Samsung Group on Monday signed as domestic sponsor of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Samsung will support the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) with a sponsor package valued at KRW 100 bn (USD 92m) to become a domestic partner working in various business areas across the Samsung group.
The domestic sponsorship is in addition to the Worldwide TOP Partnership with the IOC, which Samsung recently renewed until 2020 and which includes the provision of wireless communications equipment, tablet PC, notebook computer and desktop PCs.
“We are happy to have Samsung support in addition to the TOP partner agreement with POCOG,” Cho Yang-ho, president of POCOG said. “We are confident that this sponsorship agreement will encourage other Korean companies to join as sponsors for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”
POCOG has also signed domestic sponsors agreements with Samsung Group, Korean Air, KT, Youngone Outdoor (The NORTH FACE Brand), Pagoda Education Group and Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers, but has so far only achieved 41 per cent of its sponsorship target.
According to AFP, POCOG anticipates reaching 70 per cent of its sponsorship target by the end of 2015.
“Samsung Group is thrilled that Korea has won the right to host the Olympic Winter Games. The Corporation demonstrates its support by extending the domestic marketing rights for PyeongChang 2018 that are already in place through the TOP (The Olympic Partner) contract with the IOC,” said Park Sangjin, president of corporate relations at Samsung.
“Indeed, Samsung has made a meaningful decision to provide additional support for the PyeongChang 2018 organizing committee to contribute to the successful Olympic Winter Games. This sponsorship agreement furthers our efforts to commit to social responsibility as a corporate representative of Korea.”
Category: Event Management
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Samsung throws US$92m lifeline to PyeongChang 2018
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SportAccord Convention signs IAAF as Bronze Partner
SportAccord Convention announced today that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had signed up as a Bronze Partner for this year’s World Sport & Business Summit taking place from 19-24 April 2015 at the Sochi Expocentre, Russia.
As part of its sponsorship, the IAAF will be holding a live Kids’ Athletics demonstration on Tuesday, 21st April (12:00-14:00hrs) in front of the Expocentre. Created in 2005, Kids’ Athletics is a worldwide sports development programme with the mission to make Athletics the number one physical activity in schools, and since 2012 has been partnered by “Nestlé Healthy Kids”.
The demonstration event will be attended by IAAF President Lamine Diack and two 800m running greats, Denmark’s 3-time World champion Wilson Kipketer and Russia’s 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy.
“The IAAF is thrilled to be a Bronze Partner for this year’s SportAccord Convention. This is an exciting time for Athletics, the number one Olympic sport, and there is no better opportunity in 2015 to showcase our flagship school/youth programme to leading figures in the world of sport,” said Nick Davies, IAAF Deputy General Secretary and Communications Director.
IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics, which has now been rolled out to over 130 countries, aims to introduce young people to sport and educate them in a fun way about the lifelong benefits of physical activity.
A year ahead of the Rio Olympic Games and, with the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 taking place in the world famous Bird’s Nest stadium from 22 to 30 August, Athletics is in the spotlight. The IAAF is eager to take that opportunity to showcase its inspiring youth development programme to the world.
Commenting on the Partnership, Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord Convention said: “The Sports Demo Zone is an integral part of the SportAccord Convention and having the support and involvement of the IAAF is significant, as we continue to promote and educate both the youth, and indeed adults, about the benefits of physical activity for health and well-being.”
As part of its Bronze Partner status, the IAAF will also be sponsoring the daily morning runs. On Wednesday, 22nd April, Kipketer and Borzakovskiy will be offering a fortunate group of runners the opportunity to take in the sights by leading them on a short run around the Olympic Park. The aim of the sponsorship is to show that the IAAF is not only about elite performance sport but has a huge role to play to encourage physical activity amongst the wider public.
The International Association of Athletics (IAAF) created in 1912 is the world governing and rule making body for Athletics, the Olympics number one sport. Today the IAAF encompasses track and field, race walking, road, cross country and mountain running. Boasting 213 national Member Federations, it has a global reach greater than that of the United Nations. The biennial IAAF World Championships, whose nine days of competition attract 2000 athletes from over 200 countries and are broadcast to an accumulated 6 billion TV audience worldwide, are the world’s third largest sporting event after the Olympic Games and football’s World Cup.
For further details about the SportAccordConvention World Sport & Business Summit, or to register as a delgate, visit www.sportaccordconvention.com.
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Qatar Olympic Committee returns to SportAccord Convention as Silver Partner
SportAccord Convention has welcomed Qatar Olympic Committee as a Silver Partner for this year’s World Sport & Business Summit taking place from 19-24 April 2015 at the Sochi Expocentre, Sochi, Russia.
“The Qatar Olympic Committee is pleased to be partnering the SportAccord Convention again this year,” said Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General, Qatar Olympic Committee.
“The Convention always provides an excellent platform for the sporting community to discuss important issues and the QOC looks forward to strengthening existing associations and building new relationships as part of our commitment to international sports development.”
The Qatar Olympic Committee is the overall supervising body for all sports and events in Qatar. This includes supporting its National Federations in the development of their sports and the organisation of world-class events, promoting community participation and enjoyment of sport, and developing sport at every level.
Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord Convention said, “We are delighted to have Qatar Olympic Committee taking part in the SportAccord Convention. Their return, as a Silver Partner, reinforces the value seen by governing sports bodies and federations, and we are sure the QOC and all sports organisations will further benefit from the opportunities gained, as the Convention grows in stature to the World Sport & Business Summit.”
With a busy sports calendar both nationally and internationally for 2015, including the World Boxing Championships and IPC Athletics World Championships, which are both taking place in Doha in October, the Qatar Olympic Committee is also actively promoting opportunities for women in sport, and the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee was established in 2000 to encourage greater female sports participation.
At this year’s SportAccord Convention, the Conference Programme includes a Panel Session entitled: When Inequality IS the Legacy and will discuss the challenges that still exist for women and girls, even playing sport at all levels, in some parts of the world, as well as the legacy being left behind for girls starting out in sport today.
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, MediaAccord, the SportAccord Convention Village and Sports Demo Zone, as well as hosting the SportAccord Awards, and the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport.
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IOC president Bach ripostes to SportAccord president Vizer
IOC president Thomas Bach has responded to SportAccord president Marius Vizer’s attack by dismissing his views as personal and not representative of Olympic sports federations.
President Bach also said consultation with SportAccord on matters concerning the Olympic Games was not necessary, as the IOC collaborates closely with Olympic sports federations directly.
“Mr Vizer: thank you very much for your open words which you have been expressing here,” Bach said, addressing SportAccord Convention after Vizer’s confrontational opening speech.
“Also I have to say that following the many discussions I had with many of your colleagues, be it the Olympic summer federations, be it the Olympic winter federations, be it the IOC recognized federations, and the many contributions they made to the discussions on Olympic Agenda 2020, my impression is a little bit that the opinion you have is exclusively yours. Because these people have made constructive proposals which has resulted in even closer collaboration between the IOC and international federations.”
Bach said: “When you say that the IOC and SportAccord have to cooperate in order to have a new model for the Olympic Games, for the organisation and for the generation and distribution of the money then I have to say very clearly, “No.” For different reasons.
“First of all our partners are the Olympic Federations. They are doing the effort. And whenever we have an issue with them, whenever there are ideas we are discussing with them.
“And the same applies to the recognized federations. Whenever a recognized federation has an idea, they know very well that the doors in Lausanne are open and that they are enjoying our support in many ways. And if there are issues that are common to the recognized federations then we speak to the president of the IOC recognized federations. They are recognized by the IOC as are the National Olympic Committees, which are our direct partners.”
SportAccord is the umbrella group for both Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations.
“We prefer to address all the issues in a direct open dialogue as stipulated by Olympic Agenda 2020 and as is being practiced inside the IOC where we are openly discussing and preparing all the discussions and decisions with the representatives of the international federations,” said Bach.
“There the international federations have two seats in the IOC Executive Board and whenever you have a question, because you said you were surprised by some of the decisions, I can only offer that you speak with the representatives of the international federations in the IOC Executive Board and they can fully inform you and advise you what is going on.
“And then you will learn that in the IOC there is an open dialogue, not only among the Members of the IOC EB but we also have as some of you may remember open discussions in the IOC Session in the presence of everybody.”
In his speech, Vizer had accused the IOC of a lack of transparency.
“It was about one year ago here in Sochi when we had such a Session where all the questions by all the stakeholders were openly discussed,” said Bach. “Afterwards many of you contributed to this Olympic Agenda 2020. We received around 40,000 submissions and I thank you all for these contributions.
“In fact nobody who wanted to listen, and nobody who wanted to hear, and nobody who wanted to understand, and nobody who wanted to have some sort of good will, could have missed this discussion and could be surprised by any of the decisions we are taking, including the Olympic channel, which was mentioned here.”
Vizer also said the launch of the Olympic TV channel had not been developed in a transparent manner.
“About the Olympic channel, you could have already read about it in my brochure for campaigning to become IOC President about two and a half years ago,” Bach responded.
“This is not to mention the first time I proposed it was back in 1994, but for this you are way too young to have followed, this is only for elderly people like me to have some nostalgic feeling to come back to this.
“And this Olympic channel is an offer to you and has been discussed again with the international federations and has been discussed with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) who play an extremely important role.”
The IFs, NOCs and national federations cannot be considered in isolation, Bach said.
“It is just not right to create a discrepancy between the Olympic Movement, the NOCs and the National Federations. Because they are your members, they are your constituents and at the same time they are the constituents of the NOCs.”
Like all the international federations, SportAccord is recognized by the IOC.
“As an IOC recognized federation you are a full member of this Olympic Movement and you have of course access to the Olympic channel,” said Bach.
“This is why are offering you workshops here for you to discuss how this can be done in the very best way and how you can really tap this great potential and how you can ensure that your sport and athletes are enjoying worldwide presence through this channel and how in this way you can grow your sport and make it more popular. And you can promote the values we all share.”
Bach raised further points in his speech, which ran on for longer than the five minutes he had been allocated.
“I was invited to give a five-minute welcome speech but I’ve been a little bit longer as I had a lot to tell you after this friendly welcome I enjoyed here.”
Addressing the audience primarily made up of international sports federations, he said “Our doors are open to each and every one of you. We are making this offer of cooperation and support to each and every one of you. I thank you for having taken it already in the last one year and a half and having contributed to this effort of open dialogue and concerted action within the sport movement.”
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SportAccord president slams IOC over events
Marius Vizer, the president of SportAccord, the umbrella group of international sports federations, has directly criticised IOC president Thomas Bach and his programme of reform, Agenda 2020.
Agenda 2020 was unanimously approved by IOC members in December 2014, but Vizer said the reforms are not in the interests of sports and international federations.
He criticized the IOC’s decision to launch the new Olympic TV channel, which he said was taken without consultation or transparency.
Speaking at SportAccord Convention in Sochi on Monday, Vizer also complained that the IOC is preventing the launch of new multi-sports Games event.
“After becoming SportAccord President, I always tried to develop a constructive collaboration with the IOC and with President Bach. A collaboration based on respect towards the Olympic Movement, its members and the values in which I believe. Unfortunately, it never became reality,” Vizer said.
“I made a number of proposals in favour and for the benefit of IFs and SportAccord but we have never received a positive reaction. Mr. President, stop blocking the SportAccord strategy in its mission to identify and organize conventions and multi-sport games.
“Do not try to create a theory around which sports are and are not eligible for multi-sport games. Do not try to impose upon the organizers of SportAccord events guidelines on how to distribute funds generated and earned by ourselves. Do not interfere in the autonomy of the sport organizations.”
The primary feature of Agenda 2020 is its reform of the bidding procedure for Olympic Games, which has been changed to reduce the cost of bidding to make it more appealing to cities.
One of the changes brought in was to prevent bidding cities from presenting at SportAccord Convention. “The voting for potential host cities of the Olympic Games is compromised,” said Vizer.
“Key stakeholders are excluded from making informed decisions when selecting Olympic host cities: the bid cities cannot present their candidatures at SportAccord Convention to all stakeholders, IOC members cannot visit bid cities and during the IOC Session, when the vote takes place, IF presidents – who are organizers of the Olympic Games, are obliged to leave the room.”
Vizer said the interests of the international federations (IFs), which SportAccord represents, were not properly addressed.
“The Agenda 2020 hardly brings any real benefit to sport, to IFs, or athletes. It did not bring about more clear criteria, rules and principles,” he said.
Vizer singled out recommendations 9 and 10 of Agenda 2020 as leading to “a destabilizing of the Olympic sports”.
Recommendation 9 manages the scale of the Summer Olympic Games by limiting accreditations to 10,500 athletes competing in 310 events, and the winter Games to 2,900 athletes and 100 events.
Recommendation 10 sets out to structure the Olympic programme around events rather than sports. The IFs are to be involved in regular reviews of the programme and organising committees will be able to suggest adding one or more sports to the programme, but the IOC retains ultimate decision making power over which sports and IFs to include in the programme.
“We must protect the Olympic sports and disciplines currently in the Olympic programme and at the same time we must encourage and support the new sports and disciplines who want to join,” said Vizer.
He also described recommendation 19, to launch an Olympic TV channel as “very surprising”.
“The IOC Members voted in December 2014, in the IOC Session, unilaterally, without a clear business plan, a commercialization plan and project, to reduce the dividends to International Federations in order to establish the Olympic channel. Leaving from the premise that the Olympic Movement has the assets, any business project in the world needs a business plan, investors, professional partners, breakeven points, strategy, consultation with stakeholders – International Federations and to generate a benefit for all stakeholders. Only after the decision it appears that a plan is in process.
“At the same time, the cost of more than 450 million dollars to establish a digital channel seems exaggerated. Do consult us as stakeholders of the Olympic Movement regarding all the proposals, contracts and partnerships that are being signed and make them transparent!”
Vizer took over as president of SportAccord in May 2013, before which he was president of the International Judo Federation. He is faces no challenger in the presidential election due to take place at the SportAccord Convention.
Read the full transcript of the speech here. -
Dubai promises BIE a transformative World Expo in 2020
Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee met last week with the Executive Committee of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to give a status report on preparations for hosting the world’s largest exhibition.
Al Tayer, who is also executive director of Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority, provided details of the Expo 2020 Dubai registration dossier, which will be submitted to the BIE during the summer of 2015.
“We continue to welcome the opportunity to share our 2015 plans with the BIE Executive Committee,” he said.
“Their insight, guidance and collaborative spirit is key to our ability to communicate our comprehensive strategies, capture best practices and prepare and execute essential milestones.”
The visit is part of a series of meetings required for Expo 2020 Dubai to achieve official registration.
Dubai was selected as the host city of the 2020 World Expo by the BIE general assembly in November 2013. According to BIE regulations, any Expo project selected by the BIE general assembly must submit its application for registration to the Bureau at the least five years before the opening date.
The Expo’s final registration is then granted by the BIE general assembly upon previous examination and approval of the dossier by competent committees.
Running from 20 October 2020 through 10 April 2021, the Expo will launch the country’s Golden Jubilee celebration. With its theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, it will serve as a springboard for a progressive and sustainable vision for the coming decades.
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and Southern Asia region.
On a visit to Dubai in March, BIE secretary general Vincente Loscertales said he was pleased with the progress made by the Expo Dubai 2020 and reiterated the BIE’s full support and commitment to ensure it is on course to present a global platform, address global challenges, and leverage the convening power of previous and upcoming Expos, including Expo Milano 2015.
At the meeting with the BIE last week, Al Tayer explained how Expo 2020 Dubai will be presented in the UAE Pavilion during the Expo 2015 Milan, which takes place from May to October 2015, as well as discussing ongoing national engagement activities.
“The submission of our Registration Document, our presence in Milan, and our national engagement activities are all part of our ongoing efforts to deliver on a truly inclusive and extraordinary Expo,” said Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, Director-General of the Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau.
“We continue to appreciate the BIE process and the occasion to update the Executive Committee on our plans, which we are confident will lead to delivering a transformative World Expo.”
The BIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for overseeing the organisation of World and International Expos.
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Connecting the Olympic rings to a host city’s culture
The Olympic rings have been a constant presence at each Games since 1920. But while they provide a symbolic continuity from one Games to the next, each edition also features its own distinctive identity – from the modern and youthful vibe of London 2012 to the patchwork quilt of Sochi 2014 – which provides an eye-catching backdrop to the sporting action and adds to the visual spectacle of the Games.
The task of creating this unique Look of the Games – which is seen everywhere from signposts and souvenirs to venues and volunteers’ uniforms – falls to the Organising Committees of the Olympic Games (OCOGs), which seek to produce a visual identity that is built upon the foundation of the Olympic rings, while also incorporating designs and colours that reflect the culture and history of the host city.
For Alison Gardiner, who was the Vice President of Brand and Creative Services at the Vancouver 2010Organising Committee, it was important to have the rings as a strong starting point for this huge task.
“The Vancouver 2010 brand strategy drew from the Olympic brand as well as Canada’s, and this combination provided the foundation for everything we did,” she explains. “Our goal was to ensure there was one integrated, powerful experience that was unique to our country and our time, and could also engage and inspire as many people as possible.”
However, building a visual identity around a globally recognised symbol, which already has so many values and meanings attached to it, can also present challenges for OCOGs.
“We couldn’t get away from the fact that as soon as we put the rings on something, there was immediately an association with something great and powerful and a standard of Olympic excellence that we had to live up to,” says Gardiner.
“But the Olympic brand is also incredibly inspiring to work with because of what it stands for – just the symbol on its own, everyone on the planet recognises it and associates it with excellence and bringing people together in celebration.”
According to Beth Lula, Branding Director at the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, another of the challenges for Games organisers is building a visual identity that is representative of the host city and nation, as well as the values inherent within the rings.
“It’s important for engagement,” Lula says. “If you have something that people can recognise and understand, they can feel that it represents them and their nation and they can feel proud of it. When we were developing our brand, we were looking for universal symbols – that’s why we have people embracing as our Games emblem. It’s a global symbol. We want people throughout the country to recognise themselves and feel proud of our designs.”
While the Olympic rings provide a globally recognised symbol for OCOGs to draw on, Lula also believes that each edition of the Games adds something special to the Olympic brand as a whole.
“Every time that the Olympic Games go to another culture, they absorb some aspects of that culture and that’s what really makes the Olympic brand global,” she says.
“The Games have never been to South America, so we said throughout our bid process that we would be new territory for the Olympic Games. We have a unique way of celebrating things, we love sport and we are a passionate people with a lot of energy. I think that is going to be something very special that we are going to add to the Olympic brand.”
Lula hopes that what her team is creating for Rio 2016 will live on long after the Games through the rings themselves. “When we return the Olympic rings to the IOC after the Games, they have to be even more valuable than they were before,” she says. “That’s our mission.”
This article was written by and reproduced with kind permission from the International Olympic Committee. For more information visit www.olympic.org -
SportAccord president’s views are not ours, say Olympic IFs
The leaders of 17 international Olympic sports federations have signed a letter saying statements made by SportAccord president Marius Vizer yesterday do not represent their views.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) and World Archery went so far as announce that they are leaving SportAccord.
In his opening speech at SportAccord Convention in Sochi on Monday, Vizer criticised the IOC for not acting in the interests of sports federations. IOC president Thomas Bach then denounced this criticism and the leaders of 17 Olympic sports federations have been quick to rally behind him.
The presidents of the international federations for sports including swimming (FINA), modern pentathlon (UIPM), triathlon (ITU), archery (WA), equestrian (FIE), football (FIFA), badminton (BWF), athletics (IAAF), shooting (ISSF) and hockey (FIH), cycling (UCI), volleyball (FIV), World Rugby and World Archery co-signed the letter which stated that Vizer’s views do not represent those of international federations.
“We the undersigned members of the SportAccord Association are expressing to the SportAccord leadership our disagreement on the opinions expressed this morning by the SportAccord president during the opening speech, which do not reflect the views of the international federations,” the letter said.
“We also express our strong support to the International Olympic Committee and to the Olympic Agenda 2020, which has been adopted under the leadership of the IOC president Thomas Bach in consultation and agreement with all the international federations.”
The signatories, from just under half of all the 35 Olympic sport federations, represent some of the most influential names in world sports, including Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA and IOC member; Ugur Erdener, president of World Archery and an IOC board member; Bernard Lapasset, the president of World Rugby who ran against Vizer for SportAccord presidency in 2013; and Lamine Diack, president of IAAF.
In a letter sent to Vizer yesterday, the secretary general of World Archery, Tom Dielen said: “We hereby declare that the World Archery Executive Committee based on what happened this morning at the General Assembly took the decision to suspend our membership of Sportaccord until further notice with immediate effect.
“We will put this on the agenda of our next Executive Board in July 2015 for a final “decision.
“We will discuss with Sportaccord – DFSU unit on what this means with our current contract but in the interest of both organisations, we suggest that the contract is ended at the end of this year.”
Amid the turmoil, Vizer was re-elected unopposed as president of SportAccord. In an address to the SportAccord Convention, Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulated Vizer, saying “Russia has worked very well with SportAccord and we are happy that the election has taken place in our sports capital.
“Sochi has given us the platform to organize big events and exhibitions. I hope that you will have a chance to enjoy all that is on offer,” president Putin told delegates.”
In a call to heal the rift between the IOC and SportAccord, Putin said: “Let me emphasise that the support of SportAccord and IOC means a lot to us. We will continue to work together and promote peace and sport. I am convinced that the sports movement should be united and not divided by contradictions.”
It was also confirmed that the SportAccord Convention will take place again in Sochi next year. Vizer said “I thank all stakeholders for participating in the Convention this year. Next year we hope to organise logistics better with chartered flights for participants from European destinations.” -
Pope and Prince Ali discuss football’s power to develop
With just over a month to go before the FIFA presidential election, candidate HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein met with His Holiness Pope Francis at The Vatican on Thursday to discuss the global development of football and how to promote peace and social responsibility through sport.
In the private meeting, Pope Francis and Prince Ali discussed the challenges and opportunities around developing football globally. They also talked about how sport and football can help to promote peace and social responsibility.
“I have been greatly inspired by Pope Francis’s work to use sport to build bridges between people of differing faiths and cultures,” said Prince Ali.
“Pope Francis is a true innovator in this regard; it was a great honour to meet with him not only in his capacity as the leader of one of the largest faiths in the world, but also in his capacity as a much-admired champion for peace, tolerance and inter-faith dialogue and understanding. Our discussions were very fruitful and we share a common vision of using sport as a force for good in the world.”
Pope Francis is a football lover and supporter of Buenos Aires-based team the Saints of San Lorenzo. Before the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he published a video message in which he described football as “a game and at the same time an opportunity for dialogue, understanding and reciprocal human enrichment”.
Last year, the Vatican hosted an interfaith charity football match to promote peace, in which he welcomed past and present greats of the football world for the high-profile game at the Vatican.
Prince Ali is said to be a direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed.
The development of football is a key concern of Prince Ali, who has been vice president of FIFA since 2011. In January 2012, he founded the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), a non-profit youth commission headquartered in Amman, Jordan.
The AFDP works to develop football across Asia with a focus on youth development, empowering women, social responsibility and the protection and evolution of the game. AFDP led the successful campaign to lift the ban on head scarves in football.
Prince Ali has worked to promote unity and develop football since becoming President of the Jordan Football Association in 1999. In 2000, he founded the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), of which he is president. WAFF’s members are Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
The president of FIFA will be elected on May 29th.
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HOST CITY 2015 to take place in Glasgow on 9 and 10 November
HOST CITY 2015, which aims to become the biggest EU-based conference and exhibition for cities, cross sector event owners and event suppliers, is to take place in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th of November.
The first HOST CITY, held in London in 2014, brought world class speakers and delegates from IOC, FIFA, World Expo, MOBO, ITU (Triathlon), FIS (Skiing) and numerous cities. It was acclaimed as the optimal environment for cities and events owners to network with and learn from peers in the business of bidding for and hosting cross sector events.
HOST CITY 2015 will build on this unique dialogue between cities and rights holders of sporting, cultural and business events by creating a much larger platform.
A new platform for Cities, Event Owners and Suppliers to work together
Calls have been intensifying for a one-stop event where city representatives, destination marketers, event owners and suppliers can all meet.
HOST CITY 2015 addresses this need and Glasgow is the perfect destination for enabling the event to fulfil its ambition of becoming the largest conference and exhibition of cities and cross-sector events.
Matthew Astill, CEO of Cavendish Group, which owns HOST CITY, said: “In an increasingly competitive global market, a growing number of cities are hosting a wider range of events to attract a greater share of global trade, talent, tourism, and investment.
“HOST CITY 2015 provides the platform for cities, event owners and suppliers to work together to bid for and host the greatest range of events at any single gathering in the EU. We are especially delighted to commit to HOST CITY growing up in Glasgow over the next three to five years.”
Sir Craig Reedie, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee and keynote speaker at HOST CITY in 2014 said: “I am pleased to see that the HOST CITY 2015 will be coming to Glasgow, building a platform for the growing marketplace of cities staging many different types of events. I enjoyed speaking at the inaugural 2014 conference and I look forward to doing so again in Glasgow.”
A top events destination
HOST CITY 2015 will take place at the University of Strathclyde’s new state-of-the-art Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) in the heart of Glasgow.
Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau said: “We are delighted that HOST CITY 2015 will be held in Glasgow.
“Cities need a forum where they can meet the owners of all kinds of events and plan their future hosting strategies. The market for sports, cultural and business events is growing at a rapid rate and we anticipate that HOST CITY will develop into a major conference and exhibition for cities and cross-platform events.
“Glasgow is one of the world’s top 10 sporting cities with a phenomenally diverse, annual cultural calendar and we’ve been named the UK’s Best Convention Bureau for the past nine years – a reputation that we’ve built through a strategy of attracting the best international events and conferences, continued investment in state-of-the-art facilities, the launch of a dedicated Major Events Charter and a powerful city brand.”
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “We are delighted HOST CITY 2015 is set to take place in Glasgow, this November. Scotland, and indeed Glasgow has a strong track record and international reputation as the perfect stage for major events and I have no doubt this prestigious event will once again place Scotland on the map as a pre-eminent destination for major cultural, business and sporting events.”
What’s it about?
The conference and exhibition will focus on how cities and rights holders can work together to bid for and host sporting, cultural and business events. These range from mega events such as the Olympic Games and World Expos to major business, scientific and cultural events.
HOST CITY 2015 is set to include VIP speakers from event owners: IOC, CGF, FIFA, sports federations, BIE, MTV, EU Capital of Culture, Rock in Rio, major scientific congresses; city event leaders from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Japan, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, USA and many more.
Speakers who have confirmed their intention to speak include: Dimitri Kerkentzes, Chief of Staff, Bureau International des Expositions (World Expos); Tessa Jowell, Former Secretary of State, Olympics, UK; Antonio Arimany Fernandez, Director General, International Triathlon Union; Louise Martin, Honorary Secretary, Commonwealth Games Federation; Alexander Koch, Corporate Communications Manager, FIFA.
Rights holders will announce plans for their events and share insights on bidding for and hosting their properties. Cities will share their experiences of building a portfolio of sports, business and cultural events that attract investment and benefit society.
With a mix of panel discussions, keynote addresses and case studies focussed on mega events, transport, security, business and cultural events, HOST CITY 2015 highlights the issues and opportunities facing everyone in the business of city events.
Press coverage of HOST CITY Bid to Win 2014 included: The Telegraph, Daily Mail, O Globo, Bloomberg, Associated Press, ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, Huffington Post, Star Africa, Yahoo, China Sports, Indian Express, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sports Illustrated, Washington Times, Kyiv Post, La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Omnisports, MSN, beIN Sports, Eurosport, Fox Sports.
Media Partners for HOST CITY 2015 include Sportcal; SportsPro; Fcbusiness.co.uk; iSportConnect; Around The Rings and TheFootballStadiums.com.
Who Should Attend?
•City representatives, destination marketing organisations, national sports and event bureaus;
•Owners of all large-scale events and exhibitions (sports, business, science and culture);
•Suppliers of infrastructure, technology and services for events.
Cavendish Group looks forward to welcoming you to HOST CITY 2015 in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th of November, 2015.
For more information visit www.bidtowin-hostcity.net
Book your place and discuss speaking, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities with Ben Avison at +44 (0) 7876 682072 or ben.avison@hostcity.net