such an iconic race is very exciting.”

The Malibu Triathlon was first held in 1986 and retains a special place in the sport’s history.

The event starts and finishes on the sands of Zuma Beach and takes in the incredible ocean views of the Pacific Coast Highway.

This year’s event was replaced by the Virtual Triathlon and Duathlon Presented By Bank Of America. More than 700 participants from around the world took part raising $200,000 for Pediatric Cancer Research at CHLA.

Malibu Triathlon is a favourite of the film and entertainment industry with the likes of Tom Cruise, James Marsden and Jennifer Lopez having taken part.

[Source: Super League Triathlon]

Host City, renowned for the highest level of speakers and content, is excelling itself at this year’s event with an unprecedented level and diversity of representation from the world’s greatest event owners, organisers and hosts.

In addition to great content, the digital platform enables all the other hallmarks of Host City – world class networking, and an exhibition of events, hosts and expert suppliers.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland and Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life open proceedings addressing the conference theme, The Big Restart: Hosting with a Purpose for the Digital Age. Further keynotes follow from Sir Craig Reedie GBE, Member, International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Etienne Thobois CEO Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The opening session also stars Roxana Mărăcineanu, Minister of Sports, France, Ian Reid, CEO, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, IOC Member and Vice President, Badminton World Federation and Fanta Diallo, Director of Sports, Youth and Community, City of Dakar.

The world’s two biggest sports events go head to head at Host City with Georgina Grenon, Director of Environmental Excellence, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Federico Addiechi, Head of Sustainability and Environment, FIFA discussing how major events are contributing to environmental goals. Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, International Association of Horticultural Producers will also share his perspective on greening cities.

Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Director Tatsuo Ogura will give an update on preparations to host the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Brian Lewis, President, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee and Densign White, Chair, Sporting Equals tackle another dominating issue of 2020: the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, while Sabrina Ibanez, President of the Association of Paralympic Sports Associations leads the panel on inclusion and diversity.

Day Two kicks off with a keynote speech from Sir Russell Coutts KNZM CBE, CEO, SailGP.

World Athletics is well represented at Host City 2020 by CEO Jon Ridgeon and Jakob Larsen, Director of Competition and Events. Niels de Vos, CEO Oregon 21 LLC is also giving an insight into preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships.

With digitalisation accelerating rapidly, Bruno Marie-Rose, Director of Technology Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Michael Cole Chief Technology Officer European Tour and Alban Dechelotte, Head of Sponsorship & Business Development EU Esport, Riot Games share views on future event delivery and the convergence of digital and real-world events.

Other great speakers include John Langford, Chief Operating Officer, AEG Europe, Michelle Hooper, Tournament Director Rugby World Cup New Zealand 2021, Michael D'hulst Co-Founder & CEO Super League Triathlon.

Major congresses are well represented by Aileen Crawford of Glasgow Convention Bureau, Emily Blitz of the International AIDS Society, Sven Bossu, CEO of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) and Aoife Delmas of the European Society of Cardiology.

Other participating organisations include Aggreko, Department for International Trade, Sport Event Denmark, Global Esports Federation, European Sponsorship Association, International Association of Event Hosts, Association of Global Event Suppliers and many more to be announced.

Speakers, sponsors and exhibitors have access to invitation-only VIP structured networking.

Host City is the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events. To exhibit contact adam.soroka@cavendishgroup.co.uk. For speaking opportunities contact ben.avison@hostcity.com

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and SportAccord and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli are among the high-profile speakers who will participate in the fully virtual International Federation (IF) Forum 2020, which kicks off tomorrow.

The IOC President’s Welcome Remarks will be streamed online before Dr. Tedros, a leading figure in the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, delivers a Keynote Address on the theme of the conference – ‘How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger from a Global Crisis’.

There will also be an Opening Address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and the GAISF, and a Member Keynote Address by Professor Fabio Pigozzi, President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS).

Oscar Tosato, Municipal Councillor Sport and Social Cohesion at the City of Lausanne, will also provide a Host Welcome, while Evgeny Kuivashev, Governor of the Russian Federation’s Sverdlovsk Region, will deliver a SportAccord 2021 Host Address to give delegates a taste of what to expect at next year’s highly anticipated SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit in Ekaterinburg.

All of the IF Forum sessions will be streamed online for participants, with SportAccord having adopted a fully virtual format for the event due to ongoing challenges in relation to international travel and in-person gatherings in the context of the pandemic.

Topics that will be debated will include crisis management, scenario planning, how to limit risk from a legal and financial perspective, law-related commercial considerations for IFs and how to stay connected and reassure athletes, fans and stakeholders in times of adversity.

Experts from companies such as Charles Russell Speechlys, Leidar, MARSH, MGO Events, OnePlan, and SKIDATA will provide essential insights. The packed conference programme will also feature contributions from representatives of the IOC, as well as numerous IFs, including Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), International Ski Federation (FIS), World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), International Floorball Federation (IFF), World Taekwondo (WT), World Archery (WA), World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and World Rugby.

The invitation-only IF Forum 2020 will bring together more than 200 leaders from over 125 International Sports Federations, with delegates, and speakers.

Dr. Chiulli said: “In these unusual and challenging times it is more important than ever for International Sport Federations to come together, and we have an outstanding line-up of influential speakers who will provide essential insights during this first fully virtual IF Forum. I am delighted with the SportAccord team’s efforts in preparing for this year’s event in this exciting format that will connect our community from across the globe.”

For further information about the IF Forum, click here or download the brochure here, and follow #IFFORUM2020 on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

For media enquiries, please contact: media@sportaccord.sport