Global Sports Forum Barcelona gets underway

March 8, 2012

Mayor of Barcelona, anabolics Xavier Trias, arthritis welcomes sporting world to Catalunya

Barcelona the “inspiration” for any city hosting the Olympic Games

07 March, sale pills 2012: Barcelona:

The Global Sports Forum Barcelona (GSFB) – www.globalsportsforum.org – the world’s leading exchange platform for sport, got underway today as more than 1,000 delegates from the world of sport gathered to discuss the latest issues affecting the industry.

The fourth annual GSFB is taking place at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya in Barcelona from 7 – 9 March.  Included on the agenda are the likes of Sebastian Coe, Chairman, LOCOG; Eric Cantona, Director of Soccer, New York Cosmos; sprint runner, Oscar Pistorius; two-time NFL Super Bowl winner, Justin Tuck of the New York Giants; and many of sports leading brand and rights holder representatives, including: NBA, FIFA, UEFA, RFU, Coca-Cola, YouTube and ICC.

Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona, welcomed the audience to his city, for three days of debate, as the audience seeks to determine “What’s Next?” for sport.

Xavier Trias was followed on stage by Maite Fandos, Deputy Mayor of Quality of Life, Equality and Sports, City of Barcelona; and Kelham Salter, Senior Policy Officer, Sports Unit at the Greater London Authority (GLA), for a discussion on “How sport brings a city to life”.  With just 142 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the GSFB marking 20 years since Barcelona ’92, the discussion focused on sport’s potential to change a city and energise its people.

Kelham Salter, Senior Policy Officer, Sports Unit, GLA, said:

“What’s been amazing for me is the breadth of impact that the Olympic Games can have – not only as a sporting event but also in terms of economic regeneration. The 2012 Games are being held in a deprived area and we are seeing huge changes, including significant amounts of jobs for local people.”

“Equally the Games are a unique opportunity to showcase the city to the world… and that can help create a domino effect. Hosting the Games well and successfully helps bring both sporting and non-sporting events to the city.  Barcelona is the inspiration for any city holding an Olympic Games.”

Lucien Boyer, President and CEO, Havas Sports & Entertainment and General Commissioner of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, said:

“I am delighted to be back in the city of Barcelona, a wonderful sporting city, for the fourth edition of the GSFB.  This is a significant time to be here, as it is 20 years since the Olympic Games came to Barcelona and transformed the city to truly put it on the sporting map.” 

“As we look ahead to London 2012, it was interesting to hear how London is shaping up to host the Games.  The discussion provided a perfect start to this year’s event and I look forward to hearing from some of sports leading figures over the next three days.”

To watch some of the sessions at this year’s GSFB LIVE online, go to: www.globalsportsforum.org/live.  You can also follow the debate on Twitter at @GlobalSportsFor or by regularly checking the GSFB website.