host city

Category: City Development

  • Nashville’s Music City brand grows to embrace world sports

    Nashville’s Music City brand grows to embrace world sports

    Host City: What sort of a situation was Nashville in when you took over?
    Butch Spyridon: Our primary attraction was a theme park. The company that owned the theme park owned two TV networks, so, we had the ability to package the city and put it out on the networks, and we relied on that for weekend visitors in summer and spring.
    The theme park closed in 1998, and the networks went away. Then 9/11 hit a few years afterwards, and we were sitting here with no substitute demand generator. Our city convention center was woefully inadequate and we were just floating in the water. Even our primary source of business, the Opryland Hotel, was starting to build hotels around the country, so it was no longer a case of signing five-year contracts to come to Nashville; it was signing five-year contracts to rotate along with three, four and five other cities.
    So we had to decide: do we want to be in the business of the hospitality industry, and, if so, what is it going to take to be successful?
    I don’t think any other city has used events quite like Nashville as a key strategy to getting itself out of its slump – to create awareness, recognition, build the brand, generate PR and sell hotel rooms. It’s very intentional, and in 2003-2004 we put a plan together.
    Three things came out of the planning process. We needed a true demand generator – a new convention center, that became the Music City Center.
    Then it was to own the Music City brand. We had a nickname, but we didn’t have a brand. And we focussed on living up to the brand in every way imaginable.
    And then the third leg of the stool was to use events to build the brand, to draw attention to ourselves and generate travel.
    So, the cornerstones were the convention center, the brand, and big events.
     
    Host City: What big events did you host in those days?
    Butch Spyridon: First, we worked with CMA, the Country Music Association, to stage a four-day, 45,000 out of town visitors per day event. At the time it was 20,000 and dying, a very uninspiring event. We worked with them to reinvent it and move it downtown. That was the number one move, to grow that as a signature summer event.
    Then we took over July 4th and turned that into an event that sells 20-25,000 rooms and generates national PR for us.
     
    Host City: How did Nashville manage to take ownership of something which is a national event?
    Butch Spyridon: We had to make it bigger; we had to bring A-list talent to the table. And for events that go on in other places, we look at who does it best. When you think of July 4th or New Years’ Eve, where do you think of? It’s New York. We don’t have the Statue of Liberty, but we could put on the biggest fireworks show in the country. Nobody would expect that from Nashville.
    We built the reputation with A-list talent like Lady Antebellum and a symphony performed live with the fireworks choregraphed and hand fired – which nobody else was doing. We made it the biggest July 4th fireworks show, we made sure the music was in place and we only book Nashville-based artists. We’re happy to go head to head with Macy’s or Philadelphia or Boston – our “Let Freedom Sing” show is that good.
    It worked so well that the hotel community asked us to build a New Year’s Eve event. So now we are entering year nine for New Year’s Eve – 100,000 people, 20,000 hotel rooms – we built it from the ground up. For New York, New Year’s Eve is an event, but ours is a party! There’s a subtle difference there.
     
    Host City: Nashville is renowned for music, but how has Nashville taken steps to host major sports events?
    Butch Spyridon: We booked the 2014 Final Four NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, that was a big step six years ago. Then we saw what we could really do.
    We booked and hosted the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue launch in 2015. We really brought it to life with a downtown festival with the Kings Of Leon headlining. We tented Lower Broadway, an eight-lane wide street with honkytonk bars and neon lights, and streamed it live. According to Sports Illustrated, it was their biggest and most successful launch. It was food, music and fashion in Nashville.
    Two years ago we hosted the NHL All Star game and really turned that into an event instead of just a sporting competition in the arena – we brought it outside, we had a concert, we had celebrity guests – we elevated the All Star game in a way the NHL hadn’t done before. And now they’ve tried to continue that.
    We also chased for the World Cup with the US when we lost six years ago. And this year we were part of the successful United bid, and that’s taking our domestic US national event strategy and pushing it globally.
     
    Host City: Do you think this will be the seminal moment where you become a truly international event host?
    Butch Spyridon: I think we have a decent shot; it’s not a foregone conclusion. If you think about it, ten or 11 US cities will host games. There will be training sites and a media center, and there will be a conference in February before the year of the Cup. So there are ample opportunities to score something – we obviously hope it is a game.
    We know we are on display, so next summer we’ll have another Gold Cup game – it will be even more meaningful next year. When we do events, we do them at a high level. It is Nashville’s time to shine. It’s important we have a good turnout as the decision-makers will be watching not only how we execute but also how the fans respond to coming to Nashville for a soccer game.
    Prior to the Gold Cup we will host the 2019 NFL Draft, which is a pretty big coup for us. Over three days, several hundred thousand people go through; it’s broadcast on multiple TV networks with international media – and we want to turn it into an international party.
    The Tennessee Titans are playing in London this summer, so this further enhances our exposure and our ability to market both the football season and the draft itself.
     
    Host City: Are you interested in other international sports championships?
    Butch Spyridon: Where we have the facility, the answer is absolutely, yes. We can build a case for rugby, for International Champions Cup (ICC), when private promoters bring European teams over her. We hosted an ICC Game last year with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur; we are told we will get one next year. Those sorts of things are very important.
    One of the most fun events we host is Red Bull Flutag. The concept is they build a runway over water to see who can fly the furthest with homemade flying machines.
     
    Do you see yourself as in competition with other cities or is it useful to get together to share ideas?
    Butch Spyridon: I absolutely believe and love learning from what other cities, destinations, countries have done. We can all learn so much from each other, I do believe that, but also believe it is competitive, and we try not to give away all the secrets.
     
    Host City: So how useful would an event like Host City be to you?
    Butch Spyridon: Very useful. There are sporting related conferences like that that but there is not an event conference especially that includes international. I think it would be extremely valuable.
     

    A few noteworthy events hosted in Music City

    NFL Draft; coming to Music City in April of 2019
    Gold Cup; US vs. Mexico September 2018.  Also hosted in 2017.
    International Champion Cup (ICC); hosted in July of 2017
    NHL Play-off’s street party (hosted & produced by the NCVC), 2017
    CMA Festival (85,000 people in attendance per day over 5 days)
    NHL All-Star Game
    Davis Cup, 2018
    Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Fan Party featuring Kings Of Leon, 2015
    Jack Daniels’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville (hosted & produced by the NCVC)
    Let Freedom Sing: July 4th in Music City Fireworks Celebration & Concert (hosted & produced by the NCVC)
    Nashville is an official candidate host city for the 2026 World Cup

     

  • Sports tourism grows in Canada

    Sports tourism grows in Canada

    [Source: Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance] Figures released by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance demonstrate that the sport tourism industry continued to have a significant impact on the Canadian economy in 2017. According to custom data tabulations from the Travel Survey of Residents of Canada (TSRC) and the International Travel Survey (ITS), Canada saw a continued rise in the value of sport tourism, with a total expenditure of $6.8 billion, an increase of more than $33 million over 2016.
    The most significant increases occurred in the spending of visitors from the USA and worldwide.
    International sport tourism from both markets continued their steady increase with 2017 up 5 per cent over the previous year.
    The volume of sport tourism visitors from the U.S. rose 3 per cent, while the volume of sport tourism visitors from overseas rose 2 per cent.
    International visitors accounted for 35 per cent of the total value of sport tourism in Canada, up from 27 per cent in 2014.
    “Canada continues to be a very attractive host country for many international events, which draws people coming to compete, support and spectate at those events,” said Rick Traer, CEO, Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance.
    “We have a stellar reputation for our expertise in hosting both summer and winter sports, with excellent facilities, organizational abilities, welcoming volunteers, and strong hosting program financial support at the federal and provincial levels.”
    There has also been a concerted effort to market Canada as a preferred host for international sport events, said Traer.
    “Working with Destination Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, CBC Sports and a number of destinations across Canada, we have successfully marketed Canada on the world stage, at major international conferences including SportAccord and others.
    “In 2017, Canada hosted 41 international events that qualified for funding under the federal government’s hosting program, second only to the USA in terms of the number held in any one country. That was a major factor in the growth of the sport tourism industry.”
    Traer was also pleased to see the industry continue to thrive without a major multi-sport event held in 2017. “We saw visitation increase significantly in 2015, when Canada hosted both the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 in six different cities and the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in Toronto. Seeing the steady increase in the past two years, without a major sport event as a draw, demonstrates just how effective our destinations and sport rights holders have been in bidding for and hosting events.”
    Domestically in the sport tourism market, the number of overnight visitors from within Canada was virtually unchanged as compared to 2016 whereas the number of same-day travellers registered a 9 per cent decline. While there was a 4 per cent increase in the overall value of the sport tourism market for domestic overnight travellers, there was a surprising 21 per cent decrease in the value of same-day travellers. However, as the overnight market is significantly larger than the same-day market, the overall value of domestic sport tourism decreased slightly by 2 per cent overall.

  • First six Global Active Cities announced on World Heart Day

    First six Global Active Cities announced on World Heart Day

    Six cities have received the designation of Global Active City. 
    The cities – Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hamburg, Germany; Lillehammer, Norway; Liverpool, UK; Ljubljana, Slovenia; and Richmond, British Columbia, Canada – have worked hard to offer all their residents the opportunity to choose active and healthy lifestyles and improve their well-being. Each city has embraced a management model that motivates people at risk of inactivity-related illnesses to take up regular physical activity and sport.
    In order to receive the Global Active City label, they each had to pass an independent audit with a stringent review of their physical activity and sports strategies and working practices.
    Regular physical activity can contribute to reducing the risk of a number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as a number of mental disorders. The Active Well-being Initiative (AWI), an international NGO responsible for the Global Active City label, works with city leaders to help them provide projects and services that engage local residents who have or are likely to develop these NCDs. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, and children aged five to 17 should do an hour each day.
    Professor David Wood, President of the World Heart Federation, said: “Physical inactivity is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke. As part of our World Heart Day My Heart, Your Heart campaign, the World Heart Federation is actively encouraging people across the globe to adopt more active lifestyles for their heart health. The Global Active City programme will be an important initiative as we seek to get the world moving and in particular in tackling the barriers to exercise experienced by some city populations and specific sections of society.”
    The Global Active City Standard was created with input from more than 70 experts in health, sport and social sciences; legacy and sustainability; tourism; and urban planning and management. 
    “Obesity is a disease that has become a global epidemic,” explained Dr Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, President of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) and one of the standard’s medical experts. “Recent WHO data shows that almost 40% of adults and over 41 million children under the age of five are overweight or are living with obesity, and rates are projected to increase further by 2030. We know that obesity is associated with a higher likelihood of developing related chronic diseases like heart disease.
    “Childhood is the crucial life phase for obesity prevention and for introducing healthy behaviours around nutrition and physical activity that can last a lifetime. The Global Active City model, promoting cities which have succeeded in increasing participation in physical activity and sport, helps us tackle growing levels of inactivity and non-communicable diseases globally, and supports young people and their families in becoming more active, focusing on community well-being for all in a holistic way.”
    The Global Active City programme was founded by Evaleo, a sustainable health association, and TAFISA, The Association For International Sport for All, with the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The first cities will receive their awards from the AWI in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach, at the Olympism In Action Forum in Buenos Aires, as part of the opening events for the Youth Olympic Games. Buenos Aires’ Global Active City strategy – Ciudad Activa – is one of the many legacies of the Games for the local population.
    Christophe Dubi, IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, said: “The mission of the IOC is to ensure the celebration of the Olympic Games, but also to encourage the regular practice of sport by all people in society. The Global Active City programme is crucial in our vision to increase access to sport for all and provide everyone with the educational and health values of sport, with a focus on young people. We encourage all cities, including past and future Olympic cities, to sign up.”
    The Active Well-being Initiative recommends that cities which want their populations to be more active should start by identifying key stakeholders and available resources, and partnering with local universities, to find which groups are most at risk from inactivity, and least engaged, and how to reach them. The Physical Activity Exchange at Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group were development partners for the Global Active City model.
    Doctor Maurice Smith, Clinical Director from NHS Liverpool CCG, said: “The evidence shows that if you can get a population physically active, you will make huge benefits across a range of areas. In Liverpool, we worked out in 2016 that if we got 100% of the city physically active, each year we would prevent 400 deaths, almost 2,500 cases of diabetes, 140 to 150 hospital admissions for coronary heart disease, 50 cases of breast cancer, and 30-40 cases of colorectal cancers. These benefits far exceed anything you could do medically and certainly exceed all the screening procedures that go on.”
    To find out more about the Global Active City model, visit activewellbeing.org or follow @AWBInitiative
    [Source: Active Well Being Institute]

  • Olympic hosts Paris and London lead together on sustainability

    Olympic hosts Paris and London lead together on sustainability

    With the IOC’s coordination commission for Paris giving a ringing endorsement to the city’s Olympic project on their first inspection visit in June, organisers are maximising efforts to use the Games as a platform for major developments at the city, regional and national levels.
    Amid reports of rising costs, IOC inspectors’ concerns were alleviated by a joint financing deal between Paris 2024, the city and French government guaranteeing €1.4 billion ($1.63bn) of funding for Olympic-related infrastructure. The agreement provides more certainty for two of the most controversial projects, channelling extra money to build a permanent aquatics centre with a redefined legacy concept and enhancing value for local residents around the Olympic Village site.
    The post-Games plan for the aquatics venue will see the region of Seine-Saint-Denis receive nine swimming pools after the Games rather than the five initially planned, to plug a shortage of community sports facilities in the area. While the Olympic Village remains in its originally planned location, residents living nearby will benefit from the undergrounding of power lines, new housing and the creation of new green spaces.
    Jean-François Martins, deputy mayor of Paris, says the city and Games officials are delivering on their ambitions thanks to the help of an agreement between the mayors of London and Paris.
    “After Brexit [vote in 2016] Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Mayor Sadiq Khan decided not to be competitors but to have really strong relations between London and Paris and to create together, at the heart of Europe, cities that will shine on a worldwide scale,” he told Host City at SportAccord.
    “So they decided to work together especially with the Olympics where the learnings, skills and experience of London will be precious for us and maybe as well we can share what we can do 12 years after London and to inspire each other.”
    In addition to collaborating to combat societal issues, Hidalgo and Khan are undertaking huge efforts to tackle the global climate crisis. “Both of them are really committed in the fight against climate change… so we are putting the Olympics at the heart of the Paris agreement on climate change which will help us deliver an environmentally-friendly Games,” Martins added.
    The two mayors are scheduling a conference in 2019 to discuss climate issues. “I am pretty optimistic about this cooperation,” he said.
    Hidalgo is also chair of C40 Cities, which connects 96 cities to take climate action, and represents 700-plus million citizens and one quarter of the global economy. Organisers of the next four Olympics – in Tokyo, Beijing, Paris and Los Angeles – are supporting a new IOC partnership on climate issues inked with the C40 group at the end of June. They are working with interested cities, candidate cities and Olympic hosts to help them reach their sustainability goals.
    C40 chair Hidalgo, who also heads Olympic delivery partner SOLIDEO, emphasised that hosting the Olympics “is a unique privilege for any city, and provides an amazing opportunity to accelerate the climate and air quality initiatives that mayors need to implement for the future of their citizens.”
    It’s so far, so good for Paris 2024. The IOC coordination commission chair Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant was gushing with praise after the inspection visit.
    “Paris 2024 is delivering on its commitment to host pioneering Olympic Games fully in line with Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap,” he said.
    “I have been particularly impressed by the ambition of all of the stakeholders involved in this project to take advantage of the opportunity of the Games to create a springboard for the city, region and nation.”
     
    This article first appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of Host City magazine. Jean-Francois Martins will be speaking on legacy planning for Paris 2024 at Host City 2018 in Glasgow on 20-21 November

  • How is Expo 2020 Dubai “Creating the Future”?

    How is Expo 2020 Dubai “Creating the Future”?

    In 2020, Dubai will host the biggest event in the history of the Arab World: the first World Expo ever held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
    Our theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, is based on the belief that innovation and progress are the result of people and ideas coming together in new and unique ways.
    With 25 million visits expected between 20 October, 2020 and 10 April, 2021 and more than 200 participants, including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses and educational institutions, it is not difficult to see how Expo 2020 is ‘Connecting Minds’.
    But how are we ‘Creating the Future’? We believe a World Expo should leave a lasting impact on the path of human progress, and we are working to realise this vision across various dimensions.
    From the very beginning, Expo 2020 has been committed to building a legacy that is meaningful and sustainable, extending its impact and benefits beyond the UAE to the wider region and the rest of the world. Expo 2020’s long-term approach is based on four pillars: physical, economic, social and reputational.
     
    Integrated community
    Expo 2020 will take place on a 4.38 sq km masterplanned site inspired by our core theme. Al Wasl Plaza, which takes its name from the Arabic term for ‘the connection’, is the site’s centrepiece. It connects three Themed Districts, each of which is dedicated to one of our key subthemes: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. A large part of our physical strategy involves the site’s transformation immediately after the World Expo into District 2020 – a highly accessible, well connected and integrated urban development that will continue our mission to Connect, Create and Innovate.
    District 2020 will be a world-class integrated community, building on the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai and supporting the acceleration of Dubai’s development. It has been carefully planned to support the UAE’s future vision by supporting sustainable economic development, moving towards an innovation-driven economy and creating a business environment that directly encourages progress within key growth industries.
    It has been designed to offer a new urban experience at the cutting edge of modern working and living, and to promote a collaborative and innovation-driven business ecosystem that encourages a sustainable, healthy and balanced lifestyle. It will include a variety of residential and commercial spaces in a location that will become home to innovation, educational and entertainment facilities, parks, health and leisure amenities, as well as a Conference and Exhibition Centre (CoEx) developed by Dubai World Trade Centre.
    It will be one of the most connected places on the planet. Located near Al Maktoum International Airport, the community will be connected to Dubai Metro via a dedicated station and major highways, making it easily accessible from all of the UAE’s air and sea ports.
     
    Permanent presence
    District 2020 will reuse 80 per cent of Expo 2020’s built environment and many aspects of the Expo 2020 masterplan have been designed with dual purposes in mind. The Sustainability Pavilion, one of the iconic Expo 2020 signature pavilions, will remain as a world-class Children and Science Centre, continuing its mission to encourage appreciation of science and nature among visitors and residents, particularly youth, for years to come.
    While the CoEx will provide 45,000 sqm of exhibition space during the World Expo, this will be increased to 180,000 sqm for District 2020, spurring on Dubai’s evolution as a leading global destination for events, conferences and exhibitions.
    Two multinational giants have already committed to establishing a permanent presence within District 2020. Siemens will base its global headquarters for airports, cargo and ports logistics at the site, while Accenture will open a digital hub.
    District 2020 will also be home to an array of social and cultural attractions and recreational spaces. It will retain the iconic Al Wasl Plaza, the site’s 150-metre diameter centrepiece, which will feature a 67.5-metre tall domed trellis inspired by Expo 2020’s logo.
    Expo 2020 will also spur significant long-term economic growth. Our business-focused tools and outreach programmes are engaging firms of all sizes, including a particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as we understand they are the backbone of any economy. Our new Online Marketplace also connects businesses and suppliers not only to our partners but also to each other, creating a platform unlike no other in the region.
    More than 20,000 companies from 140 countries, including more than 14,100 SMEs, have already registered on the Expo 2020 Dubai e-Sourcing Portal. Last year, more than AED 10.8 billion of Expo construction contracts and AED 411 million of non-construction contracts were awarded. To date, Expo has awarded a total of 3,093 contracts, with more than half going to SMEs, helping them to grow their futures.
    By building ties that will remain well beyond 2020, Expo will continue to contribute to new business generation, GDP growth and job creation across the region for generations to come.
     
    Bringing the world together
    Expo 2020 will also strengthen the UAE’s reputation on the international stage by demonstrating the country’s capacity to bring the world together. It will not only highlight the UAE as an inclusive, diverse, tolerant, safe and cooperative nation, but also showcase the great potential of the wider region to the rest of the world.
    From a social perspective, Expo 2020 is an opportunity to inspire, empower and involve our youth, enabling young people to expand their horizons. It will encourage an understanding of – and an interest in – key drivers of future progress in line with our three subthemes.
    The MEASA region boasts a substantial youth population with an enormous wealth of potential. Our youth are the innovators and thought leaders of tomorrow, so we are working to harness and nurture their talent as the new stewards of our planet.
    The next World Expo is an immense opportunity to create an integrated ecosystem that will continue to attract businesses, visitors and residents long into the future. It is a festival for all that brings the world together, but its impact will extend far beyond the six months of the event. Expo 2020 is one of many steps along the road to ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.
     
    This article first appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of Host City magazine

  • Queensland’s Tourism Industry Development Minister to Welcome Delegates to CityAccord 2019

    [Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is delighted to unveil its Gold Coast CityAccord conference programme: Mindful Event Hosting – Respecting the Past with a View to the Future. 
    CityAccord is aimed at multiple event stakeholders including cities and regions, sponsors, international federations, organising committees, as well as industry. 
    Queensland’s Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones will welcome delegates to CityAccord and commented why CityAccord would be an important part of SportAccord 2019 on the Gold Coast of Queensland.
    “As the keynote speaker at CityAccord 2018 in Bangkok I know the importance of the conference and the opportunity it provides to speak directly to delegates.
    “We are excited to host numerous great cities from around the world here on the Gold Coast in 2019 and look forward to sharing our experiences and expertise from developing Australia’s best events calendar and of course from hosting the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.”
    The CityAccord conference will include panel sessions covering: Innovative City/Event Ticketing Approaches and Sport Destination Cities Branding – What Works?! with Q&As following each session.
    Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said:
    “CityAccord is always a popular event at SportAccord and attended by organisations who have a vested interest in sport. This year’s CityAccord conference programme promises to deliver some innovative ideas on increasing revenue streams, including how to capitalise on secondary ticket sales, as well as make the most of the myriad opportunities available to a city when hosting an elite sports event.
    “It goes without saying, hosting SportAccord in Gold Coast is a great opportunity for organisations to learn how much Queensland has to offer.”
    This year’s Co-Chairs for CityAccord are Mélanie Duparc, Secretary General, World Union of Olympic Cities, and David Simon, President of the Los Angeles Sports Council.
    The Gold Coast edition of SportAccord will host over 50 conference sessions with around 100 international speakers and panellists taking part. The five conference streams include: The Summit, CityAccord, LawAccord, MediaAccord, and HealthAccord.
     

  • Denmark: a country with a view

    Denmark: a country with a view

    What do you see when you scale the grass roof of the Museum of Moesgaard in Aarhus? You see the Danish landscape; you see part of the course of the upcoming IIAF World Cross Country Championships; and you see a country with a view. A view to great international sporting events.
    Together with national federations and Sport Event Denmark, Aarhus has hosted a long list of major international sporting events.
    Aarhus is just one of many active host cities within Denmark. Other Danish cities – Copenhagen, Herning an Odense – all played hosts to some of the greatest world championships this summer. The IIHF World Ice Hockey World Championship, The ITU MultiSport Festival and the Sailing World Championships were staged in Denmark in 2018 alone.
    The Danish record of accomplishment was evaluated by IOC president Thomas Bach on his visit to the Sailing World Championships in Aarhus. “Denmark has proven to be a world-class organizer. No-one in the sporting world could have any doubts that Denmark could organize a fantastic Olympic Games, organizationally and logistically,” he said in an interview with Ritzau news agency.
     
    Crossing cultures
    Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark appreciates the compliments from the IOC-president, even if the Olympics are not on a Danish agenda.
    “We have gained invaluable experiences through the staging of sporting events in Denmark. Sport Event Denmark as the national sporting event organization acts a knowledge bank and accounts for the future investments in bids for and organizing events for the international federations,” he explains, stressing that host cities and the national federations are vital in the collaboration.
    In 2019, Denmark will host new events that will benefit from the experiences gained from the previous events staged in Denmark. The IAAF World Cross Country Championships is among those on the 2019 calendar.
    The IAAF World Cross Country Championships is one of the world’s oldest running events. The event will be staged in March on Danish soil on and around the Museum of Moesgaard in Aarhus. The course will include running across the sloping grass roof of the museum.
    The local organizers are currently developing an innovative concept for the event. The aim is to boost the championships to focus on cross-country running, nationally and internationally. In addition to the world championships, there are plans for supporting races for schoolchildren and a mass participation race.
    The Danish vision has already attracted much attention from both the International Athletic Federation, IAAF and the international World of Running.
    IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe visited the innovative course and told the organizers: “It is really, really exciting because it will showcase our sport in an innovative, modern, exciting setting but also show that cross country is a tough sport, and it returns it to what I will describe as a traditional cross country course with the surrounding landscape.”
    The view ahead of major international sporting events in Denmark is looking good as Danish host cities, together with Sport Event Denmark, keep bidding for more to fill the pipeline.
     

    A selection of events in 2019

    IHF Men’s World Handball Championship 2019
    UCI CycloCross World Championships 2019
    WCF World Women’s Curling Championship 2019
    IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2019

     
     
    Fact file: Sport Event Denmark
    Sport Event Denmark is the national Danish sports event organization. Established and supported by the Danish Government. The objective is bidding for and hosting world-class sporting events in Denmark, for example World- and European Championships in different sports as well as major sports congresses. Sport Event Denmark works in close collaboration with the Danish host cities and the national governing bodies. Today Denmark is one of the leading countries in terms of hosting world-class sporting events (in top-15 globally according to SportCal).
    #sporteventDK

  • Sports experts focus on maximising athlete performance at HealthAccord 2019

    Sports experts focus on maximising athlete performance at HealthAccord 2019

    [Source: SportAccord] SportAccord 2019 is delighted to confirm its HealthAccord conference: The Power of Sport – The Power to Change will take place on Tuesday 7 May 2019 from 09:00-12:30. This follows its successful launch at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit in Bangkok, Thailand this year.
    Prof. Margo Mountjoy, Co-Chair for HealthAccord commented on the benefits gained for delegates attending the conference:
    “HealthAccord 2019 is a great opportunity for SportAccord participants to learn from healthcare professionals and technology experts on topics that are relevant for all sports: athlete mental health, nutritional supplements, technological monitoring of athlete injuries and wearable sensors in sport.
    Learning how to enhance your athletes’ health will ultimately result in improvements in sport performance. We are excited to bring the latest evidence in science and technology to Gold Coast to help you improve your game!”
    This year’s action-packed conference will cover a number of topics including a panel session on mental health in relation to athletes and society. The panel will examine innovations, diagnosis and treatment, the links between mental health and activity levels, and the effects on performance and quality of life. Panelists will also share practical tools and takeaways to help international federations tackle issues and break down barriers to treatment.
    Giving her perspective on athlete mental health, panelist Kathy Martin, Senior Director, Athlete Assistance, Women’s Tennis Association said:
    “The HealthAccord conference promises to deliver innovative and practical information for SportAccord attendees. Learn from experts in the field, get tips and takeaways gleaned from work with elite athletes on and off the field of play. Apply these ideas to your own sport to enhance your athletes’ health and performance.
    It is an honour to present at HealthAccord and to be among professionals who desire to help athletes from all disciplines to thrive competitively, physically, mentally and emotionally. Let’s play!”
    Co-Chairs leading the HealthAccord conference programme are: Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, President, FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine) & Member of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission – Medical and Scientific Group; and Prof. Margo Mountjoy, Chair, ASOIF Medical + Scientific Consultative Group, IOC Medical + Scientific Commission-Games Group FINA Bureau.
    Organisations involved in the business of sport who wish to attend HealthAccord should register for the Gold Coast edition which entitles them to join the entire conference programme and take advantage of all the opportunities on offer.
    As part of the Official Schedule, delegates will be able to enjoy over 20 networking events, a popular 3-day Exhibition and Sports Festival taking place in the outstanding Gold Coast Conference and Exhibition Centre situated close to Queensland’s stunning coastline.
    Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

  • Scotland kicks off summer of women’s sport

    Scotland kicks off summer of women’s sport

    [Source: VisitScotland] Scotland is one of the world’s leading event destinations and this summer it will reaffirm its position as it shines a spotlight on women’s sport.
    Over the next three months the country will play host to six European and international sporting events kicking off with the UEFA Women’s U19 European Championship in July and culminating in the biggest event in women’s golf, The 2019 Solheim Cup in September.
    The country will also host the Women’s Eurohockey Championships II, the inaugural Women’s Tour of Scotland, The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup T20 Global Qualifier during the summer months.
    To mark the occasion, VisitScotland and its EventScotland team gathered players from each event to celebrate this special summer of women’s sport and showcase Scotland is leading the way in the development and promotion of world-class women’s sporting events.
    Solheim Cup Team Europe Captain, Catriona Matthew, met with Scotland cricketer, Samantha Haggo, along with Katie Archibald, Women’s Tour of Scotland ambassador and Commonwealth, World and Olympic Cycling Champion; Becky Ward, Scotland’s Hockey Vice Captain and Scotland Under 19’s football player Michaela McAlonie to commemorate this occasion.
    Talking about this unprecedented summer of women’s sport, Catriona Matthew, Solheim Cup Team Europe Captain said: “It is incredibly exciting that The 2019 Solheim Cup will be the culmination of a terrific year for women’s sport in Scotland, showcasing the very best of a range of sports across a number of events. There is no doubt that women’s sport is benefitting from an enhanced profile both domestically and globally and it is fitting that The Solheim Cup and golf plays a huge part of that in the country which gave the game to world. I hope the Scottish public turn out in force to support our world-class athletes, not just at Gleneagles in September but across all of our women’s sports events.”
    VisitScotland’s Director of Events, Paul Bush OBE, said: “2019 is a big year for women’s sport with Scotland providing the perfect stage over the next three months for six key events on the international sporting calendar. As a world-leading events destination we have a proud history of supporting and championing women’s sporting events. From hosting the largest women’s annual golf event on the Ladies European Tour to supporting showcase events for national teams, we continue to shine a spotlight and build on the momentum shift behind women’s sport.
    The Scottish summer of women’s sporting events are, in chronological order:
    Football: UEFA Women’s U19 European Championship – 16 – 28 July
    In the aftermath of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Scotland will be hosting UEFA’s flagship European Championship Youth Tournament, the Women’s Under 19 European Championship, which aims to expose talented youth footballers to elite level competition in preparation for stepping up to the senior stage to represent their country. Taking place across four professional football stadiums in Scotland – the grounds of St. Johnstone FC (Perth), Stirling Albion FC, Partick Thistle FC (Glasgow) and St. Mirren FC (Paisley) – Scotland will be joined by Belgium, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and current holders Spain as they all compete for the trophy, which will be lifted by the winner on Sunday 28 July.
    Michaela McAlonie said: “This has already been an exciting summer for Scottish women’s football, and will now culminate with the Women’s Under-19s Euros.
    “Scotland has shown in the past that it can host world class events and this one will be no different.
    “The players can’t wait to play in front of a passionate home crowd and hopefully the country gets behind us, like they did for the ‘A’ squad’s World Cup debut in France.
    “Young girls now have female footballing role models and hopefully over the course of July we can continue to help inspire the next generation.”
    For more information, including tickets, visit https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-fa/wu19s-european-championships/
    Hockey: Women’s Eurohockey Championship II – 4 – 10 August
    Held every two years, the Women’s Eurohockey Championship Division II will see eight nations compete to join the first division and rank amongst the best in Europe. Featuring 20 matches spread over seven days at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, the iconic legacy venue of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, all eyes will be on team Scotland as they go up against Wales, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Austria and Turkey to gain promotion to the top tier and avoid relegation to the 3rd league.  Scotland matches are due to take place at 17:00 Sunday 04 August, 18:00 Tuesday 06 August and 19:00 Wednesday 07 August ahead of a final on Saturday 10 August.
    Becky Ward, Scotland Vice-Captain, said: “It’s such a big year for Scottish women’s sport and to have a massive women’s hockey tournament in Glasgow is amazing. The squad can’t wait to play at home and I hope there will be a great support cheering us on, as well as all the athletes across the other sports events in Scotland this summer. It’s really exciting to be part of it and the tournament will play a big part in promoting women’s sport in Scotland, and beyond.”
    To find out more and get tickets, visit https://www.scottish-hockey.org.uk/womens-eurohockey-championship-ii/
    Cycling: Women’s Tour of Scotland – 9 – 11 August
    The Women’s Tour is a new and permanent fixture on the professional cycling calendar. This year’s inaugural the three-day, three stage 350km Tour will take place on Friday 9 – Sunday 11 August. Starting from Dundee’s iconic waterfront area, the 103km opening stage will take in the Tay Road Bridge and travel down through the Kingdom of Fife to finish in Pittencrief Park, Dunfermline. Stage Two is a 139.4km route departing on Saturday 10 August 2019 from Glasgow’s George Square, sweeping through The Trossachs and finishing in the centre of Perth.
    The final stage will start and finish in the beautiful setting of Holyrood Park, the famous Royal Park in central Edinburgh.  The 118.3km stage will include three Queen of the Mountain climbs.
    Katie Archibald MBE, Commonwealth, World and Olympic Champion and Women’s Tour of Scotland ambassador, said: “I can’t wait for the summer. To be riding my bike in a professional women’s bike race in Scotland is so exciting. I’m really looking forward to taking part and hopefully there will be plenty of people out on the roads supporting us. 
    “Not only do we have the Women’s Tour of Scotland for the next few years taking place every August, but with the World Championships coming to Scotland in a few years, I think the enthusiasm for the sport in our country is only going to grow.”
    To find out more, visit https://womenstourofscotland.com/
    Golf: The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open – 8 – 11 August
    The co-sanctioned ASI Ladies Scottish Open is one of the premier events on the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA. It will be held at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the first time just three weeks after the men’s Scottish Open. Tickets for this event are FREE and it is the final qualifying event for players looking to make Team Europe ahead of The 2019 Solheim Cup.
    To find out more, visit https://ladiesscottishopen.com/
    Cricket: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup T20 Global Qualifier – 31 August – 7 September
    The Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier will take place in Dundee and Angus. The event is the final global qualifier for the T20 Women’s World Cup, which is being staged in Australia next year. The qualifier will see eight teams – Scotland, Netherlands, Ireland, Papa New Guinea, Thailand, USA, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh – compete for the final two qualifying places at next year tournament.
    Samantha Haggo, Scotland cricketer, said: “2019 has been a big year for us and we’re really excited to be hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Dundee and Angus.
    “In the past, the qualifier has been held in places such as Thailand and Sri Lanka so we’re looking forward to being able to play in our own backyard this time around and will be aiming to capitalise on our home advantage.
    “We’ve been working really hard on our skills over the past 12 months, never losing sight of our goal of reaching our first ever World Cup. The girls can’t wait to get going and hope that people get behind us and come to watch.
    “Women’s cricket is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and so this is a great opportunity for people to see what we’re about and the skills we have to offer.”
    Entry will be free for all games. For more information, visit www.cricketscotland.com
    Golf: Solheim Cup – 9 – 15 September (comp days 13 – 15)
    Hosted by VisitScotland, The 2019 Solheim Cup aims to be the biggest ever European edition of the event and the most family-focused golf event in history, with around 100,000 spectators expected at Gleneagles in September. It is the pinnacle of women’s golf with the best players from Europe and the USA going head-to-head in match play formation. The 16th edition promises to be one of the highlights on the women’s world sporting calendar in 2019.
    To find our more and get tickets, visit https://www.solheimcup2019.com/

  • How AIPH-approved international horticultural expos create lasting legacies for hosts

    How AIPH-approved international horticultural expos create lasting legacies for hosts

    Since the 1950s, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has been approving international horticultural exhibitions as the pre-requisite for an event to receive the recognition of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE). Through this official approval process, hosting countries and regions gain the ability to invite the participation of other nations through the very highest diplomatic channels.
    In 1960 the first AIPH-approved international horticultural expo was held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Over the ensuing sixty years, AIPH has approved thirty A1 world horticultural expos, around the globe, attracting millions of visitors for the benefit of gaining knowledge and inspiration of the positive power that plants and flowers have on the lives of a region’s population.

    The Floriade legacy
    Profusely aware of the multitude of benefits that world horticultural expos bring to a host region, the Netherlands hold a Floriade every ten years. In 2022, Expo Floriade Almere will be the sixth international horticultural expo to be held in the country.
    Floriades play a critical role in the development or regeneration of a city. Hosting a Floriade stimulates significant regional infrastructure investment which initiates a boost to the region’s trade, industry, international relations and even education.
    Floriade 2012, held in Venlo, testifies to the long-term benefits a region can reap from hosting an international horticultural expo. Since hosting the Floriade, Venlo has experience on-going levels of economic growth above the national average. The project also led to the establishment of two new university campus sites which today attract talent and skills, of all age groups, to the region. The location has become a thriving community of development and innovation.
    Hosting the expo also provided a powerful means for branding the region, achieving national and international recognition and establishing a strong and purposeful reputation. Venlo is now familiar not only to the horticulture industry but also beyond. Obtaining a strong sense of regional identity also had the impact of strengthening a sense of social cohesion within the area. As a ‘cradle-to-cradle’, project Floriade 2012 has created significant lasting benefits across numerous areas, including employment, innovation and education, for many generations to come.
     
    The AIPH Green City Concept
    Alongside AIPH’s role for approving international horticultural exhibitions, AIPH’s work in Green City involves spreading awareness of the AIPH Green City Concept and supporting city greening through AIPH Green City Guidelines. The objectives of international horticultural exhibitions are synergistic with AIPH’s Green City work. The growing imperative to address salient issues of climate change, air pollution, biodiversity, mental health and social cohesion can be directly addressed through the development of green cities. As stronger evidence builds daily to prove the direct correlation between plants and flowers and a healthier and happier place to live and work, cities around the world are embracing the concept of city greening. Through AIPH’s Green City Concept and approved international horticultural exhibitions, AIPH supports cities in developing their genuine commitment to becoming an internationally recognised green city. AIPH’s global platform for disseminating knowledge; sharing studies, research and best practices; for enabling discussion and encouraging networking offers the unique opportunity for galvanising the pace of ‘living green’ infrastructure development with the multitude of benefits this brings to a region.
     
    Four categories of AIPH-approved horticultural exhibitions
    AIPH approves horticultural exhibitions for large public audiences, smaller public audiences and industry only. Approved horticultural events are categorised into four different classes: A1, B, C and D.
    A1: World Horticultural Exhibitions
    A1 class events are major, large scale world horticultural exhibitions that are held for a long duration of three to six months. AIPH approval and subsequent BIE recognition gives organisers the authority to invite the participation of other countries through the highest diplomatic channels. A country is allowed to organise one A1 horticulture exhibition every ten years. The minimum exhibition area is 50ha, the minimum number of participating counties is 10 and applications are required 12 to 6 years before the event opens. AIPH approved A1 exhibitions have been held in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Turkey, Japan, China and Thailand.
    The next AIPH Approved (A1) world horticultural expos are:
    Expo 2019 Beijing, China
    Expo 2021 Doha, Qatar
    Expo 2022 Floriade Almere, the Netherlands
    Expo 2024 ?ód?, Poland
     
    B: International Horticultural Exhibitions
    B class events are horticultural exhibitions with international participation, held for three to six months. These are organised more at city level, rather than involving national governments. International participation is secured through city to city contact. The minimum exhibition area is 25ha, the minimum number of participating counties is 10 and applications are required 10 to 3 years before the event opens. AIPH approved B class events have been held in France, Germany, China, Japan and Canada.
     
    C: International Horticultural Shows
    C class events are held for the purpose of inspiring and entertaining the public. They are held for a period of between four to twenty days. The minimum exhibition area is 6,000m² and the minimum number of participating countries is 6. Applications are required 5 to 0.5 years before the opening of an established show and 5 – 1 years before the opening of a new or non-annual show. AIPH approved shows include Floralies in Nantes, France.
     
    D: International Horticultural Trade Exhibitions
    D class events promote trade, innovation, development, knowledge sharing and networking in the global horticulture industry. These B2B events are often held annually and there are no restrictions on their duration.  A minimum of 60 per cent of exhibitors must be involved in horticultural production or supply, exhibitions can incorporate symposia and applications are required 5 to 0.5 years before the opening of an established exhibition and 5 to 1 years before the opening of a new or non-annual exhibition. AIPH approved trade exhibitions include Flormart (Italy) and GreenTech (the Netherlands).
     
    Bringing cities to life
    All AIPH-approved events are regulated, monitored, supported and promoted by AIPH to ensure that the highest possible standards and recognition are achieved for the benefit of organisers, participants, visitors and citizens of the hosting region.
    AIPH is committed to championing the power of plants around the world and welcomes the partnership of any city that is committed to developing its horticulture industry, ‘living green’ infrastructure and has the ambition to bring the AIPH Green City Concept to life.
     
    This article first appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of Host City magazine. Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General of the International Association of Horticultural Producers is speaking at Host City 2019