A FIFA task force charged with identifying the least disruptive timeframe for hosting the 2022 World Cup finished its six month consultation process today with the recommendation that the event should take place at the end of the year.
The task force has identified end of November to the end of December as the most viable period to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
To minimise disruption to domestic leagues, the tournament will take place over a slightly shorter timeframe than usual, depending on the number of venues to be used.
According to unconfirmed reports, the tournament could run right up to Christmas with the final taking place on 23 December.
The dates are set to be confirmed at the next FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich on 19 and 20 March 2015.
“The outcome of the discussions is also a proposed reduced competition days schedule with the exact dates to be defined in line with the match schedule and number of venues to be used for the 22nd edition of football’s flagship event,” said FIFA.
How many venues Qatar will use for the World Cup is still unknown. 12 venues were proposed in the bid; FIFA’s minimum requirement is eight but it would be difficult to shorten the timeframe of the tournament with so few venues.
Reducing the number of teams from 32 or matches from 64 has not been discussed.
Qatar’s bid for the World Cup was based on a summer tournament, but since being awarded the right to host the event it has become evident that the temperatures would be too high, even with advanced cooling technologies.
A FIFA statement also cited the 2022 Winter Olympics and Ramadan as immovable obstacles.
“Given that the two bidding cities for the 2022 Winter Olympics – Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Beijing (China PR) – pledged recently to host the winter games from 4 to 20 February 2022; that the month of Ramadan begins on 2 April in 2022; and that consistently hot conditions prevail from May to September in Qatar, the only remaining effective option is the November/December window,” said FIFA.
Postponing the event until early 2023 is not an option due to legal reasons, FIFA said.
FIFA says the proposal has the full support of all six confederations. However, European leagues have fought hard to avoid the competition taking place during their calendar.
England’s Premier League said in a statement: “The 2022 World Cup was bid for and awarded to Qatar as a summer tournament.
“The prospect of a winter World Cup is neither workable nor desirable for European domestic football.”
FIFA said the task force took on board the considerations of everyone concerned.
“The analysis aimed to find the most viable solution for all stakeholders, covering the likely and possible impacts of conditions on players, staff and fans, as well as the knock-on effect for domestic leagues.
“The representatives of the leagues once again emphasised the impact that a November/December tournament would have on their respective calendars.
“The members deliberated over the various options to determine the least impact on the national and international football calendars.
Discussions are also underway about whether to move some of the qualification matches, with a final phase in early 2022 under consideration.
“We are very pleased that, after careful consideration of the various opinions and detailed discussions with all stakeholders, we have identified what we believe to be the best solution for the 2018-2024 international match calendar and football in general,” said Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the chair of the FIFA task force.
“It was a challenging task and I want to thank all members of the football community for their productive input and constructiveness in helping to find a solution that we believe can work for everyone.”
Category: Event Management
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Qatar to host World Cup in December 2022
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Red Bull gives beach volleyball wings
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) today announced a partnership with the Beach Major Company to assist with running and promoting FIVB World Tour events including the Season Final and the Major Series.
Swatch also today renewed its sponsorship of these events.
The Beach Major Company is a joint venture between Red Bull and Hannes Jagerhofer, founder of ACTS Group, who have been cooperating closely for 20 years.
Soft drinks manufacturer Red Bull, with its slogan “Red Bull gives you wings” has emerged in recent years as a major player in event management and marketing. Jagerhofer has promoted and staged many volleyball events.
“This new partnership is the next step in the FIVB’s mission to ensure that volleyball is the world’s leading family sport entertainment through engagement, innovation and universality,” said Dr Ary S. Graça, president of the FIVB.
“Like the FIVB and volleyball, Red Bull is a dynamic, global brand and I look forward to working together to ensure that the FIVB’s beach volleyball events are a memorable spectacle for fans around the world.
“Red Bull is unrivalled in its marketing expertise. In combination with the Red Bull Media House with its outstanding network and knowledge of content production and distribution – this makes them an ideal partner for the FIVB. We are also delighted to be working closely with Hannes Jagerhofer – a renowned promoter who has set the benchmark for staging world-class volleyball events for many years.
“Finally, today we are announcing the renewal of the relationship between beach volleyball and one of the most respected sponsors in sport – Swatch. These are all incredibly prestigious partners for the FIVB and I look forward to working closely together to ensure that volleyball continues to lead through innovation as the number one family sport entertainment in the world.”
The joint venture has committed to “long term backing” of the FIVB and is expected to significantly expand the Major Series, which has three events in 2015: Porec, Croatia; Stavanger, Norway and Gstaad, Switzerland.
“The Swatch Beach Volleyball Major Series, together with the FIVB as the world governing body, was created to push beach volleyball to an entirely new level and position it on the world’s stage of top global sports,” said Hannes Jagerhofer, CEO of the Beach Major Company.
“Only with the strong support of the International Federation, which is entirely responsible for the sport’s progress, is it possible to realise the vision of the Major Series.
“Bringing Swatch on board as title sponsor, which is not only a strong global iconic brand but also a year-long trusted partner, facilitator and driving force, is the best possible scenario for a new era in beach volleyball history.
“To top it off, the Red Bull Media House, known for its award winning live productions, innovative content creation, action sports series and top ranked social media community will be committed to delivering new standards in beach volleyball production, distribution and entertainment.”
2015 promises to be a high profile year for the sport, with the 2015 FIVB World Tour marking the start of the second qualification process – alongside the Continental Cup – for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Hosted on the iconic Copacabana Beach, beach volleyball is set to be the signature event of Rio 2016.
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London to host annual athletics festival starting with 2015 Anniversary Games
The Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games is to return to London’s former Olympic Stadium from 24 to 26 July 2015, Mo Farah announced on Monday.
And from 2016, British Athletics will host a month of athletics in the stadium in an annual “festival” under a 50-year agreement.
The 2015 Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games will include a two-day Diamond League meeting on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, with the Sainsbury’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final taking place on Sunday 26 July.
Double Olympic 10,000m and 5,000m Champion Mo Farah returned to the former Olympic Stadium on Monday to launch the event, which is due to take place in the iconic venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
“It’s fantastic that the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games is planning to return to the former Olympic Stadium this summer and I can’t wait to get back on this track to compete, at what will be a stunning celebration of athletics,” Farah said.
“The atmosphere will be amazing and I’m sure it will bring back the memories of London 2012 and the inaugural Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games in 2013.
“I hope the British public will be as excited as I am about this event, and will come out to support the athletes. I’m sure it will be the best outdoor meet this year and a great send off to the World Championships.”
Tickets are due to go on sale at the end of April and demand is expected to be high. All 65,000 tickets for the 2013 anniversary Grand Prix athletics on 26 and 27 July sold out in just 75 minutes.
“Seeing the likes of Mo Farah return to the Olympic Stadium for the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games will be one of this year’s monumental sporting events,” said Tara Hewitt, head of sponsorship at Sainsbury’s.
On 26 July, Paralympic stars from all over the world are to compete at the stadium and the London Aquatics Centre. The events will coincide with National Paralympic Day and the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival.
“I am excited to announce that National Paralympic Day will be returning this year with elite sports competitions in both Swimming and Athletics, as well as lots of fun, family-friendly activity on the Park,” said Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of the British Paralympic Association.
“Over 50,000 people have taken up the chance to come to the Park to be part National Paralympic Day over the past two years and relive the wonder of the London 2012 Paralympics.”
The stadium is currently closed as work continues to transform it into the new national competition centre for British Athletics in 2016 and the permanent home of West Ham United FC.
The stadium, designed by Populous, is currently being reconfigured from its Olympic Games mode to optimise it for hosting several events later this year including the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games and five Rugby World Cup matches.
Under an agreement with British Athletics, the stadium will host athletics competitions for one month of every year from 2016 for fifty years.
“The Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games this summer will mark the start of new athletics legacy at the former Olympic Stadium,” said British Athletics Chief Executive, Niels de Vos.
“For one month a year the Stadium will be the beating heart of athletics in this country and we want the nation to get excited about it and be part of it.
“As well as hosting the best international competitions in the world we need to create a two, three or four-week festival where that stadium is buzzing with athletics and fans every day.”
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The global growth of World Rugby
HOST CITY: You played a pivotal role in bringing Rugby Sevens into the Olympic Programme. How important was your role on the NOC in achieving this? What challenges did you face and how were they overcome?
Bernard Lapasset: Our successful bid was founded on a strong desire for the rugby family to be reunited with the Olympic family. We wanted to be a part of the Olympic Games because we share the same values as the Olympic movement and we felt that we had an exciting and compelling proposition for the Olympic Games with Rugby Sevens.
We also believed in the great opportunity that Olympic Games inclusion would provide our sport – an opportunity that we are now very much realising s we reach out, engage and grow in new markets. Our successful bid was based on the merits of an exciting, youthful and dynamic sport and a family united behind the bid, rather than the influence of any individual. Excitement is growing and we have no doubt Rugby Sevens at Rio 2016 will be a spectacular and memorable event.
HOST CITY: You also played a central role in bringing the 2007 Rugby World Cup to France. Do you have any advice for countries contemplating bidding for World Rugby events?
Bernard Lapasset: Rugby World Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious and popular major sports events and a major driving force behind the development and prosperity of Rugby worldwide. As a low-risk, high-return event, Rugby World Cup is an attractive proposition for prospective host nations.
It delivers multiple economic, tourism and social benefits, while using existing infrastructure. We are yet to formally launch the Rugby World Cup 2023 tender process, but we are already seeing great interest from nations who want to host the event, which underscores the strength of the Rugby World Cup brand in the global marketplace. We are also seeing great hosting interest in our major men’s and women’s Rugby Sevens properties and are looking forward to new host locations being introduced to our own record-breaking World Series in 2015/16.
In terms of specific advice, Rugby is a sport of teamwork and across all World Rugby events partnership in delivery is key. A strong partnership between government, the host union and World Rugby is vital to successful delivery. I would also say, plan early, the legacy opportunity begins the moment the rights are awarded and delivering sustainable growth is central to maximising the hosting opportunity.
HOST CITY: England and Japan are very different hosts, for 2015 and 2019. What do you expect these host nations to bring to the sport?
Bernard Lapasset: Both events provide us with exciting opportunities to cement Rugby as a major global sport, but for very different reasons. England 2015 will be a box-office hit, a record-breaker in terms of attendance, viewership, engagement and commercial income. It will be the financial driving force behind our ambition to reach participation levels of over 9 million in the next five years. Japan 2019 will underscore our commitment to grow rugby outside of its traditional heartlands, it will, and already is, opening opportunities in Asia to inspire participation and attract new audiences and partners.
HOST CITY: How significant is the rebrand of IRB to World Rugby in terms of the globalisation of the sport?
Bernard Lapasset: The name change and rebrand reflects our clear mission to grow the global family and is a statement of intent that we are not just an organisation that regulates and funds the sport, but one that also inspires and is inclusive. Through this rebrand we have been able to build a stronger connection with existing audiences – those who know and love the sport – while also reaching out, attracting and engaging new audiences worldwide.
The rebrand included a new digital and social media approach and what we are seeing is an appetite from fans to engage with us in a different way – they feel part of World Rugby and they want to be a part of our journey. That is really exciting.
HOST CITY: Major sports federations are under intense scrutiny from the media. How important are integrity and fair play in upholding the value of a sport, and how do you see this being achieved in World Rugby?
Bernard Lapasset: We are a sport that is centred around character-building values – values of respect, integrity, discipline, passion and solidarity. Whether it is attracting new young players to the sport, respect for the referee and your opponents or maintaining a level playing field through robust anti-doping and anti-corruption education, everything that we do is geared towards educating the next generation on our unique values and how to live, promote and preserve them.
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SportAccord Convention welcomes back Repucom as Marketing Research Partner for World Sport & Business Summit
SportAccord Convention has announced that Repucom will once again be the Official Marketing Research Partner for this year’s World Sport & Business Summit taking place from 19-24 April 2015 at the Sochi Expocentre, Sochi, Russia.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with SportAccord Convention for another year; an event that clearly shapes the sports landscape annually.” said Paul Smith, Repucom Founder and CEO. “Equally, Repucom strives to help clients navigate the sports and entertainment sector – through research, analytics and insights – ultimately delivering solutions connected to these three pillars. Being a partner of SportAccord Convention brings us closer to the equation.”
Repucom’s connected solutions allow businesses to better understand and connect with their audiences and customers through media, sponsorship and communication.
Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord Convention commented, “As the research and consultancy provider for top brands and organisations in the sports world, Repucom is ideally positioned to take the pulse of the industry.”
Over the last year, a key development for Repucom was the work in Government, Tourism and Events, helping their partners to achieve a range of objectives including revenue increases for rights holders.
This year, Repucom are going a step further, and taking a more holistic approach in delivering solutions, supported by more than 30 years of experience and using the tools they have access to globally.
The SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit is a unique opportunity for key decision-makers in sport to engage with business leaders across 25+ industry sectors. The 6-day event features a 3-day Conference, dynamic exhibition, LawAccord, City Forum, the SportAccord Convention Village and Sports Demo Zone, as well as hosting the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport.
For more conference information, including the Official Schedule and Conference Programme, or to register as a delegate, visit www.sportaccordconvention.com. -
Sportaccord Convention announces PwC as a Gold Partner for the World Sport & Business Summit
SportAccord Convention has announced that PwC will be a Gold Partner for this year’s World Sport & Business Summit taking place from 19-24 April 2015 at the Sochi Expocentre, Sochi, Russia.
The agreement marks PwC’s third year as a Gold Partner. “SportAccord Convention is important to us as a platform for connecting with sport industry decision makers and speaking with them about the issues critical to their success. It gives us a chance to engage with delegates in an open, constructive atmosphere,” said Robert Gruman, who heads PwC’s Global Sports Mega-Events Centre of Excellence. He continued:
“This year, we are proud that our colleague Hazem Galal, PwC’s Cities and Local Governments Consulting Global Leader, has been asked to deliver the keynote address on Legacy. In connection with that, we also plan to carry out a Sporting Leaders Survey on Legacy in partnership with the SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit organisers.”
The PwC delegation to the Convention includes people from key territories across their global network – from Switzerland to the Middle East, and from the United States to Russia.
“Our Gold Partnership with PwC continues to be of great value to us as an organisation and we are delighted to have PwC deliver the keynote address.” said Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention. “We are very pleased that the partnership is continuing and that we are able to provide a platform for PwC to meet its business objectives.”
PwC’s Sports Mega-Events Centre of Excellence comprises a network of professionals experienced in bringing value at all phases of the sports mega-events lifecycle.
The SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit is a unique opportunity for key decision-makers in sport to engage with business leaders across 25+ industry sectors. The 6-day event features a dynamic exhibition, LawAccord, City Forum, the SportAccord Convention Village and Sports Demo Zone, as well as hosting the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport.
For more conference information, including the Official Schedule and Conference Programme, or to register as a delegate, visit www.sportaccordconvention.com -
Dubai Expo 2020 reports progress at committee meeting
At its first meeting of the year, the Expo 2022 Dubai Higher Committee heard on Wednesday that preparations are well underway for hosting one of the world’s biggest events.
The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, president of Dubai of civil aviation and chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and group.
The committee discussed the development and final preparation of the Expo 2020 Dubai Registration Dossier, which it is due to present to the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos, later this year.
The committee also heard a progress report on the Expo site and marketing and communications strategies.
“There has been substantive progress on many fronts this year, both in the UAE and across the world,” said Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State, board representative of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee and director general, Bureau Dubai Expo 2020.
“We also plan to continue to build strong momentum throughout 2015 with a number of robust awareness engagements and collaborative initiatives that will collectively ensure we deliver an event worthy of the history of World Expos and that does justice to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the UAE.”
Expo 2020 Dubai launched a nationwide community engagement campaign earlier this month under the banner of ‘For Everyone’.
The ‘For Everyone’ campaign, an awareness building and engaging series of public activities, will support the UAE and Expo 2020’s participation in the Expo Milano 2015, which takes place from 1 May to the end of October.
The UAE’s country pavilion at Expo 2015 will focussing on the UAE’s efforts to address food and hunger issues while also promoting the theme of Expo 2020 Dubai, which is “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”.
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Toyota to transport the Olympic Games to 2024
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that Toyota has joined The Olympic Partner (TOP) programme in a new “mobility” category.
The deal will see the Japanese company supply sustainable transport solutions through to the 2024 Games.
Toyota’s global rights begin in 2017 but the company’s sponsorship rights in Japan are effective immediately.
Toyota joins Bridgestone Group as the second Japanese headquartered multinational to sponsor the IOC since Tokyo was awarded the hosting rights to the 2020 Olympic Games in 2013.
“Long-term partnerships are the backbone of our commercial programmes and they enable the financial security of the entire Olympic Movement,” said Tsunekazu Takeda, the IOC’s Marketing Commission Chairman, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee and Vice-President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee.
The IOC’s twelve worldwide TOP partners also include McDonalds, Coca Cola and Visa.
The value of the deal has not been disclosed but domestic Japanese media have cited a figure of US$835m (GB£565m).
The mobility partnership will focus on sustainability, the central principle of the IOC’s Agenda 2020 programme of reform.
“It is the first time in the successful history of the TOP programme that we have had a mobility category, said IOC President Thomas Bach.
“It is in the spirit of the Olympic Agenda 2020 not just in terms of innovation but also in terms of sustainability in mobility.
“Toyota is the world leader in its field and this partnership signifies a strong commitment to the future of the IOC and the Olympic Movement. Toyota and the IOC share the same values and we welcome Toyota Motor Corporation to the Olympic family.”
Toyota will work with the Organising Committees through to 2024 to provide sustainable mobility solutions for hosting the Olympic Games and the legacy of the host cities.
These solutions include intelligent transport systems, urban traffic systems and vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems.
Toyota will also support the Olympic movement through its global promotional reach.
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International sport community in mourning
It was with profound sorrow that I learnt of the tragic helicopter crash yesterday which claimed the lives of three of France’s sport icons, swimmer Camille Muffat, 25, sailor Florence Arthaud, 57, and boxer Alexis Vastine, 28.
Two of them were Olympians. All three of them, just like all athletes around the world, embodied the values of peace. Each of them has moved us, thrilled us and made us proud. They have filled our hearts with emotion. Beyond their sporting performances, they were committed to giving back to society what sport had given them.
We will never forget the youthful vitality of Camille Muffat, 400m freestyle Champion at the London Olympics, the accomplishments of Florence Arthaud, winner of the 1990 Route du Rhum transatlantic race, and the passion of Alexis Vastine, Beijing Bronze Medallist who was looking to win Gold in Rio.
The entire sports community mourns this great loss. Along with the teams of the World Olympians Association and Peace and Sport, our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims.
Joël Bouzou
President of World Olympians Association
President and founder of Peace and Sport -
The city is the centre of the world’s biggest story – Filmmaster Events
HOST CITY: Rights holders, hosts and organizers of mega sports events have a number of requirements and expectations about the structure and content of opening and closing ceremonies. How do you balance these requirements, and how do you avoid ceremonies becoming formulaic?
Antonio Abete: Producing a sports event requires commitment, experience, creativity and managing skills. This is why the best companies in the world take the field when it’s time to organise these important ceremonies. Expectations are always high: sports ceremonies are among the most watched television events in the world.
On average, more than 4 billion people watch Olympic ceremonies. These events are in charge of telling the story of the country, showing its traditions, celebrating its future. They must meet technical demands as well as the emotional needs of the television audience and live viewers. Finding the right balance it is not simple; for this reason, long experiences together with the will to experiment with creativity are essential.
It is difficult to work in a stadium: there are a lot of limits, such as the field of play, which is untouchable. You need to be creative if you want to avoid banality and keep the viewers attention high. You have to think outside the box and interchange charged-up moments with poetic ones. The viewers will be able to feel a wide range of emotions thanks to the successions of performances.
HOST CITY: How important for the host city are the opportunities that mega sports events present for hosting other concurrent events, such as cultural festivals and business events, and how can a host city maximise these opportunities?
Antonio Abete: The host city has got a great opportunity to highlight and promote its heritage through the world. It is essential that the city works as the leader of the event and creates an appropriate structure for all the accessory events. The city should be the protagonist in order to allow the public to discover the resources of its land. During these events, sport is linked with social issues, politics, culture and the future of the society that it is representing. Host cities must be able to handle all these different aspects and adopt a long-term strategy to make the shows more successful.
HOST CITY: How do you see event production changing in 2015 and beyond?
Antonio Abete: There are no specific trends or determined directions. We are a leading player in event history, and we are aware of what we offer and what we can produce.
The events industry is influenced by trends, like every industry, mostly because of new technologies, which are now essential while creating and producing every kind of event. We have been the first one to try new strategies, find innovative instruments and changing the rules. We are one of the few companies in the world, and the only Italian company, to be licensed to organise Olympic Ceremonies. This makes us proud and encourages us in improving our services and our skills more and more.