[Source TBS]: Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc. (TBS) is pleased to announce that it will collaborate with World Obstacle, the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO) and the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) to test a SASUKE/Ninja Warrior obstacle course event as a proposed new 5th discipline of the Modern Pentathlon for inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
SASUKE/Ninja Warrior is a megahit sports entertainment program broadcast on TBS since 1997. It is currently seen in over 160 countries around the world, and local versions are produced in over 20 countries.
Modern Pentathlon is an Olympic sport consisting of five disciplines: fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, laser pistol shooting, and running. UIPM announced in May 2022 that an obstacle course would be tested as a potential replacement for the riding discipline in the Modern Pentathlon after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
According to the UIPM, two types of obstacle sports will be tested, one of which is Ninja Competitions, a sport made popular worldwide by the SASUKE/Ninja Warrior programs. The first test competition is being held as a collaboration between UIPM and FISO in Ankara, Turkey on June 27 and 28, immediately after the UIPM 2022 Pentathlon World Cup Final in Ankara.
At UIPM and FISO’s request, TBS has agreed to provide a Ninja Warrior obstacle course for use as a demonstration of the event in Ankara. This obstacle course is currently used to film local versions of the SASUKE/Ninja Warrior format shown in France, Poland, and other European countries. The Wall Flip, Parallel Pipes, Wind Chimes and Tire Swing obstacles will be featured.
Pentathletes and obstacle athletes from around the world will practice on June 27 for the competition on June 28. The test event in Ankara gives the best pentathletes in the world a chance to compete for the first time along with obstacle course athletes.
Dr Klaus Schormann, President said: “UIPM has undertaken a comprehensive and transparent process to transform Modern Pentathlon into one of the most popular, accessible and exciting sports on the Olympic programme. The upcoming first Obstacle Discipline Test Event in Ankara will be an important step and we look forward to watching pentathletes and obstacle athletes test themselves on the obstacles provided in collaboration with TBS and FISO.”
Ian Adamson, President, FISO said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with TBS and the UIPM on the new 5th discipline. Obstacles have a long history in pentathlon, and introducing a new discipline that is practiced and watched by millions of people in over 160 countries in the form of SASUKE/Ninja Warrior shows has the potential to widen the audience for all stakeholders and enhance the appeal of the sport on the Olympic programme.”
Sophia Hernandez (Guatemalan pentathle said: “I’m feeling excited to try the Obstacle Discipline, and hoping it will be fun and cool to do. I’m also a bit nervous about the difficulty of it. But I think it will be interesting and a good opportunity for everyone taking part. I have watched Ninja Warrior, I love seeing how they race and it’s always fun. It’s impressive to see how some people manage to get through really tough courses.”
Taro Muraguchi, Program Producer at TBS said: “I am very excited to hear that the program that began in 1997 on TBS has become popular around the world and may now expand its reach even further. I am really looking forward to seeing SASUKE/Ninja Warrior on the Olympic stage as a Modern Pentathlon event.”
Miho Takashima, in charge of the global SASUKE/Ninja Warrior format, said: “SASUKE/Ninja Warrior, which continues to win fans around the world, represents the culmination of TBS’s long history of content development. We look forward to working with the UIPM and FISO to further expand the possibilities of obstacle racing.”
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SASUKE/Ninja Warrior competition may debut at the Olympics
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Shortlist announced for inaugural AIPH World Green City Awards
[Source: AIPH] The International Association of Horticultural Producers, AIPH, is proud to announce the shortlist of eighteen entries from cities around the world for the first edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards. In each of the six Awards Categories, the Technical Panel of Judges selected the three top scoring entries for this prestigious list.
“We are thrilled to be showcasing excellence in city greening from cities around the world,” said Tim Briercliffe, AIPH Secretary General. “As we reach this very exciting milestone, AIPH is confident that the first ever AIPH World Green City Awards is a resounding success, leaving a legacy that will shine through in future editions. Congratulations to each and every one of the shortlisted cities. We proudly celebrate this amazing achievement with you.”
The 2022 AIPH World Green City Awards Shortlist of entries per category is proudly announced as follows:
Living Green for Biodiversity
Addressing the loss of species, habitats, ecosystem health, and genetic diversity
Reverdecer Bogotá
Bogota D.C., Colombia
Act Local, Contribute Global to World Biodiversity Conservation
Town of Victoria Park, Australia
Ville de Paris- DEVE
City of Paris, France
Living Green for Climate Change
Tackling the root causes and effects of climate change to build more liveable and resilient cities
Peynircioglu Stream Ecological Restoration Project
City of Izmir, Turkey
Grey to Green
City of Melbourne, Australia
Mexico City’s Environmental and Climate Change Program
Mexico City, Mexico
Living Green for Health and Wellbeing
Addressing the medical, behavioural, and social determinants of health for residents
Transforming degraded land into Urban Micro Parks
City of Fortaleza, Brazil
Utrecht Green and Healthy City
City of Utrecht, Netherlands
Sunvale Community Park
City of Brimbank, Australia
Living Green for Water
Ensuring that water resources are safeguarded and wisely used, with clean water available to all while also protecting residents from flooding risks
The Phytotechnology Stations at the Montréal Botanical Garden / Space for Life
City of Montreal, Canada
Creating a Green City
Logan City Council, Australia
uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership
City of uMhlathuze, South Africa
Living Green for Social Cohesion
Fostering belonging, trust and inter-generational as well as cross-cultural relationships to prevent exclusion, marginalisation and violence
Socio-urban integration in the midst of an ecological reserve: The case of Rodrigo Bueno
City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sunchoenman Bay Wetland Conservation Project
Suncheon City, South Korea
OASIS Schoolyard Project
City of Paris, France
Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth
Creating systems and solutions that allow all city residents to overcome economic distress and thrive
The 2020-2030 Master Plan for the Conservation, Improvement and Development of Parc Jean-Drapeau
City of Montreal, Canada
Transformation of “Beltway to Green Belt”
City of Mashhad, Iran
Green Necklace to the State of Telangana
City of Hyderabad, India
“Addressing the multiple challenges cities face”
The shortlist of entries is presented on behalf of the Technical Panel by the six Category Leads to the 2022 Awards Jury who will identify one winner for each category, as well as the overall AIPH World Green City Awards 2022 winner.
“After reviewing the submissions for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2022, I was amazed at not only the commitment to building green cities but the creativity and expression of local culture that was at the core of the submissions,” said Grant Pearsall, Urban Ecological Planner, Edmonton, Canada (Technical Panel member).
In addition to selecting the shortlist, the Technical Panel has made non-category-specific nominations to be considered by the Jury for Highly Commended Awards. These Highly Commended Awards are given to city entries that did not score highly enough to make the shortlist, but which demonstrate a particularly innovative and inspiring approach.
“The spread of very different entries is an indication of the wide range of initiatives, with plants at their heart, that are addressing the multiple challenges cities face due to climate change and the ecological emergency. This initiative by AIPH encourages cities to demonstrate the range of innovative urban nature-based solutions that are possible,” said Marcus Grant, Editor-in-Chief, Cities & Health (Technical Panel Category Lead, Health and Wellbeing).
Each eligible entry was assessed and scored by members of the Technical Panel against the following judging criteria:
• Vision: the initiative should be bold and include a fresh new model for using and/or delivering nature-orientated solution(s).
• Significance: the initiative should be designed to address a serious local problem or set of problems.
• Implementation: the initiative should have achieved or be well on its way to achieving its stated objective(s) and/or desirable outcomes.
• Learning and Transferability: the initiative should have generated some learning content or mechanisms that enable enhanced local practice in the future and/or offer potential for customised replication in other cities.
• Resilience: The initiative should be mindful of its impact on the planet and of its ability to be sustained over time.
“To create a healthy and happy urban life we need to include plants and nature in our cities. The 2022 entries for the AIPH World Green City Awards show that cities are taking action to showcase the value of living green. This is truly an inspiration for many other cities,” said Judith van der Poel, Director, Niek Roozen Landscape (Technical Panel member).
To learn more about the exciting initiatives by the shortlisted cities, click here.
“The AIPH Awards program is an important initiative to recognize outstanding worldwide contributors and projects that are transforming our world into a greener and healthier place,” said Michael von Hausen, President, MVH Urban Planning & Design Inc., Adjunct Prof., Simon Fraser University + University of Vancouver Island (Technical Panel member).
Looking ahead, AIPH will profile city entries as case studies to inspire other cities around the world to take action for plants and nature. AIPH celebrates each and every city entry as a leader in urban greening, and a champion of the green city principles.
All winners will be announced at a gala event in September/October 2022. The date and venue for this event will be announced soon. AIPH and partners will also launch the 2024 edition of the World Green City Awards at this gala event. To stay in the loop and receive further news about the AIPH World Green City Awards direct to your inbox, subscribe to the AIPH Global Green City Update here.
AIPH is grateful to the network of partners for their ongoing support for the AIPH World Green City Awards – Biophilic Cities, Cities & Health, CitiesWithNature, European Federation of Green Roof & Green Wall Associations (EFB), The Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF), Greener Spaces Better Places, #NatureForAll, Salzburg Global Seminar, The Nature of Cities (TNoC), Trees for Cities, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Urban Biodiversity Hub (UBHub), Urban Land Institute, World Urban Parks, Youth Climate Leaders, and 8 80 Cities. Thank you also to sponsor Expo 2021 Hatay and media partners Cities Today, FloraCulture International, and Host City. -
Glasgow to host 2022 Billie Jean King Cup finals
[Source: International Tennis Federation] The International Tennis Federation has announced that Great Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association has been selected to host the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals. The Finals will be played on indoor hard courts at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, on 8-13 November.
This is the fourth occasion that Great Britain has hosted the Finals of the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport. Launched in 1963 as the Federation Cup, the first event was held at London’s Queen’s Club, with Billie Jean King herself a member of the winning US team. The competition went on to be held in Eastbourne in 1977 and Nottingham in 1991.
Great Britain, as host nation, will join Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Spain, Slovakia, Switzerland and USA in the Finals to compete for the chance to become 2022 world champions.
The Finals will see these 12 nations compete in four round-robin groups of three nations, with the four group winners qualifying for the semi-finals.
In alignment with the ITF’s Advantage All strategy to encourage more women and girls play tennis, the LTA is putting a special focus on placing tennis at the forefront of women’s sport in Great Britain. The Billie Jean King Cup Finals event will be used to raise awareness of tennis as the most established mixed gender sport and encourage more women and girls in the UK to get on court for the first time.
ITF President David Haggerty said: “We are delighted to be bringing the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals to Glasgow. The LTA presented a very impressive bid as part of a competitive hosting process. They have successfully hosted Davis Cup ties in Glasgow, and we look forward to having the women’s World Cup of Tennis take place in front of passionate tennis fans from around the world in an electric atmosphere, at the culmination of the women’s tennis season.”
British Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to build the profile of women’s tennis and focus attention on women’s sport. The entire team are very excited about playing in front of a home crowd and hearing some loud support across the whole week.”
Scott Lloyd, Chief Executive of the LTA said: “We have said that we were ambitious to bring more major events to Great Britain and raise the profile of tennis across the whole year, and I’m delighted that Glasgow will be hosting the Billie Jean King Cup Finals as well as the Davis Cup Finals Group stage this year.
“The first ever finals were held in Great Britain in 1963, and it’s brilliant that the finals will be returning here for the first time since 1991. This gives us a great chance to open tennis to more people and create special memories that we hope will inspire the next generation of players.” -
Edmonton targets events with shared community goals
Edmonton is a mid-sized city that punches above its weight in hosting major international events – but what matters most is the local impact.
“Edmonton has a rich history of hosting major sporting events that have left some incredible legacies in our community starting with Commonwealth Games in 1978, World Masters Games in 2005 and the FIFA Women’s World cup in 2015,” Cindy Medynski, Director, Edmonton Events told Host City Americas.
“Legacy and in particular social impact are always a major factor in events that we are looking to attract to Edmonton. Economic and reputational values are much easier to measure and more straightforward, but we are looking for event partners that have similar values and that have developed programmes that provide alignment with our community goals.”
Edmonton has the second highest indigenous population in Canada. “We work really hard to involve that community in the planning for major events – it’s something that’s very important to us, not only to Edmonton but to Canada in general.
“These events take place on their land; it’s important for us that community to be at the table from the beginning – and for us to be educated on how to incorporate them. It’s a long learning process but it’s one we need to engage in. Our indigenous groups are so happy to be involved in this as well – there’s a tonne of things they contribute.”
Edmonton also looks for events that build on legacies from past events. This involves building a local pool of volunteers that are a legacy from the 2001 World Athletics Championships, creating local capacity and expertise in event delivery, and targeting major events that create opportunities for youth to participate in sport during the event and long afterwards.
As Edmonton events is a partnership between the City of Edmonton and the tourism organisation Explore Edmonton, it also has the ability to draw on partnerships and relationships at the local level from the city and from our tourism organisation.
“So it’s very important that our event organisers and rights holders are buying local and supporting the community in ways that really show our citizens the impact and value of major events. It has to be a win-win for both sides of the coin.”
Edmonton Events is also helping to codevelop a custom plan for events to become carbon neutral. “This only works if event producers and rightsholders are on board; that’s why it’s important to us to start from the beginning and find partners that really have these values like we do.” -
New Recast Channel for WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup backed by Discovery
[Source: Recast] Fans of one of the most exciting series in motorsport – WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup – can now watch race highlights and exclusive behind-the-scenes content from some of the sport’s biggest stars with the launch of a new WTCR Channel on subscription-free streaming platform Recast.
Audiences will have greater access to the sport than ever before as a result of WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup and promoter Discovery Sports Events joining the subscription-free, live, and on-demand streaming platform.
The WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup is the pinnacle of customer touring car racing and sits at the top of the TCR category ladder. The cream of the sport’s driving talent, including Yvan Muller, Esteban Guerrieri, defending world champion Yann Ehrlacher and Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport’s Tom Coronel will create exclusive content for WTCR’s Recast Channel on location from each race across the 2022 season.
Fans can also stream onboard camera sequences plus exclusive footage from leading WTCR teams, as well as highlights of each race.
The 10-round, 20-race 2022 championship runs through to November, with meetings taking place at some of motorsport’s most iconic venues across the globe. The season is already off to a flyer, with Mikel Azcona, of BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, leading the championship after picking up a second win of the season at the historic Hungaroring in Hungary at the weekend.
The Spaniard will take a slender 10-point lead over Argentine Nestor Girolami into the next race as the championship’s attention turns to his home circuit at the famous MotorLand Aragón circuit near Alcañiz on June 25-26. WTCR fans can expect more exclusive content alongside thrilling highlights and on-track action on the Recast Channel.
Andy Meikle, Recast Founder and CEO, hailed the beginning of a significant connection with Discovery Sports Events. He said: “Together we’re giving fans greater access to the sport they love in an affordable and flexible way.
“Recast will unlock new digital revenue streams for WTCR and Discovery Sports Events, whilst bringing fans even closer to the heart of the action each race weekend – it’s win-win for all involved.”
Jean-Baptiste Ley, WTCR Director, Discovery Sports Events, described the deal as ‘the latest firm demonstration of our significant, ongoing promotional push and commitment behind the WTCR’.
He continued: “Recast’s unique platform will allow us to give WTCR fans even greater control and access to the series, including exclusive driver generated content and the best trackside action and commentary.
“Utilising Recast’s flexible functionality to align with our existing broadcasting agreements, we look forward to bringing the best WTCR content to new and existing global markets, unleashing a wave of new racing fans to enjoy another fantastic season.”
Fans will be able to use Recast’s subscription-free platform to stream exclusive interviews, in-car cameras and behind-the-scenes content from the top teams from the series, including Cyan Racing Lynk & Co, ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, and Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport, to complement Discovery Sports Events race-by-race coverage.
Tom Coronel, Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport driver, said: “I want fans to go behind the scenes at WTCR events and they’ll see me being myself in my Tommy style. The content won’t just be about the racing but about my race car, the engine, the mechanics, the travel.
“They’ll get to understand what I do at race events from walking to the track from the hotel and what I have to eat. I’m going to show people the things they don’t normally see and I’m very excited to show Recast fans as much content as possible during race weekends.”
The launch of the Discovery Sports Events WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup Channel marks the latest high-profile Channel to join Recast, which has built an impressive portfolio of Publishers within sport and esports including Hibernian FC, Millwall FC, the World Curling Federation, and Formula Esports, with fans from across the world streaming affordable content every day across the platform’s 150 Channels.
The content offered across Channels ranges from live streams to on-demand content, including exclusive behind the scenes access to interviews and original content.
Recast, which is currently in beta, has secured £15 million investment to date from some of the biggest names in sport, business and venture capital.
Find all the WTCR content at WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup’s Recast Channel here. To find out more about Recast, visit the website. -
Global Esports Federations announces Dubai as host city for Global Esports Games 2025
The Global Esports Federation has confirmed Dubai as the host city for the GEF’s flagship Global Esports Games 2025, while the GEF delegation, led by CEO, Paul J. Foster, was at the Season 2022 LIVE kick-off of the Global Esports Tour, staged at the Dubai World Trade Centre from June 9-11.
The landmark announcement was made in the presence Abdulla Al Gurg, Vice-President of Emirates Esports, Chair of GEF Digital Transformation Commission and Founder of Esports Management Group (EMG), the Secretary-General, Saeed Al Taher, and Board Members of Emirates Esports, in front of a capacity crowd at the GET Dubai.
The GEF delegation, comprising GEF Vice-President, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud; GEF Board Members, Adrian Lismore and Hala Ghandour; as well as Alper Afshin Özdemir, President of the Turkish Esports Federation; and Paulo Ribas, President of the Brazil Esports Federation, attended a series of meetings and events in the United Arab Emirates as Dubai was confirmed as the host for the GEG 2025.
“Congratulations Dubai and the people of the United Arab Emirates. The Global Esports Federation is delighted to confirm Dubai as the host of our global flagship property – the Global Esports Games – in December 2025. Once again, the eyes of the world, the energy, and passion of our #worldconnected community will light up Dubai, the UAE, and the region,” expressed Chris Chan, President of the GEF.
“We are excited to see the incredible progress since our signing of a Strategic Framework Agreement with Emirates Esports at Expo 2020 Dubai last November, to unlock opportunities and develop esports in the region. The world will once again unite in Dubai with the city confirmed to host the Global Esports Games in 2025,” said Paul J. Foster, CEO of the GEF.
“The whole world knows that Dubai is a great host and offers an epic world-class setting. We can’t wait to see athletes from across the world – standing on center stage at the GEF Arena in December 2025 – as they compete for the glory of their home country flag, the fans at home and in the stands, and the chance to show the world their many skills, talents, their personal journey and desire to compete,” he added. -
Paris 2024 board approves optimised masterplan with competitions in new host territory
[Source: Paris 2024] Following initial validation by the Executive Board on 23 June, Paris 2024 is continuing its efforts to optimise the Olympic and Paralympic venues master plan, which ensures enhanced competition conditions, helps keep control of the budget, and preserves the legacy of the Games for local residents and regional authorities. The Board of Directors of Paris 2024 has approved the potential solutions identified, and granted a mandate to the organisation to continue working with the stakeholders involved, before the propositions are officially presented to the IOC and IPC for final validation.
Châteauroux identified as a venue for shooting and shooting Para sport
The Board of Directors of Paris 2024 has confirmed that the shooting and shooting Para sport events are to be moved and the venue in Châteauroux as the favoured option offering the best conditions for the organisation of the competitions in 2024. Drawing upon the positive exchanges with the Fédération Nationale de Tir (National Shooting Federation), and the enthusiasm of the elected regional authorities, Paris 2024 is continuing discussions with the actors involved to finalise the technical and financial matters relating to this new host territory.
The “Terrain des Essences”, in La Courneuve, which was initially identified to host the shooting and shooting Para sport, will remain a competition venue. It will serve as the starting point for the Para marathon and the Mass Event Road cycling; there is less temporary infrastructure required for these two events. The large-scale decontamination and renaturing work will continue on the 13-hectare site, meaning the Games leave a lasting legacy that will benefit the area and its residents.
With Villepinte, new competitions will be hosted in Seine-Saint-Denis
The Board of Directors has approved the site of Villepinte, in Seine-Saint-Denis, to host the boxing preliminaries, the fencing ranking round of modern pentathlon and sitting volleyball during the Paralympic Games. The venue is subject to validation by the relevant international federations. The final stages of the boxing events will be held in Roland Garros, on the Philippe-Chatrier court, after the Tennis competition.
With Villepinte, and with the para cycling events being held at Clichy-Sous-Bois, in addition to all the sites that are already on the venues master plan, Seine-Saint-Denis is, even more than before, at the very heart of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille has been selected to host the basketball preliminary rounds
Following discussions with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the IOC, the Board of Directors has mandated Paris 2024 to propose the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille for the organisation of the preliminary phase of the basketball events.
Stade Pierre Mauroy has a history of hosting major international competitions. The record attendance for a basketball match in Europe was broken at Stade Pierre-Mauroy at the EuroBasket final in 2015 (27,372 spectators).
This new arrangement has the benefit of providing greater coherence between different team sports. With the basketball preliminaries being held in Lille, the handball preliminaries can be staged in Paris, in Hall 6 of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles. Thus, handball players will have the possibility of competing in Paris. From the quarterfinals onwards, the basketball competition will take place at Arena Bercy in the heart of Paris. This option also helps optimise the use of existing competition venues and keeps the budget under control thanks to the exceptional capacity of the competition site in Lille.
Next step
The IOC will provide a final approval of these venues after full completion of the technical assessments as to the Pierre Mauroy Stadium’s compliance with FIBA’s requirements.
Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games planned to take place in the very heart of the city
The Board of Directors has officially mandated Paris 2024 to present to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) the alternative concept of a Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in the heart of the host city, Paris. Organised on the iconic Place De La Concorde, the Ceremony would be offering Paralympic athletes a unique experience.
Discussions will be held in the coming weeks with the IPC to agree on areas such as spectator capacity, accessibility, athletes’ experience and budget, to define the most appropriate scenario for the Paralympics Games Opening Ceremony.
The two closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place at the Stade De France, in Saint-Denis. -
2023 UCI Cycling World Championships unveils full schedule for inaugural mega-event in Scotland
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has unveiled the official schedule of the inaugural multi-discipline cycling event, giving cycling fans around the world a first sight of the full scale of the historic festival of cycling coming to Glasgow and across Scotland for 11 days (August 3-13, 2023).
From the Highlands to the Borders and across the central belt, the carefully created schedule boasts a world class line-up of elite cycling competitions, designed to unite Scotland while sharing an inspirational cycling message with the world.
The schedule was designed by the UCI, the Organising Committee of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, host cities and key stakeholders to give an unrivalled live spectator and TV viewing experience, packed full of daily elite finals and nonstop action with at least three disciplines on display each day of the UCI Cycling Worlds.
Thousands of the world’s top cycling athletes will compete across the 13 UCI World Championships, with only a select few earning the title of UCI World Champion and the prestige of the rainbow jersey. With inclusivity at its core, the event will also feature para-cycling and junior competitions.
In a first for a UCI World Championships, the Women Elite road race will bring the curtain down on the competitions, on Sunday, August 13. In addition to championing female cyclists, the decision to stage the Men Elite road race on the opening weekend and the Women Elite road race on the closing day was taken to ensure the best possible alignment with the UCI Road International Calendar, in particular with respect to their respective Tours de France.
The opening weekend of the Championships (5-6 August) will include exhilarating action in Glasgow, Fort William and across Scotland. The Men Elite road race will take place in the stunning scenery of central Scotland while the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will host Track finals each day. Fans will be able to witness the fast and exhilarating Mountain Bike Downhill competitions against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Nevis Range.
At the other end of the country, Glentress Forest in the Tweed Valley will host tough endurance racing with the Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon.
The full schedule of events across all 11-days, including BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, Gran Fondo, Indoor Cycling and Trials can be found at the website for the cyclingworldchamps.com/schedule
This is the first time all 13 UCI World Championships will be combined into one mega-event, making it a cycling event unmatched in size and scale. The anticipated global TV audience will place the Cycling World Championships in the top-10 most watched sporting events in the world, rivalling the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and placing Scotland on the world stage as a destination for
elite cycling and cycle tourism.
David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale said: “Glasgow and the whole of Scotland are creating sporting history by hosting this multi-discipline cycling event for the first time. The UCI Cycling World Championships were one of my visions when I was first elected President of the UCI in 2017. That vision is now becoming a reality and the inaugural edition is really taking shape. The unveiling of the schedule enables us to visualise what awaits during these 11 days of non-stop cycling action. The entire cycling community can definitely expect great things!”
Paul Bush OBE, Chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said “Unveiling the full schedule for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is an incredibly exciting milestone in the build-up to the largest cycling event in history. Fans from around the world can start planning their trips to Scotland to celebrate the power of the bike across 13 exhilarating UCI World Championships. The first-of-its-kind event further strengthens our position as a world leading events destination and reinforces Scotland’s place as the perfect stage for events, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone in 2023.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “We are looking forward to welcoming people to Scotland for a packed 11 days of competition next August. The strength and breadth of competition and viewing experiences really does have something for everyone. What’s more, along with a host of diverse and wholly inclusive events, it feels fitting to close these UCI World Championships with the Women’s Elite road race.”
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “Glasgow is proud to be hosting 8 of the 13 UCI World Championships and we are delighted with the breadth of action taking place in the city throughout the 11 days, showcasing our amazing venues and giving citizens and visitors alike the chance to experience first-hand, elite sporting competitions. I am particularly excited to see the Women’s Elite road race scheduled as the final event, finishing in George Square, the civic heart of Glasgow.
“As a UCI Bike City and European Capital City of Sport for 2023, we look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to our wonderful city, not only to enjoy the event, but to embrace all that Glasgow has to offer in terms of art, culture and entertainment.”The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will take place across 11 days from 3 to 13 August 2023 in venues and locations in Glasgow and across Scotland. More than a million spectators are anticipated as well as a global television audience of over one billion, making it one of the world’s top 10 watched sporting events next summer.
The event is being delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport and British Cycling as principal funders. The partnership aims to create a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative, and distinctive whilst bringing all cycling disciplines together every four years, one year ahead of the Olympics.
For further information on the UCI Cycling World Championships, visit www.cyclingworldchamps.com
David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale and Paul Bush OBE, Chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are speaking at Host City 2022 on 15-16 November. Register for Host City 2022 here -
GAISF President Ivo Ferriani: Youth must have a voice in sport’s future
[Source: GAISF] GAISF President Ivo Ferriani marked this year’s United Nations (UN) International Youth Day by calling on the global sports community to ensure the world’s youth have a voice in the development and future of sport.
Observed globally, International Youth Day provides an opportunity to celebrate and recognise young people’s voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement.
This year’s theme is “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages”. As part of strengthening intergenerational solidarity, ensuring that young people have a voice in decision-making mechanisms is vital in bridging generational gaps.
President Ferriani said: “Sport has a key role to play in the physical, mental and social development of young people, so it is key that the global sports community listens to their voice when guiding sport’s global development. By working collaboratively, we can help draw more young people to sport and increase participation to secure sport’s future.
“As an integral part of society, sport can also be a powerful intergenerational activity. At all levels older generations pass on their knowledge to young people, ensuring that younger generations can experience the joy of sport and benefit from an active lifestyle. In a time where solidarity and collaboration are more important than ever, it is vital that we harness sport’s role as a vehicle for promoting social cohesion among all ages.” -
PTI Digital appointed by Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
[Source: PTI Digital] PTI Digital are delighted to have been appointed by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games– which kick off tomorrow in Birmingham and the West Midlands – as the Official Venue Technology Service Provider; using specific venue knowledge and expertise to support the deployment of key venue technology services more efficiently and effectively and providing further on-the-ground events expertise during Games-time.
PTI is assisting Birmingham 2022’s Venue Technology team and their Venue Network Integration supplier and bringing its consultancy expertise to guide and shape deployments at specific venues. The PTI team will be bringing expertise from a host of major events including the Ryder Cup, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Cricket World Cup, Formula 1 and the IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Adrian Corcoran, Chief Information Officer at Birmingham 2022 said, “The Commonwealth Games is one of the biggest multi-sport events in the global calendar, taking place in multiple venues across Birmingham, the West Midlands over 11 days of sport. That comes not only with significant operational challenges but also a high degree of expectation around the experience from our stakeholders that require a seamless performance across our technology estate. PTI have outstanding experience in this space, always thinking about the end user and how that impacts on the technology requirements, bringing us operational and spend efficiencies in the process. Particularly with the compressed planning timescales of these Games and limited access to venues due to the pandemic, PTI have gone the extra mile in bringing venue experience and knowledge to accelerate the planning and deployment to specific and iconic Games venues.”
Laurence Smith, Head of Venue Technology at Birmingham 2022 said: “It’s been as pleasure to work with PTI for these Games. Their sports and venue specific expertise, combined with major event delivery knowledge as well as their exceptional partnership approach, have proved a great asset to my team, and this will continue through Games-time. We are also pleased that PTI is contributing to our legacy and sustainability strategy by redeploying key Games infrastructure to enhance network capability at other sports venues, thereby providing a lasting benefit to sport in the UK.”
This appointment adds further momentum to PTI’s exciting start to 2022, with Birmingham 2022 joining Premiership Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, London Legacy Development Corporation and Hibernian FC as new clients this year and longer-term engagements with OakView Group & Co-op Live, the London Stadium, Wasps & Coventry Building Society Arena, the NEC Group and Edgbaston Stadium. PTI also announced earlier this year that it had extended its relationship with Bristol Sport & Ashton Gate Stadium for a further four years.
Mike Bohndiek, Chief Executive Officer at PTI says “The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is the largest event ever to be held in the West Midlands and one of the biggest events staged in the United Kingdom since Glasgow 2014 and London 2012 and the past decade has seen unparalleled growth in the technological demands of staging major events. We are really delighted to be able to bring our experience to ensure we help Birmingham 2022 set a new benchmark for major events.”
PTI launched its specialist IT Managed Services division in September 2021, believing that the importance of the core infrastructure in sports and entertainment venues has never been greater. The post-Covid world demands greater digital enablement and – whether in digital ticketing or click & collect food and beverage – the fan’s device is now their window to experience – but this can only be the case if the underlying technology stack can enable this.
PTI is a specialist digital transformation consultancy and its digital transformation pyramid – which unifies its three core pillars of Venue Technology, Data & Digital and Commercial Strategy – lays the foundation for the holistic digital transformation of sports and entertainment organisations and venues. It is this integrated, efficient approach which begins with strategic intent and is informed by insight and powered by the right technology infrastructure which creates significant commercial advantage over the long-term.