[Source: Birmingham 2022] The new campus model will see 1,600 athletes and officials housed at the NEC Hotel Campus, 1,900 at The University of Warwick, and the principal village with 2,800 at The University of Birmingham.

The decision to move away from the single site athletes’ village in the Perry Barr area of the city has been made by the Games Partnership with just under two years to go, after reviewing the impact of the global health pandemic.  It follows an assessment by the project delivery team, who has been working with the construction supply chain, as well as independent experts, on how they could de-risk Games delivery. With a shorter than normal timeframe for delivery of the Birmingham 2022 Games, the new build accommodation site was under continued review from the outset, with expert consultation throughout, and had very little scope to withstand the impact COVID-19 has had on construction.

The Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme, with new housing and transport infrastructure, will still be delivered.  This council-led residential scheme has been accelerated due to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and has been made possible with additional investment from central government.

The new three-site campus model for Birmingham 2022 athlete accommodation will be delivered within the overall Games budget of £778 million, with the Games remaining on track to be delivered on time and on budget.

The decision to move to three campus villages across the West Midlands has the support of  athlete representatives and Commonwealth Games Associations across the world who have been told of the new plans.

Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022 said: “These are challenging times for all of us and delivering a major multi sports event during this period has meant we have needed to collaborate effectively, be pragmatic to change, and remain realistic about the challenges we face.

We recognise that this new model is a move away from the historic norm and we are grateful for the support shown by our partners across the Commonwealth Games Associations.

Birmingham and the West Midlands is extremely fortunate to have superb alternate facilities and we are making this decision now, with two years to go, to de-risk the project, ensure delivery for athletes and teams and secure the legacy of new housing and transport infrastructure in Perry Barr.

This is the sensible and pragmatic thing to do for the Games, the athletes and for the people of Birmingham. It enables Birmingham City Council to focus on the delivery of the Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme and gives us enough time to plan essential Games services like transport and security. Furthermore, it offers athletes and teams the assurance of a warm welcome and a superb Games experience in their homes-from-home across the West Midlands”.

Alistair Brownlee, Commonwealth Games England’s nominee and vice-chair of the Birmingham 2022 Athlete Advisory Committee said: “Making this decision with just under two years to go until the Games, means there is early clarity for team officials and athletes about where they will be staying during Birmingham 2022. As an athlete, we want to know that there are certain aspects of events that are guaranteed – accommodation is one of them.  This early decision, during uncertain times, provides reassurance to athletes as they prepare to compete at their best in Birmingham.”

Craig Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, of Commonwealth Games Australia said: “While a single Games Village is the norm, we know these aren’t normal times and accept that, despite the best of efforts by the B2022 Organising Committee, this will not be possible for Birmingham.

“Commonwealth Games Australia thanks the B2022 Organising Committee for their openness in sharing the changes to the Games Village solution.  We will remain flexible in our planning to ensure we achieve our two overriding objectives for the Games – that our athletes are able to achieve their best possible performances, and they have the best possible Games experience.  This remains our focus.”

Host City: Bhubaneswar is hosting FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in November – how much work is there still to do to prepare for this?

Tusharkanti Behera: We are very committed in our efforts to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the best way possible, like when hosting previous international tournaments. We are looking to finish building and upgrading all the infrastructure by the first quarter of this year itself, as per the FIFA guidelines for the World Cup.

We are confident that the event will make a positive impact and help create a football ecosystem for the youth of the state and inspire more women to take up the sport.

Host City: Further down the line, Odisha is hosting the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2023. Why do you think Odisha was selected to host this major event? 

Tusharkanti Behera: Odisha has been doing rather well for quite some time in sports, especially hockey, and we will be hosting the Hockey World Cup for the second consecutive time. The fact that the Hockey World Cup 2018 was heralded by the FIH President as the best Hockey World Cup in history says a lot about the efforts made by the state and everyone involved in the delivery of the tournament. Moreover, we have built the state-of-the-art Kalinga hockey stadium, which is one of the best in the world.

The state now has a reputation for delivering successfully big tournaments like Asian Athletics Championship, the Men’s Hockey World League Finals 2017, Indian Super League 2017-2018, Hero Super Cup 2018/2019, National Open Athletics Championships 2018, Asia Rugby Girls U-18 Rugby 7s Championships 2018, Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018, Indian Super league , AIFF 4-nations Women’s Hero Gold Cup 2019, and the recent FIH Series Finals and Pro League. Thanks to its efforts in hosting the majority of international tournaments, the Indian state of Odisha is now being termed the sports capital of India.

Host City: What part do these events play in Odisha’s hosting strategy? Will this help Odisha bid for even bigger events in the future, and what kind of events are you looking to host?

Tusharkanti Behera: These events are testimony to the efficient delivery of international tournaments by the Odisha government and now the world knows of our capabilities.

We are more than willing to organise international events as and when we are offered something. Indian Olympics Association (IOA) President Mr. Narinder Batra has already said that whenever India gets to host an Olympic, Asian or Commonwealth Games, Odisha will definitely be a part of it.

Host City: What other positive impacts will these events bring to the state of Odisha?

Tusharkanti Behera: Hosting big events in the state, apart from developing a sporting ecosystem, also helps create brand equity for the state and boost tourism. The Hockey World Cup 2018 led to an estimated 60 per cent higher tourist footfall in Odisha during November and December 2018.

By leveraging on Bhubaneshwar's appeal as a sports destination, we hope to bolster tourist footfall and earnings by focusing on sports tourism.

“The world has changed how we consume sports and entertainment. I’m lucky to be between the two and see both sides,” composer Matt Clifford says. “One of the first things I said to UEFA when I started working with them was, you know all these stadiums – I’ve played in them with the Rolling Stones.”

How do you get to join the Rolling Stones? “Like anything in life it’s like being in the right place at the right time,” he says.

Thirty years ago, Clifford was recording with a producer, Chris Kimsey, whose next project was a Rolling Stones record, Steel Wheels – which went on to achieve multi-platinum sales. “He saw me as someone who would fit in with working with those people. I was sent off to Barbados where Mick and Keith were working at that time. I walked in and said is this the gig, and Mick says yes, every Thursday night – so off we went. And the next day I was having lunch with Princess Margaret on the beach in Mustique!”

There are very close parallels between the way sports events and entertainment events are presented in a stadium. He went to the Stade de France recently to watch France versus England in the Six Nations, five years after playing there with the Rolling Stones.

“It’s very much the same thing. There is this incredible sense of anticipation, and the emotion that it unleashes in a crowd of 50 or 60 thousand people. It’s very much the same experience waiting for a big concert as waiting for the Champions League final, when you are walking up and see the lights. It’s extraordinary, you get the same buzz and excitement from both.

An element of spontaneity helps to create these levels of excitement in both sport and music. “You don’t know the outcome either way – you don’t know who is going to win the match, or which songs the band is going to play.

“With a band like the Stones it’s all about live performance, it’s all in the moment. There’s a lot of unpredictability with the Stones. You have to keep your wits about you! There are moments on stage with the Rolling Stones where, after 60 years, they’ll be out playing a song, something will go wrong, Mick will turn around to Charlie Watts and they are exactly still the same 18-year-olds who played in a tiny club in Richmond in London, and they’ve kept that alive. You see the same thing on the football pitch – that extraordinary telepathy that elevates it to a different level.

“There are so many parallels between music and sport. You have soloists, you have great teams. A rock group is all about being a team and knowing what your role is.

“The infrastructure is the same, you need many of the same facilities and we use many of the same suppliers”

But the way people consume and experience sports and music has changed immensely over Clifford’s career.

“The live experience has changed on technical levels. The sound reproduction and the experience of a concert is incredibly different – with HD LED screens and incredible lighting. PAs are smaller and so much better.”

But when it comes to sports events there is still much room for development of the audio experience, he says. “It’s an area that could be improved, especially now there is a lot of broadcasting in surround sound.

“So much of the experience when you go to a game is the sound. And the volume, when you’ve got a band playing here and another band over there, is extraordinary. It’s difficult technically because when you are watching you have to hear the commentary.”

Bringing gravitas and energy to event experiences

When not on the road with the Stones, Clifford writes anthems and official music for major sports events, which play a huge role in the event experience. Music is used in many different ways and for different moments on TV, on online platforms and in the venue.

“You come in as the composer and present two or three very different ideas, which are passed through several very large committees at a glacial pace. Because music is such a subjective thing, everyone on a committee will have a different emotional reaction to it. Once you’ve gone through that process and got the approval, the next stage begins, which is being able to do all these difference versions for different purposes, at different lengths and at different tempos, but keeping the brand theme. I find that exciting and challenging.

“When you get a brief for music for sport they often give the same words – inspiring, powerful, spirit of togetherness – but every sport is different, so you have to find that essence, the energy that is going to contribute to a broadcast of a live event.”

Clifford’s musical background was in the classical world, growing up playing in orchestras and singing  as a choirboy in Gloucester cathedral – a world apart from sports.

“Italia ’90, where the BBC used Nessun Dorma as the theme music, was almost the first time that you used the gravitas and emotion that you get from classical music to go behind sport and take it to another level. Before that, football songs had mainly been pop songs.”

Once again, Clifford found himself in the right place at the right time. He was hired in 2003 by the anthem creator Tony Britten to modernize the Champions League theme – probably the most recognisable sports audio brand.

“It’s the theme that everyone aspires to – everyone would love to have that recognition. Tony Britten who composed the piece was inspired by Zadok the Priest by George Frederic Handel – and he absolutely hit the nail on the head. With my experience of working with different genres of music I was able to extend the reach of the Champions League music.”

For example, Clifford’s added a modern beat to the recognisable choir element for the walk-on music. Another key moment in a sports event is the cup lift.

“The first Champions League final I was invited to was 2005 in Istanbul, which is still the most amazing game I’ve ever been to. When Steven Gerrard lifted the cup, they played a piece of music I had written, which was amazing.”

Clifford also composed the anthem for the Six Nations, combining instruments from all of the six nations, which is played in the stadiums at every Six Nations game. He also worked with FIFA 2010 in South Africa, for which he won the pitch as part of a graphics company. As a result, he was able to take Mick Jagger as his guest, “to watch England being knocked out against Germany, despite a disallowed goal that was clearly over the line. Mr Blatter was very friendly before the game, but after the game we couldn’t find him at all!”

Clifford has never written an anthem for a club. “I think that would be a tricky situation – it’s like you’re trying to impose something. You can do that on the top level – the global level, or the broadcast level – but to say to fans you should sing this on the terraces, that’s not the right way to go.”

Fans tend to choose their own songs anyway. “Sometimes the song relates to football, but I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles – where does that come from? There are these associations that just happen. They are so ingrained into the culture of the club – when you listen to Liverpool fans singing You’ll Never Walk Alone at the Champions League final it’s amazing.”

This exclusive interview was conducted by Ben Avison of Host City at Global Sports Week, following Matt Clifford’s Meet the Artist Q&A

[Source: World Athletics] The full ten-meeting schedule for the 2020 World Athletics Continental Tour (Gold level) has been finalised with the addition of Nairobi, which will be the first African host city.

The pilot year of the USD 2m Gold meeting series will now visit four continents – Africa, Asia, Europe and North America - with the first meeting at Nairobi’s Moi International Stadium on 2 May, followed by Tokyo on May 10. The series will finish in Zagreb in September.

Both South America and Oceania will host Silver level meetings this year with a view to staging Gold level meetings in 2021.

With the completion of the Gold meeting schedule for 2020, World Athletics has also finalised the discipline breakdown for each meeting (download), with a broad events spread to maximise competition opportunities for athletes in all disciplines and all parts of the world.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the impetus for creating the Continental Tour was to provide more competition and earning opportunities for more athletes.

“Between the Wanda Diamond League and the Continental Tour all disciplines will be catered for and many more athletes will have access to top class competition,’’ he said.

Fittingly, given the tradition of African distance runners, Nairobi will stage the 3000m steeplechase, 5000m and 10,000m for men and women as part of its programme. This is expected to be the highest quality senior international meeting to be held in Kenya’s history.

Continental Tour

The Continental Tour will be divided into three levels – Gold, Silver and Bronze – whose status will be determined by the quality of competition and prize money on offer.

World Athletics is investing in the Gold level meetings, which will each offer $US200,000 in prize money, to increase the number of high quality competitive opportunities available to showcase our sport’s best athletes.

Area associations will be responsible for managing the Silver ($US75,000 prize money) and Bronze level competitions ($US25,000). There will be ten Silver and up to 50 Bronze meetings.

Those disciplines that are not included in this year’s Wanda Diamond League final – 200m, 3000m steeplechase, triple jump, discus - will be core events in the Continental Tour Gold meetings, as will the hammer throw. Each will have guaranteed prize money of $US20,000 at each meeting.

Performances in those events will attract the same level of world ranking points as the core Diamond League disciplines, and the overall tour winners will receive wildcard entry to the World Athletics Championships Oregon 2021.

Host broadcasters have been appointed for each meeting and Infront, the tour’s international TV rights holder, will sell the rights into markets around the world.

Scott Jameson, GL events UK managing director, commented: “This partnership was the natural progression of the two organisations working together to deliver major events including the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. We’ve always held SoldOut in high regard and are delighted to be able to share news of this development.

“Teaming up with SoldOut means we can offer major event organisers the best possible combination of skills, capability and experience, adding outstanding value to global events.”

Thomas Staunton, CEO at SoldOut, added: “SoldOut and GL events UK are complimentary events power-houses, both experts in their own fields.

“SO GL combines both companies’ impressive heritage, experience and successful track record; leading to the very best in communication, shared project management, local knowledge and delivery, event planning and implementation, along with a grass roots commitment to community and event legacy.”

GL events UK is a supplier of temporary structures, tiered and grandstand seating, and stadium construction, providing complete temporary infrastructure and overlay solutions for the world’s best events. SoldOut is a full-service agency, designing and delivering memorable event experiences throughout Australia and overseas.

The Host City Conference & Exhibition, Glasgow, 26-27 November, brings major stakeholders together to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the major event hosting industry.

On the surface, the investment of £1 billion on a new stadium could have been better timed. Tottenham Hotspur’s main source of income, TV rights – approximately £210m per year, assuming Champions League football – is undoubtedly on the decline.

As traditional advertising revenues continue to shrink, Sky and the many overseas channels that have cut deals with Richard Scudamore (the timing of whose retirement from the Premier League now seems impeccable) and his band of rights agents in the past, cannot possibly continue to justify the eye-watering billions that have been spent on TV rights.

And so the paradigm shift begins.

On the other hand, perhaps the club’s Chairman Daniel Levy has been exceptionally smart. As traditional revenue streams shrink, so new ones need to be created to feed the voracious financial appetites of the world’s most gifted footballers – and their ever-greedy agents.

At the recent Sports Ground Safety Association (SGSA) conference, Jon Babbs, Stadium Director at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium gave some indications where the rest of the money is coming from to improve the bottom line.

The state-of-the-art stadium is only the beautifully crafted centrepiece of the overall development. On the footballing side, the site will soon also host a new performance centre and a medical centre. These will help Mauricio and his team continue to generate Champions League income (TV rights, sponsorship and additional match day revenue income combining to generate almost £100m per year), but the bottom line will really be boosted with the opening of the new hotel plus the residential and commercial developments that will become part of the complex.

The stadium has a capacity of 62,214 and is sold out every other week. The stadium will also be buzzing on European nights – when the 42,000 season ticket holders are expected to re-buy their seats! Saracens have also made Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the base for their annual ‘Big Game’ Gallagher Premiership Rugby showpiece.

The impressive South Stand – the largest single terrace in Europe with a capacity of 17,500 – will be bouncing to the rhythm of rock and hip hop from the summer of 2020, adding further to ticketing, merchandising and food and beverage revenues.

Spurs have been super-smart to team up with the Beavertown micro-brewery, combining the economic benefits of home-brew with the longest bar in Europe (65 metres!), 15-second self-filling pints and a cashless environment, to ensure that at least 50,000 pints of beer are consumed by the faithful at any home game. To credit Spurs, prices have not been inflated and the ‘Burger and Pint’ deal for £5 has forced local pubs to reduce their pricing to compete.

Perhaps the most innovative partnership secured by Levy and his board is the 10-year deal with the NFL, which begins with a minimum of 2 NFL games per season and may develop over the decade to the re-homing of a full franchise.

Everything in the stadium whiffs of the NFL: the dedicated changing rooms to house the army which makes up each team; the design of the new hotel (which will have NFL size corridors and beds) and, of course, the ‘pitch below the pitch’. This innovative design allows the soccer pitch to be divided into three for the outside two edges to disappear under the East and West stands, the middle section to disappear under the North Stand, and the fan zone outside of the stadium to reveal the markings of a 5G NFL grid. There can be little doubt that the cost of this magnificent engineering would not have been on the basis of simply twenty games and the odd concert – we can look forward to much more Grid Iron in North London in the near future.

One of the more adventurous money-spinning additions soon to arrive at the stadium is an O2-esque roof walk – going one step further on the adrenaline rankings by finishing the tour with an abseil down from the roof. For Tottenham Hotspurs, the sky really is the limit for revenue generating opportunities.

The challenges of running a football stadium, and lessons learnt from other UK events in near past will be discussed at the UK Sports and Venues Summit at The London Stadium on November 21st. For more information, please visit: https://meievents.eventsair.com/uk-sports-venues-summit-19/ or call O207 709 2350

John Langford, COO, AEG Europe

“I’m delighted to be joining the Host City conference in Glasgow this year. This is a great opportunity to share my thoughts on the industry and meet fellow representatives of sports, business and cultural events from across the globe. I look forward to discussing the challenges of hosting major event at our venues as well as discovering new opportunities and learning from industry leaders.

“There are a number of important considerations venue planners should bear in mind to maximise commercial opportunities around entertainment facilities.

“Firstly: know your market. Understanding consumer needs allows venues to match their capabilities with the expectations of customers. Providing a product and service that customers want is the foundation upon which volume and margins can be maximised.

“Secondly: flexibility. Entertainment venues cater for multiple different audiences. Every night, our arenas see a different crowd from the night before. Facilities need to be able to flex from champagne at Andrea Bocelli to burgers and beer at ZZ Top – and everything else you can imagine in between.

“Thirdly: adaptability. Customer expectations change over time, particularly as new generations spend more in the entertainment sector. Flexibility in spaces, premium experiences, food and beverage options, access and add-ons all mean that venues need to adapt quickly to market changes.”

David Tunnicliffe, Commercial Director, GL events UK

“Host City will bring together excellent people for open, frank discussions that will allow us to share experience and best practice. The event combines a formal daytime structure with a more relaxed evening format, meaning there will be plenty of opportunity to network with new and existing contacts.

“Are venue owners fully informed of the opportunities available to them in terms of temporary infrastructure? Yes and no – this really depends on the venue, as well as the culture and approach of its team. General awareness can be an issue; while some venues can be so focused on their permanent USPs, or under so much pressure to deliver prices-per-head, that they overlook the many exciting creative possibilities presented to them by temporary infrastructure.

“Other venues – Hampton Court Palace is an excellent example, frequently innovate; enhancing and adapting their offering with temporary infrastructure and overlay.

“At GL events we’re no stranger to all kinds of requests and the possibilities for venues are endless. We’ve created entire temporary venues to support refurbishment works, as well as creating everything from additional kitchens to ballrooms, reception spaces and exhibitions on behalf of all kinds of venue. Temporary swimming pools, ice-rinks, cinemas… working with venues is a great opportunity for event infrastructure suppliers to showcase their creativity.”

Ken Scott, Head of Inspectorate, Sports Ground Safety Authority

“A pressing concern for organisers is what we call ‘Zone Ex’ – the area outside the stadium that spectators must pass through when arriving or leaving an event. Stadium and event operators can no longer think about the stadium in isolation. When considering safety, the sum of all parts is critical to creating as safe an environment as possible for everyone at the ground.

“We’re looking forward to attending Host City 2019 to discuss this and other safety issues with colleagues from across Europe.”

Cyril De Greve Managing Director, European Stadium & Safety Management Association (ESSMA)

“We’re expecting more and more from stadium management today. Besides a range of new threats (terror, drones, cyberattacks, etc.), it is not only delivering a safe and secure event; people are looking for unforgettable experiences. Training staff to deliver these experiences is definitely a challenge, as well as the demand for a more multifunctional use of the venues.

“Our aim at Host City 2019 is to share knowledge, expertise and exchange best practice with all delegates linked to the stadium industry.”

Host City 2019 takes place in Glasgow on 26-27 November, organised with support from EventScotland. For more information visit www.hostcity.com

As awareness of plastic pollution grows, it is more important than ever to handle machines that install, maintain and care for synthetic turf correctly to avoid discharge of filling granules into the environment.

Installation

Exact and precise installation is crucial, using machines with orbital oscillating brush systems that erect the artificial turf fibre while incorporating filling material, which can be dosed via outlet systems in the required kg/m2.

This procedure ensures the infill material is filled to an even level, to support and stabilise artificial turf fibre while preventing any incorrectly applied filling material being discharged by environmental influences or during play.

When installed correctly, there is no need to refill the system later, with the risk of overfilling that brings.

Regular Maintenance

SMG recommends a weekly and demand-based removal of coarse dirt, such as stones and leaves. This should be done using a rotary brush with an adjustable vibrating screen to receive overlying coarse dirt and the top layer of the filling material. Simultaneously, dirt and filling material should be separated, followed by metered return of the filling material on the artificial turf.

A constant amount of infill material in the sieve is a decisive factor for returning it to areas that have become depleted by game activity.

Regularly following our guidelines and the corresponding driving tactics ensures artificial turf fibre is supported at a uniform height by filling material, lengthens the service life of the artificial turf system and prevents discharge of filling granules into the environment.

Advanced Maintenance: Decompaction

Filling material should be loosened and levelled monthly using tow-behind devices with flexible and adjustable prongs to stabilise artificial turf fibres, keep them upright and prevent infill from being discharged into the environment. This also prevents compaction and drastically reduces or eliminates the amount of material for refilling.

SMG guarantees a care process that ensures eroded polymer filling granules can be extracted and properly disposed of. Annual deep cleaning is carried out by with a rotary brush with a sieve function to clean even deeper layers of the filling material.

The collected litter material is spread evenly after being separated from fine dust, microparticles, worn fibres and other contaminants using a filter element with a separation efficiency of more than 98 per cent at 4 micrometres.

Repatriation

Filling material can reach the side of the pitch through play operation, incorrect care or adverse weather. To prevent it from being carried into the environment, the filling material must be returned to the pitch using rotary brushes with a sieve function.

A constant amount of infill material in the sieve insert is the deciding factor in returning infill material into the areas "unfilled" by the game activity. The sieve insert acts as a material reservoir during this care process. Alternatively, sweeping brushes can be used, but only if they are adjustable in their working width.

For more information on our guidelines please contact SMG – we are looking forward to assisting you with details

https://www.smg-gmbh.de/en/

[Source: AGES] With the increasing demands on infrastructure, the limited lead-time and the ever louder call from an increasingly sceptical public for cost effective and sustainable solutions, temporary event infrastructure – often described as event overlays – becomes an indispensable factor for event organisers and city authorities.

And yet, the event suppliers’ industry has been challenged by respected commentators suggesting that “organisers often do not understand your business”. AGES now steps forward to take up that challenge and provides an inclusive, encyclopaedic reference for event organisers, building authorities and governmental bodies and all those involved in event infrastructure:

• Disseminating information to illustrate the potential of event overlays;

• Highlighting and educating on key issues; and

• Facilitating timely and productive engagements between organisers and the industry.

Written by recognised industry experts and supported by governmental bodies like the IOC and the UEFA, this 200-page document provides a sequential narrative explaining the activities and procedures in chronological order, to facilitate a general understanding about overlays for large events. The writers describe and illustrate the relevant strategies, principles, methods, procedures and other information to guide the reader step by step through the delivery process; i.e. from Planning, through Procurement to Delivery of the event overlay works.

The “Practice Guide for the Planning, Procurement and Delivery of Temporary Infrastructure for Major Events”, Part I General Information is now available, and offered in two formats, at https://www.ages.international/shop/ which also offers an informative preview of the publication.

“We are proud to present this Guide – Part I. It’s the first ever document explaining the specifics of our business from the initial conception phase to the reinstatement works, says Daniel Cordey, Chairman of AGES at the Annual Event 2019 in Dubai. And next year, we will publish Part II Technical Information providing an overview about all works categories”.

[Source: CSM Live] Following a competitive tender process, conducted according to strict Peruvian procurement laws, CSM Live will perform a number of duties to bring the Games to life. These include scoping all participating venues, both competition and non-competition, for which the agency will then devise a Look and Feel concept as well as a Wayfinding concept, followed by preparation of artwork for all elements, which will be distributed to appointed local suppliers for production. CSM Live will then manage all production and installation of the Look elements, to ensure a world-class Look and Feel for these prestigious championships.

On-site in Lima, CSM Live will be working predominantly with local companies who have been selected through a tender process by the Organising Committee. This collaboration and sharing of expertise will help to leave a positive legacy for the businesses and communities involved.

The Pan American and Parapan American Games are a major sporting event in the Americas featuring summer sports in which thousands of athletes and Para athletes participate in a variety of competitions. For the Pan American Games, Lima is set to host 6680 athletes from 41 different nations of the Americas, competing in 39 different sports from July 26 to August 11. For the 2019 Parapan American Games there will be 1890 Para athletes competing across 17 Para sports in 18 disciplines from August 23 to September 01.

Prior to the tender process CSM Live attended two Department of International Trade missions in Lima, along with two independently organised visits to Peru to help forge relationships and enable them to build knowledge and confidence ahead of formally pitching for the work. These visits were carried out in 2017 and 2018.

UK Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Fairhead said: “I am delighted to see that CSM Live is joining so many UK companies by growing their business through exporting – and offer congratulations to them for winning this contract to support the 2019 Pan American Games and Parapan American Games in Lima.

“The Department for International Trade stands ready to help businesses like CSM Live through our Export Strategy, which includes encouraging businesses to export, providing practical information, connecting UK businesses to overseas buyers and providing support through our award-winning export credit agency, UK Export Finance.”

On their upcoming work for the Pan-Am Games and Parapan American Games, Giles Stanford, Director of Global Events at CSM Live, stated “It’s an honour to be involved in the largest sporting event ever held in Peru. We’re already set up and working in this amazing country, using our expertise to ensure that Lima looks amazing. It’s going to be a fantastic event and we’re excited to be helping give the competitors, fans and all involved an engaging and truly unforgettable experience.”