Communities in the North West of England have been taking a bit of a hammering of late. Over a scorching bank holiday weekend, a high magnitude tremor from Cuadrilla’s fracking operations shook the Lancashire city of Preston.
The English Football League (EFL)’s office in Preston might have been closed at the time, but EFL Executive Chair Debbie Jevans CBE* has been working tirelessly over the bank holiday to deal with a different kind of shock – the possible departure of two clubs from the nearby towns of Bolton and Bury from League One due to crises in their ownership.
Jevans has granted both Bolton Wanderers and Bury FC an extension of until 5PM on Tuesday to finalise their takeovers. Both teams have had to cancel or postpone matches due to their financial crises.
While the EFL will not want to lose teams from the league, neither does it want to postpone any more matches. It is hoped that both clubs will manage to complete their sales by close of business today, despite the fact that Bolton’s negotiations with Football Ventures collapsed over the weekend.
Meanwhile, a potential buyer for Bury has emerged in the shape of C&N Sporting Risk.
Jevans told BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday Morning that the company has “demonstrated to us enough source of funding.
“There was enough credible information before the board to allow this extension till Tuesday, but in doing that, no more games have to be postponed.”
Responding to C&N Sporting Risk’s reported disappointment that the extension was not longer as its legal adviser was unavailable until Wednesday, Jevans suggested he could “give advice on the phone and by email.”
“There is enough time, if all parties want to do a deal by then,” she said. “We’ve got many examples where clubs have changed hands in a very short period of time and we see no reason why this can’t happen by Tuesday.
In a country where power and opportunities continue to be drawn towards major cities, towns like Bolton and Bury need focal points like football clubs.
Lisa Nandy is MP of nearby Wigan and co-founder of Centre for Towns. “Sport is basically the glue that holds the community together,” she told Politico. “If you go to any part of the borough you’ll find grassroots community sports clubs. You’ve got every single generation there — grandparents, parents, aunties, uncles, kids, the works… It’s a big source of pride. It’s part of our history, part of our culture, part of our identity.”
Bolton, Bury, Wigan and Preston all voted for Brexit. Perhaps for towns like these to have the future they deserve, they need more leaders like Debbie Jevans who are prepared to forsake their holidays, address audiences and help to conclude negotiations successfully – before the tremors get any worse.
*Debbie Jevans CBE is speaking at Host City 2019 in Glasgow on 26-27 November.
Category: City Development
-
Can Bolton and Bury survive no-deal EFL exit shock?
-
Plant power: how expos can safeguard urban futures
Host City: What is the main benefit for a city hosting an AIPH approved expo?
Tim Briercliffe: AIPH approved expos are international spectacles with the ability to stimulate economic and social development and transform the international reputation of host cities. As much as to create a showcase for national and international attention, these expos are often staged as part of a development or redevelopment strategy of the host city.
Each expo lasts up to six months, sites range from 50 to over 500 hectares in size and they can attract as many as 16 million visitors. The legacy of an expo is long and far-reaching with benefits for business and trade, research and development, employment and education, the physical and mental health of citizens and social cohesion.
Host City: What is the most important factor you are looking for in the hosts of your expos?
Tim Briercliffe: AIPH partners with cities that share our vision of a healthier future for urban citizens. Alongside this vision, these cities need the commitment and dedication to make such a vision a reality.
AIPH is the world’s champion for the power of plants and believes that our relationship with nature is fundamental to our future. The AIPH network provides the knowledge and expertise to support a city in creating better and cleaner urban environments and in gaining global recognition as a green city.
What are your expectations of Host City 2019?
Tim Briercliffe: Host City 2019 is a great opportunity to meet a community of visionary, entrepreneurial and innovative thinkers committed to the development or regeneration of their cities. Welcoming this community to the AIPH network helps us to advance our hopes for a world where the essential value of plants is recognised and reflected in every step forward for humanity.
Tim Briercliffe is speaking at Host City 2019, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, on 26-27 November in Glassgow. Register here -
SportAccord President highlights sport’s global impact at high-profile Russian summit
[Source: SportAccord] Raffaele Chiulli, the President of SportAccord and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), underlined the importance of collaborating around “a bold vision” as he spoke alongside Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, at a high-profile forum yesterday.
Dr Chiulli was invited to participate as an expert speaker in a Plenary Session entitled ‘Development of Sport in Integration with the World Community’ at the Russia – Country of Sports International Sports Forum, which has brought more than 1,500 attendees to the city of Nizhny Novgorod.
In the Plenary Session, which was moderated by Pavel Kolobkov, Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation, Dr Chiulli and his fellow panellists discussed a range of vital issues, including how sport can be used as a unifying principle in the modern world, sport’s principles as the basis for harmonious human development, and the ‘Sport for All’ concept of promoting the role of a healthy lifestyle as a factor in the successful social and economic development of countries.
Dr Chiulli, who is also President of the International Powerboating Federation (UIM) and the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), highlighted the importance of “opportunity, accessibility and sustainability” in helping to improve sports participation levels.
“For many members of GAISF, this means we must not be afraid to take sport out of the traditional stadiums and into the streets,” Dr Chiulli said. “Our role at GAISF is to be the United Voice of Sports. Together, we have 125 members, which is much more powerful than one International Sport Federation on its own. Together, we can share best practice and improve sport globally, and together we can solve and reverse the issue of declining participation.”
In underlining the need for a collaborative approach, Dr Chiulli added: “We are always stronger when we stand together and, ultimately, this is the only way we can all learn from each other. Of course, it is not enough simply to bring people together. We must develop tools for learning and sharing. We must have a programme of activities that makes us think and react. As with any change, it is important to bring together all the main actors around a bold vision.”
Alongside President Putin, Dr Chiulli shared the stage with Olga Golodets, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; Ivo Ferriani, President, International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF); Julio Maglione, President of FINA (International Swimming Federation); René Fasel, President of IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation); and Aleksander ?eferin, President of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations).
After the Forum, President Chiulli was amongst an exclusive group of international sports executives invited to meet with the President of the Russian Federation to discuss about how to shape the future of sport.
Dr Chiulli will provide the Opening Address at SportAccord’s upcoming International Federation (IF) Forum 2019 from 28-30 October 2019 in Lausanne. The IF Forum 2019 Programme will focus on ‘Athlete Centred Sport’.
At Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 from 10-12 December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dr Chiulli will once again set the scene with opening remarks before participating in a Panel Session entitled ‘The Future of International Sports Governance’ under the conference’s umbrella theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’.
The next edition of the annual SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit will take place from 19-24 April 2020 in Beijing, China.
For further information about the IF Forum, please download the brochure here or visit: https://www.sportaccord.sport/if-forum. For further information about Regional SportAccord, click here and for further information about the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit, click here.
Follow SportAccord, the IF Forum and Regional SportAccord via Twitter @sportaccord or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. -
Glasgow named best destination for culture, business and EU Capital of Sport
In the run up to Host City 2019, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, Glasgow has been identified as the UK’s most cultural and creative city.
The latest recognition follows the city being named European Capital of Sport for 2023, and one of the world’s most sustainable business event destinations – all three accolades arriving in the space of just a few days.
[Source: SEC]: The naming of Glasgow as the UK’s top cultural and creative city is part of a landmark report by the European Commission.
The report puts Glasgow ahead of London, Bristol, Brighton and Manchester which make up the rest of the top five in the UK. Edinburgh is ranked 6th in the list. As befits the city’s ‘People Make Glasgow’ slogan, the report also ranked Glasgow as Europe’s leader for ‘openness, tolerance and trust’.
The Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor 2019 report looked at 190 cities from across 30 European countries and ranks 29 different aspects of a city’s cultural health, including its cultural vibrancy, creative economy and ability to attract creative talent and stimulate cultural engagement.
The report states: “Glasgow was one of the first European Capitals of Culture, in 1990. Known as an industrial city, it has now gained recognition as a creative and cultural centre of European importance.”
Dr Bridget McConnell CBE, the Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “We always knew Glasgow was a global cultural leader and we’re delighted that the European Commission has confirmed our position of the UK’s leading cultural and creative city.
“Glasgow is a city bursting with energy, passion and creativity and filled with artists, designers, creators and innovators. We have world-class museums and galleries, incredible architecture and history and as a UNESCO City of Music, there’s nowhere better to enjoy a gig. A focus for the performing arts and a hub for the creative industries, it’s no wonder that we’ve come out top of the ranking.
“What’s more, our openness, tolerance and trust has been rated as the best in Europe, confirming what we already know, that our people make Glasgow the best city in the world.”
Glasgow is home to more than 100 cultural organisations and five of Scotland’s six internationally renowned national performing arts companies, namely the Royal Scottish National Orchestra; National Theatre of Scotland; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet. It is also home to music venues including the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City Halls and Old Fruitmarket.
More people visit Glasgow’s museums each year than in any other UK city outside of London, with both Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Riverside Museum attracting more than 1.3 million visits each in the last year. The city is also investing £66 million in a full refurbishment and redisplay of The Burrell Collection, which is set to re-open to the public in 2021. Glasgow’s nine city museums are home to Europe’s largest civic arts collection, with masterpieces by Dali, Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir, Whistler and Monet as well as stunning works by the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists – all on show for free in the city’s museums. In terms of contemporary art, Glasgow has no fewer than eight Turner Prize winners and 12 nominees who have hailed from, trained in, or worked out of the city in recent years.
The city is also the place to come to admire the genius of architect and designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, or a gig at the SSE Hydro which in 2018 was named the world’s best performing music venue by size, or to enjoy shows by trailblazing companies such as The Citizen’s Theatre. Glasgow is also home to a year-round calendar of major cultural events from the UK’s biggest Mela to the Merchant City Festival and the World Pipe Band Championships. Every January, the city’s Celtic Connections festival welcomes more than 2,000 artists from across the globe to take part in some 300 events on 35 city stages as part of an incredible celebration of traditional and folk music. The city is also home to the Glasgow Jazz Festival, Glasgow International Comedy Festival and the Glasgow Film Festival.
Dr McConnell added: “We’re proud to have a huge and diverse cultural offer that’s open to everyone, whether that’s enjoying a community pantomime in venues across the city or being inspired in our world-class museums. We also recognise that we need to invest in our cultural legacy and we are doing just that with a £66 million refurbishment of The Burrell Collection. I have no doubt that when we once again reveal Sir William’s incredible gift in its new home, Glasgow’s cultural credentials will be lifted to even greater heights.”
Work is progressing on a new Culture Plan for Glasgow which will set out ambitious new targets to build the city’s reputation as globally recognised creative and cultural world city, with citizens at its heart.
Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE is speaking on the opening panel of Host City 2019, “Let’s Do This Together!” on 26-27 November in Glasgow. Register here. -
Glasgow hailed as one of the world’s top five cities for sustainable business tourism
[Source: Glasgow Convention Bureau] Glasgow has been recognised as one of the world’s top five cities for its commitment to sustainable business tourism.
The Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) published its 2019 rankings today (Thursday, October 31), with Scotland’s largest city climbing three places from joint-seventh to fourth.
The announcement comes at the close of the 58th annual International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) World Congress, which has been taking place in Houston, Texas this week.
It’s a huge boost for Glasgow as the city prepares to host the United Nations’ 26th Conference of the Parties Climate Change Conference (COP26) next year.
Governments and destinations around the world are responding to the global climate emergency and Glasgow’s ambitions include a pledge to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030. The Scottish Government has set a net zero emissions target for Scotland by 2045.
The GDS Index was launched in 2016 and promotes responsible business tourism best practice.
Compiled by global sustainability academics and policymakers, it ranks nearly 60 cities around the world based on four key criteria – environmental strategy and infrastructure; social sustainability performance; the strategy of the host city’s Convention Bureau; and industry supply chain support (from the likes of convention centres, meetings venues, hotels, restaurants and transport operators).
To date, Glasgow remains the only UK city to feature in the Index, which also includes Sydney, Barcelona and Kyoto.
Glasgow’s ranking recognises the city’s People Make Glasgow Greener campaign, which was launched by Glasgow Convention Bureau in 2017 and updated again this year.
A key feature of the campaign is a toolkit identifying some of the city’s leading sustainable businesses – from hotels and restaurants to conference venues, transport operators and corporate entertainment providers. It’s geared at simplifying the process of organising a sustainable conference in Glasgow and helping meetings organisers to find the services they require from suppliers with similar green objectives.
Glasgow’s ambition is to be at the forefront on climate action and we are determined to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030 and a world-leading centre for sustainable policy and innovation.
Being named as one of the world’s top five sustainable conference and business events destinations by the Global Destination Sustainability Index shows the great strides that we are making in that respect.
Glasgow is home to some of the world’s biggest energy companies and we’re internationally recognised as having one of the healthiest and most diverse energy industries globally; particularly in terms of low carbon industries, which has had a hugely positive impact on the volume of conferences that we’re attracting in these sectors.
Glasgow hosted 25 energy, sustainability and carbon reduction related conferences in the 2018/19 financial year, boosting the city’s economy by nearly £8m.
Aileen Crawford, Head of Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau said: “Today’s announcement is a fantastic achievement for Glasgow and it would not have been possible without strong partnership working and collaboration between the city’s tourism sector, academic and business communities, and the City Government.
Kathleen Warden, Director of Conferences Sales at the SEC said: “This is fantastic news for the city and we are proud to play a key role in helping to position Glasgow as the world’s 4th most sustainable conference destination. At the same time, being named a finalist for the GDS-Index’s Leadership in Sustainability Award is testament to our ambitious goals as a city.
“The SEC has been nominated to host COP26, which will put both our venue and the city on the global stage in terms of showcasing our green credentials. This is an incredibly important event for Glasgow, Scotland and the UK at a crucial time for governments across the world as they address climate change. We’re looking forward to working with partners across the city to build on our sustainability efforts and ensuring that we provide the best possible environment for world-class events.”
Guy Bigwood, Managing Director of the GDS-Index said: “Glasgow as a meetings and events destination has made a significant jump in sustainability performance in 2019. We are delighted to see that a UK city has risen to number 4 in the Global rankings, and has a strong strategy to develop even further. Glasgow is in the first division of pioneering cities that is defining what sustainability leadership stands for.” -
Thank you for the music! How Choir Games impact cities
Choir Games shape their host cities in a unique way. Whether in restaurants, cafés, parks, streets, opera, university, hotel, and public transport – the sound of choir music from four continents floats through the town for one or two wonderful festival weeks.
Singers from choral groups from all over the world not only have the chance to perform in a big TV show and compete in musical categories of various choral genres, but also present themselves in Friendship Concerts and bring their music into the streets and onto the squares of their host city.
Roughly 10,000 choirs from 107 different countries and regions have participated in the various INTERKULTUR choir events and created nights that never die. Especially during the Awards Ceremonies, national boundaries, ideologies, religions and restrictions of any kind dissolve and the singers are united by their love of choral music. China, Russia, USA, Vietnam, Israel, Iran, Gibraltar, Great Britain, France, Germany, Botswana, Suriname, Sweden, and many more countries have shared one stage, sung together from their hearts and created memories for a lifetime – not only for themselves but for all those who are part of the occasion.
The Choir Games usually gain a high media attention before, during and after the event; international media coverage reaches up to 1 billion people all over the world. As an example, in November 2019 the 11th World Choir Games 2020 has already gained a media reach of 400 million people – 10 months before event actually starts!
INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch further stresses the high legacy effect of the Choir Games: “The Choir Games create a fantastic atmosphere, wherever they happen. Visitors and inhabitants listen to fantastic choral music from international choirs, enjoy great concerts and share the big joy of the winning choirs about their achievements – memories that will last a lifetime! Local choirs get inspired by the international choirs and have the opportunity to work with choral experts from all over the world and thus make big progress in their musical development in just a few days.
“The international guests take their memories home to their countries, tell about the beauty and hospitality of the respective host city and share the experience of people getting united through the language of music.”
In a huge closing event, the hosting cities and countries traditionally give a wonderful, personal farewell to their international guests. Famous national music stars present a big stage show – supported by a 500-voices Festival Stage Choir consisting of 20 national and international choirs. A superlative musical experience for everyone!
The next Choir Games invite singers from all over the world to Flanders, Belgium, where the 11th World Choir Games 2020 promise to be another inspiring and unifying experience for the international choral world.
Dr. Christoph Wirtz, Secretary-General of INTERKULTUR is speaking at Host City 2019. You can also find out more at their exhibition stand at Host City 2019. -
Beijing cancels major events to contain coronavirus spread
Beijing’s municipal bureau of culture and tourism today announced the cancelation of “large-scale activities”, in a bid to hold back the spread of the potentially deadly coronavirus.
Events being cancelled include the city’s temple fairs, winter sports events and exhibitions that traditionally take place as part of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.
Big public gatherings in the city’s parks are a major part of New Year celebrations, due to take place on 25 January.
Last year, more than 2 million visitors gathered in Beijing’s 11 municipal parks and the Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture, according to state media.
The move follows the shutdown of Wuhan and two neighbouring cities, where the first human outbreaks of the coronavirus originated, 715 miles from Beijing.
The State Railway Group is also offering full reimbursements on tickets in order to minimise the impact of the world’s largest annual movement of people, known as “chunyun”.
Reported cases of the disease now exceed 500, including one near Tokyo and one in Washington State, USA. 17 people have died so far, in China. -
Paris 2024 announces first-of-its-kind partnership at Global Sports Week Paris
[Source: Global Sports Week] The French Development Agency has become the first non-commercial Olympic Games partner with rights to the Olympic Rings. The unprecedented announcement was made at the opening of the first Global Sports Week Paris at the Carrousel du Louvre. The partnership will provide for a concrete financing programme to support projects aimed at fostering development through sport around the world.
Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, said: “Sport can change everything. And we want this ambition to go beyond the French borders through this new strong cooperation between Paris 2024 and the French Development Agency.”
Remi Rioux, Executive Director of AFD, also commented: “This partnership is unique. We have never connected the power of sport and the power of development projects funding. The Olympic and Paralympic Movements are a universal initiative and it is only natural to unite them with the international development programmes.”
Flash quotes from the Global Sports Week Arena Stage
In the Opening Session, Tony Estanguet, Roxana Maracineanu, Andrew Parsons, and Nadia Nadim were challenged by four young international leaders about the role of sport around key social issues.
Andrew Parsons, International Paralympic Committee President, said: “The first thing the international sport movement has to do is stop sweeping issues like doping or abuse under the carpet. We need to face them, otherwise young people don’t buy it, they don’t have trust to engage with us.”
He added: “Yes, international sport has joined the party too late on climate change. But the strength we have is the athletes. It’s important they understand their power to drive change with the right messages.”
Roxana Maracineanu, French Minister of Sports, said: “Athlete welfare has been at the heart of my mandate as a Minister from the very start. This is one of the key reasons why the Sports Ministry wants to take place in the debates happening here this week.”
“There is never one day, in my conversations with other government ministers, when I don’t see a way for sport to help provide solutions for other policy issues, such as health, environment or education.”
Nadia Nadim, professional football player, PSG, and Champion for girls’ and women’s education, UNESCO, said: “Access is the biggest barrier for young people to get in sport. It’s easy for young people to be on their digital platforms at home, but to play sports they have to drive an extra mile.”
Guillaume de Monplanet, SVP, General Manager, adidas France, said: “adidas saw the sport evolve and we evolved and changed with it. We noticed that our business impacted a lot of people around the world. Our core belief is that through sport WE can change lives (not only see sport change lives). This is a real mind shift.”
He added: “Textile industry is one of the 5 worst industries in terms of the environmental impact. We have a big responsibility. By 2024 we will be at 0 virgin plastic in our products. Today we are at 50%, it is a long way to go, but we are moving in this direction.”
Danone announced on stage at Global Sports Week that the company-run sport event Danone Nations Cup will be the first international competition to join Common Goal, an organisation putting the good at the heart of sport. 1% of the Danone Nations Cup revenues will be given to Common Goal.
Mathias Vicherat, SVP, General Secretary, Danone, said: “Kids represent 30% of the population and 100% of the future. For 20 years we at Danone have been organising a competition for kids to play soccer in 30 countries. By joining the Common Goal, we will be able to further promote the Sustainable Development Goals such as diversity and gender equality around the world.” -
Countries share Green City initiatives at AIPH Spring Meeting in Miami
[Source: AIPH] On 2 March 2020, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) brought together key industry players in the beautiful city of Miami, Florida – the cargo gateways of America.
The three-day event, entitled ‘Growing The Industry’ was coordinated by the association as part of its Spring Meeting, and supported by AmericanHort, to enable knowledge exchange and facilitate discussion on growing the ornamental industry.
Day one, on Monday, was the Expo Conference and it gave the international delegates the latest updates on forthcoming AIPH-approved International Horticultural Expos. Delegates heard progress reports from representatives for A1 World Horticultural Exhibitions including Expo 2021 Doha (Qatar); Expo 2022 Floriade Amsterdam Almere (the Netherlands); Expo Horticultural 2024 ?ód? (Poland) and World Horticultural Exhibition 2027 Yokohama (Japan). There was also a progress report from B International Horticultural Exhibition Expo 2023 Kahramanmara? (Turkey).
On this theme, Ibo Gülsen, managing director of IGMPR, the Netherlands, gave a speech about How Garden Tourism can benefit Expo and Legacy development and operation. An AIPH-approved outdoor exhibition gathers breeders, growers, landscapers, governments, and other invested parties to host these events that are open to the public and help to promote floriculture and the image of the host country.
In his talk, Gülsen gave a history lesson about the ancient gardens in Turkey, Babylon, Venice, Italy, and many other cities and cultures that embraced the concept of grand landscaped spaces filled with local flora and fauna. He spoke about how the same awe and delight continues to this day with more than 100 garden destinations in the world.
In the afternoon, the focus switched from garden tourism to urban living with the AIPH Green City Reports. Keynote speaker, Dr Tim Beatley Professor of Sustainable Communities in the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, gave a fascinating presentation about connecting cities with nature entitled development of the Biophilic Cities movement in the USA. The biophilic cities organisation has 22 member cities globally that participate in the program, and they meet to share ideas, failures and successes.
Afterwards, there was an opportunity for members to share their latest Green City news and talking about the developments and investments. The speakers were from Chinese Taipei, the Netherlands, Brazil, South Korea and Canada. For example, Taipei is planting one million trees, Brazil has been tearing-up grey concrete spaces and planting foliage in its place, and have a community program that offers bus fares in exchange for recyclable materials. In South Korea, they are planting 10 million trees and want to turn “grey into green”. -
Economic impact of Cricket World Cup 2019 revealed
[Source: The Sports Consultancy] The findings of an economic impact and benefits analysis carried out on behalf of the ICC by The Sports Consultancy show that the tournament generated almost GBP 350 million of economic impact through additional money spent in the host economy by event visitors and organisers as well as business to business supplier contracts and broader consumer spend.
More than half a million bed nights were generated with an income of GBP 46.5 million thanks to almost 650,000 out of town spectators, 128,385 of whom were international ticket buyers.
London attracted the most direct economic impact of almost GBP 65 million, whilst semi-final venues Manchester and Birmingham attracted a direct economic impact of GBP 36.3 million and GBP 29.7 million respectively.
The live coverage of the event reached a global cumulative average audience of 1.6 billion viewers whilst digital video content netted over 4.6 billion views confirming the event’s position as one of the world’s most watched sporting events.
ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said: “The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 was an outstanding success across all measures which is further underlined by this report and the significant contribution of GBP 350 million it has brought to the UK economy. This makes it one of the biggest sporting events in the UK in recent history.
“ICC events provide a wonderful platform to connect more deeply with a diverse audience of hundreds of millions of fans and to aggregate audiences like never before even in our increasingly fragmented world.
“The rise of cricket tourism is clearly demonstrated with almost 20% of attendees coming from overseas and a total of 85% of ticket buyers coming from out of town with cricket fans increasingly prepared to travel to support their team. We expect this trend to continue to rise as the Asian sub-continent continues rapid economic growth.
“We are currently in the process of getting expressions of interest from our Members to host future events post 2023 as part of our ambitions to grow the game globally. This report clearly demonstrates staging ICC events not only provides our host countries with the opportunity to showcase the very best they have to offer to an enormous global audience they are also a major global driver for social, cultural and economic impact.”