[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is to welcome Sport Event Denmark as a Gold Partner for the 10^th time ahead of the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit 2020 in Beijing, China.

Established and supported by the Danish Government, Sport Event Denmark is the country’s national sports event organisation. Since its foundation 12 years ago it has helped to bring a significant number of major events to Denmark through its close links with host cities and national governing bodies.

Registration is open for the 18th annual SportAccord event from 19-24 April 2020.

Lars Lundov, Chief Executive Officer, Sport Event Denmark, said: “Our 10^th year of being a Gold Partner is a milestone for us and SportAccord, and it shows the strength of the bond we have formed over more than a decade. SportAccord has always been part of Sport Event Denmark’s strategy as a hosting nation.

“The SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit is one of the most important events on our calendar, and we look forward to re-engaging with friends and partners we have met over the years and establishing new relationships in Beijing.”

Denmark is one of the leading countries in terms of hosting world-class sporting events, and aside from its leading role in relation to the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit, 2020 promises to be an exceptional year for Sport Event Denmark. The country is preparing to host among other UEFA Euro 2020 matches in Copenhagen, the TOTAL Badminton World Federation (BWF) Thomas & Uber Cup 2020 in Aarhus, the IOF World Orienteering Championships 2020 in the Triangle Region and the 2020 World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Herning.

Commenting on the partnership, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord, said: “Sport Event Denmark has been a tremendous supporter of SportAccord since its inception in 2003 and was also the co-host of SportAccord in Aarhus in 2017.

“It goes without saying, this partnership is extremely important to SportAccord and we thank the Sport Event Denmark team for their continued loyalty as preparations continue for what will be an outstanding gathering in Beijing.”

Attending SportAccord enables delegates to network with sporting leaders at the highest levels, access an extensive conference programme, and experience the many opportunities on offer in one location, at the world’s leading global sports business event.

Organisations can become an official partner or exhibitor and discuss these investment opportunities with sales@sportaccord.sport.

The SportAccord 2019 Review magazine looks back at some of the many highlights that took place across the World Sport & Business Summit in Gold, Australia.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2020, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

[Source: SportAccord] The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) will support the highly anticipated Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 as a Silver Partner of the inaugural gathering from 10-12 December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

The CSTA – a non-governmental, member-based, capacity-building organisation dedicated to promoting sport tourism as a grassroots economic development initiative at the community level – will have a major presence at the event, where the Pan American, Olympic and International Sport Federation communities will congregate.

By providing services to more than 500 members across Canada, including 150 municipalities, 300 national and provincial sport, multi-sport and major games organisations and a variety of other sport and tourism industry partners, the CSTA is focused on expanding Canada’s flourishing sport tourism sector, which attracts approximately $6.8 billion in annual spending by domestic and international visitors.

Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will serve as a launchpad for collaboration between regional, national and international governing bodies and sports commissions, sports ministries, rights-holders, cities and regions, commercial entities and agencies. More than 50 international sport federations have already signed up to attend the event at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.

“Canada’s track record as a world-class host has been underlined by events such as the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015,” says José Rodriguez of the Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 Local Organising Committee.

“As an influential and highly effective sports organisation with roots in the Americas, the backing of the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance is unquestionably significant for the profile and prestige of Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019.”

The CSTA’s support for the groundbreaking Regional SportAccord Pan America marks a significant step for an organisation that has been a consistent presence at SportAccord’s World Sport & Business Summit over the years and was a returning Bronze Partner for the 2019 edition of the established annual gathering in Gold Coast, Australia.

Rick Traer, CEO of the CSTA, adds: “Our long-term work to promote the alignment of federal, provincial and municipal hosting programmes is continuing to pay dividends, not just in terms of enhancing Canada’s reputation as an event host, but also with regard to establishing positive legacies in our host communities.

“As we look forward to building on an exciting event calendar, which includes co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will provide an ideal opportunity to connect with like-minded stakeholders from the global sports movement who have a special interest in the Americas.”

Under the theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’, speakers already confirmed for the event include Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations); Stephan Fox, President, AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport), Vice President, GAISF; Francesco Ricci Bitti, President, ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations); Sarah Lewis OBE, Secretary General, AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations); Marisol Casado, President, ITU (International Triathlon Union); Marius L. Vizer, President, International Judo Federation (IJF); and Vlad Marinescu, Vice President, IESF (International Esport Federation), President, UESF (United States eSports Federation).

Click here to register for the event, hosted by SportAccord in partnership with Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sports Foundation, International Sports & Health Associates and MGO. For information about becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, request a brochure or contact the sales team via info@regionalsportaccord.sport or +1 954 204 3081.

Follow Regional SportAccord via Twitter @sportaccord using #RSA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.       

As we celebrate our partnership with Host City 2019, we look forward to sharing with those attending the conference our insights into the broader impacts that the public, private and third sectors are seeking, achieving, measuring and communicating from hosting some of the world’s largest and highest profile events.

Through our extensive work with rights holders and hosts, running procurement processes, negotiating optimum commercial deals, leading event bids and advising hosts on how to build a tailored event calendar, we have developed unique insights and carried out in-depth research into how to improve host partnerships that work for all stakeholders. That is to say, partnerships where host, rights holder and all other stakeholders are able to achieve their short and long-term objectives through a well-delivered event.

We have also witnessed first-hand how the major events landscape is changing as rights holders embrace new technologies and consumer trends whilst hosts seek events that speak to wider city and national priorities. This is impacting the way that hosts are evaluating opportunities and measuring impact.

At Host City 2019, we will share more about how we will be building on this insight as we utilise The Sports Consultancy’s extensive network of hosts and rights holders to research current and future trends in event hosting. This research will bring together data in a new way to benefit rights holders and hosts in their future hosting relationships.

Global trends

We have gathered and analysed the data on how global trends are affecting the major events industry. Urbanisation and demographic shifts, ageing populations and increasing inequality are affecting the design and content of cities as governments prioritise inclusion and welfare. Global talent is more mobile, meaning that cities are competing to attract and retain it. Attracting new businesses and inward investment are increasingly important in a competitive and connected international marketplace. Climate change is a growing concern resulting in a rising focus on sustainability, as well as an increased scrutiny on public spending. Technology is also a significant factor in how cities are changing, working towards being ‘smarter’ and demonstrating their innovation credentials.

All of these macro trends are impacting the initiatives that governments choose to invest in and how they seek to use events to benefit their economies and populations. We are seeing a shift in objectives as event investment is less outward focused and gradually more targeted towards providing for existing citizens. This means a reduced focus on tourism and visitation and more of a focus on social impact, community cohesion and building a city with a great quality of life.

However, economic impact is still the primary measure of success in many cases (for the time being at least) as new priorities are not supported by our ability across the industry to measure social impact in a way that can justify substantial public sector expenditure. Developing effective measurement approaches for social and community impacts is a priority for hosts. A number of rights holders have recognised this and are investing in detailed social impact studies of their largest events, along with measuring economic and media impacts. We will share further insights into impact measurement in Glasgow in November.

Consumer behaviour

Further trends specific to the sports and entertainment industries are impacting rights holders. This is affecting the events that they are taking to market and how those events are positioned to engage and entertain the public.

Consumers are following more sports less avidly and sports events compete with an array of leisure and entertainment properties and activities. Digital media is an increasingly popular form of consumption of events, competing even with live attendance. More niche events and sports have a new avenue to market through over-the-top (OTT) coverage. Whilst this may lead to reduced live audiences it provides more opportunities to reach a younger audience. However, content demand is changing and events have to be creative in how they build awareness and generate engagement.

Finding the right hosts

For rights holders, finding the right hosts that understand their ambitions and can enhance their offering as aligned partners, is increasingly important. Rights holders are being more targeted geographically, but are also becoming more open to changing their hosting models to ensure the benefits are there for hosts and to open up their events to new territories and emerging markets. Our host procurement processes are incorporating new approaches to allow flexibility and build the most effective partnerships, while protecting interests on both sides of the hosting relationship.

This is balanced by a need to ensure that premium events are contributing to rights holder finances, particularly for International Federations where flagship events can support the organisation for multiple years. This may need to be accompanied in future with a greater appetite from the rights holder to share risk and, therefore, reward.

We look forward to sharing further insight in the build up to Host City 2019 and offering those attending the conference, unique insights from our work and research, into the ever-evolving relationship between rights holders and host cities and the solutions we are creating and applying for our clients. We also look forward to learning more from hosts and rights holders about their evolving challenges and the solutions they are employing to combat them.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is pleased to confirm CNN as the Top Media Partner for SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2020 in Beijing, China, and the inaugural Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

CNN Worldwide is the most honoured brand in cable news, reaching more individuals on television, the web and mobile devices than any other cable news organization in the US. Globally, CNN International is the most widely distributed news channel, reaching over 380 million households. CNN en Español is the No.1 news network in Latin America and is regularly named as the most trusted news source in the region by the syndicated study TGI Latin America.

SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2020 will take place at the China National Convention Center from 19-24 April 2020. The annual World Sport & Business Summit is a six-day event attended by leaders of the global sports community. It is the only global sports business event attended by all the international sport federations and their stakeholders, who host their Annual General Assemblies during SportAccord.

Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will bring together the Pan American, Olympic and international sport federation communities in one location, with the inaugural event set to attract sports commissions, regional, national and international governing bodies, sports ministries, rights-holders, cities and regions, commercial entities and agencies. It will be held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center from 10-12 December 2019.

Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations) said: “This is a most welcome development for this inaugural staging of Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019. The creation of this new Pan-American gathering is an opportunity for the sports ecosystem across the region to come together, and the addition of CNN’s reach and standing only solidifies the status of this new event.”   

Corinna Keller, Vice President, CNN International Commercial, said: “CNN is delighted to be the Top Media Partner for these SportAccord events. As the world’s leading news network, we value the opportunity to be associated with two major dates on the global sporting calendar. CNN is looking forward to our involvement in this inaugural Regional SportAccord Pan America event and welcoming the world of sport to the region.

“Sport and its governance throughout the Americas will undoubtedly benefit from this new event, where important topics such as social responsibility, the protection of athletes and esports will be discussed. CNN is proud to share in the conversation as we strive to grow our connectivity between sport and our audiences.”

Welcoming the partnership, Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, said: “SportAccord is delighted to announce CNN as Top Media Partner for our forthcoming events. The involvement of the world’s most recognised news organisation is very encouraging for SportAccord, and a further signal of the importance of our new Pan-American event for sport across the region. CNN’s standing and reach in the Americas and beyond is unparalleled and will enable us to further engage with key decision-makers inside and outside of sport.”

Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will feature networking opportunities, an exhibition and a conference with a theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’. Leading sports administrators, business executives and iconic names from the sporting world will participate in panel sessions, keynote addresses, fireside chats and workshops. Those already confirmed include Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF, and Jason Jenkins, Senior Vice President, Communications and Community Affairs, Miami Dolphins.

Registration is open for the event, hosted by SportAccord in partnership with Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sports Foundation, International Sports & Health Associates and MGO.

For information about becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, request a brochure or contact the sales team via info@regionalsportaccord.sport or +1 954 204 3081.

Follow Regional SportAccord via Twitter @sportaccord using #RSA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.       

Major events can have an incredibly positive impact on their host cities and citizens. If we are to avoid the lack of public support that can lead to the likes of Calgary and Graz withdrawing their bids for the 2026 Winter Olympics, we must ensure that major events achieve an international reputation for being cost effective, inclusive and having long-term sustainable benefits. We need to work together to engage with all stakeholders, including the general public, so that everyone feels involved.

In my 37 years with CSM Live (in its different guises) I’ve had the pleasure to work with many great organisations and hosts that understand the benefit of branding not only event spaces and fan zones, but entire cities and countries, and the importance of wide public engagement.

London 2012 is a fantastic example of this attitude. They worked to get the public onside right from the start, launching the 2004 / 2005 bid in tandem with a major PR campaign which included events and a city dressing campaign around the whole of the UK. This commitment to bringing the excitement of the Games into the public domain only increased during the actual games, with the aim to ‘Inspire a Generation’. CSM Live took point on both the venue and the city dressing, creating the space branding guidelines, and producing and installing the branding.

To ensure uniform, easily-accessible branding across the country, we created an online catalogue from which local authorities and institutions could order Games Look and Feel elements based on a pre-designed Kit of Parts. In the end, we dressed 33 London Boroughs, 11 Host Cities, 43 Live Sites and communities throughout the UK, with everything from banners and bunting to giant shot putts falling from the sky and over-sized inflatable mascots rising from the ground; we lit up buildings in brand colours; installed branded planting, pavements, transport and transport hubs; and created soundscapes across bridges and light projections in the sky.

Obviously, this approach can be very expensive, but one solution is to find a sponsor or partner with similar goals. The Tour de France Grand Depart found that in Yorkshire Building Society, who were extremely proud to be able to sponsor this iconic event as it travelled through their heartland during their 150^th anniversary celebrations. We worked closely with the event organisers, local councils and Yorkshire Building Society to create activations and branding concepts that helped local people celebrate their proud Yorkshire heritage.

For a perfect example of how a unified and integrated major events policy can positively impact a whole country, just look to the country that’s hosting Host City. I have had the pleasure of working in Scotland many times including both the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games during their amazing 2014 year - the “Big G” logo, which we created for the Games is now a permanent selfie inspiring fixture, and I expect big things as they continue the ‘Scotland the Perfect Stage’ strategy onto 2025.

Hear Andrew Hodson’s “lightning talk” at Host City 2019, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events in Glasgow on 26-27 November

[Source: SportAccord] The Summit conference programme at the SportAccord 2020 World Sport & Business Summit will focus on the theme of ‘Breaking Down Barriers in the Ever-Expanding World of Sport’, offering organisations that are seeking to expand their footprint in Asia a chance to learn from the sector’s most influential figures.

With sport’s No.1 global gathering taking place from 19-24 April 2020 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China, numerous big-name speakers from the host country are being lined up to provide unmissable insights on the Summit conference programme.

John Sun, the CEO of Alibaba Group-owned AGTech – an integrated technology and services company engaged in the lottery, mobile games and entertainment market with a focus on China and selected international markets – is the first speaker to be unveiled for the Summit. During the Summit conference on Wednesday, 22 April, Sun will provide a technology update from the heart of an ever-changing industry, while several other conference sessions will give delegates the inside track on making an impact in China and across the continent.

Reflecting on the session, Sun said: “I am honored to be invited by SportAccord, a not-for profit global organisation that is focused on driving positive change internationally. AGTech shares common value and vision, a commitment to social and corporate responsibility, and to be recognized as a global leader in supporting our stakeholders, partners, & athletes to achieve their dreams in the sports community.”

Technology plays a key role in the evolution of sports. We have seen the long-awaited legalization of sports betting in the United States, nano-chips embedded as wearable device to enhance biometric analysis, and we are witnessing an exciting era where technology, driven by data, is evolving around individuals. AGTech’s focus in utilising data to transform the traditional lottery business, supporting 400,000 shop owners to run a more intelligent lottery business; supporting sports IP development through effective commercialization; engaging millions to the national fitness campaign, and most importantly motivating our future generation to live happy and healthy.

We share Alibaba’s mission “To make it easy to do business anywhere in the digital era”. AGTech will continue to influence through lottery and gaming to propel sports communities towards digitalization and intelligence, and most importantly, to make technology more enjoyable.”

The morning after the Summit conference sessions, Sun will be among the hosts of a number of Hub Breakout Sessions on Thursday, 23 April, giving delegates the opportunity to engage with expert speakers and gain valuable insights about the topics discussed the previous day on a personal basis in a relaxed, roundtable setting.

With SportAccord lining up further speaker announcements in the coming weeks, the Summit will feature a Keynote Address on China’s role in the ever-expanding world of sport, as well as a plenary panel session on future trends and their impact on sport and business internationally and within Asia. There will also be sessions dedicated to exploring the ultimate fan engagement tools and the social media landscape within Asia – and specifically how to identify, reach and engage with fans in an evolving landscape.

A new approach to commercial partnerships, including those in Asia, will also come under the microscope, while further sessions will explore crowdfunding and supporting athletes through technology and esports growth in Asia.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, said: “We are thrilled with the calibre of speakers that will participate in the Summit conference at SportAccord, with more big names coming in the next couple weeks. Prestigious speakers like John Sun will undoubtedly provide crucial learnings for any delegates who want to make a greater impact across China and Asia as a whole.

“The Hub Breakout Sessions are an excellent engagement tool, and we are delighted that Mr. Sun, as well as a number of other leading decision-makers who are experts in their field, will follow up their sessions during the Summit by providing delegates with the opportunity to engage with them on a more personal basis.”

The SportAccord Summit will run alongside four other dedicated conference streams: LawAccord, CityAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord, against the backdrop of a bustling exhibition, high-level meetings and a host of social gatherings to enable networking in a relaxed environment.

Click here to register as a delegate and here to find out more information about attending.

To find out about becoming an official partner or exhibitor, contact sales@sportaccord.sport.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2020, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook. For media enquiries, email media@sportaccord.sport.

[Source: UCI] The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zwift, a global online training and racing platform for athletes, for the governance and development of cycling esports as a new cycling discipline.

This MoU follows the integration of cycling esports into the UCI Constitution, which was approved by the Federation’s Congress in September 2018 in Innsbruck (Austria). The objective is two-fold: to establish requirements that guarantee the speciality meets the standards of sporting integrity and fairness necessary for all UCI-sanctioned disciplines, and to launch the inaugural UCI Cycling Esports World Championships in 2020, as well as qualification events for these Championships, on the Zwift platform.

The news follows the confirmation of Zwift as Official Supplier to the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire, Great Britain.

As part of the MoU, the UCI and Zwift will collaborate to ensure the sporting credibility of cycling esports events. This will include the establishment of a hardware programme that is reliable enough to be used in events sanctioned by the UCI, a performance verification programme that will validate a rider’s performance and ward against technological fraud, and a rider identification system, including height and weight. Moreover, different formats of racing, for individuals and teams, will be tested. The UCI Regulations will be updated accordingly.

On the sporting side, the UCI will organise the 2020 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships (on the Zwift platform). These will be held on a date and at a venue that are still to be confirmed. The UCI and Zwift have agreed that a maximum of 15 National Championships will be organised in select countries as well as Continental Championships; these competitions, organised on-site or remotely on-line, will act as qualification events for the new UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. The Zwift application will be the only programme used for all these events.

 Following the first edition of the World Championships, the UCI will launch a bidding process to determine the provider with which it will collaborate for the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships after 2020.     

UCI President David Lappartient declared: “Cycling esports is a fantastic opportunity for the development of cycling. It is a new way of practising cycling that is expanding rapidly and enables more athletes, whether beginners or more experienced, to train and race regardless of what the weather is like and where they live. The Memorandum of Understanding between our Federation and Zwift is a decisive step towards the total integration of cycling esports by the UCI.”

Zwift’s Esports CEO Craig Edmondson added: “Earlier this year, we stated our ambition to develop an esports platform, but I think it’s much more than that. We are looking to establish a new approach to the sport. This partnership is a significant leap forward in that journey. We are at the very beginning of a long and exciting roadmap here at Zwift as we look to establish a new and innovative cycling discipline.”

About Zwift
Zwift is a fitness company born from gaming, that is dedicated to fitness and experienced in software and video game development. Combining that passion and deep understanding of the fitness world, Zwift is the first company to use massive multiplayer gaming technology to bring the outdoor experience indoors. Athletes from around the globe can train and compete with each other in rich, 3D-generated worlds simply by connecting their existing devices & hardware (e.g. cycle trainers, power meters, treadmills, heart rate monitors, etc) wirelessly via open industry standard ANT+ and BLE. From friendly competition, to racing and structured training programmes, Zwift is building a community of like-minded athletes united in the pursuit of a better social fitness experience.

About the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
Founded in 1900, in Paris (France), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the worldwide governing body for cycling. It develops and oversees cycling in all its forms, for all people as a competitive sport, as a healthy recreational activity, as a means of transport, and also just for fun. The UCI manages and promotes the eight cycling disciplines: road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, cyclo-cross, trials and indoor cycling. More information on www.uci.org.

[Source: SportAccord] Strong support from international sport federations keen to explore opportunities in the Americas have signed up for the inaugural Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 from 10-12 December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

International sport federations from the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, as well as ambitious international sport federations that are seeking Olympic recognition, will converge on the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center to connect with cities and regions, sports commissions, sports ministries, rights-holders, commercial entities and agencies.

Among the high-profile Olympic international sport federations to have confirmed their attendance are the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF), International Curling Federation (WCF), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), International Judo Federation (IJF), International Ski Federation (FIS), International Tennis Federation (ITF), International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and World Rugby.

Numerous members and representatives of ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) will be present, as well as AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), ARISF (Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations), AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport), GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations) and Associate Members.

Raffaele Chiulli, President, ARISF, GAISF and SportAccord, said: “For any proactive sports commissions, cities, regions and national organisations in North, South and Central America that have ambitions of hosting international events and developing their sport at an international scale. It is clear that Regional SportAccord will be a must-attend event, as there is simply no other gathering that will bring together so many stakeholders of the international sporting community with representatives of the business of sport in the Americas.”

Attendees will also include the international sport federations of Aikido (IAF), Amateur Sports (CSIT), American Football (IFAF), Armwrestling (WAF), Association (WAKO), Basque Pelota (FIPV), Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB), Boules (CMSB), Bowling (World Bowling), Bridge (WBF), Cheer (ICU), Chess (FIDE), Cricket (ICC), Dodgeball (WDA), Dragon Boat (IDBF), Fistball (IFA), Floorball (IFF), Flying Disc (WFDF), Footgolf (FIFG), Ju-Jitsu (JJIF), Kettlebell Lifting (IUKL), Lacrosse (World Lacrosse), Life Saving (ILS), Masters Games (IMGA), Match Poker (IFMP), Military Sports (CISM), Minigolf (WMF), Muaythai (IFMA), Netball (INF), Orienteering (IOF), Powerboating (UIM), Racquetball (IRF), Sambo (FIAS), Sleddog (IFSS), Sport Chiropractic (FICS), Sport Climbing (IFSC), Sport Fishing (CIPS), Squash (WSF), Table Soccer (ITSF), Waterski & Wakeboard (IWWF) and World Olympians (WOA) with more to follow.

Jim Scherr, Chief Executive, World Lacrosse, added: “Lacrosse already has a firm foothold in the Americas, but we are always keen to investigate new openings for expansion in this exciting region, which is home to one billion-plus inhabitants, and we are looking forward to connecting with like-minded organisations in Florida.

“The fact that so many stakeholders of the international sporting community have committed to this ground-breaking event with three months still to go underlines the significant interest from international sports federations and sports organisations in exploring this gateway to the Americas.”

Numerous executives and officials from international sports federations will also participate in the event’s conference programme, with esports, governance and rebranding strategies, protecting athletes and social responsibility among the key topics under a theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’.

Click here to register for the event, hosted by SportAccord in partnership with Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sports Foundation, International Sports & Health Associates and MGO. For information about becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, request a brochure or contact the sales team via info@regionalsportaccord.sport or +1 954 204 3081.

Follow Regional SportAccord via Twitter @sportaccord using #RSA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.

[Source: Aggreko] To support its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and pursuing more efficient ways of providing power, Aggreko, the world-leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services, introduced a number of emission-reducing power solutions at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

Aggreko is proud to have been the exclusive power supplier for the festival since 2007, and in 2019 several locations at the festival were powered by hybrid thermal-solar generators, combined with battery storage systems and proprietary energy management software. This ensures maximum efficiency and minimise the carbon impact and together, these innovative systems saved over 200 metric tonnes of CO2 across the course of the festival, compared to the use of traditional diesel generators.

Uniquely, the festival’s Green Fields HQ ran entirely on solar power for the duration of the festival, which when combined with the battery storage systems, provided a reliable power source during the hours of festival operation.

In addition, this year saw the use of cleaner, healthier fuel deployed in Aggreko generators – Green D+, a special blend of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), purchased by Glastonbury directly. HVO fuel which is made to an international specification, is derived from a mix of 100 per cent used vegetable oils and waste fats. All carbon is removed in the production process resulting in a biofuel of higher consistency, quality and purity than other biofuels.

Green D+ includes additives that produce a fuel that has several advantages over standard diesel, including a significant reduction in particulates, over 80 per cent saving on greenhouse gases, zero sulphur emissions and reduced noise pollution.

By switching to this fuel, which works in all Aggreko diesel generators without modification, Aggreko achieved a C02 saving equivalent to the annual emissions of 45 family cars.

Bill Egan, a Principle Engineer at Aggreko Events Services who has a been working with Glastonbury Festival for over 25 years, said: “Powering a major event like Glastonbury presents a huge challenge. Providing 25MW of low-carbon power with the reliability to ensure that there are no disappointments for the festival-goers is no mean feat.

“Aggreko’s use of low carbon HVO fuel, combined with our innovative thermal, hybrid, storage and solar power solutions will ensure that everyone enjoys the festival without interruption, all the whilst supporting Glastonbury’s efforts to minimise its impact on the environment”.

The festival took place from 26th – 30th June. It is the largest greenfield festival in the world, attended by around 175,000 people. The five-day festival near Pilton, Somerset, is regarded as a major event in British culture and raises millions of pounds for good causes.

Host City: IOC president Thomas Bach recently praised your leadership of the International Triathlon Union (ITU), particularly in relation to good governance. How would you describe your leadership priorities in this area?

Marisol Casado: Any self-respecting organization should be judged by its governance policies, its commitment to operational transparency and the way that it is run and operates, both in the long and short-term.

My priorities are to ensure that the entire triathlon family adheres to that commitment and that ITU as an organization serves our athletes and National Federations fairly, openly and justly, so that we can rightfully expect the same consideration from them. It is our duty as a world governing body to set the example.

Thomas Bach was absolutely correct when he said at our recent Congress that you can be 99 per cent solid in how you are run, but if that 1 per cent lets you down, then that is what you will be remembered by. We strive for good governance across the board and have found that as a positive habit and a priority to share and to follow with our members, it is contagious.

Host City: How do you see recent and future progress in the prominence of women in sport and sports administration?

Marisol Casado: This is an ongoing battle, but one that continues to provide new examples of thriving individuals to show we are on the right track and have every reason to be optimistic about the future.

If you look back just 20 years you can see how much progress has been made towards gender equity, even though there is of course still much work to be done. But I am proud to say that our sport can certainly be held up as an example of this effort, where men and women share equal prize money, prominence and every drop of the spotlight.

The fact that Tokyo 2020 will bring us to the brink of gender equality both in terms of the overall athletes and officials’ ratios is testament to the effectiveness of the IOC Agenda 2020.

Host City: As a member of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris 2024, what are your expectations of these Games?

Marisol Casado: Paris is one of the world’s great cities and will provide the kind of Olympic and Paralympic venues that have an innate wow factor and that, coupled with an expert LOC looking to innovate and engage more than ever, will see it undoubtedly deliver a truly great Games. During our Coordination Commission visit in June we saw first-hand the commitment to a sustainable Games that will bring the people together both for mass-participation events and the legacy projects that will benefit France and the French public for years to come.

Host City: How is the ITU leading the way and innovating to ensure the continued rise in popularity of triathlon – both for participants and fans?

Marisol Casado: ITU seeks out and works with incredible local organising committees (LOCs) all around the world to stage events that are not only able to bring the very best out of the elite athletes but that, in many cases, are also opened up to the public to take part in, through Age-Group races and family events.

This mass participation aspect has always been an integral part of this sport; that it demands a high level of endurance and determination, but that it also manages to not be overly intimidating to those coming new to it.

The fact that we are a relatively young sport also helps and we reflect that as a dynamic, forward-thinking organization working effectively with incredible partners to promote and govern a growing, aspirational sport.

It is also filled with amazing role models. From the World Series to World Cups and beyond, their incredible achievements and the manner of their performances have always brought them closer to the fans and been a source of encouragement to newcomers. That means our development of the TriathlonLIVE streaming platform and huge social media presence can be backed up by not just their big-race performances but honest, revealing interviews and features that really convey their personalities.

We all do what we do for the love of triathlon, so the hard work never feels too much like hard work. I think that is important.

Host City: We are delighted you will be speaking at Host City 2019, with the conference theme “Innovate; Reformulate; Co-create”. What are your expectations of this important gathering?

Marisol Casado: Thank you, I’m very happy to be able to attend and honoured to have been asked to speak at the event. ITU is privileged to have worked with some incredible host cities over the past thirty years as triathlon’s world governing body, delivering iconic race venues all around the world.

Now, with our TriathlonLIVE platform showing more races than ever to ever-growing audiences in tandem with ITU social media channels, those host cities are also able to reach vast new horizons, so I think it is important that these kinds of opportunities are made explicit.

The benefits for cities are rich and varied, from engaging the population in healthy pursuits and the positive association and inspiration of hosting world-class sports, to boosts for tourism, infrastructure and experience. We have seen time and time again that working closely with cities brings enormous mutual benefits and that is the message that I hope will be underpinning the conference.

Marisol Casado is speaking at Host City 2019, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, taking place in Glasgow on 26-27 November