In a keynote address, International Olympic Committee Vice President Prof. Dr. Ugur Erdener said:

“We – the rights holders, hosts organisers, International Federations and all stakeholders –all have to respond to and meet the new needs of the changing world. We must re-evaluate the content and formats of our major events to ensure that they are engaging and beneficial for future generations.

“As long as measures are taken to ensure their sustainability through creating greater value for hosts and partners alike, and by cooperating and collaborating with the hosts throughout the planning and delivery of the event, aligning with government policies to deliver long-term transformational change within society, the future of major events will continue to be a positive one.”

In his welcome address, Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland said:

“Looking ahead, I believe there are three key areas that will have an influence on the future of major events. Co-hosting events across cities, regions or countries is an important trend for the future as it will allow for more sustainable impact by using existing infrastructure as well as developing those social and cultural benefits across a much greater geographical area.

“Digital integration will also play a big part in the future of how major events are presented. From augmented reality, live streaming to the availability of real-time data, all these tools are now at our fingertips to enhance the fan experience and drive greater engagement with an event.

“And finally, it will be about ensuring a 360-degree holistic model approach to the planning and delivery of events, ensuring they are enshrined in policy whether it be health, education, transport or sustainability.”

Speaking on the opening panel, Ansley O’Neal, Olympic Programme Commission Manager, International Olympic Committee said:

“One of the exciting things we are looking at in terms of how we put together the sports programme is not just the urbanization of sports, not just the way in which sports are delivered in the future, but how you continue to appeal to an audience all over the world when sports are becoming more topically relevant within different regions.

“We as a property are looking at a broader content perspective – really trying to drive what’s happening on the field but also outside the venues.”

Alban Dechelotte, Head of Sponsorships & Business Development EU Esport, Riot Games said: “We are the new kids on the block, the future is now for us. We are young, digital and international. 85 percent of our audience is below the age of 25.

“We are building the same governance as every federation; the only difference is that we own the sports, the leagues and the broadcast. For us the future is to go deeper, not broader; instead of trying to go global we go local; instead of trying to be agile we are trying to build the governance that will lead us for decades.”

Dimitri Kerkentzes, Deputy Secretary General, Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) said:

 “The future for the Expo is really a question of being able to communicate the reasons why we want to have these events in these cities.

These are presence-based events – the only way to really experience it is to be present. That means a lot of infrastructure needs to be put in place, and we need to communicate to citizens why we are doing this. Are we just using the expo to catalyse it or are we seeing it as a benefit for the future of the region?”

Jon Dutton, Chief Executive, Rugby League World Cup 2021 said:

“The way we consume sport and entertainment is changing, therefore we have changed as organisers. We will stage our first ever Esports event during the World Cup to engage with Generation Z and millennials who wouldn’t normally engage with our tournament.

“Alongside the men’s competition we’ll run the women’s world cup, the wheelchair world cup and a masters tournament. And we will have a big cultural programme.  We are going to deliver all this at a time when the world is changing in front of our eyes.”

Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life said:

“Events, important in their own right, also have to be milestones in terms of the wider health, education, culture, sport agenda. Linking an event to other policies is a no-brainer – it helps the public understand why you are doing it."

Neil Carney, Project Director for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham City Council said:

“When we look to the future, it’s about a sense of partnership between organising committees, rights holders, host cities and suppliers. They are all competing with one another, so how do we create a safe space for those natural tensions? Events like this really do help with that – there are no other forums where we can have these conversations.”

David de Behr, Head of Sales Major Events, Aggreko Event Services said:

“Our role is to give federations and associations an alternative, to maybe change the concept. The ones which are in trouble are the multi-sports events. We have a lot of solutions to make them more sustainable, but we need to be part of the vision.”

Other speakers included top level representatives of Formula 1, National Olympic Committees, European Olympic Committees, Auckland, Victoria, UEFA, OECD, Eurovision Song Contest, GL events, AFL Architects, EBU, Cirque du Soleil, Coventry City Council, DF Concerts & Events, Rotterdam Ahoy, European Arenas Association, International SAMBO Federation, Nitro Circus, Red Bull Air Race, FIBA, UK Sport, World Archery, innsbruck-tirol sports, International Association of Event Hosts, London & Partners, Brno City and many more.

(Los Angeles, CA USA)  Following a packed September, which saw the debuts of both the You Got This world tour as well as the Nitro Rallycross competition, Nitro Circus is getting ready to heat up European arenas this winter. Now, with You Got This coming to Glasgow’s SSE Hydro on 21 November, Nitro Circus President Andy Edwards and other company executives will appear at Host City 2018 to detail the youth entertainment brand’s transformative year and its exciting plans for 2019.

To close out the event in high-adrenaline style, Nitro Circus and Host City invite conference attendees to the 21 November You Got This show at the SSE Hydro, as well as take a behind-the-scenes look at the stunt spectacular reviewers are calling, “a must see.” Meet action sports icon and Nitro Circus co-founder Travis Pastrana as well as other Nitro Circus stars. The VIP tour begins at 6:00 PM with the show starting at 7:30 PM.  For more information and to RSVP go here (deadline to RSVP is Monday 19, November) 

With the all-new You Got This tour, Travis Pastrana debuts as executive producer for the greatest, craziest, funniest show in Nitro Circus history. You Got This features multiple X Games medalists and several Nitro World Games champions attempting never before seen feats on a huge stage set. The new 17-metre tall Giganta ramp, incorporating a takeoff kicker that is three metres taller than anything Nitro Circus has toured before, launches BMX, Skate and Scooter athletes five stories into the air. “The tricks are getting out of hand,” Travis Pastrana reports. “The guys are throwing like nothing on this new ramp!”

Pastrana himself also leads an all-star roster of Freestyle Motocross riders who send it with jaw-dropping new tricks, and both sides will battle it out in FMX and Giganta competitions, both for prize money and - even more importantly - bragging rights. Look out for new crazy contraptions, too; who thought that a jet ski should fly? Without a doubt You Got This is totally wide open, with more thrills, more excitement and more irreverence than ever before. For a preview of the thrills Nitro Circus: You Got This has in store for Glasgow fans, go here.

For more Nitro Circus news, including tour updates, exclusive behind-the-scenes content and more, go to http://www.nitrocircus.com and follow Nitro Circus on Instagram and Facebook.

About Nitro Circus:

Nitro Circus, the world’s biggest action sports entertainment brand, creates electrifying live events and unbelievable original content that at once exhilarates, captivates and inspires thrill-seeking fans worldwide.  Co-founded by global superstar Travis Pastrana in 2003, Nitro Circus has since grown into a multiplatform phenomenon producing hit television shows, critically acclaimed documentaries and innovative digital offerings. That success gave rise to the Nitro Circus Live tour. Created in 2010, Nitro Circus Live has travelled the globe, playing to sold-out stadiums on five continents. The company introduced an innovative breakthrough in 2016 with the debut of Nitro World Games, completely rebooting action sports competition in the process. With over three million tickets sold to date, television programming that has aired in over 60 countries, more than 20 million engaged fans across its social media platforms and a burgeoning consumer products business, Nitro Circus is at the forefront of action sports and entertainment. For more information visit www.nitrocircus.com.

About Host City:

Host City Conference & Exhibition evolved from the network that grew out of the HOST City magazine, which is read by event owners, organising committees, cities and suppliers worldwide in their quest to host successful major sports, business and cultural events. It became clear that there was a need for an event that brings Cities, Rights Holders and Suppliers together to learn from each other's experiences of hosting sports, business and cultural events.

The inaugural Host City conference took place in London in 2014. A year later the event had doubled in size and grown to incorporate an Exhibition alongside the conference programme. The 2015 event was hailed as a big success and gained the support of leading industry figures across the board, including organisations such as the International Olympic Committee, the Commonwealth Games Federation, FIFA, International Federations, Capitals of Culture and World Expos.

2018 sees Host City returning to Glasgow for another year of growth where we will be welcoming attendees from cities and destination marketing organisations, cross-sector rights holders and suppliers from across the world. Host City is a Cavendish Group brand.

Register for Host City 2018 here to qualify for your VIP Nitro Circus experience. 

About the Cavendish Group:

A business publisher and meeting/events organiser with special focus on the emerging BRIC markets. Cavendish Group is a European business publisher and conference organiser with a focus on delivering business information to the fast-growing and emerging markets.

HRH The Duke of Kent has presented staff at JTA (Jon Tibbs Associates Limited) the highly prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2018.

The award 2018 “Queen’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years” was presented by HRH The Duke of Kent at JTA’s headquarters in Kent on 1 November.

This is the second time JTA has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in four years, with the company winning its first in 2014.

HRH The Duke of Kent was accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, Viscount De L’Isle MBE for the formal presentation of the award.

JTA Founder and Chairman Jon Tibbs OBE welcomed the guests with a short opening speech, before HRH The Duke of Kent presented JTA with the award.

After being presented with the Queen’s Award by HRH The Duke of Kent, Jon Tibbs said:

“It was an honour to be presented with such a prestigious award from His Royal Highness in the office where JTA officially started 10 years ago.

Today was a truly special day for all the staff at JTA and a reminder to everyone of the value of their dedication and hard work.

This award is a reflection of our commitment and quality of service to our international clients, and we are fully aware that we are only as good as our clients’ success. We are so grateful for their continued loyalty to JTA.

“JTA is incredibly proud to be recognised as a growing British exporter. We are driven by the excitement of new challenges in new parts of the world, and we are determined to continue growing in markets we have yet to explore.”

Since receiving its first Queen’s Award in 2014, JTA has continued to grow its revenue and profits. Over 80 per cent of JTA’s core business comes from work with International Sports Federations, National Olympic Committees, Bid and Organising Committees, sponsors, and professional sports teams. This growth is aligned to the opening of a new JTA office in Los Angeles in 2016, the expansion of the JTA Design business in Alicante and the high number of retained international clients.

To help accelerate further overseas growth, JTA is in the process of opening new offices in Beijing and Lausanne. However, the heart of JTA remains rooted in the local community, with its headquarters based in Kent, where the company was founded nearly two decades ago. The company’s fast-growing core client-facing team is based in JTA’s central London office, where a young staff is dedicated to sustaining JTA’s reputation as a world leader in brand building, communications and international relations within the Olympic Movement and the wider world of sport.

Two global sporting events. Tens of millions of eyes on the action that unfolds. Two months apart.

How did Aggreko power both the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in such a short space of time, not to mention providing temperature control in two wildly contrasting climates?

It seems like an impossible task, but Aggreko’s event services teams are specialists in mobile and modular power, heating, cooling and energy services for good reason.

The Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games of 2018 took place in average temperatures of -4^oC. Power totalling 140 MW was provided using Aggreko’s containerised generators as well as around 985km of cabling – 100 times taller than the height of Everest. This was sufficient to power 20 venues, overseen by 95 of Aggreko’s experts on site to ensure a smooth project.

Just two months later, the portable power, temperature control and energy storage specialist deployed 30 MW of power, stretched across 1700km of Australia’s beautiful Gold Coast, for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. This involved 120 experts on site and 34 venues in balmy temperatures of 23^oC.

Both occasions were enjoyed by millions. Spectators packed the stands at both locations, enthralled by the thrills and spills of sporting competition. Behind the scenes, Aggreko were hard at work, optimising output, making sure that every variable was monitored and performing to its maximum.

To get to this point involved months of planning and design. The respective sites shared no common ground, and the teams responsible for constructing a plan had to consider plenty before finalising a directive for action.

During the Gold Coast Games there was much more space to cover than in Pyeongchang, but in Pyeongchang, the average temperature and ice-cold mountain winds would require special preparations for equipment to face this extreme climate.

Aggreko works closely with organising committees and this collaboration helps to highlight pre-existing systems, the functionality of the local grid and various solutions that can work around these potential pitfalls. This forms a partnership rather than a conventional business setup, where trust is created, and the supplier can get the best idea of exactly what is needed.

Each project is different and with Aggreko’s extensive experience in this sector, they have the expertise – and the modular products – to mould their specialist solutions to perfectly fit the varying requirements.

This is how Aggreko overcame the odds to offer these global events the reliability they craved, ensuring that its reputation for excellence in the field of events is maintained and warranted.

Host City: The theme of Host City 2018 is “The Future of Major Events”. What do you see as the biggest challenge and opportunity for the future of major events?

Niels Nygaard: It is clear that one of the biggest challenges facing any major sports event is overcoming the negative perception in the media and among the public that they are intrinsically financially unsound.

A lot has already been done in recent years to make improvements in all aspects of event delivery, but it will require more time and effort to reverse the negative discourse. The European Olympic Committees is fully aligned with the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Agenda 2020 and The New Norm, meaning that we are absolutely committed to lowering the costs and complexity of our events while improving their efficiency and sustainability. The onus is definitely on us to not only talk the talk but walk the walk when it comes to delivering the best possible events without gigantism, overspending and leaving white elephants behind.

Of course, one of the best ways we can do this is to host sustainable events that leave many positive and long-lasting benefits for the local communities – something we can then use as tangible proof in the debate. We hope that Minsk 2019 will become a touchstone for future discussions on the issue.

Host City: What impact do you expect the 2019 European Games in Minsk to have on the city and region?

Niels Nygaard: We certainly expect that there will be some level of cultural and socioeconomic impact on Minsk and Belarus as a result of the European Games. We see the Games as being a watershed moment in the opening up of Belarus to the rest of Europe and vice versa.

I think for many Europeans, not a great deal is known about the country – it hasn’t traditionally been on the shortlist of travel destinations on our continent. But that could very well change – in fact, Belarus was recently named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 destinations globally to travel to in 2019. I think anyone who visits Minsk for the first time cannot help to be impressed by how beautiful the city is, how green, clean and safe it is, and how friendly the people are.

Fortunately, there will be next to no environmental impact on the city as these Games will be one of the most sustainable multi-sports events in history. This is because 11 of 12 venues used at next June’s Games are existing structures. The single venue that had to be built was that for beach soccer – an open-air facility seating 1,500 people that took only two months to construct.

And for sports fans it can’t get much better – the venues are state-of-the-art and are all within 30 minutes’ drive of the Athletes Village. It means that you can take in a number of different sports in the same day if you are so inclined, all in great comfort surrounded by passionate and knowledgeable local sports enthusiasts.

We believe Minsk 2019 can set an example for other multi-sports competitions in the future. There has been a lot of talk lately about how Games should be moulded around the host city and not the other way around. Well, look no further than Minsk 2019, which should become a prime example of how to host a major sports event without spending a lot of money.

Host City: Are there any areas of Games preparation that need particular attention right now?

Niels Nygaard: We are quite pleased with the way things are progressing so far, and get regular updates from our Coordination Commission and from the local organisers themselves. With 11 of the 12 facilities already existing, we have no issues with venue preparation – Minsk could hold the Games tomorrow if need be.

But in the lead-up to the Games we are asking our counterparts in Belarus to step everything up a notch in terms of organisation. In total, Minsk will host 22 test events ahead of the Games on 21 June, which will be a critical learning curve. They have proven to be excellent hosts in the past, but the European Games will be the largest event they have ever staged and it will require a great deal of flexibility and quick decision-making at all levels to be hosted successfully.

Host City: How is the candidature process for 2023 progressing?

Niels Nygaard: We had a good deal of interest in the 2023 European Games prior to our bid launch in September this year. This is why we were confident that even though our window for bid submissions is only 6 months, we are likely to have a strong pool of candidates from which to choose come 28 February.

By naming the 2023 Host City on the eve of Minsk 2019, we wanted to ensure that the 2023 Host City would have a full four years to prepare for their edition of the European Games.

The interest being shown in the 2023 European Games signals that this event is regarded as Europe’s premier sporting event. I believe it has a bright future and we look forward to seeing the Games evolve and improve over time.

Host City: With the European Championships having been successfully hosted in Glasgow this summer and another edition due to take place in 2022, how do you envisage the European Games coexisting alongside this new model?

Niels Nygaard: The two competitions complement each other well, with the European Games remaining Europe’s only continental Games, bringing together the best athletes from Olympic and non-Olympic sports and serving as qualifiers for the Olympic Games.

At the European Olympic Committees, it is our job to promote sport at all levels across the continent. We are pleased at the success of both our European Games and the recent European Championships, which are clear indications that sport is alive and well in Europe. If these events help to inspire people, especially young people, to take up a sport or get active then we can say that we are successfully delivering our mandate.

Host City: During the World Sailing Championships this year, IOC President Thomas Bach said that Denmark could organise a fantastic Olympic Games. Obviously 2032 is a long way away but can you envisage Denmark bidding and how might this work?

Niels Nygaard: We are of course flattered that the IOC President believes Denmark could organise Olympic Summer Games sometime in the future. I do not see it feasible for Denmark to host the Games alone, since we would have to build to many new facilities in sports where we are not strong today.

With reference to Olympic Agenda 2020, I could see Sweden, Norway and Denmark together could host the Games. This would require that the Governments and the people of Sweden, Norway and Denmark would like the three countries to have a much closer cooperation in political, business and cultural matters. In this case hosting the Olympic Games together could be a strong catalyst for such a stronger cooperation.

Niels Nygaard, President, National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark and Vice President, European Olympic Committees is speaking at Host City 2018 in Glasgow on 20-21 November. Register here today.

The international volleyball federation (FIVB) has made no secret of its ambitious global growth plans by targeting Asia. In recent months, FIVB president Ary Graça spoke about the untapped potential for indoor volleyball and beach volleyball in China and other parts of the continent.

The FIVB’s inaugural Volleyball Nations League is billed as “a pivotal moment” for the sport by Graça. He has said it’s “the most important competition in the FIVB’s history and will revolutionise how volleyball is presented; making it more fan-centric and placing our fans, both inside and outside the stadium, at the very heart of the action”.

A joint project between the FIVB, IMG and 21 national federations – the Volleyball Nations League concluded with the men’s finals in Lille and the women’s finals in Nanjing in July.

Luis Alexandre Rodrigues is driving forward the FIVB’s Asian growth plans from a newly-opened office in Beijing. Setting out the goals, he says the federation is keen to maintain “the momentum that the sport is going in with the Chinese team and of course with the world championships in Japan in September and October and to try to attract more partners interested in working with us”.

“We believe that the future is here that’s why it’s our first office outside Switzerland,” he explains. “We are here to learn with the region and by the time we get more experience for sure we will be holding hands with the other federations we have and promoters as well to deliver what we know best… good events.”

China is ranked number 1 in women's volleyball. They have won a major international volleyball title in each of the last three years – 2015 FIVB World Cup winners, 2016 Rio Olympic title and 2017 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup champions.

Along with Nanjing, Asian cities involved in hosting the competition included Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok, Osaka and Melbourne.

“We hopefully can engage much more with the region and do what we do in terms of delivering the best events possible,” said Rodrigues.

The Chinese government is investing huge amounts in sport, football in particular, but volleyball is also benefiting from more funding.

“When you see that volleyball is today the only collective sport in which China has such big results, like being world and Olympic champion on the women’s side, it’s something that the government for sure is foreseeing… and they will push as much as they can to make it even better,” Rodrigues said.

“And I think it’s the time to focus as well on the men’s side and make the team shine. They have a very, very strong, tall and good generation, they have hired an international coach and I think they have a good project for the future.”

Rodrigues said the growing profile of the Volleyball Nations League and finals in Nanjing are giving the sport momentum before the world championships spread around six Japanese host cities in September and October: “It’s occupied our time in Asia this year and we are very, very happy to do so. We see this as a good opportunity and we will do much more.”

Luis Alexandre Pontes spoke at Host City Asia. This article first appeared in the Summer issue of Host City magazine 

Host City: The Hammer Series is a great brand name – where did the name come from?

Julien Ternisien: The name was developed jointly by Infront and its partner Velon, the company uniting the top 11 UCI World Tour Teams, together with a leading London based agency.

We looked for a brand name that would immediately resonate with cyclists, reflect the race format and work internationally.

All serious cyclists know what it is to be hammering down the road or when a rider drops the hammer and then goes all out. It reflects the impact racing style of the series and translates well across many languages.

Host City: How does the format of the event differ from other cycling competitions?

Julien Ternisien: Firstly, it is a team versus team format, rather than individual winners.  Although cycling is a team sport, normally an individual winner stands on the podium. For the Hammer Series it is the team standing on the podium.

The other important aspect is that it is short and action packed. It is two hours of racing per day over three days including the Hammer Climb, Hammer Sprint and Hammer Chase.

The Hammer Climb and Hammer Sprint are races in which riders will attempt to win points for their team. Fans are able to see the top riders in the world sprinting against each other on each lap – approximately 10 times – during the Hammer Climb and Sprint. 

Each team’s finishing positions from days one and two are combined to determine their starting place on day three’s Hammer Chase, a team pursuit against the clock with the leading team starting first and the other team chasing them.

Host City: Who is the rights holder to Hammer Series and what is Infront’s role in delivering the event?

Julien Ternisien: Velon Ltd and Infront are the rights holders of the series, partnering with local race organisers on the events.

Host City: The event is part of the UCI Europe tour - what is your relationship with the UCI and how do you help to further their aims?

Julien Ternisien: Both Infront and Velon have a strong relationship with the UCI and we see them as our partner in the development of the Hammer Series

We have engaged with the UCI from the outside and have worked closely with them on the development of the format and the regulations necessary to facilitate this new form of racing.

All Hammer races, as well as the series, are sanctioned by the UCI.

We believe the Hammer Series is a fantastic race series for the globalisation of cycling, which is a key objective of the UCI. This new format of short form, action packed racing offers a unique opportunity to introduce cycling to new cycling markets.

This article first appeared in the Summer issue of Host City magazine

People love sharing stories and personal experiences – events are exactly that. Events uniquely connect, inspire and amaze us. For over 25 years, Party Rent Group has provided the perfect setup for international events of all sorts and sizes as the event equipment provider of choice. And all of this is about much more than just putting out enough tables and chairs. It’s about the atmosphere that is created; it's about the perfect interplay of concept and equipment.

What started in 1992 with 200 glasses and plates, 50 beer tent fixtures, 200 padded chairs and one big vision has now become an international event equipment provider supplying all kinds of events in all kinds of sizes. Back in 2001, CEO Joris Bomers opted for the franchise model in order to enable constant strategic growth. Since then, the Group has grown to include 24 owner-led branches and over 850 employees. Outside of Germany, Party Rent Group is also active in France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Scandinavia, Austria and Switzerland.

A logistical network stretching across all of Europe

Thanks to its decentralised structure, the Group can be found in many important urban centres across Europe. As a result, it can support and equip events at any time – locally, reliably and very flexibly. Its very high stock levels mean it can even supply enough equipment for large events.

The event equipment provider’s portfolio includes everything needed for an event. Besides tables and chairs, this also includes decorations; lounge and bar furniture; barstools; china; cutlery; glasses; counter and buffet systems; serving, table and buffet accessories; stages and presenting equipment; kitchen equipment; and heating and cooling systems.

However, Party Rent Group’s services also include much more than just supplying and delivering equipment. Party Rent helps its customers from the very beginning right through the event-planning process. Together with the event hosts, room concepts are developed for the event, with presentations visualised through CAD drawings and 3D renders. Experienced in-house staff can also help with the practical setup and disassembly.

High design standards

Thanks to its breadth and depth of stock, Party Rent Group is able to support all kinds of events and so offers maximum bandwidth. As well as cost-effective rented furniture for large-scale use, the Group can also supply numerous kinds of designer furniture to meet the highest standards – even in very high volumes. In order to meet its own high standards for design, the Group works closely with well-known designers and manufacturers. Party Rent Group also has its own in-house design team which regularly develops its own creations, custom-tailored for the events sector.

Together with manufacturers, the Group also makes special adjustments to many different kinds of furniture to make it fit for use at events. As a result, all of the furniture in its product range can be stored and deployed in a way that makes economic sense. Among other things, the Group also develops solutions for linking together rows of chairs at conferences. Special chair covers also protect designer furniture through transport and storage, making a decisive difference in quality assurance.

Martin Stemerdink, COO, Party Rent is speaking at Host City 2018

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord has officially opened its doors for organisations involved in the business of sport to book exhibition space at its Gold Coast edition of SportAccord set to take place from 5 – 10 May 2019.
SportAccord will take place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre with over 1,500 delegates expected to attend.
The event offers a unique and exclusive networking environment for organisations involved in the business of sport. It is the only annual event of its kind where all international sports federations are present with over 90% of the delegation comprising the key decision-makers in sport.
Outlining some of the principal benefits of becoming an Exhibitor and Silver Partner of SportAccord, Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “SportAccord is an extremely valuable event for EventScotland and for the Scottish events industry as a whole as it provides us with the opportunity to showcase our capability and capacity as a host of major international events. 
“Scotland’s world-class portfolio of international events wouldn’t be possible without SportAccord as over the years it has allowed us to foster strong relationships with the governing bodies and industry professionals who attend. Just recently we secured the hosting rights to the Sprint World Orienteering Championships 2022, which came as a direct result from a meeting with the International Orienteering Federation at SportAccord in 2017. It is these results that ensures our annual attendance at SportAccord and why we choose to be a Silver Partner of the event.”   
Previous editions of SportAccord have demonstrated why many organisations choose to invest as an exhibitor:
•    Year-on-year exhibition booths are a runaway success and sell-out early
•    Over 40% of exhibitors are cities and regions 
•    Last year’s new exhibition layout proved so popular in driving delegate traffic throughout the exhibition hall, it will be repeated with additional enhancements for SportAccord 2019
•    The stunning exhibition hall will host three feature zones providing excellent networking facilities for delegates
•    The ever-popular SportAccord Café at the heart of the exhibition hall, where delegate luncheons are also served, will be bigger than ever 
•    A Speaker Hub within the exhibition space – a new feature for Gold Coast – will give delegates the opportunity to interact with speakers post conference sessions
•    Delegates will pass through the exhibition hall to access conference rooms located on the same level
Entry-level booths for SportAccord will start at 6m² and include 3 delegate passes (increasing with booth size), graphics, TV, furniture, information counter, Wi-Fi, power, lights and carpet. Visit the website to view the SportAccord exhibition interactive floor plan.
 

[Source: SportAccord] Blockchain expert Oliver T Bussmann, CEO and Founder of Bussmann Advisory AG will deliver this year’s Keynote for the International Federation (IF) Forum due to take place from 5 – 7 November 2018 at the Hotel Royal Savoy in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The theme for the 12^th edition of the IF Forum organised by SportAccord is entitled: Open Doors and Open Minds – New Tools for IFs. Delegates representing more than 100 international sports federations, associates and observer members from the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) will benefit from the insights shared by leading experts on subject matter such as cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

Keynote speaker, Oliver Bussmann, also President of Crypto Valley Association and Former Group Chief Information Officer for UBS and SAP commented:

“Blockchain technology is a game changer and holds many possibilities for the world of sport. Entrepreneurs and industry leaders alike have started to explore potential use cases, looking into opportunities to crowdfund athletes with potential, track athlete performance and ways to boost fan engagement.”

In his keynote, Bussmann will share a brief introduction to blockchain technology and market trends, and highlight the potential for blockchain in sport with case study examples.

Further IF Forum conference and panel sessions will cover:

• The ever-changing global landscape and its impact on sport
• 5G in live sports broadcasting: how 5G technologies are expected to transform production and distribution
• Event/Ticketing Pricing - Marketplace Trends and Success Stories
• AI, Robotics, Facial Recognition - Changing how events are delivered and who helps deliver them!

The IF Forum provides a platform for international sports federations (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. This year’s industry partners are Eurosport, Guadalajara, JLT, Sports Nevada USA and Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Deportivo.

The IF Forum also receives the support of longstanding Host City Partners Lausanne and the Canton de Vaud, as well as the International Olympic Committee.

The final day of the IF Forum will include an eSports Workshop hosted by GAISF and the International Olympic Committee. For further details on the IF Forum visit: https://www.sportaccord.sport/if-forum