[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is delighted to confirm Raffaele Chiulli was unanimously elected President of SportAccord at the SportAccord General Assembly which took place on Wednesday 8 May 2019 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Dr Chiulli is President of UIM (International Powerboating Federation), President of ARISF (Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations) and leader of GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations).

Commenting on his new appointment as President of SportAccord, Dr Raffaele Chiulli said:

“I am proud to have been unanimously elected as SportAccord President.

“Sport has never been more relevant as a means of bringing people together around the values of inspiration, unity and respect. I am very excited by the scope for us to do more really valuable work in the future.

“SportAccord is a powerful brand, going from strength to strength and widely known as the place to connect. It is a great platform for learning and sharing, which brings together International Federations and the wider sports world. And our gathering here in Gold Coast will be one of the biggest and most relevant of the year.

“SportAccord includes the United Through Sports festival, which brings sport directly to youth and local communities, ensuring a positive social legacy for our events. This year’s edition featured IOC President Thomas Bach, H.E. Ban Ki-moon, eighth Secretary General of the United Nations, HRH Prince Feisal of Jordan, and other leaders of sport and civil society, alongside more than 250 children and young people representing 150 schools throughout Queensland.

“This year we launch SportAccord regional conventions starting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in December and we can look forward to much more in the future.”

SportAccord focuses on driving positive change internationally and dedicated to engaging and connecting; international federations, rights holders, organising committees, cities, press and media, businesses and other organisations involved in the development of sport.

Host City: The theme of Host City 2019 is “Innovate; Reformulate; Co-Create” - what are your expectations of this event? 

Nellie Kim: To be an active participant in a big sports forum is, indeed, one of the greatest incentives to the person to continue developing their natural talents and enlarge the boundaries of their personal achievements. In this respect, all that relates to the organisation of big and inspiring events is a point of interest for us.

To share experiences and to hear about the innovative ideas of all the stakeholders in the sector – be they representatives of city councils, national governing bodies, business, potential, or actual sponsors, event organisers, technical experts and all the parties contributing to the success of major events – is vital for us as the world’s governing body for gymnastics. Learning from each other and sharing experiences is one of the key factors of becoming better and reaching higher.

Host City: As Chair of the Innovation Commission at FIG, what are you doing to bring new ideas, formats and disciplines such as parkour into gymnastics?

Nellie Kim: The idea about introduction of the parkour into the FIG programmes belongs to our President Morinari Watanabe who was personally involved in the development of the project.   

In his official report from May 2019 he stresses on the fact that the future belongs to urban sports, like cycling with BMX, basketball with 3x3, volleyball with beach volleyball, as well as skateboarding and climbing etc. So, gymnastics has come up with parkour. Urban sports are booming, and we must keep in pace with this process.

Parkour World Cups have already been successfully held in Chengdu, China, and then in Hiroshima, Japan, where it was part of the Urban Sports Festival that attracted a big crowd of spectators.

As for the proposals the Innovation and the Ambassadors Commissions which I am chairing, we have submitted to the attention of the FIG authorities a number of projects over the last few months, some of which are:

- Changes to the Olympic Games 2024 Qualification Programme;

- Live streaming from the Qualification stage of the FIG World Championships using our IRCOS system;

- The Innovation Commission is exploring possibilities to include new disciplines into the FIG programme.

Host City: How is the Ambassadors’ Commission helping FIG to engage young people in its events and their co-creation?

Nellie Kim: The most direct approach to this matter is of course, the Volunteer programme applied by many of our member-Federations. 

We, at the Ambassadors’ Commission also pay specific attention to the fact that there is no bigger inspiration for any child or young person than meeting their sport idols in person.  Meetings with young gymnasts and fans is only one of the long list of Gymnastics Ambassadors’ activities prior and during the World Championships since the programme was introduced in 2017.

The role of Gymnastics Ambassador has already been taken by legends like Nadia Comaneci, Kyle Shuffelt and Svetlana Boginskaia in artistic gymnastics; Alina Kabaeva and Maria Pertova in rhythmic gymnastics, Alexander Moskalenko and Irina Karavaeva in trampoline, to name but a few. I was nominated as Ambassador of 2^nd European Games, which will be held in Minsk in June 2019.

Many of our greatest champions from the past also visit clubs and conduct workshops in various countries across the globe to promote gymnastics and to inspire young people. 

Big attention should also be given to continue promoting Gymnastics as the base for all other sports. This means Gymnastics like it existed in the schools in the past and helped children to develop basic body skills, discipline and healthy habits for the rest of their lives.

At the same time our ”Gymnastics for All” division caters for people of any age, from toddlers to old age, giving them the chance to enjoy organised classes and even take part in a massive international event called Gymnaestrada which is held every four years and attracts tens of thousands of people from all over the world.

Host City: And how is FIG raising the profile of women and disabled people through its events?

Nellie Kim: At the 2018 FIG Congress the decision was taken to have at least 30 per cent women amongst elected authorities, and this was a big step forward.  Because of the specifics of our sport, the majority of our athletes are female, and it is only very logic to apply their experience and knowledge after they have ended their sports career.  In this respect our FIG Women’s commission is very active. It has recently organised the Women in Leadership Forum held right after the FIG Council meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia in May.  To add to all this, our President Mr Watanabe is the President of the IOC “Women in Sport” Commission.

As for Gymnastics for people with physical impediments – several of our national member-federations develop this discipline. Here again, in charge is our “Gymnastics for All“ commission which comes up with projects encouraging the progress of Disability gymnastics and promotes the best practices in the field. The FIG President wanted to move even further and has asked our commission to study the problem and look at the possibilities for gymnasts with disability to participate at the Paralympic Games.

Host City: The FIG World Championships in Glasgow in 2015 were hailed as a new benchmark in event presentation. What is FIG and its host cities doing to reach even greater heights?

Nellie Kim: Yes, the World Championships in Glasgow demonstrated several novelties which became a norm in the organization of major gymnastics events across the world in that the entertainment flavour of the competitions was strongly interwoven with the traditional technical requirements of our sport.  The scale of Glasgow 2015 World Championships was possible due to the enormous support from the UK Sports Governing Bodies, the Glasgow City Council and British Gymnastics.

However, not many countries in the world enjoy and can rely on such enormous financial support, marvellous venue, logistics in place and professional expertise in every respect, as they were demonstrated in Glasgow 2015. 

To draw the most rational and applicable ideas, the FIG conducts a “Transfer of knowledge” meetings from one Local Organizing Committee to the next. However, I must stress the fact that the organization of each World Championships is a prerogative of the relevant National Federation. Sadly, many of our member-federations have the enthusiasm, the ideas and the knowledge, but do not enjoy the above-mentioned attributes for success.

Nellie Kim is speaking at Host City 2019, which takes place in Glasgow on 26-27 November. View the full agenda and speaker line up

One of the world’s leading influencers in policy innovation around major events, Bruce Dewar, has been confirmed as the first of two keynote speakers for this year’s National Events Conference: Embracing Innovation, Delivering Change.

Bruce, a key IOC advisor on legacy development and President and CEO of Vancouver based LIFT Philanthropy Partners, will provide the Scottish events and festivals sector with valuable insight into the importance of developing and delivering wider policy impacts as part of major events during his presentation ‘The Game is Changing: Policy Innovation and Social Impact for Major Events’.

He comes with a wealth of experience in social innovation having helped British Columbia leverage the hosting of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games into a lasting legacy for the region through 2010 Legacies Now; known now as LIFT.

Bruce said: “Hosting major events can provide so much more than just a great spectator experience. They can be the catalyst for long-term social change, creating benefits and impact on issues that are important to the citizens in the host community and the country.

“Over the last decade I have seen first-hand game changing social impacts and the importance of policy innovation. I’m looking forward to coming to Gleneagles this September to share some of my learnings and insight with the vibrant Scottish event industry.”

He joins Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, who will deliver the day’s opening remarks, setting the scene for the day, and VisitScotland Director of Events, Paul Bush OBE, as the other confirmed speakers at the conference.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Scotland’s has built a strong reputation as a leader and innovator in the planning and delivery of major events. As we gear up to deliver our next major event, The 2019 Solheim Cup, there is no better time or place than Gleneagles for the industry to come together to forge new partnerships and to make future plans to help ensure that Scotland continues to be the perfect stage for the world’s major events.” 

Aimed at people working in Scotland’s events and festivals sector, including the arts, heritage, sport and wider cultural activity, this will be the sixth biennial National Events Conference. Building on the success of previous years, this year’s conference will consider innovation and change, plus future opportunities and challenges across the sector.

It will provide up to 250 delegates with a first-class opportunity to hear from industry experts and share their own event experiences, plus plenty time to meet industry colleagues.

Taking place at the world-renowned Gleneagles Hotel on 9^th September, the conference will kick off an action week of the Scottish events and festivals industry as it runs alongside The 2019 Solheim Cup, the pinnacle of women’s golf.

The Solheim Cup will see the best golfers from Europe and the USA go head-to-head over three days of intense competition, attracting tens of thousands of spectators and reaching a global broadcast audience in the millions. Conference delegates will have the unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of one of the biggest sporting events in Scotland this year.

Paul Bush OBE, said: “As the world’s eyes turn to Scotland once again, the National Events Conference will kick off a stellar week for Scotland’s events and festivals industry ahead The 2019 Solheim Cup.

“I’m delighted we will be joined by both Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop and Bruce Dewar as we consider innovation and change as well as the future opportunities and challenges for our sector. I know Bruce will provide some fascinating first-hand knowledge and insight on social innovation and the importance of delivery social legacies from major sporting events, which is an important area for our industry as we look to deliver more meaningful impacts beyond the field of play when hosting major events.”

Tickets for the conference are now available, with a limited number of early bird delegate places available at the discounted rate of £90 + VAT. To register and take advance of the early bird off, visit www.nationaleventsconference.scot.

[Source: EventScotland] Events professionals are being offered exclusive behind-the-scenes access to one of the world’s biggest women’s sporting events with the launch of the official Observer Programme for The 2019 Solheim Cup, taking place from 9 – 15 September at Gleneagles in Perthshire.

The Observer Programme for The Solheim Cup, the biggest and most prestigious event in women’s golf, will take place on the 10^th and 11^th September at Gleneagles and will provide participants with an exclusive opportunity to gain valuable insight into how Scotland has planned and delivered the major sporting event.  

It will include a range of information sessions covering the core functional areas, as well as visits across the site during which participants will hear first-hand from those who have played a leading role in the event’s planning and delivery, including IMG who have the responsibility for staging and promoting the event on behalf of The Scottish Government and VisitScotland. Observers will also learn about some of the challenges faced, how these have been overcome and how best practice has been adopted.

Open to event professionals and organisers, the programme will be of interest to potential Solheim Cup venues and hosts, key players in the sport and event industry, and those with responsibility for major events including rights holders, national governing bodies of sport and other national agencies.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “The 2019 Solheim Cup Observer Programme is a fantastic opportunity to get a comprehensive ‘behind the scenes’ look at one of the biggest and most exciting events in women’s sport. Participants will not only be able to experience how the event is delivered but will also benefit from invaluable knowledge sharing and best practice. I would highly encourage those interested to register today.”

The Solheim Cup is the pinnacle of women’s golf and will see the best golfers from Europe and the USA go head-to-head in the most exciting, competitive format in golf. This year, the event will take place at Gleneagles from 9 – 15^th September and is anticipated to be the biggest European edition of the biennial tournament to date. 

It will be the third time Scotland has hosted the prestigious event and is part of Scotland’s ongoing commitment to the development and promotion of the women’s game having hosted the likes of Women’s British Open, The Curtis Cup and the Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) Ladies Scottish Open as part of its diverse major events portfolio.

The 2019 Solheim Cup will showcase the stunning assets of Scotland, the Home of Golf, and will also build on the legacy of the successful 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. The event aims to be the most inclusive and family-orientated ever, and will focus on driving junior and family participation, inspiring the next generation of children in Scotland to take up the game.

More details available at: https://static.visitscotland.com/pdf/sc2019observerprogramme.pdf

The closing date for booking is 30th June.

Cost of the programme is £550/pp and includes a drinks reception and dinner on Tuesday 10^th  September, and one night’s accommodation, breakfast and lunch at The Gleneagles Hotel on the 11^th September.

For more information and to book your place on the Observer Programme, please email anais.armengaud@eventscotland.org

VIP speakers at Host City 2019, taking place in Glasgow on 26 and 27 November, today urged the major event hosting sector to unite under the conference theme: Innovate; Reformulate; Co-create.

Now in its 6th year, Host City is firmly established as the largest meeting of Cities and Sports, Business and Cultural events. Participants are encouraged to use Host City 2019 as a platform to develop, workshop and announce new events, partnerships and formats.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Host City 2019 will be another great opportunity for the major events sector to come together and share best practice as well as discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

“The major events industry is evolving rapidly as technology and customer expectations continue to have a big influence on how events are delivered. This year’s theme: Innovate; Reformulate; Co-create provides the perfect platform to discuss how we can work together to embrace change, so we can continue to deliver social, policy and economic benefits for the host city and country.

“Scotland’s experience in delivering bold, ambitious and innovative events is widely recognised and we look forward to sharing this with our industry peers in November.”

Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life said: “We are looking forward to hosting another wonderful Host City conference and exhibition in Glasgow. The need for cities to innovate, rethink and partner to develop their event strategies has never been greater, and Glasgow continues to lead the way on this front. It’s a pleasure to be speaking at Host City again where event hosts, owners and organisers will discuss these topics and much more.”

David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) said: “I’m proud to be speaking at Host City 2019. The UCI has certainly welcomed the innovative approach that led to the creation, with Scotland, of the UCI Cycling World Championships that debuts there in 2023. Creative dialogue between cities and rights holders is essential to stage events that benefit the communities that host them.”

Sarah Lewis OBE, Secretary General of FIS (International Ski Federation) and the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) said: “I am delighted to be speaking and participating at Host City 2019. FIS and the other International Winter Sports Federations are constantly endeavouring to innovate and evolve our event properties and the concept of co-creation is increasingly important to all event organisers. I very much look forward to exploring these themes in more detail in Host City, which is always a valuable opportunity for cities, sports, business and cultural events to learn and exchange each other’s objectives and perspectives.”

Dame Louise Martin DBE, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation said: “I am delighted to be speaking at Host City 2019 about how transformation, innovation and partnership are at the heart of the Commonwealth Games delivery model.  Now more than ever, it is essential for rights holders and federations to collaborate with host city partners and stakeholders to develop sustainable, impactful, world-class and community-relevant events that engage and benefit the widest possible audience.”

Ian Reid, CEO of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games said: “I’m really pleased to be invited to be part of Host City 2019 and I’m looking forward to talking to attendees about the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, an event which is being organised by a group of partners, who have all come together to jointly create what will be the biggest sports and culture event ever to be staged in Birmingham and the West Midlands region.”

Host City is the annual international conference and exhibition that brings together host destinations, federations and rights holders, organisers, event suppliers and services from all over the world for two full days of unrivalled insight, networking, workshops and business.

Ben Avison, Editorial and Conference Director of Host City said: “The conference theme – Innovate; Reformulate; Co-create – clearly reflects the thinking and behaviour of the smartest players in the sector today. New partnerships and technologies are fundamentally disrupting the traditional orders of major sports, business and cultural events. We urge everyone in the sector to come to Host City to forge new partnerships, share ideas and create initiatives alongside the best of peers.”

To view the latest agenda and confirmed speakers go to www.hostcity.com, where delegates can save £300 by booking before 31 May.

Host City 2019 Expo & Conference is being supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow Convention Bureau.

For sponsorship enquires contact adam.soroka@cavendishgroup.co.uk

For speaking opportunities, partnerships and media enquiries contact ben.avison@hostcity.com

[Source: ASOIF[] The General Assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) convened today at SportAccord in Gold Coast, Queensland (Australia), and elected Marisol Casado (International Triathlon Union), Ingmar De Vos (International Equestrian Federation) and Morinari Watanabe (International Gymnastics Federation) as Council members for a four-year term of office. Whilst Marisol Casado was re-elected for another term of office, Ingmar De Vos and Morinari Watanabe will replace José Perurena (International Canoe Federation), whose mandate had also come to an end, and former FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann who tragically passed away last autumn. During a moment of silence, the General Assembly remembered Patrick Baumann and his outstanding contributions to sport and the Olympic Movement.

Marisol Casado was elected President of the ITU in 2008 and became an IOC Member in 2010. She is also a Council member of GAISF. Ingmar De Vos was elected President of the FEI in 2014. An IOC Member since 2017, he is also a GAISF Council member and GAISF representative on the WADA Executive Committee. Morinari Watanabe was elected President of the FIG in 2016. An IOC Member since 2018, he is also a member of the Tokyo 2020 Executive Board.

The future of global sport and the role of International Federations (IFs) were key topics on the agenda of the General Assembly. ASOIF’s report on the “Future of Global Sport”, launched in February this year, received very positive reactions during the meeting. A number of member federations stated that the report recommendations had gained momentum within their organisations and will be discussed at their upcoming Executive Board meetings.

ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “The future of global sport, the role of IFs and their governance are all intertwined. By examining these three aspects at the same time, we aim to strengthen our member federations and help them tackle current and future challenges in a fast-evolving world. I am very glad to hear they have started to make use of the report findings in their daily work and implement some of the recommendations.”

On the topic of IF governance, ASOIF members agreed on the procedure of the third governance review, to be conducted between late 2019 and early 2020, with the declared objective to see at least 26 of the 28 full ASOIF members score 120 points (out of a maximum of 200 points). In order to support this process, the ASOIF Governance Support and Monitoring Unit (GSMU), established in late 2018, will continue to help IFs achieve progress in good governance.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organising Committee shared their plan for their one-year-to-go celebrations on 24 July this year and reported that they had released lately their competition schedule (session by session) to the general public. The recent launch of the ticketing sales website was hailed a success as well, with already more than two million ID registrations clocked by 31 March 2019. Tokyo 2020 also promised to collaborate closely with the IFs regarding the upcoming test events which will be important to fine-tune operations for Games time.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee presented their new Event Delivery Model to leverage IF expertise for an optimal and cost-efficient Games delivery. They have already started to work closely with the ASOIF Olympic and Multi-Sports Games Consultative Group (AOMSG) and the IOC Sports Department and will also closely consult with each IF on their expectations for the Games’ delivery throughout the preparations.

During the report from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), ASOIF member federations were informed about the preparations for the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games, strengthening the solidarity funding model for athletes, and the IOC’s Gender Equality Project. Based on the recommendations from the project, ASOIF has proposed to establish a new advisory group which will specifically focus on the topics of gender equality and diversity.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) updated the General Assembly about the latest status of the investigations related to Russia, ongoing governance reforms within the organisation as well as WADA’s work on a strong Compliance Monitoring Program and the 2021 Code and International Standards framework.

The General Assembly also approved the Olympic revenue distribution model for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is delighted to confirm five Bronze Partners for the Gold Coast edition of the World Sport & Business Summit set to take place from 5 – 10 May 2019. This year’s Bronze Partners have all renewed their partnerships for SportAccord 2019 and include: Chuncheongbuk-do Province, Commonwealth Games Federation, the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and Visit Victoria from Australia.

SportAccord brings together international sports federations, cities and regions, and top decision-makers from the global sports community. Over 50% of those attending use the World Sport & Business Summit platform to share breaking news, or drive sporting initiatives and key strategies.

Chuncheongbuk-do Province is gaining attention as a centre for martial art. The Province has international organisations related to martial art such as International Center of Martial Art (UNESCO-ICM), World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU), and World Martial Arts Mastership Committee (WMC). The 2019 World Martial Arts Masterships (August 30 to September 6), approved by the Korean government, will be held in Chungju City, Chungcheongbuk-do Province under the patronage of GAISF.

The Commonwealth Games Federation’s most recent event on Gold Coast was billed as the “Games of Firsts” – historic first-ever medals for five Commonwealth islands and states; an equal number of medals for women and men for the first-time at a global multi-sport Games; and a ground-breaking Reconciliation Action Plan to acknowledge, respect and support Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities. The next Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham, England from 27 July to 7 August 2022.

The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance is a non-governmental, member-based, capacity building organisation promoting sport tourism as a grassroots economic development initiative at the community level. The CSTA services over 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. Sport tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry in Canada with approximately $6.8 billion in annual spending by domestic and international visitors. Once again, Team Canada will be hosting their popular annual cocktail evening on Wednesday 8 May, Pool side at The Star Grand, (official Headquarter hotel for SportAccord).

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is the world governing body for basketball. It is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world and recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). FIBA are the official sponsor of the SportAccord 2019 pen.

Visit Victoria is the primary tourism and events company for the State of Victoria in Australia. Its primary objective is to build Melbourne and Victoria into Australia’s number one tourism destination by delivering strong and sustainable growth across priority markets. Since Visit Victoria’s establishment, the region has hosted more than 450 business events, 70 major events and over 180 regional events.

Commenting on the Bronze partnerships, Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord said:

“We are delighted to welcome back our Bronze Partners for this year’s edition of SportAccord in Gold Coast, all of whom have been partners for several years. We appreciate their continued involvement, support and loyalty and wish them all the very best at the 17^th edition of the World Sport & Business Summit.”

SportAccord enables attendees to enjoy multiple networking events and access to 50+ conference sessions. The high-profile event gives organisations the opportunity to increase their visibility by becoming a Partner. Organisations can find out more about becoming involved in Gold Coast by taking a look at this year’s recently published interactive Preview e-magazine and contact sales@sportaccord.sport.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is delighted to confirm its Silver Partners Edmonton Events, EventScotland and Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) for the 17^th edition of the World Sport & Business Summit set to take place from 5 – 10 May 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia, home to last year’s Commonwealth Games.

SportAccord brings together international sports federations, cities and regions, and top decision-makers from the global sports community. Over 50% of those attending use the World Sport & Business Summit platform to share breaking news, or drive sporting initiatives and key strategies.

With less than a month away before SportAccord begins, organisations who still want to be involved can take advantage of an exclusive offer (CHF 3,750) and experience the benefits of attending a high profile event. By applying code EO2019 (available for a limited time only) during registration, secures this investment. This includes a delegate pass, 5-nights accommodation and breakfast, not to mention the opportunity to meet and discuss future sporting opportunities and events with the Silver Partners.

EventScotland has a strong track record and international reputation for hosting major cultural, business and sporting events and has been a keen supporter and partner of SportAccord over the years. Through the work of EventScotland and partners, Scotland will host a number of world-class events in the coming years, including the 2019 Solheim Cup, Euro 2020 - also the 60^th anniversary of the European Championship competition – with Glasgow as one of the 12 host cities, and the recently secured inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. As in previous years, EventScotland are also sponsoring the official notepad used at SportAccord. Meet the EventScotland team at Stand 50.

Edmonton Events have also renewed their partnership with SportAccord and will sponsor the ‘Edmonton Events Zen Zone’ featuring a Reef within the Exhibition Hall, enabling delegates to take a few moments to relax from their busy schedules. Edmonton has a reputation for hosting a wide range of major events from the ITU World Triathlon Final and IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championships, to extreme events like the FISE World Series and Red Bull Crashed Ice. A spirited city that loves sports and radiates culture, its sporting pulse is palpable to visitors and fans alike. Meet Edmonton Events at Stand 64.

Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) was set up in August 2009 to carry forward the Olympic spirit. Its organisation encourages the development of public welfare relating to the Olympic culture, education, sports, youth and citizen involvement, and conducts sport-related exchanges as part of the Olympic movement. Beijing will be host to SportAccord 2020, and BODA will become the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18^th edition. BODA are sponsoring The Recharge Zone which features The Outback – this year’s destination theme for Tourism and Events Queensland. Meet BODA at Stand 54.

Commenting on the silver partnerships, Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord said:

“We are delighted to welcome the return of Edmonton Events and EventScotland as Silver Partners for the 17^th edition of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit and heartily appreciate their continued involvement, support and loyalty to the event.

“We are also honoured to welcome BODA onboard this year as a Silver Partner and look forward to working with them on the 18^th edition of SportAccord, scheduled to take place in Beijing from 19 – 24 April 2020.

“Our Silver Partners are exceptional and we wish them the very best for SportAccord in Gold Coast.”

SportAccord enables attendees to enjoy multiple networking events and access to 50+ conference sessions. The high-profile event gives organisations the opportunity to increase their visibility by becoming a Partner. Organisations can learn more about the unique benefits of becoming a partner via Daily Highlights and contact sales@sportaccord.sport to become involved.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is proud to announce H.E. Ban Ki-moon will deliver the Opening Welcome Address at the SportAccord Summit on Wednesday 8 May 2019 at 11.00hrs in Gold Coast Australia, as well as take part in the United Through Sports Youth Conference.

Former United Nations (UN) Secretary General and former South Korean Foreign Minister, championed the world’s vulnerable by putting sustainable development, climate change, and gender equality at the top of the UN agenda.

“I, as an Honorary president of 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Masterships, a Chairperson of IOC Ethics Commission and the 8^th Secretary General of the United Nations, am very pleased to participate in 2019 SportAccord, which will be held in Gold Coast. Of 2019 SportAccord programs,

SportAccord Summit will be an important stage to share the knowledge and information on the topic of “The Future of Big Data and Analytics” among leaders in the sporting world. I hope all participants and colleagues of 2019 SportAccord endeavor to promote sport for development and peace in the world through the SportAccord Summit. Thank you!”

Sporting leaders and delegates represented at the highest levels will gather at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit in Gold Coast for a week of networking and key meetings, and hear the latest from around 100 subject matter experts involved in this year’s conference programme.

Commenting on the participation of H. E. Ban Ki-moon, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said: “It is an absolute pleasure and honour to be welcoming His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon to the SportAccord Summit 2019. His vision, leadership and accomplishments over the years have made a significant impact around the world. His leadership continues to inspire as one of the world’s top global thinkers. We look forward with anticipation to hear what His Excellency will impart to the international sports community during his Welcome Address at this year’s SportAccord Summit in Gold Coast.”

Delegates can register and hear first-hand from a stellar line-up of Summit speakers and panellists, as well as take part in the newly formed interactive Summit Hub sessions planned for Day 2 of the SportAccord Summit. Each hub (5 in total) will be led by a Summit speaker, where attendees will be able to discuss the Summit conference sessions from Day 1 in more detail with peers.

H.E. Ban Ki-moon will also speak at this year’s United Through Youth Opening Conference taking place 7 May 2019 during SportAccord and forms part of the Sports Festival hosted by United Through Sports. The events embrace a number of key drivers which have become part of the DNA for United Through Sports. These comprise: inclusivity; unity in diversity; the future, our youth; non-discrimination; gender quality; providing opportunities for the youth via sport; building alliances to give back.

The Sports Festival was formed to make a real difference to the lives of countless children, giving them a chance to showcase their talents regardless of ability or life circumstances. This year’s Sports Festival is under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

With the full support of the IOC and the Queensland government, around 5,000 children from 170 schools are set to take part in the Sports Festival (7 – 10 May 2019). Children will have the opportunity to try as many sports as they wish (around 60 sports federations are involved including well-known athletes and celebrities). Morning programmes, a mix of promoting an active lifestyle and education, will be exclusively for the youth of Australia, and doors will be opened to the general public for the afternoon and evening sessions.

The Festival Opening Ceremony involves over 200 youth with a history-making performance planned. The ceremony promises to be an eye-opening, educational and action-packed extravaganza with many exclusives and ‘firsts’ being revealed from the moment the Sports Festival begins with the entire Opening Ceremony also performed in ‘sign’.

To benefit from these exclusive opportunities, organisations can register for SportAccord and take advantage of the full conference programme and all that the Sports Festival has to offer.

To become an Exhibitor or Partner contact the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 612 3070. To register as a delegate and watch past SportAccord footage visit www.sportaccord.sport.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

Host City Asia kicked off with a series of VIP insights from the hosts of the next three Olympic Games: Tokyo, Beijing and Paris.

The number of cities attending Host City Asia has quadrupled since the launch event, with officials from major Chinese cities including Beijing, Zhangjiakou, Hangzhou, Anshan, Changzhou, Shanxi and Changchun. They were joined by many more hosts destinations from Japan, Australia and Oman to as far away as France, all sharing best practice.

The cities attending were also treated to finding out about how to host new urban events –like Nitro Circus, Red Bull Air Race and the FISE World Series – to esports and the immense AIPH World Horticultural Expo, which is attracting 16 million visitors to Beijing this year. Leading suppliers like Aggreko joined Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and other major event organising committees to examine how they can make event hosting more efficient together.

Yunchao GAO, Deputy Secretary General, Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) said: "The Olympic legacy is rooted in the Olympic Movement and is not simply the wealth of the Olympic host cities, but also the achievements and wealth of the entire human civilisation. Let us join hands to set an example of the ‘Dual Olympics’ legacy, propel the Olympic Movement and the sustainable development of the Olympic spirit and create a better future for all!"

Xiaochun ZHAO, Director-General of Shanxi Provincial Sports Bureau said “By holding the Second National Youth Games, a socially significant event, we can unite people's hearts, boost morale, promote spiritual civilization and improve the humanistic quality of the people. We can further promote the adjustment of industrial structure in the province.”

Zhenhua ZONG, Executive Deputy Director, Zhangjiakou City Economic Development Zone said: “The ice and snow industry is an ecological industry, a low-carbon industry and a sunrise industry. The Hebei Provincial Party Committee and the provincial government have made the development of ice and snow industry and sports the key priority the province.”

Hiromi KAWAMURA, PR Secretary at the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games said: “The Tokyo 2020 Games will deliver the most innovative Games and a positive revolution; not only in sport but also throughout various aspects of society; not only during the Games but also during the preparation and after the Games; not only in Tokyo but also across Japan and around the world.”

Yasunobu NISHIMURA, Deputy Director General of Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government said: “The legacy of the Games must be one that befits a mature society and is appropriate for a world-leading megalopolis that continues to grow sustainably. The Tokyo government will seize the opportunity of the 2020 Games to enhance urban functions from both tangible and intangible aspects, so that we grow into an even more attractive city.”