Cities & Events Show: “Mass Events Are Great Platforms For Promoting Change”

Mass participation events are hugely powerful platform for cities to highlight important community issues and help drive change, and the business of putting on these events is increasingly a partnership with the host cities.

In the latest edition of iSportconnect’s Cities & Events Show, two experts from the mass events sector share their insights on the latest trends and developments with host Iain Edmondson, Director of the International Association of Event Hosts.

Nick Rusling, CEO of Human Race, which organises the likes of the Manchester Marathon and the Winter Run in London, with 15,000 to 25,000 participants, said that cities are increasing willing to give over their roads to such events because they see them as a partnership.

“These big events cause a lot of disruption and in return we know that we have to put something back into the community,” he said. Not being experts in what the cities need, companies like Human Race, which is owned by ASO, the parent of the Tour de France, work closely with the city to focus on where they can help on issues like homelessness and the environment.

Enlisting companies as sponsors  can be a challenge for mass participation events, according to James Robinson, Chief Commercial Officer of Limelight Sports, which recently acquired three big events from IMG, the London Triathlon, Blenheim Palace Triathlon and the Etape Caledonia.

Sponsors recognise the value of the events, with more people taking part than ever before, but there are also loads of events and that means competition. This can be difficult for events in the “squeezed middle” between giant events like London Marathon and smaller niche events.

The biggest challenge is getting non-endemic brands on board, he said.

Enjoy the show!

Sweeney Leaves British Olympics Role For Top Job At RFU

Bill Sweeney is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Rugby Football Union. He joins from the British Olympic Association, where he has been Chief Executive Officer since 2013.

Sweeney oversaw the achievement of Team GB in winning more medals at the Rio Games in 2016 than the record-breaking tally in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Team GB came second in the Rio medals table.

During his tenure as Chief Executive of the BOA, Team GB also delivered best ever performances at two consecutive Winter Olympic Games.

Before joining the BOA, he held senior roles at adidas and Puma, as well as corporate management experience with Shell, Mars and Unilever.

RFU Chairman Andy Cosslett said: “We are delighted to announce Bill’s appointment as CEO. He brings a rare combination of experience from the worlds of blue-chip business and elite sport and has a tremendous track record in both. His passion for the game is deep rooted and this will stand him in very good stead.”

Sweeney said: “I leave behind a very strong British Olympic Association, both financially and in readiness for Tokyo 2020. This is the only opportunity that I would have left the BOA for. From the grassroots game to our England teams, rugby’s values and opportunities are very special. I am passionate about the game and it is an honour to be joining the RFU team.”

Nigel Melville will continue as Interim Chief Executive until Sweeney commences his role at Twickenham, with confirmation of that date to be agreed shortly.

“Unpopular TV Deal Led To EFL Resignation”

The departure of Shaun Harvey as Chief Executive of the English Football League (comprising the 72 clubs in three division below the Premier League) at the end of the season is being widely attributed to a controversial deal for domestic broadcasting rights made last November.

Several clubs expressed the view that the deal undervalued the rights, “but they were furious at the fact it gave away the streaming rights to matches taking place away from the normal Saturday 15:00 slot, when many of them felt it was a method of generating additional revenue for themselves,” according to Simon Stone of BBC Sport.

The £595 million agreement with Sky Sports over five years actually meant a 35% increase on the previous rights package, but unhappy clubs took the view that they had not been sufficiently consulted before it was agreed.

Stone reported that after the deal, Harvey no longer had “the confidence of the Championship clubs, which effectively meant he was condemned to enduring a continued difficult relationship for as long as he remained in post.”

Harvey took over as CEO in 2013 after nine seasons as Chief Executive at Leeds United, following a decade at Bradford City.

He said that he was proud of what he has achieved at the EFL “in what have not always been easy circumstances”.

He added: “Consistently during my time, I have always looked to push boundaries to make the maximum positive impact for clubs, whether this be from a financial perspective or by generating value in another way.

“I have always held the view that the strength of the EFL is its clubs and no club, or indeed individual, is bigger or more important than the collective or the EFL itself.

“The time is right for the EFL to move in a different direction having concluded a number of commercial contracts that leave the League in a stable position.”

Debbie Jevans, Interim Chair of the EFL, said: “The EFL would like to thank Shaun for all he has delivered. The EFL is in a strong position with a growing fan base throughout the world and Shaun deserves a lot of credit for this.”

FA Chief Executive Martin Glenn, who will also step down at the end of the season, said: “On behalf of the FA, I would like to thank Shaun for his leadership of the EFL and his collaborative support over the years.

“The EFL and its clubs play a crucial role in English football and its popularity has flourished during his tenure. Shaun’s redesign of the Checkatrade Trophy has been a valuable tool for giving game time to young English talent from our academy system.”

Also In The News…

  • François Vergnol (in photo) has been named  new Marketing and Commercial Director of EPCR, the organiser of rugby’s Heineken Champions Cup, Challenge Cup and Continental Shield tournaments.
    He joins EPCR from Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment, where he was Project Director, FC Barcelona and oversaw the implementation of sponsorship agreements with brands and organisations such as BT, Omega, Renault, Jaguar Land Rover, SAP and Destination Sydney New South Wales.
    Most recently, he developed a commercialisation strategy for FC Barcelona’s new Camp Nou Stadium with the aim of generating an additional €100 million per year in revenue for the iconic Spanish club. He had previously been Commercial Director of OC Sport who create and manage international events across a wide range of sports.
  • Gerard Piquè has confirmed that Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi is a partner in Kosmos, the company that is re-launching the Davis Cup later this year under a 25-year, $3 billion deal with the Internatuional Tennis Federation. Kosmos was founded by Piquè with partners including Hiroshi Mikitani Chairman and CEO of e-commerce giant Rakuten.
  • Italy’s Lega Serie A said it has distributed over €1 billion in funding to lower leagues and grassroots football in Italy since 2010.
  • The International Francophonie Games Committee is struggling to get the hosting in place for the 2021 edition of the multi-sport event after Moncton-Dieppe, New Brunswick, in Canada pulled out last month. The city council of Sherbrooke, Quebec, has agreed to step in if financial support from both the provincial and federal governments is forthcoming. Mayor Steve Lussier said: “We’re not going to jump into this without a solid bungee cord.” About 4,000 athletes took part in the 2017 edition of the Games in the Ivory Coast.

Tokyo Governor: “Sports Events Can Transform Our City”

The 2020 Olympics and the 2019 Rugby World Cup can help to usher in a new era for Tokyo with a legacy similar to that of the 1964 Summer Games, the city’s Governor Yuriko Koike said today.

“These two major events will serve as a springboard to transform our city,” she said. “This year, 2019, will be key in making those Games a success and ushering in a new Tokyo.”

“But the metric for success will not be limited to just the competition itself; we want to lead Japan beyond 2020, change the way Tokyo thinks and transform our society.”

“The previous Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 1964 left a legacy of urban infrastructure, like the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway and the Shinkansen bullet train network.”

“I intend for the Tokyo 2020 Games to leave a more intangible legacy. I also intend for the 2020 Games to leave a cultural legacy and for the Games themselves to be a celebration of culture.”

Koike, who was the country’s Japan’s first female defence minister, and has sought to become the first female premier, has pushed for a swathe of environmental programs in order to rebrand the city as a leader in the fight against climate change.

She has also focused on improving diversity and she sees the Paralympics as a chance to make Tokyo, notoriously difficult to navigate for citizens and visitors with disabilities, more accessible.

“I believe that the Paralympics, in particular, will be a key event that determines the success of the Tokyo 2020 Games,” Koike said.

“This will be the first time that a city has hosted its second summer Paralympics and as the city with that honour, Tokyo aims to lead the country in strengthening barrier-free standards in lodging facilities.”

One of the recent regulations implemented by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is the ‘Open Stay Tokyo’ project, aimed at increasing the width of doors and corridors within hotels to accommodate wheelchair uses.

 (Reporting by Reuters)

Also In The News…

  • François Vergnol (in photo) has been named  new Marketing and Commercial Director of EPCR, the organiser of rugby’s Heineken Champions Cup, Challenge Cup and Continental Shield tournaments.
    He joins EPCR from Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment, where he was Project Director, FC Barcelona and oversaw the implementation of sponsorship agreements with brands and organisations such as BT, Omega, Renault, Jaguar Land Rover, SAP and Destination Sydney New South Wales.
    Most recently, he developed a commercialisation strategy for FC Barcelona’s new Camp Nou Stadium with the aim of generating an additional €100 million per year in revenue for the iconic Spanish club. He had previously been Commercial Director of OC Sport who create and manage international events across a wide range of sports.
  • Gerard Piquè has confirmed that Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi is a partner in Kosmos, the company that is re-launching the Davis Cup later this year under a 25-year, $3 billion deal with the Internatuional Tennis Federation. Kosmos was founded by Piquè with partners including Hiroshi Mikitani Chairman and CEO of e-commerce giant Rakuten.
  • Italy’s Lega Serie A said it has distributed over €1 billion in funding to lower leagues and grassroots football in Italy since 2010.
  • The International Francophonie Games Committee is struggling to get the hosting in place for the 2021 edition of the multi-sport event after Moncton-Dieppe, New Brunswick, in Canada pulled out last month. The city council of Sherbrooke, Quebec, has agreed to step in if financial support from both the provincial and federal governments is forthcoming. Mayor Steve Lussier said: “We’re not going to jump into this without a solid bungee cord.” About 4,000 athletes took part in the 2017 edition of the Games in the Ivory Coast.

Obama Will Join NBA In Launching New African League

Former U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to have a key hands-on role in a new African professional basketball league, backed by the NBA and FIBA, scheduled for launch next year.

The Basketball Africa League, featuring 12 teams from the continent, is slated to tip off in January 2020 and will be the NBA’s first collaboration to run a pro sports league outside of North America.

A qualifying event in Africa will determine the make-up of the 12-team league. No more than two teams from one country can qualify.

 

The announcement was made on Saturday by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis at the NBA All-Star 2019 Africa Luncheon in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Silver stated: “The Basketball Africa League is an important next step in our continued development of the game of basketball in Africa. Combined with our other programs on the continent, we are committed to using basketball as an economic engine to create new opportunities in sports, media and technology across Africa.”

Zagklis said: “It’s a huge joy to see our partnership with the NBA enter uncharted territory as we work together for the first time to maximize the potential of professional basketball in Africa. This is a natural extension of what we have done through the joint initiative that is Basketball Without Borders which helps find, develop and nurture young talented players all around the world, including in Africa.”

“The Basketball Africa League will enable us to build on the solid foundation laid by FIBA Africa and relaunch the continent’s club competition to offer the ultimate platform for the very best clubs and players.”

Obama appeared on a video at the announcement and said, “Through sport, if you put in effort, you will be rewarded.”

Silver said Obama’s role has yet to be determined, but the former president wants an active role.

He said: “Mark Tatum and I had the pleasure of spending several hours over the past few months with President Obama, and we all know how much work he has been doing in Africa and what a fan of the sport of basketball he is. He has said ‘I want to be directly involved with these activities in Africa.’ He understands the economic opportunities in Africa. He’s personally a huge fan of the game, and in fact dedicated a court there recently with Masai. So, while we’re still talking to him in terms of exactly what his role is going to be, we know he’s going to be directly involved in our activities there as well.”

Also taking part were FIBA Africa President Hamane Niang, FIBA Africa Exec Director Alphonse Bilé, Charlotte Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Chairman Larry Tanenbaum, NBA Players Association Exec Director Michele Roberts, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA VP and Managing Director for Africa.

Bilé said: “This is a historic day for FIBA Africa and basketball on our continent. We’re excited to work closely with the NBA to develop and put in a place a professional league like none that we have ever seen in our region before. Through the Basketball Africa League, we can provide the many great clubs and players with the best possible environment to compete for the highest stakes.”

“The implementation of this league is also vital to our young up-and-coming players in Africa as it gives them something to take aim at: they can look at becoming players who can play and evolve in these competitions, right on their continent.”

 

 

NBA partners Jordan Brand and Pepsi have already indicated that they want to be involved with the new league.

Kaepernick Makes Silent Peace With NFL – And Wants To Play

Controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his former teammate Eric Reid have reached a legal settlement with the NFL, which they had accused of colluding to keep them out of the league.

Kaepernick, 31, who played for the San Francisco 49ers and took them to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season, has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season, when he began kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest police shootings of black men.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the NFL and the players’ lawyers said that “the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances” and that “there will be no further comment.”

Kaepernick filed a grievance under the league’s collective bargaining agreement in October 2017, months after failing to find a job, and his lawyers have been gathering evidence and testimony from owners and league executives to take to arbitration.

The new deal cuts off that process and the confidentiality agreement means that it will not be known whether the league admitted if there was any collusion.

After protesting while playing for the 49ers, Reid, 27, also went unsigned for a period before playing most of last season for the Carolina Panthers and he has now signed a new three-year deal with the team.

Kaepernick’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, said the quarterback “absolutely wants to play” and that he continues to stay in shape and is game fit.

South American World Cup Bid Reinforces Multi-Country Trend

Twenty years ago, having two countries hosting the FIFA World Cup was a ground-breaking development. Now, four South American countries are chasing the 2030 event, in competition with other possible multi-country combinations.

At the end of last week, Chile threw its participation into the South American bidding effort by Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Morocco has indicated that it plans to bid for the event again. That could happen together with Spain and Portugal (which would make 2030 the first tournament on two continents), or perhaps it will be with Algeria and Tunisia, and Egypt has made noises too.

Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia are considering a joint European bid, while UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has indicated that he prefers a single country bid.

England could step up in the direction, alone or with the other home nations. Discussions have taken place about sharing with the Republic of Ireland too, although Brexit talks might have soured some on that idea.

The trend for multi-country hosting of – or at least bidding for – major events is inevitably here to stay, according to veteran sports marketing advisor Tim Crow said.

The World Cup had joint hosts for the first time in 2002, taking place in Japan and South Korea. The 2026 edition will take place in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

“The reality is that many countries cannot afford to host the mega-events or handle them logistically on their own,” he told iSportconnect today. “With the World Cup continuing to expand, it’s a very, very big ask for one country to take on the hosting role by themselves.”

“That said, there are countries that go it alone. And that sets up a really interesting dynamic between very different models with very different narratives.”

In Crow’s view, one of the things to take away from what’s happening with the World Cup bidding is the message that it sends to the IOC.

“The fact is that FIFA and the IOC are very much in competition, for broadcasting rights, for sponsorship and so on,” he said.

The IOC has been struggling to find host cities, for the Winter Olympics especially. The joint bidding model might well be one that works for football, but not the Olympics.

In fact, the Games have never been hosted by more than one country. However, during the 1956 Summer Games in Melbourne, the equestrian events were held in Stockholm because of strict Australian quarantine laws.

Crow said that if the challenge for the Olympics is that the event is too big to afford for any single host, “maybe the answer is to think about getting smaller so that more countries and cities are able to host the Games.”

Formula 1 Shows Fastest Growth In Social Media

The Formula 1 pre-season gets underway today as the teams start tuning up for the opening race March 17 in Melbourne, and the sport seeks to keep strong momentum going, especially in the digital market.

F1 was the fastest growing major sport on social media with followers up 54% to 18.5 million during the last campaign. Video views soared 106% to 463 million over the season.

With television coverage reaching nearly 200 territories worldwide, the cumulative audience reached 1.76 billion viewers.

Each car on the track is mini production hub nowadays, generating 70 gigabytes of broadcast content per race weekend.

Attendance at the events also grew, rising by 8% to an average of 195,000 per race.