DB Schenker is proud to have been the official logistics provider for the host broadcaster of the Asian Games 2018. Held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, from 17 August to 2 September, the Asian Games 2018 is the second largest international sporting event after the Olympics. Some 45 nations participated in 463 events – covering 40 sports in various venues between the two cities.

Sports Events Logistics experts at DB Schenker from more around 16 countries worked hard behind the scenes to transport broadcasting and stationary equipment to Indonesia, so that audiences at home around the world could support their country’s athletes live on television during the 2018 Asian Games.

In early 2018, PT Schenker Petrolog Utama (DB Schenker Indonesia) and DB Schenker Sports Events Germany were appointed by the International Games Broadcast Services (IGBS) to handle the temporary importation and re-exportation of broadcasting equipment for the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang.

This meant nothing less than taking on the responsibility of ensuring millions of viewers worldwide would be able to enjoy Indonesia's largest international sports event to date.

The first time Indonesia hosted the event was in 1962, the country and the whole media environment was much different back then. The 2018 Asian Games were originally slated to be hosted by Hanoi, Vietnam, but the country backed out from the appointment after stating concerns over costs.

Our logistical tasks included bringing in all the technical equipment needed for an International Broadcast Centre set up at Jakarta Convention Centre in Senayan, Jakarta, from where the broadcasting signals of the Games were spread across the world – as well as handling the deliveries and pickups for the various broadcasters from each of the participating nations in the 43 venues where competitions were broadcast live.

IGBS were very careful in choosing a good partner to do this. This is equipment coming from four continents, it was more than 2.600 single pieces and cases, all very sensitive electronic appliances and we did the whole thing door-to-door: pick up in the origin country, importation into Indonesia, customs clearance duly and in time, delivery up to broadcasting compound and respectively backwards on the re-export after the Games are finished.

Without a dedicated team working around the clock for months in the preparation and then again months in the execution, this would not have been possible.

With fully chartered cargo airplanes and many other regular scheduled flights that successfully landed between early July and mid-August at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the DB Schenker Indonesia team carried several hundred tons of broadcasting equipment owned by IGBS and other independent broadcasting companies from all over the world. This included equipment that had been used for the FIFA World Cup in Russia earlier this year.

Several shipments were also delivered by ocean freight to the Jakarta International Container Terminal. In major international sports events such as the Asian Games, time constraints are a common challenge faced by logistics companies.

Indonesia was very enthusiastic about hosting this event and it was a great success in the end. However, getting there was a wild ride on a rollercoaster of arrangements and back and forth with authorities and regulating bodies. Never had so much broadcasting equipment been brought in and out of the country in such a short period of time, so there was no one with a track record or a blueprint of how to do it. As everyone that has been around in the country for a while can tell, sometimes the simplest endeavour can turn into a most adventurous undertaking and usually, certainties are not part of the equation. Organizing this logistics project went in pretty much the same style: until everything was set up, no one could really tell how it would work out in the end.

But the experience that often in this country, the last minute before a deadline is the most powerful leverage for many things to start moving into the right place, allowed us to maintain the typical faith and calmness that are hard to explain to outsiders.

Once again, Indonesia has proven to the world and each and every one of us that here, everything that is seasoned with the right portion of patience, creativity and endurance, can turn into a success.

DB Schenker is Silver Sponsor of Host City 2018, where Future City Mobility and Event Logistics is one of many exciting agenda topics

When the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) was formed on August 3, 1948, the majority of events at the Summer Olympic Games were taking place some 50 kilometres away in London.

At the time, a meeting of 15 national pentathlon federations at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst may not have seemed like the epicentre of the action, but the decision taken by that group sowed the seeds of a sporting organism that has been growing and flourishing ever since.

Today, after 70 years of heritage and innovation, the UIPM movement is in many ways unrecognisable from those early beginnings.

Today it is a sprawling sporting organisation with nearly 120 member federations, a 106-year-old core Olympic sport (Modern Pentathlon), five other multi-discipline UIPM Sports and a new urban phenomenon that is rapidly spreading across the cities in all six of the world’s populated continents.

That phenomenon is the UIPM Global Laser-Run City Tour (GLRCT), a concept that delivers an exciting, dynamic and fun competition to participants of all ages and offers them an entry point to UIPM Sports. Who knows, maybe some of the young athletes enjoying the unique combination of running and laser shooting might even become pentathletes one day and reach the Olympic Games.

The GLRCT took place in parks, stadiums and iconic urban venues in 60 cities around the world in 2017. It is currently in the process of visiting about 100 cities throughout 2018.

Laser-Run is the newest sport on the UIPM pyramid. It was conceived as a development sport, aimed at growing participation numbers in the core Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon, but its simplicity, popularity and marketability have seen it grow an identify of its own.

The growth of that brand has coincided with the evolution of UIPM’s wider visual identity, which aims to communicate the historic pentathlon family values aligned to the dynamic future of UIPM Sports.

A branding review in 2017 led to the creation of two new logos, one for institutional and internal use and the other for external promotional use. The new institutional logo features two original colours that represent the pentathlon environment: yellow (symbolizing dynamic development) and blue (standing for longevity and power). Gender equality is also reflected with the addition of two female pictograms.

Martin Dawe, UIPM Executive Board Member for Marketing, said: “The purpose of this branding review is to make sure our logos are more up to date. It is not a completely new logo but more of an evolution, and it’s about making it more applicable for today’s audience.”

UIPM has planned a series of events and commemorations in celebration of its 70th anniversary, culminating with a special edition of the UIPM Congress in November in Limassol, Cyprus, which will feature a gala dinner with VIP guests from across the Olympic movement.

The role played by those 15 federation delegates in England in 1948 will be fully acknowledged, as well as the work of the many people who have contributed across the past seven decades to the realisation of a dream.

This article first appeared in the Summer issue of Host City magazine. Read the full magazine here

Global youth entertainment brand Nitro Circus first rose to prominence fifteen years ago thanks to the unbelievably outrageous stunts Travis Pastrana and team captured on film from their home studio. Originally intended for DVD and then for television, it was only a matter of time before Nitro Circus’ must-see content went viral as the internet developed into a multimedia platform. With Travis and friends pushing the limits in the name of fun and adventure, fans inspired by their jaw-dropping exploits quickly began to spread the word about these daring feats on the newly interconnected digital networks coming online at the time.

Then after the Nitro Circus live show debuted in 2010 the phenomenon exploded globally as fans could now post photos and videos of their heroes in person, sharing their first-hand experiences worldwide. Nitro Circus’ Facebook Followers soon numbered in the millions as the tour rolled on across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and Africa. Currently over 20 million strong, this global community of engaged fans has established Nitro Circus as leaders in the digital space.

Now, as linear television rapidly converges with digital media, Nitro Circus is perfectly positioned at the forefront of this multiplatform, multiscreen future.

Nitro Circus took a bold step forward in this direction during the 2017 Nitro World Games: by innovatively pairing the live network TV broadcast of the action sports competition with a global Facebook livestream, fans everywhere could witness the game-changing world’s firsts on display from Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium, all in real time and on any device (Facebook had shown the event overseas the year prior, but this was the first time that the livestream was available worldwide).

Fast-forward to the present day, with Nitro World Games expanding and announcing new disciplines held in multiple locations across the planet, and this global reach only continues to grow. Highlights from the recent FMX Best Trick contest alone have gone viral on Facebook, exceeding over two million views to date. So far, Nitro World Games 2018 has generated over 10 million views across six live broadcasts of contests held in Utah and Southern California with more than 44 million impressions in total. Viewership truly spans the globe, with content translated into five different languages. Now, having just announced a partnership with the UK’s Scootfest freestyle scooter festival and with more details about other Nitro World Games events still to come, look for these figures to continue to grow exponentially over the course of the year.

Beyond action sports competition, Nitro Circus Media Productions has created a diverse slate of compelling original content. After co-producing the record-breaking “Evel Live” TV special with HISTORY, Travis Pastrana’s tribute to Evel Knievel was later simultaneously broadcast and livestreamed in Brazil, South America’s largest media market.

Digital series such as “Off the Grid” and “Out and About with the Nitro Circus Crew” showcase the exciting adventures Nitro Circus athletes get into – everything from swimming with sharks in the waters outside South Africa to mountain biking through the badlands of Utah. Taking it a step further, by teaming with partners such as Whistle Sports and Junkin Media, Nitro Circus can maximize its extensive library and find new opportunities for growth and exposure.

From its inception, Nitro Circus has strived to break boundaries and redefine what is possible. With media consumption continuing to evolve, particularly among Millennials, look for the Nitro team to stay on the cutting edge by creating more groundbreaking events and engaging content.

Andy Edwards, President of Nitro Circus is speaking at Host City 2018 on the subject of "Integrated Content Offerings: Connecting audiences, host cities and content through major events"

A vibrant coastal city and recent host to the Commonwealth Games, SportAccord 2019 will take place at the world-class Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre with over 1,500 delegates expected to attend.

To register for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit and take advantage of the registration opening rate (CHF 1,500) available for a limited period only, visit www.sportaccord.sport.

Commenting on SportAccord 2019, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said:

“We are delighted to be in Gold Coast, Queensland for the next edition of SportAccord. The World Sport & Business Summit brings important opportunities and unique networking experiences to any organisation involved in the business of sport, particularly as it is the only global event with all the key players from the Olympic and non-Olympic movement present.

“Following the recent SportAccord team visit to Gold Coast, strong commitment from the Local Organising Committee and the award-winning venue team is very apparent. Together, we are confident the next edition of SportAccord will be a great success and bring significant opportunities to delegates, the region and Australasia, as well as to the sports business community worldwide.”

Queensland’s Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said she was looking forward to welcoming delegates to the Gold Coast. “Hosting SportAccord is a great opportunity to show the world why the Gold Coast is now renowned as a hub for major events.

“While they’re here, delegates will enjoy the world-class tourism experiences on the Gold Coast – from our famous beaches and surf breaks, to our lush hinterland, food and wine experiences, theme parks and local hospitality.

“We’re working hard to make the most of the Commonwealth Games to ensure this event continues to deliver a great legacy for Queensland and we look forward to discussing new opportunities to secure international sporting events for Queensland.”

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) offers magnificent, state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology, and large spacious foyers showcasing 180-degree views of the Broadbeach skyline. However, it is the venue team’s ‘can-do’ approach, professional service and attention to detail that really sets the GCCEC apart and will help to make each and every delegate experience unique and memorable.

With an abundance of stunning exhibition space, businesses looking to raise their visibility and showcase their organisation, launch a new product or service during SportAccord, will be able to take advantage of this outstanding opportunity. For further details and to secure premium exhibition space, make early contact with sales@sportaccord.com as booths always sell out quickly.

SportAccord 2019 will host over 50 conference sessions with around 100 international speakers and panellists taking part. The five conference streams include: The Summit, CityAccord, LawAccord, MediaAccord, and HealthAccord.

The World Sport and Business Summit will also offer a varied and exciting social programme to suit every delegate with plenty of opportunity to network outside formal surroundings. This includes the daily Exhibition Luncheons and Evening Cocktails, After Hours Bar, Opening Ceremony and Closing Event, bringing a sense of occasion and cultural flavour to the Gold Coast edition of SportAccord.

This year SportAccord is delighted to confirm oneworld® as the Official Airline Alliance partner enabling delegates to enjoy reduced airfares with thirteen carriers for flights to Brisbane (BNE)/Gold Coast (OOL).

The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to support SportAccord 2019 which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Your perfect next event is in Queensland where live events combine with the most incredible destinations, and life is beautiful one day, perfect the next.

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.

For media enquiries, email the Media Relations Officer: jenny.edmondson@sportaccord.com

Host City: The theme of Host City 2018 is “The Future of Major Events”. What do you think will be the single most important concern for event hosts and organisers in the next five to ten years?

Paul Bush: I believe the single most important concern for event hosts and organisers in the next five to ten years will be how major events contribute to government policy and help bring about long-term transformational change within society beyond just having an economic impact.

No longer can we hold events for events’ sake. They need to reflect the priorities of the wider community and ensure the benefit is felt across the board, not just amongst those immediately connected with the event.

It is about ensuring a 360-degree approach to the planning and delivery of events to ensure policy drivers such as health, education, transport and sustainability are reflected in the event’s overall aims and objectives.  

By taking this approach, it will in turn filter down into other key areas that will impact events going forward, including the integrity of the event, security and the role of technology in the viewing and delivery of events.

Host City: How are geopolitical trends and concerns over event governance impacting the distribution of future major events? Where in the world will future investment be strongest? What impact might Brexit have?

Paul Bush: As major events are often bid for and awarded years in advance, considerations of the ever-evolving geopolitical trends and event governance are part of the event planning and delivery process. It’s too early to say what the full impact of Brexit will be but as a global industry, events are well placed to respond to the changes that are likely to come given we are used to operating across national and international borders to deliver events, particularly around major sporting events.

Like everything, the funding landscape is also changing, with sponsorship and grants no longer simply about name rights and brand awareness. Therefore in the future, investment will be strongest where bids can successfully articulate the benefit of events that reflect the values and ambitions of rights holders and sponsors while aligning with government policies to deliver long-term transformational change.

Host City: What can event owners, organisers and hosts do to ensure major events become more financially and environmentally sustainable? How can hosting events create happier, healthier citizens?

Paul Bush: Again I think this comes back to taking a 360 degree approach to the planning and delivery of events. Aligning with government policy, particularly around, health, transport and infrastructure, will ensure major events are more financially and environmentally sustainable as well as helping create happier, healthier citizens.

As a society I think we are more aware of the impact of our carbon footprint so we’re looking for events to reflect value for money by minimise their environmental impact. Take for example the recent European Championships. There was limited capital infrastructure costs because we used existing venues from the Commonwealth Games in 2014. The only new venue built for the Championships was the BMX track, which is the first and only world championships and Olympic standard BMX track in Scotland and only the second in the UK, ensuring a legacy for the sport of BMX in Scotland.

We also want events to leave a lasting personal legacy on our citizens, whether that’s through signposting to activities that can improve both mental and physical health or providing opportunities to gain new skills and experiences through volunteering. So major events now have an important role to play within society beyond just providing an amazing spectacle for people to enjoy.

Host City: What are current trends telling us about the kind of content and formats that will be in demand in the future?

Paul Bush: Current trends are telling us we need to think about content and formats in quite a different way than we previously have. The old broadcast model is increasing becoming outdated and needs to evolve to ensure we continue to engage with fans. Fans want content that is personalised and accessible to them through a range of devices and mediums.

From an event delivery perspective, part of this trend means embracing and experimenting with new platforms – whether that be streaming live events, augmented reality or widening the fan engagement, on the platforms they are already using.

At the root, it is about moving away from thinking about digital as a channel and more as something that is core to the way we manage and run events.

Host City: What are your expectations of Host City 2018 and why should people attend?

Paul Bush: It is great to have Host City 2018 back in Glasgow and Scotland for the fourth consecutive year. I’m once again looking forward to the high calibre of speakers and delegates Host City attracts. This year’s agenda continues to push the industry to delve into the issues we’re facing and having meaningful debate round them.

It is also a great opportunity to network with colleagues from across the sporting, cultural and business events sector in a relaxed and friendly setting. So if you haven’t registered already, I highly recommend you do so now.

As Chairman of Host City 2018, Paul Bush OBE will be delivering the opening keynote address and speaking on the panel “Populations, politics and popularity stakes”. Register your attendance here

Host City: What are the main themes of this year’s Sportel Monaco?

Laurent Puons: The evolution of the international sports media and technology industry is happening faster than ever before, and our community is a fantastic representation of this.

Our members have been discussing some of the main themes for many years, but now these themes have turned from added value propositions to key aspects of global strategy.

A few of the exciting developments to keep an eye on include, but are not limited to, live broadcast across social media platforms and OTT direct to consumer models. Fans are engaging and consuming content very differently than they were just a few years ago and the entire industry needs to adapt to this fact.

Host City: Can you tell us a bit about this year’s conference programme?

Laurent Puons: This year our participants will have the opportunity to take part in a number of sponsored conference programme events, which include presentations by LaLiga, Feed Construct and more. 

Regarding SPORTEL’s conference programmes globally, this year marks an important strategical change for SPORTEL as it redefines the opportunities for all three of its SPORTEL events.

SPORTELMonaco will remain the global marketplace concentrating on maximising commercial opportunities for its members from across the world.

SPORTELAsia is the ideal environment for the SPORTEL community to come together to do business in the Far East and across Asia Pacific. It is a unique opportunity for SPORTEL participants to meet the leading sports business decision makers from Asia that do not attend any of SPORTEL's other events.

Regarding SPORTEL conference events, SPORTEL will provide our participants with the opportunity to participate in a new event, which will shape the future of the international sport business industry. The new event will include very high-level speakers and discuss the key issues that need to be addressed by the decision makers of global markets. An official announcement of the new concept will be done during SPORTELMonaco.

Host City: How does Sportel Monaco help rights holders to reach new audiences?

Laurent Puons: If you are looking to do global or national business with broadcasters, social media platforms, agencies or technology providers they are all at SPORTELMonaco. Three days at SPORTELMonaco 2018 can provide our participants with substantial opportunities for business development. The SPORTEL community cannot be found anywhere else but SPORTEL Events.    

Host City: Which markets are growing the fastest for you and how is this reflected in your three continental editions: Sportel Monaco, Asia and America?

Laurent Puons: Each of our events is unique and offers different business opportunities. SPORTELMonaco 2018 is our global convention with over 3,000 delegates, representing more than 1,000 companies from across the globe. 

SPORTELAsia 2019 will be held in exciting Macau, from 5-7 March and provide our international SPORTEL community with the opportunity to do business with key decision makers from the Far East and Across Asia Pacific. We have some new incentives for this edition of SPORTELAsia 2019, so watch this space!

[Source: SportAccord] The 12^th International Federation (IF) Forum organised by SportAccord today confirmed partnerships with Eurosport, JLT and Sports Nevada USA. The IF Forum is set to take place from 5-7 November 2018 when more than 100 international sports federations, associates and observer members from GAISF will gather at the Hotel Royal Savoy in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The IF Forum provides a platform for GAISF members (both Olympic and non-Olympic) to tackle global matters related to the Sports Movement. The annual 3-day gathering is also limited to a small number of industry partners and gives them exclusive access to an authoritative networking environment and recognition as a supporter of the Sports Movement.

Eurosport is one of the top sport destination broadcasters and this includes the Olympics in Europe. Eurosport channels reach more than 242 million cumulative subscribers across 75 countries worldwide. Its online sports news website Eurosport.com sees around 42 million users per month and along with the Eurosport app, enables fans to watch Eurosport anytime, live or on demand, via its digital streaming service the Eurosport Player.

This year sees JLT as an IF Forum industry partner for the 8^th year running. They specialise in risk and insurance services to the sports industry and have worked with the international federations (IFs) since 1980. JLT offers a number of bespoke products specifically designed for IFs such as broad coverage, risk and insurance advice including arrangements, as well as liability claims for significant events.

Sports Nevada USA promotes the State of Nevada (USA) as an elite sports competition and event destination, and nurtures the Olympic Movement statewide. Sports Nevada USA hosts, facilitates, and supports such activities to further its mission, partnering with tourism agencies in Reno-Tahoe and Las Vegas including the Boyd Gaming resorts.

Commenting on the IF Forum partnerships, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said: “We are delighted to have JLT and Sports Nevada USA with us again. Their commitment demonstrates the value a partnership brings by being involved in a high-profile event. We are also pleased to welcome Eurosport into the fold for the 2018 edition.

“This year’s IF Forum should be an extremely interesting three days of discussion, debate, and insights into what the future holds for international sports federations and the wider global sport community.”

Limited partnerships are available and partners have access to the official schedule which includes: entry to all conference and panel sessions, workshops; VIP functions and social events; and the opportunity to deliver a presentation as part of the conference programme.

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord today announced it has been awarded exclusive use of the ‘DotSport’ domain extension ‘sportaccord.sport’ following the successful launch of the new .sport digital ecosystem, managed and delivered by GAISF.
A .sport domain name is seen as a positive endorsement of any organisation operating in the world of sport. GAISF’s ownership of the domain protects the integrity of .sport by ensuring that only properly qualified organisations and individuals can use it. These include sports governing bodies to events, companies and clubs.
Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord, World Sport & Business Summit commented:
“We are delighted to take advantage of this new opportunity and have applied the SportAccord.sport domain extension to key digital platforms and collateral. This will further help to enhance the SportAccord brand across the global sports and business sectors.
“We are proud to be part of this community-led initiative and fully support the values, culture and principles it represents for sport.”
SportAccord joins other organisations who have been awarded the .sport extension including several of the international sports federations, Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games and the
International Testing Agency.
GAISF Head of Digital Pierre Germeau said:
“This digital transformation is proving to be a game-changer, not just for IFs but for all reputable sports stakeholders that work hard to promote the best image of sport. Each domain offers stakeholders a significant and respected online presence, tailored specifically to their individual needs.”
SportAccord is host to the annual general assemblies and official meetings for event stakeholders, with representation from all the GAISF international sports federations, associates and observers in attendance.

SportAccord 2019 will take place in Gold Coast, Australia from 5-10 May 2019 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and will welcome the sporting business community for the 17th edition of the World Sport & Business Summit.

Host City: What are the rights holders of major congresses looking for from host cities – what are the most important requirements?

Carola van der Hoeff: If you look across the whole world, bidding cities and countries are so different in terms of what they can offer.

The financial support they get from the city, province or country is an important issue.

The cost of the venue is an important aspect, also the price of general things like food and drink, and travel from the airport to the hotels to downtown.

We also look at safety, especially for our participants.

What is especially important for us is to make sure we have a member association in that country, to make sure we have a connection. Without a member association we will never go to that country.

Host City: That’s very similar to major sports and cultural events, where security and robust backing from the hosting authorities are both crucial.

Carola van der Hoeff: We also realise that in Europe there are some cities that can support financially, while there are others that just don’t have this in place. But that does not necessarily mean we will not decide to go there, because there may be other benefits.

For example, Amsterdam is very attractive for participants – it’s easy to reach. And we know that in Europe we have a higher number of participants – that’s based on historical data. So, it’s not just about finance, but it can play a big role.

Host City: What impact does hosting a major scientific congress have on the city?

Carola van der Hoeff: For the city, it’s like a business. Congress participants bring a lot of money, in terms of hotel stays and dinners.

We have 3,500 participants over four to five days in the city; so that gives a lot of exposure.

We also know that legacy is an important item for associations at the moment: what can we do for the city and the country in the specific sector that we are in, i.e. pharmacy.

We have our World Congress this year in Glasgow. If you look at Glasgow it’s important that local people understand what pharmacists can do for them – not only dispensing medicines but also providing advice.

Host City: How would you describe your experience of working with Glasgow as a host city?

Carola van der Hoeff: For the past couple of years, we have been working with the Glasgow Convention Bureau and the support they have been giving us exceeds all expectations.

Their expertise and professional way of working make it very easy to work in Glasgow and to organise our event.

Host City: How far ahead do you have host cities lined up after Glasgow 2018?

Carola van der Hoeff: We are just deciding now on the host for 2021 and about to open the bid process for 2022. We have a bid document that people can get form us.

But for us, it’s very important that if a city wants to bid for a congress they have to engage with our member organisation in their country. For example, for Glasgow we are working with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in the UK, in London.

Host City: Do you have any advice for destinations interested in bidding for 2022?

Carola van der Hoeff: The best advice is always to contact the national association to get a bit more knowledge about the congress and to discuss the requirements. Every congress has specific requirements; it’s important to get to know your client.

Host City: It sounds very much like it’s something that develops through dialogue, which is interesting because it’s the new approach that the IOC is taking for the Olympic Games; they are shaping their bidding process as an invitation and a conversation, rather than simply a submission of a bid document.

Carola van der Hoeff: Yes, for me that’s very important too. I think it’s a good way forward, because it is so important to know what the event is about and to be very clear about what you are bidding for.

Carola van der Hoeff is Chief Operating Officer and Congress Director at International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the global federation gathering 140 national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. She is responsible for overseeing the organisation's daily operations and enhancing internal processes to help the non-profit grow and fulfil its mission. Before joining FIP, she worked for more than 16 years as a Professional Congress Organiser.

The FIP World Congress 2018 takes place on 2 to 6 September in Glasgow. 

Carola van der Hoeff is speaking at Host City 2018, the largest meeting of sports, business and cultural events, on 20 to 21 November 2018, also in Glasgow.

I am very excited to be invited to participate in Host City Asia and have the opportunity to share the development of sports in China and Asia with fellow experts and industry peers.

I believe that everyone is very interested in the preparations for the Beijing Olympic Winter Games in 2022. Today, I address the theme of "Past, Present, and Future" to share the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attached great importance to the preparatory work for the Beijing Olympic Winter Games and pointed out that it is necessary to adhere to the concept of green Olympics, shared Olympic Games, open Olympics, with honesty, and to strive to hold an exciting, extraordinary, and outstanding Olympic Games.

In 2008, Beijing hosted an unparalleled Olympic Games. In 2022, Beijing will become the first city in the world to host both the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympic Games.

China has had an enduring bond with the ice and snow sports since ancient times. Firstly, I would like to take everyone back to the past and review one of the origins of the earliest ice and snow movements. Let’s look at two ancient paintings. The first one is “Altaian Rock Paintings”. The Altai region is located in the northern part of Xinjiang and is one of the earliest regions where ice and snow come each year. As early as 10,000 years ago, the ancient Altaians recorded their skis on rock. This is the earliest known ski. After research, the history of this rock painting has been dated to 10,000 to 30,000 years ago. It can be regarded as the most direct evidence of the origin of human skiing history.

In addition, the Palace Museum's "Ice Play" is a court painting that represents the history of ice sports in China, from the Qing Dynasty of China more than 300 years ago. From "Ice Play", we can see that each person performs various difficult moves like figure skating. From "Altay Rock Paintings" to "Ice Play", we can see that China had its own ice and snow movements long ago. We have a close relationship with ice and snow sports.

Now Beijing, as the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympics, is making every effort to promote various preparatory work and is striving to organise and host the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. It will showcase the historical and cultural charm of China, the achievements of contemporary construction and development, and show the world an open and confident country image.

Venues and infrastructure construction

In terms of venues and infrastructure construction, the Beijing Winter Olympics upholds the concept of sustainable development and maximises the use of existing venues for the 2008 Olympic Games. The Beijing Winter Olympic Games includes the three competition areas of Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou.

The Beijing competition area holds all ice events. Except for the construction of a new national speed skating hall, all other projects use existing and transformed venues.

Yanqing Alpine skiing and snowmobile sledding projects have started construction.

The masterplan for the core area of ​​the Zhangjiakou District has been determined. The national winter biathlon circuit and shooting range has started construction. The design for the deepening of the platform for the national ski jump centre has taken shape and the earthwork has been completed. The basic construction of the cross-country ski track has been completed.

The three divisions are being connected by the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail with an average speed of 350 km/h, taking only 20 minutes from Beijing to Yanqing and only 30 minutes from Yanqing to Zhangjiakou.

The Beijing Olympic Winter Games Organising Committee is now located in an industrial site in the west of Beijing and has become a successful case of the Olympics promoting sustainable urban development. It has won high praise from the international community.

Promotion and cultural activities

In terms of publicity and promotion and cultural activities, on December 15 last year, the “Winter Dream” logo of the Olympic Winter Games and the Winter Olympics Paralympic Games logo “The Leap” were formally released. It is widely believed at home and abroad that the ideas are novel, rich in meaning and strong in communicating China's style and cultural charm. More than 100 media at home and abroad participated in the launch ceremony and more than 1,500 articles were published around the logos. The Beijing Olympics Organising Committee's logo microblog readership exceeded 8.48 million, and the Weibo topic readership exceeded 330 million.

At the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games on February 25 this year, Beijing took over the Olympic Flag as a host city and presented the world with a wonderful and captivating cultural performance. President Xi Jinping and hundreds of millions of people shared the video with the world. Issued as a sincere invitation to Beijing in 2022, this video was actively watched and discussed by Internet users at home and abroad. Within 24 hours, 720 million views were broadcast on the WeChat social network.

This event also became the most attended performance in the Olympic history. A total of 130 million Internet users sent invitations to the world via the "Winter Olympics, Me and Stars” voice interaction app and the "Winter Olympics Send Invitation" WeChat H5 page to reach the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics through the Internet.

We are also actively using new media to explore the Winter Olympics network promotion.

A series of micro-videos created by the Beijing Olympic Winter Games Organising Committee has been formally launched under the brand “Winter Premiere”. 11 micro-videos have been released on the official website, microblog platform and related video websites related to the development of the competition area, sports work, market development and cultural events, with cumulative plays of nearly 10 million.

Public participation and Olympic education

While promoting the Beijing Olympic Winter Games with international events and major events, the Beijing Olympic Winter Games Organising Committee also actively works on the goal of “300 million people participating in the ice and snow sports” proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping.

To promote ice and snow sports in the country and popularise the knowledge of ice and snow sports, we launched the "Share Winter Olympics" action plan jointly with central ministries and commissions such as the Ministry of Education, the State General Administration of Sport, and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. The national guidance documents such as educational plans, social civilisation plans, youth plans and image publishing plans have been released to the public one after another. We have vigorously promoted "ice and snow in the campus." As of now, Beijing and Zhangjiakou have named the first batch of 84 primary and secondary snow and ice sports schools, and have held training classes for primary and secondary school ski instructors. Beijing has held two consecutive sessions of middle school students in winter.

The Games held a series of ice and snow popularisation and promotion activities such as the “My Winter Olympic Dream” National English Junior Reporter Competition, which attracted the attention of young people from both places. We also organised a Beijing Winter Olympics delegation composed of Olympic champions, volunteers, small athletes, community sports enthusiasts and other representatives. We have organised Winter Olympics lectures in institutions, enterprises, communities and schools in Beijing, Zhangjiakou, Heilongjiang and other places. In 2017, the number of direct participation of the Youth Exchange Fun Olympics Experience Camp was 16,000.

Two snow and ice photo solicitations for professional photographers attracted nearly a thousand professional photographers to participate, recruiting 11,000 high quality images of ice and snow. In addition, in Beijing last year, 40 city-level ice and snow events were created, and 13 districts have created ice and snow activities with special characteristics. In 2017, 500 million people participated in these ice and snow activities.

In terms of market development work, five companies including Bank of China, Air China, Yili, Anta, and China Unicom have now been identified as official partners, and a trial program for licensed products has been launched. Commemorative stamps have been officially issued, and licensed merchandise sales have enjoyed a good momentum.

The Winter Olympics Beijing Cycle

After the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics concluded perfectly, we officially entered the Winter Olympics “Beijing Cycle”. In the future, the Beijing Olympic Winter Games Organising Committee will strengthen cooperation with all sectors of the society and go all out to do a good job of various tasks.

The first is to systematically plan the construction and operational management of venues, to learn from the relevant experiences of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Tokyo Olympic Games, to adjust and optimise in time, to study the use of venues ahead of schedule and to promote sustainable development.

The second is to do a good job of organising the competition, to listen earnestly to the opinions of the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and the individual sports federations, and learn from the experience of running the host city.

Third, it is necessary to detail the guaranteed service tasks during the competition and carefully prepare and coordinate efforts in areas such as transportation, medical care, accommodation, catering, and security to ensure that the standards of the three competition areas are consistent and linked.

The fourth is to promote foreign exchange and cooperation in an all-round manner, strengthen ties and cooperation with international organisations, snow and ice-sports powerhouses, and the host city of the previous Olympic Winter Games to promote exchanges in humanities, economics and non-governmental sports organisations. Soon, we will create the Beijing Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games mascots and welcome everyone around the world to participate in the design exchange activities.

Fifth, we must plan the sustainable development of the Winter Olympic Games and integrate the concept of sustainable development into all aspects of preparatory work.

There are less than four years to 2022 and I hope that people from all walks of life will care for and support the preparations for the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. The Beijing Olympics Organising Committee looks forward to working together with everyone to create a wonderful and extraordinary event for the world in 2022. Finally, I wish Host City Asia a complete success.

This transcript of Chang Yu’s keynote address at Host City Asia also appears in the Summer issue of Host City magazine