[Source: Glasgow 2018] Already an Official Timing, Scoring and Results (TSR) Provider and Proud Supporter of the Championships, Atos will also help deliver a robust digital presence for the event following a competitive tendering process.

Atos will be working in partnership with Edinburgh-based agency Signal to design and develop the Glasgow 2018 and European Championships websites.

Atos will also be responsible for processing and distributing live results for all seven sports across Glasgow and Berlin and delivering live schedule and results pages to help sports fans and attendees access up-to-date information on the Championships.

A 2018 European Championships mobile application will also be created. Available from summer 2018, the ‘app’ will give fans access to medal tables, news and live schedules and results.

Atos and Signal previously combined their expertise and experience to ensure the digital success of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

To be staged every four years, the European Championships will combine the existing European Championships of Aquatics, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon, along with a new Golf Team Championships and Athletics staged in Berlin.

Glasgow 2018 Championships Director Colin Hartley, said: “There are now less than 200 days to go until the biggest sporting event since the Commonwealth Games comes to Glasgow, and Scotland. The first ever European Championships will be a new highlight in the global events calendar.

“Atos has an established track record in delivering digital services to large scale multi-sport events. The integrated online platforms they produce will allow people to keep up to date with the latest action and engage with the Championships, ensuring we deliver a must attend, must watch event.”

Gavin Thomson, Senior Vice President for Big Data and Security UK&I, Scotland, Ireland and Wales at Atos, said: “We are delighted to play a leading role in delivering the 2018 European Championships, having successfully provided leading edge IT solutions for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games for over 20 years.

“We warmly welcome the opportunity to be part of this new global sporting event and the digital transformation challenge of bringing the Championships to a multi-platform, digital-first worldwide audience. Our bespoke real-time service will enable fans to keep up to date with scores and results from anywhere in the world.”

As part of the inaugural European Championships in 2018 around 3,000 athletes will visit Scotland for six events - Aquatics, Cycling, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon – while a further 1,500 athletes will compete in Berlin as part of the European Athletics Championships.

Attendances of up to 250,000 are expected at venues across Glasgow and Scotland, with a potential TV audience of up to 1.03billion.

[Source: SportAccord] Attended by international sports federations, cities/regions as well as organising committees, the World Sport & Business Summit attracts delegates across the sports business community at the highest levels.

This year’s SportAccord Bronze Partners include:

• Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance: Canada offers a variety of world-class facilities, is host to three Olympic Games and hundreds of international and continental sporting events
• FIBA (International Basketball Federation): the world governing body for basketball - 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)
• Finnish Olympic Committee: Finnish host cities have a wealth of experience in hosting international sport events and congresses with more than 20 major international sporting events organised in Finland annually
• Melbourne - Visit Victoria: Victoria’s tourism and events company, responsible for tourism marketing and event attraction

Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said, “It’s a great pleasure to welcome back these Bronze Partners who were with us in Aarhus, Denmark last year. Their continued support and presence brings more opportunities to delegates and confirms the value these partnerships bring by being part of SportAccord. We appreciate their commitment and loyalty and wish them a successful time in Bangkok.”

With over 135 cities/regions in attendance at last year’s event, the SportAccord 6-day Summit is a unique opportunity for delegates to network and get in front of the key decision-makers involved in the business of sport by registering at www.sportaccord.com.

Organisations looking for opportunities to increase their visibility at this prestigious global gathering and take advantage of the opportunities associated with becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, should contact the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 (0)79 126 08 42.

As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord will host well over 20 networking events, a 3-day Exhibition as well as an extensive Conference programme to include: the Summit (Plenary), CityAccord, LawAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord.

Other key features include: Speakers’ Corner, the Thai Pavilion, the Opening Ceremony and Closing Event.

[Source: SportAccord Convention] SportAccord will be held from 15 – 20 April 2018 at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre, Thailand.

“We have an amazing SportAccord lined up for 2018, across the conference, the exhibition and the many programmes and events that comprise SportAccord, said Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord.

“Attendees will have the opportunity to experience many new elements this year, most notably the new HealthAccord conference stream, additional events, hospitality and networking areas, as well as the unique Thai Pavilion. We’re looking forward to hosting the most prestigious annual sports business event for sport and industry, towards creating a better future for the global sports community and citizens worldwide.”

This year’s SportAccord Summit (Plenary) is focused on "Uniting A Global Audience: Marketing and Sponsorship for the Future." Continuing the theme of ‘sponsorship and marketing’ throughout the conference programme, speakers will be representing organisations across the entire sports business landscape including industry, international sports federations, cities and regions, as well as legal and medical experts. Confirmed speakers include:

• Weerasak Kowsurat, Minister, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand
• Adolfo Bara, Managing Director Sales & Marketing, La Liga
• Caroline Baxter Tresise, International Consultant, Social and Human Resources, UNESCO
• Charmaine Crooks C.M. Olympic Medalist, President, NGU Consultants
• Craig Howe, CEO & Founder, Rebel Ventures
• David Eades, Journalist and Anchor, BBC World
• David Simon, President, Los Angeles Sports Council
• Frederique Reynertz, Director of Legal and Business Affairs Department, IAAF
• Giles D. Morgan, Independent Advisor and Former Global Head of Sponsorship & Events, HSBC Holdings PLC
• Guy Port, Managing Director Asia, Nielsen Sports
• Hayden Opie, Senior Fellow (Melbourne Law Masters), University of Melbourne
• James Pearce, Sports Broadcaster, BBC
• Jeff Benz, CEDS, JAMS Mediator and Arbitrator and former General Counsel of the United States Olympic Committee
• Kim Andersen, President, World Sailing
• Laurie Cavan, GM Parks, Recreation & Culture, City of Surrey, BC, Canada
• Margo Mountjoy, Chair, ASOIF Medical + Scientific Consultative Group, IOC Medical + Scientific Commission-Games Group FINA Bureau
• Matteo Vitello, Business Relations Manager, Technogym SPA
• Matthieu Reeb, Secretary General, Court of Arbitration for Sport
• Melanie Duparc, Coordinator, Smart Cities & Sport
• Michael Lenard, Vice President, ICAS
• Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, President, FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine) & Member of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission – Medical and Scientific Group
• Stephen Townley, Chairman, Active Rights Management Ltd
• Thomas Lund, Secretary General, Badminton World Federation
• Troy Pugmire, Managing Director, Gramercy Global Media

The SportAccord 2018 conference programme comprises five key streams including: The Summit, CityAccord, LawAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord. The conference programme, exhibition, networking and cultural events can be attended by delegates who register at www.sportaccord.com.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #sportaccord, as well as LinkedIn and on Facebook.

[Source: Aggreko] The new company starts trading immediately as Shanghai Yude AggrekoEnergy Equipment Rental Co Ltd. The move is part of Aggreko’s long-term strategy to grow its business in China with an experienced and respected local partner.
Aggreko takes 21.5 percent equity in the new company and operations will be managed by Shanghai Yude in line with Aggreko’s class-leading standards and procedures. 
Aggreko is the global leader in mobile, modular power and heating and cooling, and will initially provide diesel generators and associated range of ancillaries to supplement Shanghai Yude existing power equipment and UPS rental business.
“This mutually beneficial partnership with Shanghai Yude means we can bring reliable power and joint expertise to a rapidly growing market,” said Stephen Beynon, Managing Director, Aggreko Power Solutions.
“The UK and China have strong commercial ties that go way back, and we are delighted to be able to work with a local partner that has extensive local experience and expertise. We look forward to continuing to provide reliable, uninterrupted and cost-effective power to China in collaboration with a company that shares our values of making a difference and supporting growth in communities and industries across the globe.”
Yude was established in Shanghai in 2005 and has 45 employees. The company currently has more than 40 MW of power generation capacity and supports local industries, including events and construction. Aggreko is based in UK and has more than 7,300 employees globally. It has been operating in China since 2008, and has a depot, and offices in Shanghai, which will be one of two facilities supporting the new company.
China currently is the world’s largest producer and consumer of electrical power.
The Yude Aggreko joint venture will initially provide power generation equipment in Shanghai, with scope to provide loadbank equipment and services as demand increases.
 

Host City: what role can China’s cities play in terms of getting citizens involved in sport?

Yang Yang: In cities, they are encouraging people to participate in sports. After Beijing won the bid, the education bureau from Beijing launched the policy encouraging every student to participate in one snow sport or ice sport. That has become a very major programme in the education system.

I live in Shanghai, so I have my skating club and I work with 26 schools. Through this programme their P.E. classes come from Monday to Friday in the morning and afternoon, at which time the club would otherwise be nearly empty. Since Beijing won the bid, that’s the way we are reaching the goal of 300 million people in China to participate.

Host City: How important is sports infrastructure in China reaching this goal?

Yang Yang: It’s very important that we need infrastructure; we need to build ice rinks, we need to build snow venues, which is on the way.

I was involved in the bidding committee. At that time, we barely found 13 rinks in Beijing, even including small ones. But now the number is going to be 72 in the next three years. I believe there will one day be more than a hundred rinks in Beijing.

Host City: And is the number of Championship events increasing in China?

As the host city of the 2022 Olympic Games we will have lots of test events, starting from 2020. Then all kind of winter sports will come to China before the Games. Of course, we also have some traditional events. For example, we have hosted the short track World Cup for 17 years in China – in Harbin and Changchun – and the last five to seven years in Shanghai. We have a Cup of China Figure Skating Grand Prix hosted every year in Beijing as well.

On top of that the new sports are also coming as well.

Host City: As an Olympic medallist, what do you think Beijing 2022 will do to develop your sport?

Yang Yang: China has so far won nine gold medals in short speed skating, but this is not enough. We hope Beijing 2022 is an opportunity to increase our standing.

Beijing 2022 is a great foundation for sports development in China that is market oriented.

This interview took place at WWSE and first appeared in the Winter 2017 edition of Host City magazine

Host City: Volleyball is extremely popular internationally – but where in the world is it the most popular?

Mario Medeiros: Both volleyball and beach volleyball have huge appeal in nations all over the world, including China, USA, Brazil, Russia, Japan, Poland, Thailand, Italy, Turkey, Germany, France and many others. If we talk about China, for example, the women’s national volleyball team are current Olympic champions. During the final at Rio 2016, between China and Serbia, China’s main TV channel, CCTV, recorded one of its highest-ever viewer ratings for an Olympic Games event. The IOC data report on the Games also proves volleyball’s popularity in China, noting that more than one billion viewer hours of the total recorded for volleyball at Rio 2016 came from China. And to further highlight the overall popularity of indoor and beach volleyball worldwide, I am happy to confirm that volleyball (indoor and beach combined) was the most popular sport at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in terms of the accumulated number of viewer hours, reaching more than 2.6 billion hours. This figure is equivalent to every single person in the world (approximately 7.5 billion people) watching 20 minutes of volleyball. This is a huge number! 

But the popularity of our competitions goes well beyond the Olympic Games. At the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Vienna this summer, the stadium was packed every day, where a total of 170,000 spectators came to enjoy the high-class beach volleyball experience. We are also proud of our annual events, for example this year’s World League Group 1 Finals were in Curitiba, Brazil – the home of volleyball – where more than 23,000 fans filled the Arena da Baixada football stadium, which hosted matches during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Volleyball is one of the most-practiced sports in schools and universities in some of our key markets, such as the USA and China. It provides solid values of team spirit and discipline which reflects the professional development and education of each individual in life. At the same time volleyball is a non-contact sport that could be played in different environments by people of different ages. This all contributes to its global popularity.

Host City: Where do you see the greatest opportunity for future growth and commercial potential?

Mario Medeiros: Part of what is so exciting for us at the FIVB is that while we have grown significantly over recent years we know there is so much potential for further growth all around the world. In terms of individual countries with huge potential, I would point to China and the USA. Both countries have been responding positively to the new momentum of the FIVB, as we build on our current successes and look to the future with the creation of the New Volleyball League – the new annual competition that we plan to launch next year. Both countries are not only at the top of the world GDP rankings but have strong volleyball teams which we expect to challenge for titles in the future.

The creation of the New Volleyball League is part of the leadership plan formulated by FIVB President, Dr Ary S. Graça. The plan focuses around the Nucleus Project, the aim of which is to concentrate our vision and investment on the key markets around the world, according to GDP rankings. We believe that these nations are crucial to raising the relevance of volleyball around the world, which will then in turn help smaller volleyball nations through greater funding and opportunities for hosting. 

Host City: What formats of the sport are creating the highest level of interest?

Mario Medeiros: Of course, each country and National Federation within the FIVB Family has different interests and goals to achieve but we have been pleased to see great interest from our key stakeholders in the New Volleyball League. With this event, we plan to revolutionise our annual national team competitions. The new event will be composed of a two-tier league: The New Volleyball League, made up of 12 core permanent teams and four challenger teams, as well as a secondary Challenger League.

Participating teams, selected according to a number of criteria including their technical seeding and commercial potential, will play against one another in a round robin format. The New Volleyball League and the Challenger League will feature a promotion and relegation system ensuring volleyball remains one of the most competitive sports in the world for both genders.

The FIVB for the first time, together with IMG, will regulate content production and distribution to guarantee the highest quality and consistency of the output fans around the world will consume from its events throughout the season. The FIVB will also highlight world class performances from teams and individuals throughout the season.

Host City: How important was the introduction of beach volleyball into the Olympic programme to widening the appeal of volleyball?

Mario Medeiros: The introduction of beach volleyball into the Olympic programme was a historic turning point for our sport and the Olympic Games. Beach volleyball was introduced in 1996, during the Atlanta Games, and brought to the Olympic Movement a new format of competition, with speed, fashion, fan engagement and sport entertainment. Of course, the initial decision, taken by the IOC Executive Board in September 1993, to include beach volleyball on the Olympic programme provided the opportunity for beach volleyball athletes to pursue their dream of becoming Olympians and, ultimately, Olympic Champions.

If we look at the numbers from the IOC’s data report regarding the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 99.9% of all the tickets available for beach volleyball were sold – that number speaks for itself. The great sporting action, spectacular sea front setting and amazing technology and sport presentation created the perfect beach party atmosphere and established beach volleyball as one of the most in-demand sports at Rio 2016.

The FIVB has a great relationship with the International Olympic Committee, and President Thomas Bach attended this year’s FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Vienna. He was amazed by the atmosphere created by athletes and audience, with the help of cutting-edge technology and sports presentation.

Host City: Asian cities have hosted several FIVB events recently. How would you describe these experiences and what are your expectations of future events in Asia?

Mario Medeiros: Hosting events in Asia is spectacular for the FIVB. We have a strong fan base on the continent, with impressive ticket sales resulting in packed stadiums and cheering crowds for the FIVB’s most prestigious events, as well as high exposure for our sponsors and relevant TV partners across Asia.

In August, Nanjing, China hosted the FIVB 2017 Women’s World Grand Prix Group 1 Finals, with six teams showcasing world-class performances over five days of competition. The organization also involved around 2,000 staff and 312 volunteers, but it was a fantastic spectacle. We enjoyed enormous success in ticketing and merchandise sales, but also saw great results in terms of media coverage and TV ratings, as CCTV5 reported consistently high viewing figures on the nationwide-broadcasted matches. Six out of the top ten highest rated shows broadcast on this network during the entire period of the FIVB 2017 Women’s World Grand Prix Group 1 Finals were volleyball matches, including the number one broadcast programme.

The FIVB continues to invest in technology, innovation and sports presentation. We have introduced the Challenge system as we believe that the match should be decided by athletes and not the referees. The system was introduced to the Olympic Games in 2016 and we had more than 30% successful challenges in both indoor and beach volleyball. With just one point being able to change the podium, the Challenge System brings more credibility and fairness to our sport.

The FIVB’s new standard for sports presentation moves fan entertainment to engagement, establishing the narrative of the game, as well as educating and engaging the audience. With the help of the extensive sports presentation team, composed of DJs, MCs, announcers, lighting technicians, producers, giant screen operators and others, we would like the audience to celebrate the game with some truly sensory experience through sound effects, loud music, big screens and lights.

We also want fans to be physically active in the way they celebrate the great moments of the game. We want fans to imitate volleyball actions, like the block or the spike. That’s an important message: move your body and be healthy.

Asian countries like China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand have been supporting these introductions and are delivering great events with new features in place. A volleyball match has become more than just a game. It has become a show, with spectators being active game participants, like actors on the stage. Therefore, the goal of the FIVB is to work together with the National Federations to deliver successful events across Asia and get fans more involved in sports, educating them throughout the match and ensuring they take home fantastic memories.

This interview was first published in the Winter 2017 edition of Host City magazine.

In the months since Rio hosted the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, we have seen sport’s international governing bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee, FIFA or UEFA, take some important first steps. Indeed, all three of these governing bodies, as well as the Commonwealth Games Federation, have made progress on the path of integrating Human Rights as a due consideration when rolling out their processes, in particular in connection with mega sporting events.

For example, EURO 2024, the Paris 2024 Olympics and the 2026 World Cup are all events in which framing documents (such as bidding criteria or host city contracts) must now include an explicit reference to the responsibility of organisers to respect human rights, whilst setting up and delivering the event. Terre des Hommes and its Children Win campaign have worked in coalition with other key civil society organisations to get the sport governing bodies to engage in taking these first steps.

What do we mean by incorporating human rights into the planning and delivery of mega sporting events? Well, this should imply that when constructing sports infrastructure for the event, workers are duly paid, have decent working schedules and conditions. It should imply that supply chains are free from child labour. Or, when communities and families are evicted and moved to a new location to make way for sporting facilities, that the process should not violate child rights – for example, by ensuring proper access to schools and health centres in the new location.

It is important to understand that the prevention of human rights and child rights violations, as well as respect of anti-corruption standards, are both key elements when considering the social components of ‘sustainability’. Usually understood in the context of its economic and environmental aspects, social sustainability has begun to gather momentum and importance over the last two years when debating the ‘sustainability’ of sporting events.

Take a moment to reflect on this. If an event lasting three or four weeks has life-changing consequences for many thousands of people, surely it should be organised in a way that reduces the negative impact to the minimum.

Therefore these changes on paper, in the documents I have described previously, are vitally important – but, let us be clear, they only constitute the start of the journey. And, one could add, the easiest part of it.

To have the desired positive impact on the ground, for the affected groups such as workers, children or communities, the new provision in contracts and bidding documents needs to be translated into concrete decisions aiming at identifying the risks in terms of human and child rights, at taking the necessary measures to mitigate such risks, and finally ensuring that victims of potential violations get proper reparation. Stakeholders involved in the organisation of mega sporting events are certainly familiar with such processes of risk assessment and management. What many actors are now requesting from sport governing bodies is that these should be applied in the area of the stakeholders’ responsibility to respect human rights.

We must engage in dialogue with the governing bodies at a global level in order to bring about these changes. As already mentioned, this is producing results. However, this strategy must be complemented at a national and local level in order to be truly effective. Indeed, it is the host cities and/or the national sport organisations who make the decisions that really change the lives of people impacted by mega sporting events. Thus, having host cities sensitised to the importance of human rights and anti-corruption should be non-negotiable when seeking the effective implementation of such a framework.

Processes at ground level have already started. The involvement of stakeholders including communities or trade unions are, for example, foreseen in the frame of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The same applies in the preparation of the bid for Euro 2024, where cities hosting matches will be required to take into account the new human rights requirements – including labour and child rights – designed by UEFA in its bidding documents of May 2017.

It is important that the work at global level is reinforced by implementing strategies at national and local level. Initiatives at both levels should be mutually supporting each other.

The implementation of human rights due diligence by organisers of mega sporting events in particular – and the world of sports in general – is now at an important crossroads. Sport governing bodies have to show that all this is not only about having good intentions and nice words on paper but also thoughtful, concrete and accountable ways of implementation.

For this reason, there still needs to be a reality check. Local stakeholders such as host cities, national sports federations or impacted communities have an important role to play to make the commitment to human rights due diligence become a reality.

This article was written by Terre des Hommes for the Winter 2017 edition of Host City magazine

The SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit for sporting leaders today confirmed its new brand name ‘SportAccord’ and unveiled a vibrant new logo. Following in the footsteps of SportAccord, the International Federation (IF) Forum also shared its refreshing new logo, proudly displaying its stylish new colours in similar fashion.

SportAccord and the IF Forum are now part of the renamed legal entity ‘GAISF Services and Events Association’ formerly known as SportAccord Convention. The alignment of names and the new visual identity provides the opportunity to set the scene for future activities of GAISF Services and Events Association. The new structure creates a platform which will continue to serve the needs of the global sports community, the international sports federations and their stakeholders while embracing and creating exciting new opportunities.

SportAccord stakeholders include: GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations), ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations), and AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations).

 SportAccord and GAISF President Patrick Baumann said: “The new brand identity represents an exciting time for SportAccord and one of opportunity – as the name reflects our organisation’s heritage while allowing for a fresh vibrant look that symbolises its bright future.”

The new logo design was created by José Miguel Tortajada Aguilar, an international award-winning Barcelona designer whose accolades were achieved as a result of his work for many well-known brands.

His colourful and striking design complements the logo created for GAISF and makes a powerful impact – the prime purpose of any logo. Designer José Miguel Tortajada Aguilar explained his aim was to create a design which is memorable and practical, ensuring the logo is fit for purpose across any medium or platform. Delegates can look forward to experiencing the new visual identity at the upcoming SportAccord 2018 taking place in Bangkok (15-20 April 2018).

[Source: SportAccord Convention] With twelve weeks until the SportAccord Convention takes place at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre, Thailand from 15 – 20 April 2018, 77% of exhibition floor space has already been snapped up for the upcoming event. The only annual sports business convention where all the international sport federations (IFs) are guaranteed to attend. Exhibitors include international sport federations, organising committees, cities and regions and make up over seventy-five percent of total exhibitors providing organisations involved in the business of sport ample opportunity to connect with these industries.

Joining SportAccord Convention 2018 as an exhibitor for the seventh time, Andrew Gettig, VP of International - Connor Sport Court said, “It is important for us to continue the momentum gained in Aarhus and previous editions, and position our company at the heart of the SportAccord Convention. We truly believe in its value and see the Convention as a unique platform that allows us to connect with the leaders of Olympic and non-Olympic sport movement, organising committees and host cities in one easy to navigate place.”

International sport federations, cities, and businesses interested in attending can book an exhibition booth online or discuss their requirements and options with the sales team.

The venue layout for SportAccord Convention 2018 has been designed to optimise networking opportunities for both exhibitors and delegates with access to the conference auditorium and official meeting rooms via the exhibition area which are all on one level. Exhibitors will also have access to the SAC networking mobile app to contact delegates, arrange meetings, and keep up-to-date with the latest news at the SportAccord Convention.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention said, “The SportAccord Convention prides itself on providing an event that meets the needs of our partners, exhibitors, and delegates. This year’s exhibition promises to deliver that with dynamic feature area zones, a larger SAC Café including the Speakers Corner and an easy to access conference auditorium, only minutes away from the exhibition.”

The exhibition area will feature an all-new ‘Relaxing Zone’ for delegates which will incorporate a surprise element guaranteed to rejuvenate delegates. In addition, the exhibition area will also provide a touch of Thai culture with its special ‘Thai Pavilion’ which will include a variety of local Thai attractions.

Hatt went on to say: “Combine this opportunity to connect with sporting business leaders and the optimised exhibition layout, I am not surprised that our community has once again embraced the SportAccord Convention and that over 2/3’s of the exhibition floor space is already reserved.”

‘Enhanced’ booths remain the ‘go-to’ booth for SportAccord Convention with a variety of sizes and configurations still available. Entry-level booths will start at 6m² and include 4 delegate passes (increasing with booth size), graphics, TV, chairs, table, information counter, Wi-Fi, power, lights and carpet).

Registration for SportAccord Convention 2018 is in full-swing and organisations are encouraged to secure their delegate passes at CHF 2,500. Many delegates and organisations have already committed to attend the SportAccord Convention 2018 and passes are selling out.

The SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit provides a unique platform for leaders from international federations, cities, and industry to meet and discuss the business of sport. The annual 6-day summit also includes an extensive Conference programme and is host to all the Stakeholder General Assemblies attended by their Members. The SportAccord Convention also offers many other social and networking opportunities as part of its Official Schedule.

I have the pleasure of welcoming you all to my host city for the third time – and seeing how this event has developed and grown over the years.

The overall theme for this year is "High impact events in the current climate" and there are a number of very qualified people to speak about this today and tomorrow – not least my colleagues from the International Olympic Committee in the first two panels.

The recent change by the IOC to award two summer Olympic Games at the same time to Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028 certainly covers the phrase "High Impact Events" – and you will hear from two absolute experts in that decision – Patrick Baumann who chaired the IOC Evaluation Commission and Christophe Dubi, the Olympic Games Executive Director. You will also hear from David Grevemberg, who ran the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

I used to know what I thought was a lot about the IOC bidding process, having served on three Evaluation and two Coordination Commissions – and then bidding twice with Manchester and once with London as we tried to convince the IOC of the joys of our case – and thankfully, one of these efforts worked.

I have been increasingly concerned that the IOC bidding process seems to be directed at how the process can be made shorter, cheaper and more accommodating. Perhaps we should also be prepared to speak out rather more about the huge benefits of hosting the Games that can be delivered by a well organised combination of political, organisational and sporting skills.

I am not going to repeat the huge benefits from London 2012 – and echoed in many ways by the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – where the development of village, infrastructure and sports facilities provide legacy benefits for generations to come. But I was hugely encouraged by a recent report from the Mayor of London in October to the effect that East London – the home of the 2012 Games – is the fastest growing part of London as the "Olympic effect" continues to attract jobs and investment. This report reveals that an extra 110,000 jobs have been created in East London since the Games, more than three times the number forecast in 2012. This boom is expected to continue with an additional 125,000 jobs across the six Olympic Boroughs by 2030.

This can only be described as high impact and I can only hope that any city or National Olympic Committee thinking of entering the Olympic Bidding race might well look at the London experience, as well as making full use of the revised IOC candidature process to fit the Games into their own long-term planning. Glasgow also has a terrific record of bidding for and organising individual World and European Championships – perhaps most recently World Badminton and World Gymnastics, the best presentation of indoor sport I have ever seen.

You will all have the opportunity to study the context of this debate over the next day and a half with panels and discussions on practically every aspect – the size of the city, safety, technology, entertainment and many others. It should be interesting in the extreme and I am sure that Glasgow will be listening and paying full attention. And Glasgow should, because Host City is set to come back to Glasgow in 2018 – and expect even more interest and attendance than this year which is the best attended yet.

Welcome back and enjoy.

This article is edited from Sir Craig Reedie OBE’s opening address to Host City 2017 in Glasgow on 28^th November 2017