host city

Blog

  • Populous, the event designers

    Populous, the event designers

    Host City: What to you is the most exciting thing currently going on in the world of major events?
    Soaad Stott: Honestly, it’s an incredibly exciting time for the world of overlay – we seem to be at the threshold of some really big changes. The Olympic & Paralympics are obviously the gold standard in our industry, but for good reason. Everything that we do in overlay is on view in this magnificent showcase.
    With the approval of Olympic Agenda 2020 in 2014, it became very clear that the Olympic Movement is fully behind the use of existing and temporary venues wherever possible, with the goal of reducing costs, improving sustainability and allowing the hosting of global events to become accessible to a greater number of nations and communities. This is starting to come to fruition – with the forthcoming Games in Tokyo, we’re going to see the first Games designed without an Olympic Park, which will be really exciting.
    While the Olympic and Paralympic Games are leading the way on the global scale, this design approach is becoming increasingly adopted by events at all levels. The opportunities that event and overlay design affords for regeneration, activation and innovative design can have a fantastic influence on everyone involved, whether visitors to the events, or residents in legacy. Anyone who saw 2015 The Rugby World Cup at alternative sporting venues across the UK can attest to our industry’s ability to really change the existing conversation or perceived identity around existing venues for major events. The London Stadium and stadiummk were prime examples of new rugby audiences experiencing a venue and having a fantastic experience.
    Of course, some sports have a completely unique character, such as the party nature of the beach volleyball tournament, but that is also embraced by temporary design, particularly when the temporary venues chosen are in such spectacular locations like the beach volleyball in the heart of London. During the beach volleyball at both London 2012 and at Baku 2015, dancers would emerge between matches in cheerleader style and energise the audience. Though an elite sport was being played, putting on a spectacular show was also a key part of this event. Temporary overlay design can have a truly special character, all of its own, and that’s what we really aim for at Populous.
    Host City: A really exciting project you are working on is Paris 2024, following on from your successful work on London 2012.
    Soaad Stott: It seems that Paris 2024 is taking the lead from London on how to do overlay better. As I said, the huge amount of temporary overlay and facilities in London set a real precedent.
    Paris is the Park and the design of every venue has some legacy and sustainable content. There were so many meetings; not just with the International Federations, but also with the city and its residents.
    A large number of the drawings we produced during the bid phase are actually to demonstrate the plans the stakeholders, local councillors and residents, making sure that everyone was informed and on board with the plans for the Games and for legacy, which forms a major component of the bid we created with Paris 2024.
    Most of the venues are already there – we were just making sure the plans were feasible and genuinely workable and what people wanted.
    Host City: How does the design of the Olympic Games fit in with the city of Paris?
    Soaad Stott: Because there is no Olympic Park in the bid, Paris itself really is the park. It’s very much part of philosophy of these Games, that it’s for Paris as a whole and not just pockets of Paris.
    In somewhere as compact as Paris where space is such a premium, there are challenges but definite benefits. There’s an energy and charm that you get from having all the landmarks close together.
    As well as historic beauty, Paris also has a modern urban side. We wanted to make sure all these aspects were incorporated and all represented in the designs. One of the brilliant things was being able to locate some of the new Olympic sports in ancient monuments and sites and have the juxtaposing of the modern with the old, beautiful Paris.
    We designed it so that every venue would have a similar feel. Everywhere you go you will have the same Olympic experience. The streets and boulevards will also be part of the whole experience of excitement people moving around the city, with parks becoming community activation sites and fan fests. It will be an incredible experience, with the most beautiful and iconic spaces within Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles, being infused with a sporting identity through the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
    This exclusive interview first appeared in the Winter 2017 edition of Host City magazine. Sooad Stott spoke at Host City 2017, the largest meeting of sports, business and cultural events

  • SPORTELAsia Conferences Programme

    SPORTELAsia is the world’s leading sports media and marketing convention, which brings together the international sports business community and will be held in Singapore from 13 to 15 March 2018. We are pleased to present the programme of conferences:
    TUESDAY 13 March
    · YUTANG SPORTS PANEL – 14:00-14:30 – “The Media Rights and Sports Media Landscape in Chinese Sports Industry”
    The roles of Chinese media in driving the growth of Chinese media rights market. How to achieve the best results working with them? Is there growing space for the Chinese sports media and media rights market? What are the main problems with the media rights market in China? What are the developing trends/directions in Chinese sports media? How to deal with the balance between traditional media like TV and new digital media? Advices for rights holders regarding working with Chinese sports media. Advices for Chinese sports media.
    Moderator: Tingting Zhang, International Business Manager, Yutang Sports Speakers: Celine Shi, Vice President, Alisports – Arthur Wei, SVP, General Manager, Sina Sports
    · ONE CHAMPIONSHIP KEYNOTE – 15:00-15:30 – “The Power of Martial Arts in Igniting Hope and Changing lives”
    ONE Championship Chairman and CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, details how he escaped the clutches of extreme poverty growing up as a young boy in Thailand, to graduating from one of the most prestigious schools in the world at Harvard, and eventually building the largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship. The talk centers on the specific role martial arts has played in his life and how it powered him through the most difficult times. Sityodtong is a highly-successful entrepreneur with vast experience in various businesses. His wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as the values which he holds dear, provides a sensational combination of business-savvy and determination. Listen to the story of how Sityodtong survived extreme poverty, changed his life, and is now helping others to change their lives for the better through martial arts.
    Speaker: Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, ONE Championship
    · SPORTELEXPERT PANEL – 16:00-16:45 in association with TV Sports Markets – “Success of European Football Rights in Asia”
    In some Asian territories, the European leagues can realistically compete with domestic leagues, and it is important to establish why this is and for how long this can continue. The TV Sports Markets panel will look into what has created the interest in European football in Asia up to this point and will address issues each competition faces in competing for continued growth in the continent. This year will explain plenty about the current position of European football properties in Asia, with the English Premier League, Spanish LaLiga and Italian Serie A rights to be sold across the region between now and the start of the 2018-19 season. Can we expect to see increases in value for any or all of the leagues? China and India have often stood out as particular Asian markets where growth in interest in football is expected in the coming years. With the Chinese government supporting Chinese investment in football, it is important to ask whether China holds the key to Asian growth for all major football properties. Which other markets will be key for rightsholders in the coming years?
    Moderator: David Cook, Reporter, Asia-Pacific – TV Sports Markets Speakers: TBC
    WEDNESDAY 14 March
    · ASN PANEL – 10:30-11:00 “Brands Want More than Audience Ratings”
    Having a blue chip sports platform with a huge content footprint is, arguably, now hygiene for a large scale brand investor in sports. But it’s not the only defining quality that will swing a sponsorship. ASN – the utterly independent go-to sponsorship intelligence provider for Asia – will ask some of Asia’s challenger brands about their needs from a sports sponsorship and where sports promoters often go wrong with their platforms. Building on the topic in hand, the panel will also dive into the other metrics and insights that they need today, which in turn enable them to put together compelling renewal business cases for their C-suite.
    Moderator: Ben Heyhoe Flint, CEO, ASN Speakers: Kate Geraghty: Director, Group Corporate Communications & Events, Fwd Insurance Group – Sean Davidson: Head of Marketing & Communications, Asia Pacific – Tata Consultancy Services, Ajay Mohan, Head of Marketing, APJ – Intel Corporation Singapore
    · BRIGHTCOVE PRESENTATION – 11:30-12:15 “From Eyeballs to Value and ROI”
    Why every viewer engagement on mobile is crucial for ROI. Viewers in Asia are just as likely to view live sports content on mobile as on a TV set. For sports rights owners, delivering content on digital platforms not only opens up new revenue streams from ads or subscriptions, but also unleashes a different set of challenges. Consumer choice and recommendation is driving video content discovery. Loyalty to channels or specific content can be easily disintermediated by social recommendation. In this context as linear TV channels negotiate away their exclusive rights, maintaining a direct relationship with the viewing audience is critical. Brightcove streams billions of videos every month for the biggest names in the sports, media and entertainment sector. Working with major media companies in Asia, Brightcove facilitates the ability for media companies to promote and interact with video content encouraging viewers to register. Registration and content consumption data provide insights for future promotional campaigns, as well as contribute to quantifying advertising and sponsorship value. Brightcove will share best practices on realising audience value from their experience serving more TV organisations in Asia than any other video platform.
    Speaker: Greg Armshaw, Head of Media, Asia, Brightcove, inc.
    · SPORTELTECH PANEL – 13:30-14:30 in collaboration with Sports Video Group “OTT & Piracy in Asia an indepth look at what to expect”
    This highlight panel discussion tackles the challenges and opportunities related to OTT services in Asia and also piracy and content protection. The sports marketplace in Asia will be driven dramatically by the use of smartphones and tablets that are often more important than a TV set. That reliance on digital devices requires new ways of content creation, distribution and marketing and we will discuss how to develop a strategy best suited for the diversity of cultures in Asia. Apart of social media strategies, pricing models and more, the session will also take a look at recent developments in content protection technologies and services. More than ever, the digital landscape requires a disciplined and focused approach to content protection and anti-piracy activities. It is a complex area that requires constant attention and our goal to showcase the most effective solutions to protect content and revenues.
    Moderator: Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director, Sports Video Group Speakers: Maurizio Barbieri, Head of Sports Partnerships, Sea, Twitter Chris Wagner, EVP, Marketplace Strategy, Neulion – Bastien Casalta, CTO, TMG
    · LALIGA PRESENTATION” -16:00-17:00 “How New Media impacts Football”
    Join LaLiga President Javier Tebas for an onstage interview on how the changing media landscape is impacting one of the world’s most-watched entertainment products: football. Not only has the Internet drastically increased the number of channels, it has also changed how people consume it. Learn about the impact on rights holders such as LaLiga and also hear about the opportunities that new media provide.
    Speaker: Javier Tebas, President, LaLiga
    THURSDAY 15 March
    · SVG SINGAPORE OTT WORKSHOP -13:30 -16:30 in collaboration with Sports Video Group SVG and SPORTEL are pleased to announce its first ever event in Southeast Asia: the SVG Singapore OTT Workshop.
    The Southeast Asia marketplace is embracing OTT services at a very high rate thanks to the proliferation of digital devices and the internet. The event will be held on the afternoon of 15 March and is open to qualified end users and sponsors of the event. The event is free to all registered Sportel attendees and will provide deeper insights into getting the most out of your OTT offering and creating a more compelling OTT experience.
    13:30-14:00: Developing Your OTT Strategy – What steps should you take to make sure your OTT plans align with the needs of your viewers and audience? Moderator: Chris Wagner, Neulion, EVP, Marketplace Strategy and Co-Founder Panelists: Tim Martin, Founder & CEO, Rugby Pass
    14:00-14:25: Global Trends in OTT – What is going on outside of the Southeast Asia region with respect to OTT offerings? Chris Wagner, Neulion EVP, Marketplace Strategy and Co-Founder interviewed by Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director
    14:25-14:40: Case Study
    14:40-15:00 : Networking Break
    15:00-15:30: Next-Generation Technologies: What’s Next in Audio and Video Experiences Understand new technologies that can make a difference for your viewers and help set your service apart from the competition.
    Pankaj Kedia, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, Dolby Laboratories, inc. 15:30-15:45: Case Study 15:45-16:30: Stop Thief! Content Protection Strategies OTT services are under constant attack from those looking to illegally monetize the streams or to simply steal it and watch it for free. What steps can you take to protect your

    Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent by (output started at /home/dev/public_html/includes/common.inc:2755) in /home/dev/public_html/includes/bootstrap.inc on line 1232

  • Impacting humanity: The Special Olympics World Games

    Impacting humanity: The Special Olympics World Games

    The Special Olympics World Games have changed a lot since they first began in Chicago, Illinois nearly 50 years ago. What started in 1968 as a one-day athletic event has expanded into a week-long empowering competition for thousands of athletes of all abilities. This ground-breaking movement for people with intellectual disabilities now spans the globe – every region, every continent – with more than five million athletes in more than 172 countries.
    And, while local Special Olympics competitions happen every day around the world, it’s the World Games that leave the biggest and most inspiring legacy for the athletes who participate and, especially, the nations that host.
    “No event has the social value and direct impact of the World Games,” said Lou Lauria, Special Olympics Global Chief of Games and Competition. “That’s because the Games are about more than sports. They’re about humanity.”
    “Governments see how the Games have a positive impact that lasts long after the competition ends,” added Lauria. “We leave a legacy of inclusion and understanding that carries over into each community, plus in areas like education and health.”
    At the most recent Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, more than 6,200 athletes from 165 countries competed in 25 sports. With nearly 2,000 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and an estimated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Games set records for participation and enthusiastic fans in the stands. Millions more tuned in remotely, watching the Games nightly on ESPN, ABC-TV, and networks in more than 190 countries around the world.
    “This has been a seminal moment for our company,” said John Skipper, ESPN President and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks. “We are extremely proud of this work and our role. It has had a profound impact on our employees, and we cannot thank you enough for letting us work with you on this incredible event and bring it to fans across media and around the world.”
    The excitement was magnified by high-profile corporate partners – including Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Bank of America and Toyota – whose video and commercial tie-ins starring Special Olympics athletes brought even more attention ahead of Games, during and afterwards. The LA2015 Games also broke social media records, racking up 20 billion impressions in multiple media worldwide.
    Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International and son of founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, says he’s seen first-hand how – for the cities, states and nations who host the Games – Special Olympics can positively transform their society.  “From China to Greece, from Ireland to Korea and beyond, each host country that embraces these Games shows the world their recognition of the value of every human being.”
    He adds, “We’ve seen over and over again how the World Games are proven to trigger positive societal changes in ending discrimination and breaking down fear of difference.” Shriver recalls how the 2007 World Summer Games in Shanghai marked a turning point in the country’s attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities.
    Similarly, the 2003 World Summer Games – the largest sporting or cultural event ever held in Ireland – united the country as never before during the Games, and left an indelible change in attitudes and understanding afterwards. “The spirit of the Special Olympics movement has a power that cannot be imagined until you come directly in contact with it,” said Bertie Ahern, Ireland’s prime minister (Taoiseach) during the 2003 Games.
    The recent 2017 World Winter Games in Austria turned out to be more successful and popular than anyone had expected. The Opening Ceremony alone reached millions of viewers in more than 190 countries, marking the broadest reach ever for a World Winter Games Opening Ceremony. Smaller in scale than World Summer Games, the 2017 World Winter Games involved 2,600 athletes from 105 countries competing in nine sports.
    “It was wonderful to see that we all can change the world to be a better and more inclusive place, when we treat each other respectfully and most importantly: have fun together,” said Austria’s Federal Minister of Social Affairs Alois Stöger.
    With more than five million athletes worldwide, Special Olympics has come a long way since those 1968 Games at Soldier Field. The organization now includes Special Olympics Health programs, which help fill a crucial gap for people with intellectual disabilities, who often get inadequate health care – or none at all. There are also Athlete Leadership and Young Athletes programs, expanding all around the world.
    While Special Olympics has always stood for inclusion, the goal for the next 50 years is to multiply the power of Unified Sports, which brings together people with intellectual disabilities and those without. For Tim Shriver, this means nothing less than a worldwide “Inclusion Revolution.”
    “Every single Special Olympics event creates a unified culture that welcomes and values difference,” says Shriver. “Now we’re inviting people to #ChoosetoInclude – and they’re answering the call – in more than 170 countries around the globe. It’s how we’re building a better, more inclusive world, one volunteer, one coach, one country at a time. It’s the revolution everyone wants to join!”
    The next World Games are set for March 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. UAE is breaking new ground as the first to host Special Olympics World Games in the Middle East/North Africa Region.
    In addition to the World Games there are opportunities to host Special Olympics Regional Games and Special Olympics National Games in your own country.
    This article, written by Special Olympics, first appeared in the Winter 2017 issue of Host City magazine. Learn more about the Special Olympics World Games by contacting Lou Lauria, Global Chief of Games and Competition at llauria@specialolympics.org. For information about Special Olympics, please visit www.specialolympics.org.

  • Losberger De Boer Appoints Rene Just as New CFO

    Losberger De Boer, a leading provider of integrated temporary and semi-permanent space solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rene Just as Chief Financial Officer of the company. He started with the company on April 3, 2018 and will succeed Carlo Dyckhoff from that date.
    The Supervisory Board is grateful to Carlo Dyckhoff for his contribution and commitment in accompanying Losberger De Boer to where it stands today: a leading global player providing a wide range of products and services to many highly recognized customers.
    Rene Just (Danish nationality, 50 years) has an extensive financial background from working for a broad variety of international companies. Most recently he held the position of CFO with Esvagt A/S, where he worked since 2016. Prior to this, Rene Just held senior management roles in Polygonvatro GmbH, Saxo Bank A/S and ISS. He started his career as controller with Colgate-Palmolive and has a Master of Science degree from Aarhus University.
    The Supervisory Board is delighted to welcome Rene Just to Losberger De Boer and commented: “Rene brings with him significant international experience from Europe, Middle East and Asia and has an excellent track record of leading finance functions in various global companies. He has worked for listed and private equity owned companies and has shown his strength in professionalizing organisations, both from a financial as well as operational perspective.
    “In the coming years, strong emphasis will be placed on the further integration of the various companies Losberger De Boer has acquired during the last years in order to fully benefit from all the available resources and capabilities. With the appointment of Rene, we have completed the Management Board to grow the company successfully and to strengthen its position as a leader in the market for temporary accommodations.”
    About Losberger De Boer Group
    Losberger De Boer is one of the globally leading providers of highly integrated temporary and semi-permanent space solutions, from sales to turnkey rental, with excellent customer satisfaction. Losberger De Boer is VCA**, ISO 9001-2015 and ISO 14001-2015 certified. Losberger De Boer is headquartered in Bad Rappenau, Germany, and operates 8 production facilities and 21 sales offices globally. Losberger De Boer employs 1200 staff worldwide. For more info please visit www.losbergerdeboer.com

  • EventScotland and Edmonton Events Continue Silver Partnerships with SportAccord

    LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord is pleased to confirm Silver Partners EventScotland and Edmonton Events will take part in another edition of SportAccord, to be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand from 15 – 20 April 2018. Attended by international sports federations, cities and regions, as well as organising committees, the World Sport & Business Summit attracts delegates across the sports business community at the highest levels.
    EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, and is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events by developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events commented: “EventScotland is delighted to be continuing as a Silver Partner of SportAccord. This is an extremely valuable event for us and the Scottish events industry as it provides us with the opportunity to showcase our capability and capacity as a host of major international events.
    “Over the next 12 months, Scotland will once again provide the perfect stage for some amazing international sporting events, including the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, the 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships and The 2019 Solheim Cup, and we cannot wait to show delegates exactly what we’ve got planned.”
    Edmonton Events, a partnership between the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Tourism, attracts major events to the city and works closely with rights holders to attract, enhance, and execute sport and cultural events of all kinds. Lindsay Harrison, Director of Edmonton Events said: “We are thrilled to be supporting SportAccord again through our partnership. As one of the top 20 cities in Sportcal’s 2017 Global Sports Cities Index, we value the expertise we’ve gained and the connections we’ve developed through attending SportAccord. We are looking forward to yet another successful event, this time in Bangkok, Thailand.”
    Edmonton Events will also sponsor the ‘Relaxing Zone’ for delegates – a new feature at this year’s 3-day Exhibition. As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord will host well over 20 networking events, and an extensive Conference programme to include: the Summit (Plenary), CityAccord, LawAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord. Sportcal and Yutang Sports, two of the Principal Media Partners for SportAccord 2018 will also host workshops.
    Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord remarked: “It is a real pleasure to welcome back EventScotland and Edmonton Events as part of SportAccord 2018. Their continued loyalty and support, as well as the mutual benefits these partnerships bring, also demonstrates SportAccord is an impressive draw for cities and regions involved in staging world-class sports events. We wish them an exciting and productive time in Bangkok.”
    With over 135 cities/regions in attendance in Aarhus, Denmark for the 2017 edition, the SportAccord 6-day Summit is a unique opportunity for delegates to connect with the key decision-makers involved in the business of sport by registering at www.sportaccord.com.
    Organisations looking for opportunities to increase their visibility at this prestigious global gathering and take advantage of the opportunities associated with becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, should contact the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 601 27 64.Other key features include: Speakers’ Corner, the Thai Pavilion, the Opening Ceremony and Closing Event.
    Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #sportaccord, as well as LinkedIn and on Facebook.

  • SPORTELAsia 2018 – FINAL PRESS RELEASE

    Following the inspiring Olympic Games and Paralympics in South Korea, it was very clear that all eyes are on Asia at the moment! With more major events throughout Asia, especially with the 2020 Summer Olympics in focus, the entire industry is trending in the continent. More technologies and broadcast opportunities are developing and spreading their services across the Asian territories, proving that the sports marketing and media industry is booming.
    SPORTELAsia 2018 welcomed 646 participants, representing 310 companies of 43 countries in an improved exhibition, the energy at the convention was tremendous! After receiving final figures, SPORTEL CEO Mr. Puons and the General Manager Ms. Amparo Di Fede announced that once again SPORTELAsia has provided high quality business and networking.
    “We thank our collaborators SVG, ASN, TV Sports Market and Yutang Sports for their great work on the panel programme. Special thanks to our sponsors, Telstra, BeIN Sports, FeedConstruct, Arqiva, LaLiga and One Championship for their support and trust in the SPORTEL brand and for bringing the networking events and lounges to life.” Mr. Puons completes.
    We wish you safe travels back home and look forward to welcoming you back for the SPORTELSummit on May 15 and 16, 2018 in Miami Beach and SPORTELMonaco from October 22 to 24, 2018.
    Find more information at www.sportelsummit.com and www.sportelmonaco.com

  • Thai Minister of Tourism and Sport & GAISF President Discuss Impact of Upcoming SportAccord

    THAI MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND SPORT & GAISF PRESIDENT DISCUSS IMPACT OF SPORTACCORD 2018 FOR THE HOST NATION, IFS AND GLOBAL SPORTS INDUSTRY
    LAUSANNE, Switzerland – In a recent interview, the Thai Minister for Sport and Tourism Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat discussed the importance of SportAccord 2018 as a global platform for the international sports community and the host nation Thailand.
    Speaking to one of the leading Thai newspapers – The Nation, the Minister commented on what it means for Thai businesses and delegates to be involved in the World Sport & Business Summit: “Logistically, it’s very difficult to get all of these sports representatives together in any one particular city at the same time. At SportAccord, every sports fan or sports player will have access to the big names at some point. The second important thing is the content that will be discussed during SportAccord. The delegates will address the major trends and issues in sports, many of which will be very beneficial for participants or those who have access to SportAccord. They will get to understand the directions and trends in sport, which will help sports planners and sports industry representatives to gain a clearer picture of what they should be doing or where they should be investing.”
    The Minister also explained how well SportAccord is able to convey the true ‘spirit of sport’ and carry these messages to a diverse audience on an international scale.
    Commenting on the plans Thailand is working towards becoming the top sports destination for staging global events the Minister said: “It is about doing three things. The first is to continue to raise the bar. The second is to keep the variety – whether it is to do with geography or culture … as we can accommodate all kinds of different sports events all year around. The third is to keep the spirt of sport in discussions on a regular basis.”
    With this in mind, some of the sports federations of Thailand will also take part in a Sports Festival as part of this year’s SportAccord 2018. Aiming to capture the imagination of citizens and delegates alike, attendees will have the opportunity to mingle and witness a variety of sports, as well as experience the friendship and culture that Thailand has to offer.
    SportAccord delegates will be treated to a spectacular performance featuring The Royal Barge Procession (Krabuan Phayuhayattra Chonlamak) as part of the Opening Ceremony due to take place on Tuesday 17 April at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall in Bangkok. This will be accompanied by Keng Tachaya, a well-known international singer with more than 20 global awards to his name.
    The stunning performance will encompass the theme ‘The Sports Dream Destination’ and reinforce The Year of Thai Life Style for 2018 in Thailand. The exquisite Royal Barge marking the occasion is typically only presented at the most significant cultural and religious events. It will symbolise Thailand’s readiness to play host to the world of sport in its quest to become the World Sports Hub and Sports Dream Destination.
    Building on the spirit of cultural exchange and rising to the SportAccord occasion, the host nation will also stage a Thai Pavilion giving delegates further opportunity to discover the cultural treasures Thailand has to offer and sample a delicious range of Thai culinary delights.
    Speaking of the Host City as well as the 6-day event featured in the official eMagazine The Preview, Patrick Baumann, President of SportAccord and GAISF said: “”I am delighted that SportAccord is coming to Bangkok, a truly great city in a region which is playing an increasingly important role in world sport.
    SportAccord is firmly established as the essential meeting place for all the major stakeholders in sport around the globe and the organisations and businesses which provide services for them. Consequently, for a week in April, Bangkok will become the hub of world sport, creating a significant opportunity for Thai businesses to arrange to meet and engage with International Federations and other sports organisations to identify opportunities for co-operation and for business.
    GAISF and its members are looking forward to visiting Bangkok for our most important meetings of the year and we are determined to leave a positive legacy for the Thai sports community and business operating in the sports sector.” Organisations who wish to take part should register for SportAccord 2018 which gives them access to the entire conference programme. As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord will host well over 20 networking events and a popular 3-day Exhibition, as part of the delegate experience.
    Organisations looking for opportunities to increase their visibility at the World Sport & Business Summit can become an Exhibitor or Partner by contacting the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 601 27 64.
    Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #sportaccord, as well as LinkedIn and on Facebook.
     

  • Chatri Sityodtong at SPORTELAsia

    “We are honoured to have the opportunity to work with ONE Championship knowing that both organisations are strongly committed to the growth of the international sports business industry across Asia. We are both dedicated to providing the very best opportunities for our clients and partners across global markets.”, said Laurent Puons, SPORTEL CEO.
    Mr. Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship has been keynote speaker on Tuesday 13 March at 15:00. Topic : «How ONE Championship became Asia’s largest global sports media property in History ».
    Chatri Sityodtong, has detailed how he escaped the clutches of extreme poverty growing up as a young boy in Thailand, to graduating from one of the most prestigious schools in the world at Harvard, and eventually building the largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship. The talk centers on the specific role martial arts has played in his life and how it powered him through the most difficult times. Sityodtong is a highly-successful entrepreneur with vast experience in various businesses. His wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as the values which he holds dear, provides a sensational combination of business-savvy and determination. Listen to the story of how Sityodtong survived extreme poverty, changed his life, and is now helping others to change their lives for the better through martial arts.
    ABOUT ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
    ONE Championship is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7-billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more..

  • EOC Leaders Satisfied that Minsk 2019 Preparations are on Track

    Minsk, Belarus; 4 March 2018: European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Janez Kocijan?i? led a successful three-day visit to Minsk and was satisfied with the progress of preparations for the second edition of the European Games, which are to be held in the Belarussian capital from 21-30 June 2019.
    President Kocijan?i? was joined by the EOC’s Minsk 2019 European Games Coordination Commission (CoCom), led by Chair Spyros Capralos and Vice Chair Zlatko Mateša, as well as a group of EOC experts. The EOC team also included EOC Vice-President Niels Nygaard and EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi.
    Over the three days, President Kocijan?i? led the EOC team at a number of meetings to receive an update on the EOC’s flagship event, including one with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
    Speaking after this meeting, President Kocijan?i? said he that he is eagerly awaiting the start of the second European Games: “The European Olympic Committees is fully satisfied with the preparations that have been made so far, and we are looking forward to the future with optimism and confidence. The Minsk 2019 European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) has highly-qualified, welltrained, professional staff working hard to deliver an excellent second edition of the Games.”
    President Kocijan?i? also congratulated President Lukashenko on the results of the Belarusian athletes at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, where they won two gold medals and one silver: “I would like to congratulate the Belarusian team for finishing 15th in the PyeongChang 2018 medal table. This was a great effort and reflects the high level of sporting competence here in Belarus. Belarus is not only a country that performs well on the field of play, it is also a country with world-class sporting infrastructure and organisation. Because of this, we are very confident that the European Games will be a resounding success.” 

  • Ten ways to create winter sports hubs

    Ten ways to create winter sports hubs

    1: Jiang Xiaoyu, Vice President, Beijing Olympic City Development Association
    “In China, the popularity of ice and snow activities needs to be improved.
    “In order to make China an ice and snow power we should not only focus on competitive events. Meanwhile we should also focus on cultivating the ice and snow culture, the popularity of ice and snow activities among the normal people. That’s the solid basis for the sustainable development of the ice and snow industry in China.
    “So I really hope everyone can pay special attention to our 2022 Olympic Games but meanwhile focus on the ice and snow activities among the citizens to further spread the Olympic spirit.
    “Tourism, sports, culture and health are regarded as the industries of happiness.”
     
    2: Nasima Razmyar, Deputy Mayor, Helsinki
    “Helsinki is sister city of Beijing and recently an action plan was signed between the two cities, extending the bond between the cities to include winter sports. 
    “We were very honoured to have President Xi visit Finland and meet our President in April 2017. The two Presidents made the joint declaration where both sides can cooperate in several areas. I was extremely happy that both presidents promoted the exchange in winter sports and cooperation in the organisation of the Olympic Games.
    “This gives a very good basis to share also the urban city development between Beijing and Helsinki to support Beijing Winter Olympics 2022. We know that you will have a great Games in China in Beijing, but we are very happy of the friendship that Helsinki and Beijing has built over the years.
    “Finland is world renowned for education. clean tech and winter sport. Finland ranks first in quality of primary education and has some of the cleanest air in the world. Education and clean technology are very important when discussing winter sports.
    “Most Finns learn skiing, ice hockey, skating and other forms of winter sports in their childhood.
    “I moved to Finland when I was eight years old. My first touch with winter was holding snow in my hand. When holding the snow, I asked my parents why does this feel like holding diamonds in my hand? It felt so pure and so unique.
    “There are also special programmes like Schools on the Move which encourage students to have more physical activity during school and support learning during activity based methods.”
     
    3: Mattis Raustøl, Minister Counsellor, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing
    “We take pride in our Olympic history; it’s a strong spirit in Norway. We are the country that has the most number of gold medals in [winter] Olympic history.
    “Building a winter sports culture takes devotion, it takes time. It requires a broad-based perspective; you need to focus on the top elite athletes but you also need the base and grass roots level. The Norwegian sports model is based on a very strong volunteer culture; it’s focussed on education and sport in schools.
    “It also reflects the connection we have with the outdoors, and particularly with snow and ice. Norway tops the happiness index – we are top of that happiness interest. We are able to make use of the outdoors all year, and have the equipment and infrastructure to experience outdoor living.”
     
    4: Ingunn Trosholmen, Vice Mayor of Lillehammer, Norway
    “We are a very small city in a very small country, yet we have hosted two Olympic Games – one in 1994 and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016.
    “One thing that was very important was that we had snow every winter. In addition, we had the technology to produce snow and the knowledge of how to store it from one season to the next.
    “Another crucial thing is the narratives that they bring from one generation to the next: we are skiers.
    “Lillehammer’s coat of arms consists of a skier and alongside this beautiful picture of a skier is a courageous story of skiers saving our future king in 1206. Narratives like this create identity and fosters ski culture. The saying goes like this: we are born with skis attached to our feet.
    “And I know for a fact that China has also a cultural heritage in skiing, because when we were looking for a cultural heritage in the glaciers up north in our county we found wooden skis from China. So we have been exchanging ski heritage for many years now.
    “The nature surrounding our history of skiing is the foundation of Lillehammer’s identity as a winter destination.”
     
    5: Peter Hirvell, CEO, Austria AST Eis-und Solartechnik
    “It’s not enough to have the technology, it’s also important to get the people in there, especially children and families.
    “The Vienna Ice Rink has 600,000 visitors per year. All children in Vienna from first grade in school or final year of kindergarten are invited one day to go free of charge to go skating. They then come back at the weekend with the whole family. So out of one child we have made four to five people experience ice skating and curling.
    “Even at larger schools, it is very common to have an ice rink there.
    “In Europe we have a tradition of sports clubs, where in every city there will be ski clubs and skate clubs who have programmes for children and also top athletes and retired people.”
     
    6: Takatoshi Machida, Vice Mayor of Sapporo
    “We were the first Olympic Games held in Asia in 1972. The Games aimed to make Sapporo into an international city. It is precisely because of the Games that we created the city.
    “We developed a subway line that went from the city centre to the athletes’ village and the stadium, and the runway was extended to turn the airport into an international airport.
    “There have been a lot of changes in terms of our environment as well. Until the 1960 the snow was black with pollution. However due to the Olympic Games we began to aim for a city free of pollution.”
     
    7: Urs Eberhard, Deputy Director, Switzerland Tourism
    “There is no other experience that feels so great as gliding on snow. It’s like flying without wings.”
     
    8: Nick Sargent, President of SnowSports Industries USA
    “Winter sports more than just a passion – it’s a lifestyle and culture that sits within everyone. We want to develop this culture beyond competitive sport, into the heart and soul of the people of China and here in Beijing.”
     
    9: Yoshinori Otsuki, International Director of Nagano-ken County Culture Department
    “The prefecture of Nagano is in the centre of Japan and close to the three major cities – Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.
    “With a population about 2.1m, Nagano has the longest life expectancy for men and women in Japan and the world. For those wishing to live a long a happy retirement, by all means come to Nagano – you are welcome.
    “In 1998 Nagano hosted the Winter Olympic Games. During the opening ceremony the president of the IOC Samaranch declared, you have presented to the world the best organisation in the history of the Winter Olympic Games.
    “Some aspects of the legacy of the Games can be presented in financial terms. From an economical perspective, the infrastructure developments were of great benefit for Nagano. The bullet train, which opened in October 1997, shortly before the Nagano Olympics began, cut journey times from 180 minutes to as little as 80 minutes. The upgrade of the highway network progressed quickly and it is now accessible to almost all areas of Nagano within just 30 minutes
    “Regarding the economic effect of the Nagano Olympics, 1.43 trillion yen was the cost of the freight train and highway network and event facilities came from public investment. This equates to roughly 10 times the prefecture’s annual public investment budget.
    “But the benefits cannot all be expressed in financial terms. Our visibility has risen. Local pride and appreciation have increased and through the actions of the 32,000 volunteers present at the Olympics are volunteer culture has taken root.
    “Hosting the Winter Olympic Games rapidly increased the number of people participating in winter sports in north east Asia and also developed businesses in this industry.
    “The number of people participating in snow sports in Nagano reached its peak in 1998 during the Olympics at 18 million people and sharply dropped over the following years to just 40 per cent of that figure in 2013, decreasing to 7.7 million. However, in recent years this decrease has stopped and, thanks to an increase in the number of international visitors, it has begun to show signs of recovery.
    “I would suggest that Beijing, Hebei prefecture, PyeongChang, Sapporo and Nagano join together to host a new international tournament – the Asian Series of Skiing and Skating.”
     
    10: Irina Gladkikh, Winter Sports Director, IOC
    “At the IOC Sport Department, we have a very good tradition of receiving others who come to talk about their experience of the Olympic Games, on and off the field of play. They talk to us about their participation in the Games and shared with us their magical moments.
    “Early this year we have the honour to receive Olympic medallists from China and world legends gymnast Li Ning and Chen Yongyan. Li Ning talked to us about the pride of being chosen to carry the torch during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2008. We watched a video of his performance and we all felt his emotions and excitement at this unforgettable moment. And we of course felt a pinch of insight to think what surprises the Opening Ceremony 2022 will bring to us.
    “In June this year, Beijing’s commitment to support athletes was further underlined when it hosted the 8th athletes career programme forum with over 85 participants from more than 30 countries. The event was held successfully and our links with Chinese Olympic Committee got stronger.
    “Beijing is also a truly unique Olympic city. In just four and half years it will become the first city to have hosted both summer and winter Olympic Games. This is very much supported by your incredible vision for 300 million people to be practicing winter sports in China. I personally find it incredible; these are amazing plans.”
     
    This article, based on comments made at World Winter Sports Expo (WWSE) 2017 in Beijing,  first appeared in the Winter issue of Host City magazine.