The US Olympic Committee is due to speak with Boston’s bid team today to re-evaluate whether they should remain the US city of choice to bid for the 2024 Olympics Games – but comments made to Host City earlier this month by the USOC’s lead advisor indicate that the choice of city is not the critical issue.
“I think the biggest challenge that any US city faces has to do with the host city agreements and being able to provide the appropriate guarantees to the IOC. It’s no secret that that’s a challenge for any US city.” USOC advisor Doug Arnot told Host City in early July.
“Being able to put together a programme that is risk-averse, that minimises and mitigates risk to the extent that it can be acceptable to fitting in state government is always going to be a challenge for any US city, not only Boston.
“Boston has responded very well to what I would call democratic pressures. They have had to take a look at their plan and make sure that it made sense from a financial perspective, from a legacy perspective – they’ve had to examine it much more carefully than a lot of bids would at this time.
“They’ve been under the gun, it’s definitely been a challenge but they’re responding very well to the challenge.”
Asked whether the USOC chose the right city in Boston, Arnot said: “We had four great cities to choose from. There were some very good reasons to pick Boston and there were some very good reasons that we could have gone with the other cities. We have all put our energy behind Boston and are trying to help them to continue to advance the plans.”
National Olympic Committees interested in bidding for the 2024 Olympic Games must present a city to the IOC by 15 September.
Budapest, Hamburg, Paris and Rome have so far been announced as bidding cities, with Toronto said to be considering applying. The Russian city of Kazan has also recently been linked to a possible bid.
Category: Event Bidding
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Boston faces same issues as any US bid – OC advisor
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Brighton to host Lib Dem 2016 conference
The Brighton Centre will host the autumn 2016 conference of Liberal Democrat party members.
The number of Liberal Democrat party members has shot up by a third, to reach more than 60,000, since the party’s heavy losses in the May 2015 general election, which left the party with just eight members of parliament.
Brighton hosted the Liberal Democrats in 2012 and 2013 and the Labour party in 2014 and 2015.
The governing Conservative Party is holding its 2016, 2018 and 2020 conferences in the Birmingham International Convention Centre (ICC), after Manchester Central hosted its 2015 conference. Conservative party membership is around 150,000, according to the latest estimates.
The Labour Party, which has the largest membership of more than 200,000, will hold its 2016 and 2018 conferences at ACC Liverpool.
The Scottish National Party, which now has the third largest representation in Westminster parliament after the Conservatives and Labour, is hosting its 2015 conference at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. SNP membership has grown 300 per cent since the Independence Referendum of September 2014, when Scotland narrowly voted against independence.
Lasting four to five days, party political conferences bring a significant economic boost to the host city. According to Birmingham ICC, 14,000 delegates attended the 2014 Conservative party conference, bringing an economic benefit of GB£17m to the local economy.
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Papau New Guinea to bid for Commonwealth Games
Papau New Guineau is aiming to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026, the country’s president Vidhya Lakhan announced at the close of the Pacific Games in Port Moresby on Saturday.
“Can Papua New Guinea host a Commonwealth Games?” he asked a cheering audience at the closing ceremony, adding “Yes, together we can!”
The Commonwealth Games is usually hosted in a single city, with only a small number of events hosted outside the city.
Lakhan said a bid from Papua New Guinea would involve the rest of the nation more widely than in previous Commonwealth Games.
“Papua New Guinea must bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games here in Port Moresby, and at venues around the country,” he said.
With the exception of Delhi in 2010 and Kuala Lumpur in 1998, Commonwealth Games have historically been hosted in the cities of the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The South African city of Durban is set to be awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Under the new leadership of David Grevemberg, the Commonwealth Games Federation is engaging with cities in the wider Commonwealth that are aspiring to host the Games.
The Pacific Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event administered by the National Olympic Committees of the islands and territories of the Pacific community.
David Grevemberg is speaking about “How Cities and Events Innovate to Thrive” at HOST CITY 2015 on November 9th and 10th in Glasgow.
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Beijing promises economical 2022 Games
The Beijing 2022 bid committee has promised to keep costs down on being elected as the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games at the 128th IOC session in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, with the International Olympic Committee citing manageable infrastructure costs as a key factor in the success of the bid.
“Just as with the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, the Olympic Family has put its faith in Beijing again to deliver the athlete-centred, sustainable and economical Games we have promised,” the newly elected host of the 2022 Olympic Games said in a statement issued to the press.
Existing venues, such as the iconic Bird’s Nest stadium built for the Games in 2008, will feature in the Games. US$1.5bn will be spent on Olympic villages, sports venues and other infrastructure, a sum that is “significantly less than for Olympic Games in the past”, according to the IOC.
“Olympic Agenda 2020 calls for a stronger focus on sustainability, legacy, and transparency, while making it easier for host cities to tailor Games that meet their needs rather than trying to fit a template,” the IOC said in a statement issued after the election.
“Beijing took advantage of the flexibility provided by Olympic Agenda 2020 to improve its plans for the Games and reduce costs.”
Despite being widely viewed as the runaway favourite, Beijing won the vote narrowly with just 44 to Almaty’s 40. Only 84 of the 100 International Olympic Committee members participated in a vote that had to be recast after technical difficulties.
The Beijing 2022 Winter Games will immediately follow the 2018 edition in PyeongChang, South Korea. Developing winter sports further in the Asian market promises to be a valuable effect of hosting the Games in Beijing.
“Beijing aims to use the Games to accelerate the development of a new sport, culture and tourism area, and to encourage interest in winter sports in a region that is home to more than 300 million people in northern China,” the IOC said.
The Beijing 2022 bid committee said “This will be a memorable event at the foot of the Great Wall for the whole Olympic Family, the athletes and the spectators that will further enhance the tremendous potential to grow winter sports in our country, in Asia and around the world.”
Beijing will be the first city to host both a summer and winter edition of the Olympic Games – facilitated in part by hosting many skiing events at Zhangjiakou, 220km away from Beijing. Artificial snow is also likely to play a role in enabling the competitions to take place.
The host city contract signed by Beijing representatives and IOC president Thomas Bach has been made public for the first time.
Meanwhile, the “Olympic capital” city of Lausanne was elected as the host of the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games at the IOC Session, garnering 71 votes to Brasov’s 10.
The IOC Evaluation Commission singled out Lausanne for its good use of existing, temporary and demountable venues, which is in line with Olympic Agenda 2020 sustainability reforms.
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Jaarbeurs to co-host RAID Utrecht in 2016
Dutch event company Jaarbeurs has partnered with international media specialist Cavendish Group to organise the first RAID conference in Utrecht on 8th and 9th June.
RAID, which stands for Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Internet-of-Things and Data, aims to be Europe’s largest cross sector Disruptive Innovation Conference and Exhibition.
The event will feature the highest level of conference content, with an accompanying trade show and marketplace showcasing technology solutions that will disrupt the way Europe’s largest companies operate.
As innovative technologies and solutions will emerge from, and be applicable across, multiple sectors, RAID is aimed at large established business sectors including insurance, automotive, pharmaceuticals, banking, energy utilities, logistics, and advanced industrial manufacturing.
RAID will look at how C-level executives from different sectors can learn from each other about how Europe’s largest companies approach disruptive innovation. There is also a significant crossover of senior executives between different sectors and disruptive thinking must start first and foremost with Europe’s business leaders.
RAID will be an international event with a strong pan-European theme. Disruptive innovation is positioned as the logical and natural solution for kick starting the more productive economic growth that the EU needs, Cavendish Group said.
This event is about the impact of technology convergence and disruptive innovation on large cross sector companies.
RAID will take place in the Jaarbeurs Media Plaza and exhibition area in the heart of Utrecht, ranked by the European Commission as the most competitive centre for business across the EU. The venue is walking distance from the Utrecht train station, with the airport express train to Schipol, 30 km away and with direct links to many leading German cities.
The aim for the first RAID conference and exhibition is to attract more than 700 attendees and exhibitors from Europe’s largest companies and most innovative technology and solution providers.
Cavendish Group is the publisher and owner of a number of leading international media brands including HOST CITY, Oil & Gas Technology, Renewable Energy Technology, Automotive Manufacturer, the International Capital Conference and many more.
More details of the event can be found on the RAID website. You can also keep up to date by following the RAID Twitter feed.
RAID Utrecht takes place on the 8th and 9th June, 2016. The conference agenda and event details will be announced in early September 2015.
For more information please contact: RAID@cavendishgroup.co.uk.
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Nashville to host IBTM America 2016
Nashville is to host IBTM America 2016, the meeting place of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry, following IBTM America 2015 in Chicago.
“The excitement behind delivering our event in different key convention cities in the US adds variety and new experiences for all our attendees,” said Jaime McAuley, Event Director, IBTM America.
“Nashville is one of the hottest convention cities in America right now and whilst its very roots are in music (the Country Music Hall of Fame) there is also history, the arts, food – the city recently was nominated in the top 10 best BBQ cities in the US – and of course a variety of venues to benefit this industry.”
IBTM America will take place from June 15 to 17 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center – the largest exhibition and meetings venue in continental US, with 2,882 guest rooms onsite, 6 ballrooms, more than 100 technologically advanced conference and breakout rooms, 600,000 sq ft of meeting, convention and exhibit function space and 4.5 acres of covered tropical gardens.
“We fully expect many will want to either arrive early or stay on to make the most of the facilities, whether it’s to spend more time in downtown Nashville or at the Gaylord as this resort is certainly one of a kind in the USA,” said McAuley.
In addition to its growing business events industry, Nashville is the world’s capital of country music with more than 120 live music venues.
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Johannesburg to host Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2017
The Global Entrepreneurship Network has awarded Johannesburg the hosting rights to its flagship event, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), in 2017.
This will be the first time Africa has hosted the event, which typically attracts business professionals from more than 150 countries. The 2015 edition brought 10,000 delegates to Milan in March, according to organisers. The Colombian city of Medellin is hosting the 2016 edition.
Johannesburg’s bid to host GEC 2017 was a project involving the City of Johannesburg, Barclays Africa, the South African government and Sustainable Entrepreneur Accelerator (SEA) Africa.
Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu said “GEC will help sustain the momentum of an entrepreneurial revolution which President Jacob Zuma set in motion last year when he announced the establishment of our separate department that would focus on small businesses and cooperatives.
“I am confident that GEC 2017 will further thrust entrepreneurship and small business development firmly on the national agenda and the collective consciousness of our nation.”
The event will be co-hosted by Johannesburg and SEA Africa. Kizito Okechukwu, executive head of SEA Africa, said “This Congress will assist businesses and promote entrepreneurship across the African continent.
“We are therefore calling on entrepreneurs to leverage from various support structures and programmes being introduced by various partners. We are expecting leading global entrepreneurs and innovators to grace this occasion.”
Craig Bond, CEO of Retail and Business Banking at Barclays Africa, said, “The GEC is a platform that can open doors for our youth, ignite entrepreneurship and put our youth in the global arena. It contributes to the overall Pan-Africanism objective by strengthening common perspectives amongst nations, creating partnerships and collaborative efforts, and encouraging inter-regional trade.”
Jonathan Ortmans, president of Global Entrepreneurship Network, which holds the rights to the event, said, “GEC 2017 is just one example of the Global Entrepreneurship Network commitment to helping the next generation of African entrepreneurs start and scale—rebranding the continent and permanently shifting perceptions around the world.
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CGF backs Durban 2022 subject to finance pledge
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Evaluation Commission has recommended that the CGF General Assembly votes for Durban, the sole bidder for the 2022 Games, on 2 September, but that the Host City contract should not be signed until a “critical” financial guarantee is provided.
On publication of the CGF Evaluation Commission Report on Monday, commission Chair Louise Martin said “We are 95% there, and very close to the finish line. We thank our colleagues in Durban and South Africa for their passion, ambition and assurances that many of our comments and requirements will be actioned in time for the vote.
“It is our recommendation that the CGF General Assembly votes to award the 2022 Commonwealth Games to the Host City of Durban, South Africa, but subject to the final and timely delivery of a limited number of outstanding Host City Contract requirements”.
The report described Durban 2022 as an “attractive proposition for the Commonwealth Games” with “long-term development plans that the Commonwealth Games can actively reinforce… Importantly, Durban presents the opportunity for the Commonwealth Games to be hosted in the continent of Africa for the first time… One of the most powerful propositions presented in the Durban 2022 bid is the opportunity for a far-reaching legacy aligned with existing long term development plans of the South African Government and the City of Durban.”
However, the report said it was “critical” that a financial guarantee must be in place before a Host City contract is signed.
“The guarantee covering a potential financial shortfall was not received at the time the Report was finalised, but is expected to be submitted before the General Assembly. This is a critical requirement,” the report stated.
“The Bid Committee is continuing to work across the three levels of government to secure the guarantee and has advised that the requirement will be achieved. The Ministerial support enjoyed by the bid is also noted.
“However, should this guarantee not be received prior to the CGF General Assembly, it is recommended the signing of the Host City Contract be deferred until the Guarantee is provided.”
The commission proposed that this must be resolved within 90 days of the General Assembly.
The report praised SASCOC’s leaders in gaining “strong engagement from and the support of the three levels of government (city, province and national)”, but said the formation of a cross-government committee is essential.
“The critical coordination role anticipated for the proposed (but not currently constituted) Inter-Ministerial Committee needs to be enabled by an effective cross-government delivery coordination entity, with a focus on integration of government and city support for the Games and the assurance of legacy programmes,” the report said.
“This should be supported by a clearly-defined set of roles and responsibilities for the various government departments, public authorities and other entities that will have a role in the planning and delivery of the Games.”
The commission proposed that this issue be resolved within 180 days of Durban’s appointment as Host City, along with clarification of “integrated development and financing arrangements to ensure delivery of all venues”.
The report also laid down requirements concerning the athletes village. “Delivery obligations, land ownership and funding arrangements need to be fully documented to remove any risk for the future Organising Committee… Durban 2022 is required to confirm to the CGF that the Village design principles and standard of amenity required by the CGF will be met… within 180 days of appointment as Host City.”
The report also commends and highlights the many positive impacts of Durban’s bid for the Games.
“Durban’s vision supports and contributes to South Africa’s 2030 National Development Plan and is rooted in the desire to engage citizens (especially young people), athletes and the Commonwealth,” the CGF said in a press release.
“The Games concept features a compact venue plan centred around the sporting super-precinct of the Moses Mabhida Stadium and adjacent coastline, providing excellent opportunities for innovative sport presentation and enhanced athlete experience.”
The report acknowledged that “the CGF should provide more direct and active support for Durban 2022” in line with the CGF’s Transformation 2022 objectives.
The CGF resolved to “By Q2 2016, and enshrined in the 2022 Host City Contact, establish a Games Delivery Partnership model that positions the CGF and Host CGAs as delivery partners and supports financial, operational and reputational efficiencies and outcomes”.
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Tokyo to host Formula E test
Formula E Holdings are to stage a demonstration event in central Tokyo in the run up to its second season, motorsport.com reported on Wednesday.
The news follows statements made by CEO Alejandra Agag to HOST CITY at the London Championship in June that Formula E plans to add another Asian city to its calendar, along with other new host cities.
“We are looking at another race in Asia – and we would like to race in the Middle East,” Agag told HOST CITY at a press conference in Battersea Park hosted by logistics partner DHL.
“We are looking at a race in Switzerland because there is a change in law which means we can race there.”
Cities around the world are expressing an interest in hosting Formula E, he said.
“We have probably over 200 cities that have asked. It is not the same thing when you tell them what you have to do, this is what it’s going to cost you, the implications and so on – then it filters down. There are some cities that really want it and others that are just asking to see how it works.
“Realistically we will add five or six new more races in three of four years.
“We’ve been in discussions with DHL to figure out the logistics; we want to reduce the carbon footprint of the championship and we want to go to new locations.”
At the FIA World Motor Sport Council in July, Paris was added and Miami dropped from the Formula E calendar for the 2015/2016 season. Other cities confirmed were Putrajaya (Malaysia), Punta del Este (Uruguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Long Beach (USA), Berlin (Germany), Moscow (Russia) and London (UK).
The host of a race on March 16 remains unconfirmed, with Mexico City said to be the most likely candidate.
“In Mexico there are very high chances. We will have to bring it to the World Council and the local federations and so on,” Agag told HOST CITY before the World Council meeting.
The test event in Tokyo will help to build Formula E’s reach in Japan, where Aguri Suzuki heads up Team Amlin Aguri in the championships. The country is also a leader in automotive and green technology.
Formula E has a multi-year broadcasting partnership with Japanese broadcaster Asahi, which released viewing figures of 15 million for the opening four races of the 2014/2015 season.
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World Forestry Congress to be held at Durban ICC
Durban has been announced as the host city of the XIV World Forestry Congress, the biggest meeting of the world’s forestry sector.
Taking place every six years under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the event is organised by the government of the host country.
The XIV World Forestry Congress, hosted by the Republic of South Africa, will bring together the global forestry community to review and analyse the key issues and to share ways of addressing them.
According to the FAO, the Congress is inclusive of people from all countries, regions and sectors including government organizations, NGOs, private companies, scientific or professional bodies, forestry societies and individuals.
The FAO is particularly keen that the 2015 event provides a platform for youth, students, professionals, women and local communities have a platform on which to voice ideas and concerns.
The congress is set to propose technical and policy approaches to boost the sustainability of the forestry industry and showcase the latest developments and innovations in global forestry, using multimedia platforms to illustrate practical applications and linkages, the FAO says.
The venue for the congress, the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), is also set to feature in the Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games.