Sports Economy business events will reveal secret to successful sports events at Birmingham 2022

A major trade event focussed on the Sports Economy will take place at UK House: The Commonwealth Business Hub, during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday 2 August 2022. 

The one-day programme, taking place at the University of Birmingham’s Exchange Building, will address:

·       Building sustainable sporting facilities for a long-term future  

·       How the hosts of international sports events can deal with uncertainty 

·       The role of technology for innovative fan engagement  

·       International best practice for sports events legacy 

Building on the cooperative spirit of the Commonwealth Games and the UK’s climate leadership at COP26, UK House is a platform to bring together business and government leaders to discover opportunities for international partnership and innovations for sustainable growth. 

Registration for Sports Economy Day at UK House is open to international sports federation and rights holders, future host cities for major sporting events and UK businesses interested in exporting internationally. Whether attending in person or online, it offers delegates a chance to discover the secret to delivering successful sporting events and major projects, from the London 2012 Olympics to the Pan American Games 2019, Birmingham 2022 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Speakers confirmed include:  

·       Nigel Huddleston MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 

·       Hassan Al Thawadi, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Qatar 2022  

·       Alaina MacGregor, CEO, Blind Games 2023 

·       Trudy Lindblade, CEO, UCI 2023 Cycling World Championships 

Nigel Huddleston MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said:  

“Birmingham 2022 will showcase the UK’s strength at delivering major sporting events, ten years on from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We look forward to sharing that expertise with global trading partners at UK House, demonstrating what drives our thriving sports economy.” 

UK companies have an outstanding and proven track record of delivering the world’s most impressive and impactful sports competitions, for which end-to-end sustainability is of increasing importance. This specialist knowledge extends into legacy including the design, reuse and adaptation of venues, as well as widening access to sport, innovative solutions to securing greater fan engagement and participation, urban regeneration and social and economic legacy.

Rights holders and host cities will get the chance to connect with innovative companies from across the UK’s sports economy. Sessions will cover topics such as: how tech can boost engagement and revenue within the sports community (whether in person and virtually); the role inclusivity plays in delivering a true sports event legacy; how to overcome challenges and adversity (including invaluable insights from events organisers who have overcome challenging global circumstances).

For UK businesses, including supply chain, infrastructure, technology and services specialists, this is an opportunity to gain unique insights from international sporting events experts and to learn about the support for export available from Department for International Trade.

Beyond the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the West Midlands’ portfolio of major sporting events locally hosted include; the IAAF World Athletics Championships, World Gymnastics Championships, the Cricket World Cup, The Ashes Series, and the All England Badminton Championships. 

A recent report from WMGC highlights that the West Midlands MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) sector was worth £2.3bn to the region in 2019, with the industry supporting 65,000 jobs.  

Hosted by the UK’s Department for International Trade, in partnership with the region’s official economic development agency, the West Midlands Growth Company, UK House takes place at The Exchange – the University of Birmingham’s city centre community engagement hub. The event is part of the Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), the first programme of its kind aligned to the Commonwealth Games. It will boost the economic impact of Birmingham 2022.  

Business leaders and senior policy-makers are invited to register to attend in person or online: www.ukhouse2022.co.uk 

BATP is sponsored by E.ON, Airbnb, Reckitt, University of Birmingham, Bruntwood and Gowling WLG.