host city

Tag: Media

  • SportAccord 2024 – MediaAccord is ‘rare opportunity’ to meet before Paris 2024

    SportAccord 2024 – MediaAccord is ‘rare opportunity’ to meet before Paris 2024

    [Source: SportAccord] Join us at MediaAccord (Day 4 – Thursday, 11 April) to hear from Olympic Broadcasting Services and Agence France-Presse – leading global news agency and long term SportAccord Media Partner – on the most technologically complex and visually stunning Olympic Games in history.
     
    Paris 2024 – unique in so many ways
    Paris 2024 will be showing the world the best France has to offer in just 140 days, transforming world-famous monuments into magnificent competition venues – from the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro to Roland-Garros Stadium and Château de Versailles.
    “It’s not only the athletes who will have to be at the top of their game in Paris: this is the ultimate test for media companies. MediaAccord is a rare opportunity for all the stakeholders in sport to come together, listen, discuss and learn about the latest trends and developments,” explained James Pearce – award-winning sports journalist & broadcaster, covering eight Olympic Games – and MediaAccord’s moderator.
    Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) will be taking broadcast coverage of Paris 2024 to an entirely new level, with more coverage than ever before and innovative technologies being used – the stage is set for a spectacular Games in Paris that will redefine how viewers experience this global event.
    Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Officer of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Executive Director of the Olympic Channel explained: “Technological enhancements like UHD HDR, immersive sound and AI integration contribute to our commitment to capture the essence and emotions of athletes. With a desire for more human interaction post-pandemic, Paris 2024 coverage will provide more content than ever before and behind-the-scenes material for a deeper connection to the Games experience.”
     
    Paris 2024 – breaking news with tech twist
    In Paris, across France and in Tahiti – where surfing will be staged – the editorial coverage will be immense, and this time with a technological twist.
    “At MediaAccord, we’re looking forward to discussing the attractiveness of innovations including robotics and artificial intelligence for measuring and increasing the audience for the Paris Olympic Games editorially,” explained Pierre Galy, Head of Sports at Agence France-Presse, International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially recognised news agency and member of the IOC Press Commission.
     
    Immersive technologies – transforming sports fan experiences & content design
    MediaAccord also has two fascinating tech-focused sessions looking at how immersive technologies are converging with artificial intelligence to create brand new experiences for sports fans around the world.
    Join Andy Miah – Chair in Science Comms & Future Media at University of Salford, Manchester – for his Towards a World of Immersive Experience session.
    Want to know how AI and wider tech impacts how media content is designed? Meet Ellie Roach – Digital and Data Services Lead at InCrowd Sports, and Ross Tanner – Director at Magnifi, for the Data, AI, OTT: Navigating Digital Opportunities session.
    “The importance of data in driving engagement and creating connections between sports organisations, brands and fans is undeniable,” said Roach. “I’m looking forward to sharing thoughts on the best data technology stacks to help deliver more cohesive, immersive and personalised digital experiences.”
    “The sports media industry is evolving at a rapid pace, and keeping up is a challenge for Federations – I will be sharing my insight on how new technologies, especially in AI, are giving new opportunities for fan growth and associated revenues,” explained Tanner.
     
    SportAccord 2024 – join world’s leading sports industry experts
    Meet renowned global experts in sport, industry and academia and join over 1,500 delegates and exhibitors at SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit on 7-11 April at the award-winning International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham – West Midlands.
    Register now:  https://register.event-works.com/sportaccord/birmingham2024/e/ce/
     
    Partners
    SportAccord2024 is supported by a number of partners and suppliers:

    Gold Partner: Sport Event Denmark
    Silver Partners: EventScotland, Explore Edmonton, Tourism & Events Queensland
    Bronze Partner: Sport Liverpool, Sports Authority Thailand
    Official Suppliers: DB Schenker, Wiz-Team

     
    Host City is a media partner of SportAccord

  • Major events heading for greater heights, says IMG President

    The sports industry is entering a period of sustained growth, fuelled by rising demand for major events and live experiences, Kelly said in a wide-ranging interview with Financial Times journalist Josh Noble.
    “I think we’re in a golden age for sport,” Kelly said. “Sport will fuel the experience economy to even greater heights. Live is a premium product: an intangible, beautiful element that excites people in a way nothing else does.”
    Demand for tickets is expected to continue rising, particularly for global mega-events. “The Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup this year will be huge catalysts for further growth,” he said. “There are few predictable things in today’s world, but we know there will be a packed stadium and a live audience of billions watching the FIFA World Cup final on July 19.”
    He also pointed to increasing demand and attendance across TKO and IMG events.
    Kelly highlighted the unique community power of live sport, citing a fan video from the 2022 World Cup final showing scenes across Buenos Aires as Argentina won. “You don’t just hear a few fans; you hear the entire city cheering. Only sport and a live experience can deliver that. It’s a cultural phenomenon you can’t replicate elsewhere.”
    Hospitality, venues and live experiences are also becoming increasingly important drivers of economic growth for host cities. “There are more major stadium and arena developments, and governments and host cities recognise the importance not just for ‘soft power’, but for tourism and infrastructure, so investment in this space is increasing.”
    The interview also explored the rising value of sports rights in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. “Sport uniquely plays in both the attention economy and the experience economy at the same time,” he said. “It drives additional value through scarcity, but the underlying factors are deeper: it taps into community and passion, and it requires an extra commitment from audiences to make a positive decision to engage.”
    As AI-generated material floods the media landscape, authentic human-led content will become even more sought-after, he said. “If there’s a ‘human premium’, if community and loyalty are reinforced because sport cuts through a saturation of AI-generated material, then sport becomes even more valuable.”
    Kelly pointed to a future combining live attendance and digital engagement. “It’s the hybrid model: live attendance and digital engagement packaged together, driving long-term growth and value. IMG and TKO sit at the centre of a lot of this through our events, operations, hospitality and global media distribution.
    “Getting people together at concerts and sporting events is something special. It’s worth continuing to invest time and energy in.”