For the first time, Tokyo last week welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission, which found that the city was on the right path towards hosting an excellent Olympic Games in 2020. 

“The Organising Committee and its government partners have got off to a quick start and are putting in place solid foundations for the next six years of preparations,” said John Coates, the chairman the body of experts tasked with assessing and facilitating the city’s progress. 

“We are very pleased with Tokyo 2020’s progress under the leadership of President Yoshiro Mori.”

In addition to chairing the Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020, Coates is on the Coordination Commission for Rio 2016. His praise of Tokyo 2020 is in direct contrast with the concerns he raised over Rio 2016 in recent months. 

Where delays have been described as “critical” in Rio, Tokyo is off to a “quick start”. And while Rio 2016 has been criticised for poor communication between different levels of government, Tokyo 2020 has benefited from good coordination within government.

“The close cooperation of all levels of government with Tokyo 2020 was clearly felt by the Commission, particularly following our meeting with Prime Minister Abe and with Governor Masuzoe’s participation in the visit,” said Coates. 

“Their support for the Games, as well as the support of many high-profile Japanese personalities through the Tokyo 2020 Advisory Meeting, are greatly appreciated, and will stand the 2020 Games in good stead. Their commitment underlines that Tokyo 2020 is for all Japan, and is encouraging Japanese everywhere to get behind these Games and see how they can engage in helping Tokyo to welcome the world in 2020.”

Yoshiro Mori, President of Tokyo 2020 said “Even though our team consists of members of the sporting community, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the national government and various related organisations, I was able to gain a real sense that all members of the Organising Committee were pulling together in the same direction as a truly integrated unit. Over the next six years, the members of the Coordination Commission and the Organising Committee will work together as a united team, all sailing in the same boat towards a shared objective, and I believe we have got off to an excellent start.

“However, the members of the Commission did point out one or two things that need addressing. We will of course be incorporating all the advice we received into our preparations for the Games at the earliest opportunity.”

Venue review

The Commission visited many venues in the “Bay Zone” including the Velodrome, Gymnastic Centre, Tennis Park, Olympic Village, Tokyo Big Sight, Aquatics Centre, Wakasu Olympic Arena and Sea Forest venues. Twelve of Tokyo 2020’s venues are already existing, including four originally built for the 1964 Olympic Games. 

The visit took place at a time when Tokyo 2020 has been reviewing the venue plans outlined in its bid, amid widespread speculation about the implications of this review. This review was sparked by the observations of the IOC Evaluation Commission, which monitored the city’s bid for the Games. 

In a statement, the IOC said “The review will not affect the core principles of the bid. The objective is to refine the legacy and operational assumptions of Tokyo’s plans. The Tokyo organisers are looking to ensure that their Games leave a sustainable long-term legacy to the host city and its citizens. The review is being carried out in cooperation with all the key national and international stakeholders.

“The legacy vision and objectives are consistent with discussions around Olympic Agenda 2020, a process that will provide an ambitious strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.”

Mori said “With regard to the review of our venue plan, I informed the Coordination Commission that, based on such aspects as the kind of legacy we will leave, the impact of the Games on the lives of Tokyo residents and the cost of construction and maintenance of the venues, the Organising Committee will examine all issues closely and collaborate with the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and both domestic and international sports federations, to ensure the success of the Games.”

The official Overlay and Temporary Structures Provider to Glasgow 2014 has revealed that it is working closely with the Organising Committee to design and install more than 230 structures covering an area exceeding 20,800 m2.

As Glasgow 2014’s Exclusive Temporary Seating Provider, the Arena Seating team has been tasked with delivering every single temporary seat at the Games, around 22,000 in total across 10 venues. The seating team will also be installing camera platforms, wheelchair access platforms, press positions and commentator platforms.

Dave Withey, sales and marketing director, Arena UK & Europe, said “We’ve been collaborating closely with the Glasgow 2014 overlay team to design temporary solutions which make the most of each venue, providing the space and infrastructure they require, without permanent construction.”

The temporary infrastructure project that will be finished first is the official merchandise shop in a Glasgow City Centre location. Arena Group will start building this at the beginning of June.

At the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Arena Group will be supplementing the existing 2,000 seats within the venue with an additional 1,700.  Arena Group will face the challenge of creating perfect sight lines for a challenging sloped field of play, using its trademark "clearview" system.

Contours will also be a challenge at the new Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike Trails venue, where Arena Group will be providing VIP seating at the finish line and structures for athletes, officials and security, all designed to fit against the slopes of Cathkin Braes and provide stunning views of the city. 

The clearview system will also be deployed at the Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre, where Arena Group will create a temporary seating stadium and Arena Structures will provide the press, sponsor, security and doping tents.

At the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre Precinct (SECC) Arena Group will work with the venue and Glasgow 2014 supplying the seats for Gymnastics, Boxing, Judo, Netball, Wrestling and Weightlifting/Powerlifting.

On the East coast, Arena Group is solely responsible for all temporary seating and structures at the Barry Buddon Shooting Range. Edinburgh’s Royal Commonwealth Pool, built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, will be kitted out with structures for the security, athletes and officials. 

Scotstoun Sports Campus will host both the Squash and Table Tennis competitions, with Arena Group providing structures to the venue and seating stands for the table tennis and existing squash courts.

Arena Group will also create temporary grandstands across three courts at the new Glasgow National Hockey Centre and provide grandstands and all supporting tentage for the triathlon events at Strathclyde Loch. 

For Glasgow’s Tollcross Swimming Pool, Arena Group has created a bespoke temporary seating system carefully designed to the fit the confines of the venue’s mezzanine level.

“We have a strong legacy of working within the city and neighbouring Edinburgh, and know many of the venues extremely well, such as the SECC where we have a relationship spanning over 20 years. This knowledge and experience has been extremely useful, enabling us to deliver designs quickly and to spec,” said Withey.

“These designs are now almost finalised and we’re looking forward to being back in Glasgow to start the installation. We’re one step closer to helping deliver one of the best Commonwealth Games in history.”

Manchester City Football Club announced on Monday that ground engineering work on the Etihad Stadium is to begin immediately, with Laing O’Rourke as the construction partner. 

The stadium, owned by Manchester City Council, was originally designed with 41,000 seats for the 2002 Commonwealth Games by ArupSport and built by Laing Construction. After the Games, the athletics track was removed and the seating reconfigured to 48,000 capacity for its tenants, Manchester City Football Club. 

The stadium has been redesigned by sport architecture specialists Populous. The phase of expansion that begins on the South Stand this week will see capacity rise to 54,000 by the summer of 2015.

After hosting matches in the Rugby World Cup, which takes place from 18 September to 31 October 2015, the venue’s North Stand is scheduled for expansion to bring total capacity to 60,000.

“Manchester City Football Club strives to provide its supporters and visiting fans with one of the best possible matchday experiences in the Premier League and European football,” said Tom Glick, Chief Commercial Officer for Manchester City FC. “The success of this is demonstrated by games being sold out and rising demand from supporters for more season tickets, matchday tickets and premium seating.

“Expanding the stadium allows us to grow that offering as we constantly work towards excellence for every supporter that visits the Etihad Stadium.”

Minimal disruption

Realising these ambitious plans through a packed event schedule will be a major challenge. "Our brief from MCFC sought to minimise disruption to supporters during the construction phase of the project," said Mike Trice, project director at Populous, the architectural firm overseeing the expansion. "Early engagement with Laing O'Rourke as MCFC's construction partner has allowed us to develop our strategy to limit disturbance to the fans and the ongoing stadium operation.

"Construction of the upper tier requires new columns to run through the existing structure and concourse areas.  The precise location of these columns was balanced against the size of plant that would be required to sink the foundation piles. Laing were able to quickly evaluate the space and program requirements and the availability of plant whilst we considered the spatial and layout implications.  Through coordination with Laing we have been able to use the same columns to provide temporary support for the existing roof, this will allow it to be kept in place whist the works proceed behind the scenes."

Laing O’Rourke, like Populous, worked on a number of venues for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Steve Coleby, Leader for Laing O’Rourke’s Construction UK business said: “Our team is known for delivering logistically complex engineering work, combining expertise from across the Laing O’Rourke Group and our specialist businesses.

“This, along with our use of the latest digital engineering technologies, will help us to deliver efficiently with minimal disruption during match days, concerts and other events hosted throughout the year.”

At the recent Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, the opening and closing ceremonies dazzled audiences around the world. Spectacular, theatrical and hugely sophisticated, they exemplified the fact that, although a competition may have several venues, the main stadium remains the focal point of every major event. But how can a stadium meet the huge technical demands of these events, and their capacity criteria, while still being able to adapt for a long-term legacy once the main event has finished?

The solution lies in the integration of the permanent and temporary. It’s only by including temporary structures and seating in the initial design that buildings gain the flexibility they need to adapt to a changing set of needs. In Sochi, for example, we incorporated temporary seating that will allow the Olympic Stadium to expand to accommodate the 45,000 seats required for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, before reducing to a final legacy capacity of 25,000 for the local football team.

Similarly, the Incheon Stadium, which will host the 2014 Asian Games, is a 70,000 seat stadium that will reduce to 30,000 seats, thanks to our design that has one permanent seating stand and three temporary ones, destined to become park landscaping for the city’s residents and visitors to enjoy once the temporary structures are removed.

This flexible approach has its roots in Populous’ design for Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, now the ANZ stadium, where an initial capacity of 110,000 seats was reduced to 83,000 after the Games by removing the end stands and reconfiguring the roof. By the London Olympics in 2012, our thinking had evolved to focus on design as a whole, rather than construction. We broke the Stadium down into its constituent parts to explore how a building could be planned from the outset to transform itself and be fit for a long-term legacy – and the result is a multi-purpose Stadium of 60,000 seats (reduced from an Olympic capacity of 80,000) that is capable of hosting IRB World Cup Rugby and Premier League football as well as concerts and other events.

Designing in this way has inherent challenges: namely, ensuring that at each stage of its evolution the building has architectural merit – during the event itself, when the focus of the world’s media is on the stadium; and afterwards, when visitors and residents must appreciate and use it as part of the city’s fabric. In addition, although the end goal of the design is the same – to reduce in scale after the main event – this can’t be achieved by a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Each stadium has unique requirements and these must be reflected in innovative design solutions.

At Populous, our understanding of a stadium’s cultural significance means that we’re constantly devising innovative ways to balance the cultural and technical needs of the main event with the social responsibility of designing buildings that have a long-term legacy. It’s a journey that, for us, began in Sydney in 2000 and will, we are sure, continue to challenge and fascinate far into this century and beyond.

This article was written by Populous principals Ben Vickery and Tom Jones

Delays and uncertainty over World Cup stadiums have motivated FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke to make a special visit to Rio de Janeiro  from 24 to 27 March, bringing an early end to a technical tour of host cities that began on Thursday 20 March.

“Any envisaged on-site host city visits will be rescheduled to the next tour planned for the end of April,” said FIFA in a statement. 

Concerned about overlay projects and three unfinished stadiums, Valcke is travelling to Rio de Janeiro for a series of meetings. The visit culminates in a board meeting of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and media briefing at the Maracana Stadium.

“This is the last occasion for the organizers to take stock of the operational preparations before the respective FIFA World Cup installations begin to be implemented in all 12 host cities,” said FIFA.

The LOC is currently taking FIFA’s technical experts on a tour of stadiums in Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Cuiaba, Manaus and Natal – the six venues that did not feature in last year’s Confederations Cup. The tour was due to conclude in Natal on 26th March after a visit to Manaus on 24th March, but these two site visits now look set to be postponed to April.

“This inspection tour will be fundamental to consolidate operational plans and for each area to confirm the operations they have planned over the last few years,” said LOC Stadiums Operations Manager Tiago Paes.

The tour involves LOC and FIFA representatives from the areas of competition, press operations, broadcasting, protocol, communications, IT, spectator services, security, medical services, transport, catering, volunteers, hospitality and stadiums operations.

FIFA had originally requested that all venues be finished by December 2013, but three remain under construction. Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo and Curitiba's Arena da Baixada are now unlikely to be finished until the middle of May – just a month before the opening match in Sao Paulo. Cuaiba’s Arena Pantanal is due to open in April. 

The pitch at Manaus is also undergoing emergency repairs after the turf was damaged by excessive use of fertilizer. Manaus hosts England and Italy’s first World Cup fixture.

Valcke has reportedly voiced concerns about responsibility for temporary infrastructure. Local newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo said Valcke is concerned that some cities are refusing to pay for temporary items such as security equipment and temporary structures for media, volunteers and sponsors, causing delays to overlay works.

Glasgow 2014 has marked the milestone of 100 days to go until the start of the Commonwealth Games by painting a giant “100” on the pitch of Hampden Park stadium.

Scotland’s national football stadium is in the process of being transformed into an athletics venue for the duration of the Games. Arial footage released today shows that the venue’s transformation is virtually complete. 

To attain the width required for the track and field events, as specified by IAAF standards, the ground had to be raised by almost 1.9m using a revolutionary technique. A deck weighing over 1,000 tonnes was made using 6,000 steel posts and 1,200 panels. A further 16,000 tonnes of stone, tar and rubber are now being placed on top of the deck. 

Hampden will be the centrepiece of the Games, with more than a thousand athletes competing in more than 48 events in seven days of competition. The venue will also host the closing ceremony, when Glasgow 2014 will hand the Commonwealth flag over to the Gold Coast, hosts of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. 

The new aerial shot also shows Lesser Hampden, which has had a new pavilion built to provide athletes with warm-up facilities.

 “It is now just 100 days to go until the start of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting and cultural festival Scotland has ever hosted and the UK’s next big sporting occasion,” said Lord Smith of Kelvin, KT, Chairman of Glasgow 2014.

“We are entering the home straight now and these last 100 days are our opportunity to do the final work necessary to ensure that we deliver an outstanding Games for Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth.” 

Glasgow 2014, the XX Commonwealth Games, takes place from 23 July to 3 August when 4500 athletes will compete in 17 sports, with 1,000,000 tickets on sale. To find out more, read the exclusive interview with Chief Executive David Grevemberg in the next issue of HOST CITY magazine.

Theatre lovers in Bern are being offered something very special. Performances for the 2016 season take place not in the usual venerable municipal theatre, but in the middle of Bern's Old Town. NUSSLI has installed a temporary theatre cube, with a historical appearance, in record time on Waisenhausplatz. 

The theatre opened on March 19 with a programme of exciting, impassioned and fascinating performances that runs until October 2016. 

"If the restoration work at the municipal theatre is delayed again, we can easily leave the cube standing for another season during the winter or even adjust the building to changing needs at a later date," says NUSSLI Project Manager, Christian Frei. 

For a year and a half, Frei and his team worked on the development of the system with which the halls can be constructed within a very short time, even at the most unusual locations, in any size and with column-free spans of up to 40m. 

Efficient and Easy to Build 

Frei was often on site during construction on Waisenhausplatz and lent a hand time and again, because the assembly of the modular hall system is almost as thrilling as its unlimited applications. 

At the very beginning, the assembly crew installs the external structure with the flexible NUSSLI construction system. Then, they completely assemble the roof structure, including the sound and lighting fixtures, on the ground at a comfortable working height within the designated construction area. Finally, the entire roof structure is moved to its final height. 

This construction method reduces the required installation space to a minimum and enables installation even on sensitive ground while increasing the safety of the crew. All the streets around the cube on Bern's Waisenhausplatz were able to remain open to traffic throughout the construction, and the crane-free assembly did not stress the underlying parking garage structure in any way. 

Central Location Opens up Possibilities 

The idea of bringing the theatre cube to the audience instead of bringing the audience to an existing provisional arrangement opens up new possibilities for the Bern Theatre. 

The program was therefore put together with a conscious effort to include events which reflect the central position in the public square and appeal to various interests. So, a tango milonga, a public viewing of the European Football Championship and a James Bond evening are scheduled in addition to ballet, opera and drama. 

The modular hall system offers some important advantages, especially for construction projects in public places, on sensitive ground, or with limited access. The construction system requires no foundations, there is significantly less point loading than with construction using conventional steel supports, and the total load is evenly distributed over the entire ground surface. 

Because Waisenhausplatz sits directly atop a parking garage which is subject to special static requirements, there were no problems for the theatre cube despite its 1000sq m size and 200-ton weight. No heavy crane equipment is needed, especially for assembly work in modular hall system.

"We could have set the theatre cube up on the Pilatus or on a golf course," laughs Project Manager Frei. "That would work." 

Plan Today, Build Tomorrow 

The planning of the Bern Theatre cube with 480 seats, catering, backstage and technical areas as well as a cloakroom took less than a year. 

"A month after the first truck rolled out with its material, the cube was already cladded, equipped, and ready to go," recounts Christian Frei. 

He is looking forward to the reactions after the first performance, but adds quite calmly: "If the theatre organisation still wants modifications, it can be quickly and easily adjusted. The walls of the cube are also made of system material. They have just the exact thickness so that the entire installation can be accommodated in them and still remain easily accessible." 

Plans for the next projects with the modular hall system are already underway. Besides other theatre constructions, NUSSLI is planning a double-decker bridge for the IndyCar race in Boston in September. A bridge that has it all, because it crosses over the racetrack to the South Boston waterfront and will be equipped as a VIP lounge. 

The sophisticated structure consists entirely of system material. Therefore, it is possible to start construction one day after approval of the construction concept on the part of the client or the authorities - which is unparalleled.

This article was written by NUSSLI

Host City: Now nearly a year since you took up the position of CEO of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation, what can you report as your key achievements since the start of the year?

Martye Kendrick: As CEO of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation, my priority has been to strengthen NRG Park’s reputation as a world-class destination for sports, entertainment, and major events. Over the past year, we’ve made significant progress toward that goal.

• Operational Excellence: We introduced process improvements across our venues to enhance efficiency and elevate the guest experience.
• Major Event Acquisition: Secured commitments for marquee sporting and entertainment events that will deliver substantial economic impact and global visibility for Harris County.
• Community Engagement: Expanded partnerships with local organizations to ensure our events foster inclusivity and reflect the diversity of our community.
• Sustainability & Innovation: Advanced green initiatives within our facilities and implemented technology upgrades to improve fan engagement and operational performance.
• Economic Impact: Strengthened collaboration with stakeholders to maximize the economic benefits of our venues, supporting local businesses and job creation.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to building on this momentum and positioning Harris County as a leader in hosting world-class experiences that benefit our residents and visitors alike.

HC: With NRG Park hosting seven FIFA World Cup matches next summer, how does your team look to set itself separate from other host cities?

MK: Hosting seven FIFA World Cup matches at NRG Park is an extraordinary opportunity, and our goal is to create an experience that truly sets NRG Park and the Houston community apart from other host cities.

We’re focused on three key differentiators:

Unmatched Fan Experience: We are leveraging NRG Park’s unique versatility and scale to deliver an immersive, world-class environment for fans. From cutting-edge technology to a state-of-the-art new scoreboard to enhanced amenities, every detail is designed to make the experience unforgettable.

Community-Centered Approach: Houston’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths. We’re working closely with local organizations to ensure the World Cup reflects the cultural richness of our region, creating inclusive celebrations that engage residents and visitors alike. We plan to host special tour of NRG Stadium to showcase how we have prepared to host the FIFA World Cup games.

Legacy Beyond the Matches: Our vision extends beyond the tournament. We’re investing in initiatives that leave a lasting impact—strengthening infrastructure, promoting sustainability, and creating economic opportunities that benefit Harris County long after the final whistle.

By combining innovation, inclusivity, and long-term impact, we aim to showcase not just world-class soccer, but the very best of Houston.

HC: What are the advantages of having this hub within NRG Park?

Having the FIFA World Cup hub within NRG Park offers unparalleled advantages that few host cities can match. NRG Park is a fully integrated campus with multiple venues, expansive outdoor spaces, and world-class infrastructure—all within a single footprint. This creates several key benefits:

• Centralized Operations: Housing all major activities in one location streamlines logistics, security, and transportation, ensuring a safe and efficient experience for fans, teams, and partners.
• Enhanced Fan Experience: The campus allows us to create immersive fan zones, cultural activations, and hospitality areas without the need for extensive travel between sites, making the event more accessible and enjoyable.
• Flexibility & Scale: With multiple facilities—including NRG Stadium, NRG Center, and NRG Arena—we can host a wide range of events, from match-day experiences to community celebrations, all in close proximity.
• Legacy Impact: Concentrating activities at NRG Park enables us to invest in infrastructure improvements that will benefit the region long after the tournament ends. We recently hosted an unveiling of a special mural that celebrates the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Houston Texans and a soccer player, which is a nod towards NRG Stadiums capacity to host world-class soccer games.

This integrated approach positions Houston as a city that delivers not only world-class matches but a seamless, unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

HC: What are your plans to utilise other spaces outside of the NRG Stadium?

MK: NRG Park offers a unique advantage as a multi-venue campus, and our plans go well beyond the stadium itself. We are working with the FIFA organization and our park tenants to leverage every space to create a comprehensive World Cup experience:

• Fan Zones & Cultural Activations: The surrounding facilities, including NRG Center and NRG Arena, will host fan festivals, cultural showcases, and interactive experiences that celebrate the global spirit of the tournament and Houston’s diversity.
• Hospitality: We are working with FIFA to deliver a variety of premium hospitality areas across the campus to accommodate sponsors, partners, and international guests, ensuring world-class service and engagement opportunities.
• Community Engagement Spaces: Outdoor areas will be transformed into vibrant gathering spots for watch parties, local food vendors, and entertainment, making the World Cup accessible to residents and visitors beyond ticketed matches.
• Operational Efficiency: Utilizing multiple venues allows us to streamline logistics, security, and transportation, ensuring a safe and seamless experience for fans and teams.

Our goal is to turn NRG Park into a dynamic hub that amplifies the excitement of the World Cup and showcases Houston as a city that delivers unforgettable experiences both inside and outside NRG  Stadium.

HC: Have you taken any inspiration or lessons from the Houston Texans playing at the stadium? Whether this be operationally, holistically or otherwise?

MK: The Houston Texans’ presence at NRG Stadium has been an invaluable source of insight for us as we prepare to host the FIFA World Cup. Their operational expertise in managing large-scale events has provided a blueprint for excellence that we’ve adapted to meet the unique demands of a global tournament. From crowd flow and security protocols to transportation logistics, we’ve learned how to create a safe, efficient, and enjoyable environment for hundreds of thousands of fans.

Beyond operations, the Texans have shown us the power of holistic fan engagement—how to transform a game into an experience. We’ve taken inspiration from their ability to build excitement before kick-off and maintain energy throughout the event. This approach informs our plans for immersive fan zones, cultural activations, and hospitality experiences that extend far beyond the stadium walls.

Equally important are the lessons in community connection. The Texans have demonstrated how a team can become a cultural anchor for a city, and we aim to replicate that sense of belonging on a global scale. By celebrating Houston’s diversity and creating inclusive opportunities for residents and visitors, we’re ensuring the World Cup reflects the heart of our community.

In short, the Texans have helped us understand that success isn’t just about flawless execution—it’s about creating moments that resonate. That philosophy will guide every aspect of our World Cup strategy, from operational planning to fan engagement, as we deliver an event that showcases Houston at its very best.

HC: What initiatives are you planning to run to engage with local and international communities?

MK: Engaging both local and international communities is central to our vision for the FIFA World Cup at NRG Park. We see this as more than a series of matches—it’s an opportunity to unite cultures and create lasting connections. Our initiatives focus on three key areas:

• Celebrating Houston’s Diversity: Houston is one of the most culturally rich cities in the world, and we plan to showcase that through vibrant fan zones, cultural festivals, and culinary experiences that reflect the global nature of the tournament and the local character of our community.
• Community Access & Inclusion: We’re partnering with local schools, nonprofits, and local organizations to provide educational stadium tours about how we have prepared and upgraded our facilities to host FIFA World Cup games.
• Global Hospitality & Cultural Exchange: From multilingual support from our local governmental partners like METRO and the FIFA Houston Host Committee we are partnering to support a range of curated cultural experiences that will be hosted within NRG Park and downtown Houston. Our goal is to make every guest feel at home while celebrating the global spirit of soccer within NRG Park.

These initiatives are designed not only to enhance the fan experience but to leave a legacy of connection, inclusivity, and pride that extends far beyond the tournament.

[Source: AFL Architects] AFL Architects are proud to announce that we are working on designing a state-of-the-art sports city in Fumba, Zanzibar. Commissioned by the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture, and Sport, this transformative development will establish Zanzibar as a leading destination for sport, tourism, and major events.

At the heart of the project is a multi-use StadiArena stadium, designed for sustainability and versatility. In addition to hosting football matches, the stadium will accommodate concerts, conferences, and a range of sporting events, ensuring year-round activation and long-term economic benefits for the region. The wider development includes training pitches, a four-star hotel, a hospital, and a small passenger port, creating a hub for both local and international events.

Nick Oliver, Managing Director of Globespan Infrastructure, the project’s prime contract holder, shared: "It is a delight to be working with a world-class stadium architect such as AFL, bringing their expertise to a project that will have a lasting impact on Zanzibar’s sports and events landscape."

With construction set to commence soon, this landmark project will shape a dynamic and future-ready sports destination for Zanzibar.

About AFL Architects 

AFL Architects is an international award-winning architecture practice headquartered in Manchester, UK, with an office in London. Our Sports & Leisure team has delivered transformative projects in 25 countries, creating world-class facilities that inspire communities and enhance the sporting experience. 

For more information, please contact: 
John Roberts 
Director 
T: +44 (0) 161 236 6263 

E: john.roberts@afl-architects.com

[Source: www.olympics.com] Updates to the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA28 venue masterplan have been revealed, with the Organising Committee prioritising the use of world-class arenas and stadiums to deliver an unparalleled experience for athletes and fans alike. Additional benefits relating to sustainability, legacy and economics are anticipated, with the city preparing to host the Games in only four years’ time.

Overview of LA28’s venue masterplan, including the latest updates:

• Gymnastics will be held at the recently renovated Downtown LA Arena that is home to the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s Lakers, National Hockey League’s Kings, and Women’s NBA’s Sparks.

• Basketball will be held at the nation’s newest and state-of-the-art Indoor Arena in Inglewood, that will be home to the NBA’s Clippers.

• The nation’s newest and most advanced large pro sports stadium, located in Inglewood, which is home to the National Football League’s Rams and Chargers, will become the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, with a planned 38,000 seats.

• Athletics and Para Athletics will remain at the iconic and recently refurbished LA Memorial Coliseum, making this the only stadium in history to host track and field competitions at three Olympic Games.

* To accommodate these moves, both World Athletics and World Aquatics, the governing bodies of athletics and aquatics Olympic events respectively, have approved and support LA28’s plan to adjust the traditional Olympic schedule. Specifically, the athletics competition will move to the first week of the Olympic Games LA28, while the swimming competition will be held during the second week.

• LA28’s plans for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are unchanged, with parts hosted at both the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Inglewood Stadium.

• The San Fernando Valley will be a hub for youthful, high energy Olympic competitions in BMX Freestyle and BMX Racing, along with Skateboarding Park and Street, all in the Sepulveda Basin area.

• Also in the Sepulveda Basin area will be Archery, for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• Diving will return to the same pool that hosted the aquatics events at the 1932 Olympic Games, the 1932 Pool in Exposition Park, which will remain a legacy venue for Angelenos as part of the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks.

• The City of Long Beach will host Artistic Swimming and Para Swimming competitions, in addition to several other sports that will be announced at a later date.

• Equestrian and Para Equestrian competitions, previously assigned to the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, will be held at an existing facility in Temecula - the only such facility in Southern California large enough to accommodate all the required disciplines in one location.

• Shooting and Shooting Para Sport competitions, which were also previously assigned to the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, will be assigned to one of two possible sport shooting clubs, to be determined, in the Southern California region.

Oklahoma

While Southern California has more professional and collegiate sports venues than any area in the United States, there is no canoe slalom venue that exists locally (or anywhere in the Western US), and the largest softball venue in Southern California seats fewer than 2,000 people, which does not meet the expected spectator demand for softball at the Olympic Games.

Instead of building temporary venues for these sports, and in alignment with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendation that encourages the use of existing stadiums outside the region of the Host City, LA28 will assign canoe slalom and softball competitions to existing, world-class venues in Oklahoma City.

Both the existing canoe slalom and softball stadiums in Oklahoma City are built to international competition standards, and the local community has consistently supported top tournaments for both sports, ensuring a high-quality experience for both athletes and fans, while allowing LA28 to achieve cost savings and revenue gains to support its balanced budget.

Benefits

Speaking about these changes, LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman, said: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games represent the pinnacle of athletic competition and achievement, and we’re proud to host the Los Angeles 2028 Games in some of the greatest stadiums and arenas ever built.

"LA28’s updated venue plan will provide the ideal Hollywood stage for the world’s top athletes, and choosing from spectacular, existing venues, wherever they are, rather than building new permanent or temporary stadiums, achieves more than USD 150 million in savings and new revenue to help maintain a balanced budget. We look forward to partnering with these venues, and their experienced operators and workforce, to deliver an unparalleled experience for athletes and fans in 2028."

By making use of the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, one of the primary goals of the updated venue plan is to leverage existing infrastructure, which significantly reduces the need for temporary constructions and enhances long-term legacy opportunities for local communities. Many of these venues will continue to serve the community long after the Games, providing opportunities for future sports events and activities.

All proposed venue changes have been assessed in consultation with the respective International Federations and have already been approved by the IOC Executive Board, conditional on LA City Council approval. LA28 submitted these updated venue proposals to the City of Los Angeles on 21 June, which must approve changes that move competitions outside the city’s boundaries compared with the venue plan submitted during the bid.

Additional changes to the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA28 venue masterplan that do not move events outside the city’s boundaries, venues for new sports and disciplines added to the Olympic and Paralympic sports programme since 2017, and the updated Paralympic venue plan will all be announced at a later date.

The Olympic Games LA28 are due to take place between 14 and 30 July 2028, followed by the Paralympic Games, which will be held from 15 until 27 August