host city

Tag: Denmark

  • Alibaba president to deliver keynote at SportAccord Convention 2017 plenary conference “innovation in action”

    Alibaba president to deliver keynote at SportAccord Convention 2017 plenary conference “innovation in action”

    [Source: SportAccord Convention] SportAccord Convention is delighted to confirm that Michael Evans, President of the Alibaba Group will be the Keynote for this year’s Plenary Conference, Innovation in Action at the 15th edition, to be held at the Aarhus Convention Center, Denmark from 2 – 7 April 2017.
    The Keynote will begin on Wednesday, 5 April at 09:10 to 09:40 and take the format of a Fireside Chat with David Eades, Anchor and Journalist, BBC World. The session is entitled: Open Sesame: Unlocking the rich potential of new sporting horizons, and using innovation to drive sport to a new level of entertainment and fan engagement.
    When Sydney hosted the Olympic Games in 2000, Alibaba was a Chinese start-up and not quite a year old. Fast forward 18 years and Alibaba has now grown into the world’s largest online and mobile commerce company. Alibaba is now expanding into media, entertainment and sport, recently forging an historic long-term partnership with the IOC through 2028, using technological innovation and know-how to contribute to the Olympic Movement.
    As President, Michael Evans is responsible for leading and executing Alibaba Group’s international growth strategy. Commenting on Alibaba’s involvement in the SportAccord Convention, Evans said:
    “We’re delighted to be taking part in the SportAccord Convention as this gives us an opportunity to   share some of the key insights and innovative approach Alibaba is taking when it comes to sport and entertainment, the growth of the digital and mobile market, as well as the exciting potential of the Chinese market for sport.”
    Panel sessions and case studies following the Keynote will include:

    Plenary Panel Session entitled: Innovation – A permanent change revolution, or an opportunity to reset your sport?
    Innovation in the Business of Sport
    IF Innovation in Action – International Orienteering Federation
    Future Sports – Drone Racing

    Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention said, “We’re delighted Alibaba will open the Plenary Conference focused on Innovation in Action. With the increasing significance of sport in China in terms of fan engagement and business growth, there are significant opportunities to be had by everyone. Alibaba’s meteoric rise will most certainly have some bearing on what we hear during the Keynote.”
    SportAccord Convention is the world’s premier and most exclusive annual event at the service of sport. It is focused on driving positive change internationally and dedicated to engaging and connecting; international sports federations, rights holders, organising committees, cities, press and media, businesses and other organisations involved in the development of sport.
    The Convention is host to annual general meetings of governing bodies, and once again, will welcome a delegation from the International Olympic Committee. The 6-day Convention includes the Plenary Conference, City Forum, LawAccord, MediaAccord, the Exhibition, as well as the Opening Ceremony and Closing Event.

  • Minsk 2019 European Games set to “reverse negative discourse” on major sports events

    Minsk 2019 European Games set to “reverse negative discourse” on major sports events

    Host City: The theme of Host City 2018 is “The Future of Major Events”. What do you see as the biggest challenge and opportunity for the future of major events?
    Niels Nygaard: It is clear that one of the biggest challenges facing any major sports event is overcoming the negative perception in the media and among the public that they are intrinsically financially unsound.
    A lot has already been done in recent years to make improvements in all aspects of event delivery, but it will require more time and effort to reverse the negative discourse. The European Olympic Committees is fully aligned with the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Agenda 2020 and The New Norm, meaning that we are absolutely committed to lowering the costs and complexity of our events while improving their efficiency and sustainability. The onus is definitely on us to not only talk the talk but walk the walk when it comes to delivering the best possible events without gigantism, overspending and leaving white elephants behind.
    Of course, one of the best ways we can do this is to host sustainable events that leave many positive and long-lasting benefits for the local communities – something we can then use as tangible proof in the debate. We hope that Minsk 2019 will become a touchstone for future discussions on the issue.
     
    Host City: What impact do you expect the 2019 European Games in Minsk to have on the city and region?
    Niels Nygaard: We certainly expect that there will be some level of cultural and socioeconomic impact on Minsk and Belarus as a result of the European Games. We see the Games as being a watershed moment in the opening up of Belarus to the rest of Europe and vice versa.
    I think for many Europeans, not a great deal is known about the country – it hasn’t traditionally been on the shortlist of travel destinations on our continent. But that could very well change – in fact, Belarus was recently named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 destinations globally to travel to in 2019. I think anyone who visits Minsk for the first time cannot help to be impressed by how beautiful the city is, how green, clean and safe it is, and how friendly the people are.
    Fortunately, there will be next to no environmental impact on the city as these Games will be one of the most sustainable multi-sports events in history. This is because 11 of 12 venues used at next June’s Games are existing structures. The single venue that had to be built was that for beach soccer – an open-air facility seating 1,500 people that took only two months to construct.
    And for sports fans it can’t get much better – the venues are state-of-the-art and are all within 30 minutes’ drive of the Athletes Village. It means that you can take in a number of different sports in the same day if you are so inclined, all in great comfort surrounded by passionate and knowledgeable local sports enthusiasts.
    We believe Minsk 2019 can set an example for other multi-sports competitions in the future. There has been a lot of talk lately about how Games should be moulded around the host city and not the other way around. Well, look no further than Minsk 2019, which should become a prime example of how to host a major sports event without spending a lot of money.
     
    Host City: Are there any areas of Games preparation that need particular attention right now?
    Niels Nygaard: We are quite pleased with the way things are progressing so far, and get regular updates from our Coordination Commission and from the local organisers themselves. With 11 of the 12 facilities already existing, we have no issues with venue preparation – Minsk could hold the Games tomorrow if need be.
    But in the lead-up to the Games we are asking our counterparts in Belarus to step everything up a notch in terms of organisation. In total, Minsk will host 22 test events ahead of the Games on 21 June, which will be a critical learning curve. They have proven to be excellent hosts in the past, but the European Games will be the largest event they have ever staged and it will require a great deal of flexibility and quick decision-making at all levels to be hosted successfully.
     
    Host City: How is the candidature process for 2023 progressing?
    Niels Nygaard: We had a good deal of interest in the 2023 European Games prior to our bid launch in September this year. This is why we were confident that even though our window for bid submissions is only 6 months, we are likely to have a strong pool of candidates from which to choose come 28 February.
    By naming the 2023 Host City on the eve of Minsk 2019, we wanted to ensure that the 2023 Host City would have a full four years to prepare for their edition of the European Games.
    The interest being shown in the 2023 European Games signals that this event is regarded as Europe’s premier sporting event. I believe it has a bright future and we look forward to seeing the Games evolve and improve over time.
     
    Host City: With the European Championships having been successfully hosted in Glasgow this summer and another edition due to take place in 2022, how do you envisage the European Games coexisting alongside this new model?
    Niels Nygaard: The two competitions complement each other well, with the European Games remaining Europe’s only continental Games, bringing together the best athletes from Olympic and non-Olympic sports and serving as qualifiers for the Olympic Games.
    At the European Olympic Committees, it is our job to promote sport at all levels across the continent. We are pleased at the success of both our European Games and the recent European Championships, which are clear indications that sport is alive and well in Europe. If these events help to inspire people, especially young people, to take up a sport or get active then we can say that we are successfully delivering our mandate.
     
    Host City: During the World Sailing Championships this year, IOC President Thomas Bach said that Denmark could organise a fantastic Olympic Games. Obviously 2032 is a long way away but can you envisage Denmark bidding and how might this work?
    Niels Nygaard: We are of course flattered that the IOC President believes Denmark could organise Olympic Summer Games sometime in the future. I do not see it feasible for Denmark to host the Games alone, since we would have to build to many new facilities in sports where we are not strong today.
    With reference to Olympic Agenda 2020, I could see Sweden, Norway and Denmark together could host the Games. This would require that the Governments and the people of Sweden, Norway and Denmark would like the three countries to have a much closer cooperation in political, business and cultural matters. In this case hosting the Olympic Games together could be a strong catalyst for such a stronger cooperation.
     
    Niels Nygaard, President, National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark and Vice President, European Olympic Committees is speaking at Host City 2018 in Glasgow on 20-21 November. Register here today.

  • Denmark: a country with a view

    Denmark: a country with a view

    What do you see when you scale the grass roof of the Museum of Moesgaard in Aarhus? You see the Danish landscape; you see part of the course of the upcoming IIAF World Cross Country Championships; and you see a country with a view. A view to great international sporting events.
    Together with national federations and Sport Event Denmark, Aarhus has hosted a long list of major international sporting events.
    Aarhus is just one of many active host cities within Denmark. Other Danish cities – Copenhagen, Herning an Odense – all played hosts to some of the greatest world championships this summer. The IIHF World Ice Hockey World Championship, The ITU MultiSport Festival and the Sailing World Championships were staged in Denmark in 2018 alone.
    The Danish record of accomplishment was evaluated by IOC president Thomas Bach on his visit to the Sailing World Championships in Aarhus. “Denmark has proven to be a world-class organizer. No-one in the sporting world could have any doubts that Denmark could organize a fantastic Olympic Games, organizationally and logistically,” he said in an interview with Ritzau news agency.
     
    Crossing cultures
    Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark appreciates the compliments from the IOC-president, even if the Olympics are not on a Danish agenda.
    “We have gained invaluable experiences through the staging of sporting events in Denmark. Sport Event Denmark as the national sporting event organization acts a knowledge bank and accounts for the future investments in bids for and organizing events for the international federations,” he explains, stressing that host cities and the national federations are vital in the collaboration.
    In 2019, Denmark will host new events that will benefit from the experiences gained from the previous events staged in Denmark. The IAAF World Cross Country Championships is among those on the 2019 calendar.
    The IAAF World Cross Country Championships is one of the world’s oldest running events. The event will be staged in March on Danish soil on and around the Museum of Moesgaard in Aarhus. The course will include running across the sloping grass roof of the museum.
    The local organizers are currently developing an innovative concept for the event. The aim is to boost the championships to focus on cross-country running, nationally and internationally. In addition to the world championships, there are plans for supporting races for schoolchildren and a mass participation race.
    The Danish vision has already attracted much attention from both the International Athletic Federation, IAAF and the international World of Running.
    IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe visited the innovative course and told the organizers: “It is really, really exciting because it will showcase our sport in an innovative, modern, exciting setting but also show that cross country is a tough sport, and it returns it to what I will describe as a traditional cross country course with the surrounding landscape.”
    The view ahead of major international sporting events in Denmark is looking good as Danish host cities, together with Sport Event Denmark, keep bidding for more to fill the pipeline.
     

    A selection of events in 2019

    IHF Men’s World Handball Championship 2019
    UCI CycloCross World Championships 2019
    WCF World Women’s Curling Championship 2019
    IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2019

     
     
    Fact file: Sport Event Denmark
    Sport Event Denmark is the national Danish sports event organization. Established and supported by the Danish Government. The objective is bidding for and hosting world-class sporting events in Denmark, for example World- and European Championships in different sports as well as major sports congresses. Sport Event Denmark works in close collaboration with the Danish host cities and the national governing bodies. Today Denmark is one of the leading countries in terms of hosting world-class sporting events (in top-15 globally according to SportCal).
    #sporteventDK

  • Sport Event Denmark returns as SportAccord Gold Partner for 9th Year Running

    [Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is delighted to welcome Sport Event Denmark as the first Gold Partner for the 17th edition of SportAccord taking place in Gold Coast, Australia from 5 – 10 May 2019. Denmark is one of the leading nations when it comes to hosting major international sports events, and the city of Aarhus was also European Capital of Culture in 2017, hosting hundreds of spectacular events along with 18 other municipalities in the region.
    Investing in SportAccord has always been part of Sport Event Denmark’s strategy as a hosting nation.
    “Sport Event Denmark has once again extended its Gold Partnership because we see SportAccord as the major networking opportunity internationally and we bring valuable insights home each year.
    “SportAccord 2019 will be our 9th time as Gold Partner.” said Lars Lundov, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Event Denmark.
    SportAccord partnerships enable organisations to showcase their capabilities as a hosting nation, region and city for international events, and connect with key stakeholders and sporting leaders involved in the business of sport.
    Commenting on the longevity of the partnership, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said:
    “Sport Event Denmark has been a tremendous supporter and partner of SportAccord since its inception in 2003 and were also SportAccord co-hosts with the City of Aarhus in 2017.
    “It goes without saying, this partnership is extremely important to SportAccord and we thank them for their continued support and loyalty as we head towards the Gold Coast edition of SportAccord in May.”
    With 9 major sporting events coming up in 2019 including the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, CycloCross World Championships, World Women’s Curling Championship, and Junior World Orienteering Championships to name a few, sports fans and visitors to Denmark will have much to look forward to this year.
    Organisations involved in the business of sport who wish to attend SportAccord should register for the Gold Coast edition which entitles them to take advantage of the many networking opportunities on offer.
    As part of the Official Schedule, delegates will be able to enjoy over 20 networking events and the popular 3-day Exhibition, have access to 50+ conference sessions and the Sports Festival, taking place at the outstanding Gold Coast Conference and Exhibition Centre situated close to Queensland’s stunning coastline.
    Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

  • Denmark wins bid to host 2021 Tour de France Grand Départ

    Denmark wins bid to host 2021 Tour de France Grand Départ

    Denmark will host the Grand Départ of the 2021 Tour de France, starting on 2nd July in capital city Copenhagen, followed by a second stage on 3rd July running from Roskilde to Nyborg on the island of Funen, and the third stage on July 4th starting in Vejle and finishing in Sønderborg.
    A Deloitte report on the 2017 Grand Départ found that Düsseldorf benefited economically by EUR 64m, with the total marketing value to the host estimated at EUR 443m. Other cities and regions to have benefited from hosting the Grand Départ include Utrecht (2015), Yorkshire (2014), and Rotterdam (2010).
    Denmark’s bid to host a Tour de France Grand Départ officially began on June 20th 2016 in Paris, where the bid was presented to Christian Prudhomme by the former Danish Minister for Business and Growth, Troels Lund Poulsen, and the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen.
    Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France Race Director at the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) said: “Of course the Tour de France, with the best professional sports cyclists in the world, had to visit Denmark and Copenhagen – the best country and the best city in the world for everyday cycling. The Grand Départ Copenhague – Danemark 2021 is the ‘rendez-vous’ to celebrate the mutual inspiration between every day cycling and professional cycling.”
    With 198 top athletes and more than 900,000 spectators expected to attend the three stages, this will be one of the biggest sports events ever held in Denmark.
    The Tour de France is broadcast in 190 countries and has about 3.5 billion TV viewers during the race.
    Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark, said: “Denmark made it! It is fantastic! A dream born many years ago has come true. The world’s greatest cycling race starts in Denmark in 2021. It doesn’t get much bigger. It is the perfect match for the proud Danish tradition for hosting major cycling events where the massive interest for cycling and the stars of cycling are the driving forces.”
    Other major international cycling events hosted by Denmark include the UCI Road World Championships in 2011, the UCI BMX World Championships in 2011, the start of the Giro d’Italia in 2012, the UCI Amateur World Championships in 2015, the UCI European Championships in 2017 and the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships in 2019.
     
    The hosts of the three stages
    The opening stage, a 13-kilometre time trial in central Copenhagen, starts off on H.C. Andersens Boulevard and finishes on City Hall Square after having passed through the heart of Copenhagen including landmarks such as the Royal Palace of Amalienborg, the historic harbour of Nyhavn and the parliament at Christiansborg.
    The second stage runs for 190 kilometres, starting in the heart of the historic city of Roskilde and finishing in Nyborg on the island of Funen after crossing the majestic Great Belt Bridge with possible side winds and a chance of breakaway.
    The third and final stage starts off in Vejle, passing sights such as UNESCO world heritage Jelling Monuments and riding through 170 kilometres of stunning countryside scenery before finishing in Sønderborg, with an airport five kilometres from the finishing line.
    The city of Odense was included in the original bid as the destination of the second stage but was replaced by the municipality of Nyborg, due to a desire from the ASO to let the Great Belt Bridge play a bigger role in the second stage of the Tour.
     
    Bidding and delivery teams
    The bid team consisted of the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the municipalities of Copenhagen, Roskilde, Nyborg, Vejle and Sønderborg, Sport Event Denmark, Wonderful Copenhagen, the Capital region of Denmark and the regions of Zealand and Southern Denmark.
    The event will be organised by a partnership consisting of the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs and the municipalities of Copenhagen, Roskilde, Nyborg, Vejle and Sønderborg as stakeholders. The capital region of Denmark and the regions of Zealand and Southern Denmark are contributing to the partnership financially.
    An administrative office with responsibility for the day-to-day operation of this partnership will be set up to implement the Grand Départ in Denmark. The temporary director of the administrative office Alex Pedersen was vice president of media company Jysk Fynske Medier and a professional cyclist who took part in organising the Giro d’Italia in Herning and Horsens in 2012.
     
    “The best cycling city in the world”
    The slogan of the Danish Grand Départ is “The greatest cycling race in the world meets the best cycling city in the world”, with the latter title conferred by the Copenhagenize Index.
    There are 5.6 times as many bikes as there are cars in Copenhagen, with almost half of the locals cycling to work and school on 379 kilometres of designated cycling paths.
    In 2015 Denmark was named the most bike-friendly country in Europe by the European Cyclist Federation. Cycling accounts for 26 per cent of all trips less than 5 kilometres in Denmark and 16 per cent of all trips. The average Dane cycles 1.6 km per day. The country has 12,000 km of marked cycling paths.
    Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen said: “Biking is a vital part of the lifestyle in Copenhagen where bikes actually outnumber cars. Copenhagen is a true bike and a top event city – ranking number 8 at Sportcal’s Global Sports Cities Index. Copenhagen is therefore the perfect place for a Grand Départ, and we are looking forward to welcoming the world of existing and going-to-be bike enthusiasts to our city.”

  • Aarhus confirmed as Host City for The Ocean Race 2021-22

    Aarhus confirmed as Host City for The Ocean Race 2021-22

    [Source: Sport Event Denmark] The Ocean Race will come to Aarhus, Denmark during the spring of 2022, following a popular ‘Fly-By’ of the city during the final leg of the 2017-18 edition of the Race.
    The success of the Fly-By, where the fleet raced into the inner harbour of Aarhus port and around a turning mark in front of tens of thousands of fans, cemented the popularity of The Ocean Race in Denmark and made Aarhus a natural choice as the first ever Danish Host City for the next race.
    Watch the video here
    Richard Brisius and Johan Salén, co-owners of The Ocean Race, see long-term opportunities for all stakeholders with the selection of Aarhus as a Host City.
    “The Ocean Race has long had significant ties to Denmark, with sailors, race and team partners and sponsors and of course, the successful Fly-By in the last race,” said Richard Brisius. “We now have an opportunity to strengthen those bonds even further going forward. The passion of the people of Aarhus, combined with the city’s experience of organising international events, will create the perfect atmosphere for the best sailors in the world.
    “Aarhus is a modern, innovative city, with strong historical ties to the ocean and to sailing – as we saw when this same facility hosted the Sailing World Championships last year. Through the talent of great young sailors like Nicolai Sehested and Jena Mai Hansen, who competed in the last edition of the Race, plus veterans such as Jens Dolmer and Stig Westergaard, Denmark has long played an important role in the Race.”
    “As the partnership with The Ocean Race demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt, Aarhus has achieved an absolutely unique position as a world-class arena for international sailing events,” said Jacob Bundsgaard, the Mayor of Aarhus. “When The Ocean Race docks in Aarhus in 2022, we can look forward to an epic sporting event for maritime Denmark and a fantastic celebration on the waterfront in Aarhus for everyone.”
    The Mayor of Sports, Culture and Citizens’ Services, Rabih Azad-Ahmad, said: “It is absolutely amazing that The Ocean Race is coming to Aarhus. It is an event that is followed worldwide and is a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful city and bay. I am sure that The Ocean Race in Aarhus will set the stage for a huge maritime celebration with exciting experiences for the city’s citizens and guests. We will use the opportunity to focus on sustainability and increase awareness of this important matter.”
    Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark, the national sporting event organisation that partners with major events across Denmark, added: “Aarhus has marked itself as Denmark’s leading Host City for major international sailing events. Last summer, the very successful World Sailing Championships for all Olympic classes were held here, and now we look forward to The Ocean Race in 2021-22, where we will continue to focus on sustainability.”
    For The Ocean Race, sustainability has long been a core value and has become an even bigger focus for the event looking forward. In 2017-18, the Race helped to spark a global movement against plastic waste, and a comprehensive sustainability initiative aims to educate and inspire millions around the world to make positive changes.
    “In the last edition of the Race, our groundbreaking and award-winning Sustainability Programme set new standards for how a sporting event can engage its fans and stakeholders in attacking the problem of plastic pollution and restoring ocean health,” said The Ocean Race’s Johan Salén.
    “I believe that by working in partnership with our Host Cities like Aarhus, as well as all of our stakeholders, we will be able to raise the bar even higher to ensure that our sport retains a leadership role in this critical area.”
    Aarhus joins the Start Port of Alicante, Spain as confirmed Host Cities of The Ocean Race 2021-22, with more announcements expected in the coming weeks.

  • Sport Event Denmark extends SportAccord Gold Partnership into 10th Year

    Sport Event Denmark extends SportAccord Gold Partnership into 10th Year

    [Source: SportAccord] SportAccord is to welcome Sport Event Denmark as a Gold Partner for the 10th time ahead of the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit 2020 in Beijing, China.
    Established and supported by the Danish Government, Sport Event Denmark is the country’s national sports event organisation. Since its foundation 12 years ago it has helped to bring a significant number of major events to Denmark through its close links with host cities and national governing bodies.
    Registration is open for the 18th annual SportAccord event from 19-24 April 2020.
    Lars Lundov, Chief Executive Officer, Sport Event Denmark, said: “Our 10th year of being a Gold Partner is a milestone for us and SportAccord, and it shows the strength of the bond we have formed over more than a decade. SportAccord has always been part of Sport Event Denmark’s strategy as a hosting nation.
    “The SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit is one of the most important events on our calendar, and we look forward to re-engaging with friends and partners we have met over the years and establishing new relationships in Beijing.”
    Denmark is one of the leading countries in terms of hosting world-class sporting events, and aside from its leading role in relation to the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit, 2020 promises to be an exceptional year for Sport Event Denmark. The country is preparing to host among other UEFA Euro 2020 matches in Copenhagen, the TOTAL Badminton World Federation (BWF) Thomas & Uber Cup 2020 in Aarhus, the IOF World Orienteering Championships 2020 in the Triangle Region and the 2020 World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Herning.
    Commenting on the partnership, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord, said: “Sport Event Denmark has been a tremendous supporter of SportAccord since its inception in 2003 and was also the co-host of SportAccord in Aarhus in 2017.
    “It goes without saying, this partnership is extremely important to SportAccord and we thank the Sport Event Denmark team for their continued loyalty as preparations continue for what will be an outstanding gathering in Beijing.”
    Attending SportAccord enables delegates to network with sporting leaders at the highest levels, access an extensive conference programme, and experience the many opportunities on offer in one location, at the world’s leading global sports business event.
    Organisations can become an official partner or exhibitor and discuss these investment opportunities with sales@sportaccord.sport.
    The SportAccord 2019 Review magazine looks back at some of the many highlights that took place across the World Sport & Business Summit in Gold, Australia.
    Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #SA2020, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook.

  • Badminton restarts in Denmark with three major international events

    [Source: Badminton Denmark] Denmark is going to host three big badminton events when the international Championships and World Tour-tournaments restart after Covid-19. Besides the fact that Denmark is going to host the world championships for men’s and women’s national teams, TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup, and DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR, Badminton Denmark has also been given the task to host another major badminton event.
    Since March where the All England was played, in which Viktor Axelsen came out victorious in the men’s singles category, the international top badminton calendar has been cleared due to the Covid-19 situation. But from October 3 to October 25, there will once again be badminton tournaments and championships to look forward to. But in a whole new way and on Danish soil.
    The TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup will be held as scheduled from October 3 to October 11 in Aarhus, Denmark. The world championships will then be followed up by the World Tour Super 750-tournament DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR in Odense, Denmark, which will take place from the October 13-18. In the following week from October 20-25, the city of Odense will be hosting another big international tournament as the Super 750-tournament French Open will be moved to Denmark and hosted as Denmark Open II.
    This is due to the fact that by Denmark holding all three events, the players and their teams don’t have to cross more borders than most necessary, but also because The Badminton World Federation, BWF, considers Denmark to be able to hold all three events safely.
    “We are very pleased about the fact that Denmark is going to be the place where international top badminton restarts after the Covid-19,” Bo Jensen, Director of Badminton Denmark says.
    “It is history. It is huge that we are going to host both the Thomas & Uber Cup in Aarhus and two times Denmark Open in Odense. We have been working for a long time to create guidelines and recommendations together with authorities, BWF, and our partners so that we could be able to hold these three big events healthily and responsibly. We are doing everything we can to minimize the risk of infection for the players, audience, judges, volunteers, and others involved.”
    Some of those initiatives that will help minimize the risk of infection will be by making different colour zones so that different groups will be separated the most. Badminton Denmark will also make area divisions for the audience, unidirectional walkways, place sanitizer everywhere as well as making temperature scanning’s before entering the hall
    Furthermore, will everyone in the green colour zone (players, judges, official, tournament management, etc.) be Covid-19 tested continuously throughout the three weeks. Badminton Denmark collaborates with KMD for the purpose and has also bought test kits and two machines for test development, which will make us able to test key actors and get the result within 20 minutes.
    In addition to this, general recommendations from the authorities and guidelines will be complied with. All audience will before these events receive practical information about this. For example, concerning toilet facilities, purchase of food, traffic information, and recommendations concerning mouthpieces and the stop-infection-app.
    “We have been given a unique and historical opportunity to become the first European country to host the Thomas & Uber Cup and to hold two World Tour tournaments in a row,” says Jensen. “It will take a huge effort from my staff to lift this task. It is a task that we are very humble towards and we wish to do our absolute best to solve it at the highest level as possible so that our audience can feel safe at these events. Therefore, we introduce several initiatives, which will help all of us to enjoy world-class badminton.”
    BWF’s Secretary General, Thomas Lund, is pleased about the fact that months of work soon will bear fruit at respectively Ceres Park & Arena, Aarhus, and Odense Idrætshal, Odense.
    “Managing travel logistics between different territories where different entry and safety restrictions apply has been the biggest challenge. Therefore, an adjusted tournament calendar was developed. We look forward to the return of international badminton and we thank all parties and participants involved in the planning process,” he says.
    Exactly how many spectators which will be able to watch the TOTAL BWF Thomas & Uber Cup and DANISA DENMARK OPEN presented by VICTOR-tournaments depends on the political negotiations, which are going on these days. Badminton Denmark will send out more information this when the political parties have a conclusion.

  • New film to launch historic year of events in Copenhagen

    New film to launch historic year of events in Copenhagen

    Seductive, wise and visionary. Copenhagen shares her story as a spectacular host for events in the new branding film This is me, where the city, a woman inspired by the spoken word tradition, shares her tale as an old yet inspirational lady: With the legacy of ancient old wisdom, I’m the recipe for shaking your whole system.
    Over the years, Copenhagen has proved to be a creative event host punching above her weight by taking events to the streets, the sky, and even to the top of the opera house, from where contestants have dived  into the clean harbour water: I have the purest water running in my veins. To the Danes it remains basic fuel for the brains.
    While other cities boast enormous arenas, Copenhagen brings events to the historic city centre, invites you to swim in the clean harbour and to ski down a waste management plant. This combined with world class organisational skills makes Copenhagen an event host like no other.
    2021 will be a big year for the Danish Capital that is set to welcome both the postponed EURO2020, the combined World Pride and Eurogames and the Canoe Kayak Sprint World Championships. This will be followed by Tour de France – Grand Départ in 2022.
    These events all highlight Copenhagen’s strengths as an inclusive and visionary city that is a frontrunner within sustainable solutions. Thus, Copenhagen aims to be carbon neutral as the first capital by 2025 through green transformation, renewable energy, upcycling and recycling, green mobility and smart city solutions.
    The city’s approach to sustainability is reflected in events taking place in Copenhagen. Hosts make it a priority to limit their carbon footprint and make use of the city’s state of the art public transportation, environmentally certified hotels and restaurants and amazing cycling facilities, which represent an important part of the city’s DNA: My wheels are spinning with eagerness. For real cyclic living is a treat for less.
    Have Some Copenhagen – the city is your arena.
    See film here
    Contact: Jonas Løvschall-Wedel, jlw@woco.dk

  • How Copenhagen tributed Tour de France to the everyday bike heroes

    How Copenhagen tributed Tour de France to the everyday bike heroes

    The rain is pouring down, the asphalt is wet, yet the crowds seem unfazed as they cheer on Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar and the rest of the Tour de France riders blazing through the 13 km time trial cutting corners on Copenhagen’s slippery streets. 
    This day is a battle amongst the fastest and fiercest riders in the world, but it is not only a celebration of raw power and the cycling elite. It is also a tribute to the everyday cyclists riding their bikes through the same streets, the changing seasons, and the predictably mischievous weather. The people who choose the bike when they go to school, to work or on new adventures exploring the nearly 400 km bike lanes in the Danish capital. 
    “For us hosting Tour de France – Grand Départ had to be about more than sport,” says Lars Vallentin Christensen, senior manager at Wonderful Copenhagen. “It was also the perfect opportunity to promote cycling and get even more people out of cars and onto bikes, just as we wanted to show the world why it makes sense to invest in bike infrastructure. It is better for the climate, for making cities more liveable and for public health. And Tour de France was a great catalyst to push this agenda.”
    This year’s Grand Départ was far from the first time Copenhagen has benefitted from events functioning as a driver for a development. Last year’s EURO2020 had a large program not least focusing on getting girls to play football and to strengthen inclusivity towards the LGBTIQ community within the football clubs. And the overall focus of sport and football being for everyone. 
    Keep Copenhagen in the yellow jersey of everyday biking
    Copenhagen ranks as the most bike friendly city in the world, with around half the population commuting to school and work by bike. The city is connected by beautiful bike bridges and The Guardian just recently described Copenhagen as the first city it had been pleasant to cycle in. 
    Still, less people choose the bike than just a few years ago and especially the younger generation get around using other means of transportation. An unfortunate development, which is not easily turned around. For Denmark, Tour de France was the perfect opportunity to promote cycling – both to the world and the many polluted, congested cities. But not least to the Danes, to ensure that future generations will continue cycling.
    “Hosting major events can do a lot for a city or nation. If the circumstances are in place, and the event is planned well, it can drive huge social, economic, and environmental impact. Moreover, you can demonstrate these objectives for an international audience, not just talk about it,” says Lars Lundov, Chief Executive, Sport Event Denmark.
    “We experienced it most recently with the 2022 Grand Depart Tour de France in Copenhagen and across our nation. Enthusiasm and support among the Danes were impressive and largely helped to create a huge success during the five days in Denmark.”
    Hosting the Grand Départ in Copenhagen was born out of the idea that the best bike city should welcome the biggest cycle race in the world; celebrating both Wout van Aert and the everyday bike heroes who choose the healthy, green, and non-congesting way to travel the city.
    This dual focus on both sport and everyday life carried the essence of the Danish Tour-start and was an easy fit as Danes not only loves cycling as a pastime and mean of transportation, they also have a very strong passion for the Tour de France. As a matter of fact, Danes watch the most Tour de France per capita of any nation. The famous race to Paris is actual more popular in Denmark than in France herself. And these numbers are even from before this year’s extreme popularity with both three stages in Denmark, four Danish stage wins and of course and overall Danish winner.
    “The Grand Départ in Copenhagen and Denmark was major spectator success. First the riders were welcomed in Tivoli by like rock stars by cheering fans and when the actual race started, roads were packed to an unseen degree. One actual challenge was, that there were people everywhere making the rider’s options for natural relief more than scarce”, says Vallentin.
    Everyone was invited to have a tour experience 
    In Copenhagen, the focus on both elite and everyday cycling manifested itself with 140 side events counting from 100 days before the race. These included bike races for children, just as new school material was developed; teaching children about Tour de France, cycling as a sport and not least Denmark’s traditions for everyday cycling and how riding a bike is good for both climate and health. 
    Most notably the entire city was invited to join the Tour de Copenhagen and ride the trails of their sporting heroes on the day after the first stage. As the peloton moved on to Roskilde and stage two, the roads of the time trial course were not reopened for cars until later in the day, with the barriers and city dressing left standing. Allowing the everyday cyclists, a taste of Tour. 
    The Tour de Copenhagen first unleashed the local cycling clubs to ride the course at full speed, so they could test their abilities against Yves Lampaerts winning time, before a long parade of everyday cyclists, kids and their parents and cargo bikes with elderlies toured the course and had their unique Tour de France experience.
    During the three stages in Denmark, Copenhagen also hosted a bike festival close to the route, where families and bike enthusiasts could watch the stages and engage in a variety of cycling oriented activities, making the Grand Départ a true celebration for everyone to partake in. 
    Year of the bike
    On a national scale the final 100 days before the Grand Départ were packed with more than 700 side events all over Denmark, and the ministry of transportation declared 2022 to be the year of the bike, boosting cycling infrastructure with an EUR 400m investment. 
    These side events included closing down one of Denmark’s major traffic corridors, the Great Belt Bridge, so that it was possible to organise a bike race, allowing normal sport cyclist to cross the 17 km bridge, which was a highlight of Tour de France in Denmark and normally only for cars. 
    Residents at a hospice near Vejle knitted a giant 600kg yellow jersey, which was raised along the route. Several hospice patients called it therapeutic and said that it was nice to be part of Tour de France in Denmark and leave their mark, even though they wouldn’t live to experience it themselves. 
    And of course, the strong focus on the male elite couldn’t stand alone, and just month after Mads Pedersen and Magnus Cort had battled the Tour peloton in Denmark, the world’s elite was ones again welcomed to start a race in Copenhagen. This time it was for the Tour of Scandinavia – Battle of the North. 
    “It was amazing to also welcome the Women’s WorldTour and to see the many spectators who cheered them along. And of course, it was great to see, that just like Jonas Vingegaard brought back the yellow jersey from Paris, Cecilia Uttrup Ludvig took the overall victory in Tour of Scandinavia, highlighting the strength and depth of Danish cycling right now,” says Vallentin.  
    A grand platform for sharing
    For Copenhagen the year event was a very strong platform for sharing some of the city’s best solutions for creating a liveable city, which is pleasant to be in and not least to move around in. 
    Copenhagen’s bike infrastructure is second to none and for years it has been a priority to put bikes before cars creating an efficient and safe network of routes getting more people on bikes. This focus has been very successful and today the many bikes is the first thing coming to mind, when visitors are asked what they notice in Copenhagen. 
    Because of the added attention created by Tour de France media from all over the world came to experience the world’s most bike friendly city, thus getting inspired to promote cycling and maybe bring some of our solutions back to London, Rome, and Paris. 
    “It is part of our part of our mission to inspire the world with green solutions and hosting Tour de France just created the perfect platform for us to share our bike culture. Because really it is not only a culture. Danes has loved cycling for many years, but the deciding factor is to make cycling the best, safest, and fastest way to get around. And in Copenhagen it really is,” says Vallentin.
    Having the powerful Tour de France brand and mixing it with public backing and huge grassroot initiative and enthusiasm meant that Denmark was painted yellow, and cycling was celebrated and promoted to an extent the city has not experienced before.
    Copenhagen is considering what is next
    The last two years Copenhagen has hosted major events like Tour de France, EURO2020, WorldPride and the city is getting excited about next year’s BWF Badminton World Championships, where local hero and the world’s number one, Victor Axelsen, can hopefully replicate Jonas Vingegaard and take the trophy. 
    After that Copenhagen is back on the bike and ready to host the UCI Track World Championship in 2024 and the UCI BMX World Championship in 2025. On top of this, the Danish Capital has its eyes firmly fixed on the 2025 UEFA Women’s Championship with a joint Nordic bid, and it is also the ambition to follow up on the success of the Tour de France and host the UCI Road World’s 2029
    “We are hopeful that the Nordic focus on female sport, gender rights and hosting inclusive events with great outreach programmes, will help sway the European Football Association,” says Vallentin.
     
    This article was contributed by Wonderful Copenhagen