Host City: The events landscape is increasingly competitive, and in the current financially challenging environment, why does Glasgow continue to host major events?

Susan Deighan: Glasgow has an immensely strong record of delivering some of the world’s biggest events, from the Commonwealth Games to COP26, and, this year, the inaugural UCI World Cycling Championships. These significant world events contribute to the city’s economy and identity and over the last decade Glasgow has cemented its reputation as the perfect location for international events.

Yet every bid is rooted in the local. Each decision to bid for or host a major event rests in Glasgow’s policy ambitions. While traditional economic benefits are still key, increasingly the focus is on creating a tangible, worthwhile legacy for the city and its communities.

We believe that the city’s events programme provides the people of Glasgow with the opportunity to benefit in the longer term, from the enhanced opportunities for participation leading to improved health, and wellbeing outcomes.

Major events can be a catalyst for change in societal behaviours, and aligning with local aims to encourage a healthier and more active population has countless benefits.

Take this summer’s Cycling events and their long-term impact. The city of Glasgow is committed to improving access to cycling for all, to active travel, to volunteering, to becoming a healthier, happier, and more sustainable city. For Glasgow, the UCI Cycling World Championships were an incredible opportunity to change a great city for the better.

As a world-leading festival and events destination, Glasgow is capitalising on major events to generate global exposure, developing, and promoting the city’s enviable international brand, People Make Glasgow. In addition, it is a driver for generating positive social impacts. We have recently recruited our first Social Impacts Development Manager, who is responsible for developing and evidencing positive outcomes for local communities and ensuring this is part of our event planning process.

Host City: The theme of this year’s conference is Driving and Reacting to Change. Is Glasgow an innovative city?

Susan Deighan: As you touched on, Glasgow is operating in an increasingly competitive environment, I think this has encouraged us to draw attention to Glasgow’s USP.

In recent years Glasgow has, in partnership with others, created brand new events. In 2018 Berlin and Glasgow successfully co-hosted the inaugural European Championships. In August, Glasgow was at the centre of the biggest cycling event in the world, when it welcomed the first-ever UCI Cycling World Championships to Scotland.

Glasgow is a trailblazer; some might say a disruptor. From scratch, we have created completely new major events, which have succeeded and have gone on to be hosted elsewhere. We have an enviable reputation for being a successful host city, making Glasgow a stand-out candidate when international sport bodies are considering where to host their event. They can look at our innovative events history and trust Glasgow to deliver confidently and expertly.

Host City: Continuing to consider reacting to change, how might evolving audience attitudes drive change for host cities?

Susan Deighan: Glasgow has welcomed the Host City Conference to our city for nine years. It returns to Glasgow again this year because we use this gathering of leading destinations, rightsholders and organising committees as an opportunity to pose and discuss the tough questions facing our industry.

 This year we will focus on driving and reacting to change. I am confident issues such as what is important to Gen Z will be tackled. How will environmental values push major events to drive innovation through sustainability initiatives, which in turn push governments on towards net zero targets.

Glasgow’s approach to this, across the range of events the city hosts, has led to our ranking 8th in the world on the Global Destination Sustainability Index. The ranking positions Glasgow as the first city out with Scandinavia, and the only UK city, to appear in the top ten, maintaining this will be key when hosting future events.

Will the rise of the mega event continue or will joint pan-destination bids like the UK and Ireland’s Euro 2028 become the new norm in international sporting events? Should the historical significance of an event be enough to guarantee its continuation? Continuing to deliver successful events will rest on being brave enough to challenge the status quo.

Given changing tastes, landscapes, and attitudes, we must consider, adapt, and respond to what makes an event relevant to its audiences.

Host City: Equality, diversity and inclusion are increasing buzzwords; has Glasgow made a genuine effort to influence a shift in the events the city has hosted?

A: Yes. I have watched Glasgow flourish by committing wholeheartedly to the transformative power of investing in culture and sport for all. The city has hosted an amazing array of civic events, from the Garden Festival in 1988 and City of Culture in 1990 to the UEFA Champions League Final in 2002 and the opening of the Hydro in 2013, the incredible 2014 Commonwealth Games, the UN Climate Change Conference in 2022 and, this summer, the UCI Cycling World Championships.

This year Glasgow is celebrating soaring up the annual World’s Best Cities Report from 93^rd last year to 61^st, second in the UK after London, and our role as European Capital of Sport. I think one of the reasons we were the first city to be awarded this accolade for a second time is because we recognise that sport can be an immensely powerful way of bringing diverse communities together. It inspires passion, engagement, and identity like few other things.

At Glasgow Life we believe access and participation are universal rights, which can have profound lifechanging impacts.

For these reasons we are pleased to have worked with UCI to combine all para-cycling events into the main competition programme at this summer’s World Cycling Championships. We support equal prize money for men and women and, personally, I was incredibly proud to watch the elite women’s road race bring eleven days of outstanding competition to a close in Glasgow this summer.

Host City: Looking at evolving sports and formats, what does the future of events in Glasgow look like?

Susan Deighan: 2024 is another significant year as we prepare to be in the international spotlight again with World Athletics and the World Irish Dance Championships.

History and experience continue to deepen my belief that major events have the power to change people’s behaviour at a societal level.

As competition to host events increases from across the globe, and while the financial situation at home remains challenging, it is important we take stock.

In this time of change, Glasgow continues to collaborate with partners and is currently developing a new events strategy. As an innovative host city, with a successful record of reacting to change, Glasgow will respond to the enlightening, exciting and inventive ideas emerging from these discussions, to ensure Glasgow remains at the forefront of event organisers’ go-to cities when deciding on a host city.

Register for Host City 2023 here: https://www.hostcity.com/host-city-2023/register

Host City: The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Driving and reacting to change’. Can you share some thoughts about how the events industry in Scotland is both responding to and proactively evolving in a rapidly changing landscape?

Paul Bush: Following the events of the last few years, we all find ourselves living in a new world that has seen us all having to drive and react to the change brought on by local, national and global events. The impact of Covid, Brexit and the global economic crisis have required us all to respond in different and innovative ways as these events impact on our industry.

The events industry is a dynamic ecosystem where adaptability and external influences are vital for success.  We regularly have to respond to emerging trends and challenges, none more so than recently.  In addition to the above, we are faced with change across a range of areas including technology, regulatory compliance, commercial revenue streams, funding landscapes, safety and security and consumer expectations.  All of these are forcing the need to be more creative, flexible and to make some difficult decisions in some cases.

In Scotland, our national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage, has ensured we have been well placed to respond to this rapidly changing landscape. First published in 2008, it has been the cornerstone of much of the country’s success over the last 20 years, helping us develop into a world leading events destination that has attracted and delivered some of the world's biggest events alongside supporting our enviable portfolio of annual events and festivals.  

Our recent successful hosting of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is just one of the many great examples of this over this time. Awarded to Glasgow and Scotland in 2019, we were the UCI’s choice to host the inaugural event based on the unrivalled success of our events sector at hosting world-class events along with our existing built and natural environment infrastructure that we had been developing for a number of years. Of course, with a mega-event of this scale we had to adapt, be flexible and respond to a range of global and UK challenges but our experience stood us in good stead to ensure we were not overwhelmed by them. 

While we continue to face challenges, especially in relation to the events workforce and supply chain, the national events strategy has allowed Scotland to successfully establish a global reputation for excellence in event delivery that is supported by a strong and dynamic events industry that is able to respond to and evolve to the changing events landscape to ensure we continue to produce a world-class portfolio of sporting, cultural and business events.

Host City: There is currently a review of Scotland’s national events strategy ‘Scotland the Perfect Stage’ that will extend its term to the end of 2035.  What were some of the key priority areas coming back in terms of response to the public strategy consultation which took place earlier this year? 

Paul Bush: The strategy was last updated in 2015 to cover the period between 2015 and 2025. Following the wide-scale global challenges across last few years, now is the right time to review and update the strategy to provide a renewed strategic focus for all involved in any aspect of planning, securing, supporting and delivering events of all sizes in Scotland between 2025 and the end of 2035.

In March, the Scottish Government launched a 14-week public consultation to get views on the strategy. The consultation, which saw 102 responses to the online survey and feedback from more than 220 participants at the regional engagement and sector workshops, highlighted a number of key priority areas including boosting the economy and enhancing wellbeing and community engagement. These were considered to be the most important strategic priorities for events over the next 10 years.

Other priorities include ensuring there is legacy and clear benefits for the local community when hosting mega events as well as maximising skills development opportunities around them. A greater focus on equality, diversity and inclusion was also highlighted, and 61% of respondents also thought the events sector is an attractive place to work so again; this is an area where we need to continue showcasing the benefits of the sector.

Host City: Looking to the future, what does success look like for Scotland in terms of the refreshed strategy?

The national events strategy has already helped Scotland achieve so much. It has been the cornerstone of our success of the last 20 years, helping bring major events from the 2003 and 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards, the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2014 Ryder Cup, to the 2019 Solheim Cup, UEFA EURO 2020 and COP26. It has also supported the continued development of a range of annual events including the Edinburgh Festivals, Wigtown Book Festival, The Royal National Mod, and Paisley Halloween.

Looking to the future, success for Scotland in terms of the strategy will be ensuring we have a financially robust and sustainable events sector that delivers both significant economic and social benefits for the country. It will also continue to help showcase Scotland, its values and its assets to a global audience, while also contributing positively to the physical, mental and social health and wellbeing of its people and communities.

Few industries have the impact events do and in Scotland our events programmes drive collaboration, innovation and strong impacts against a wider range of Scottish Government policy areas. The key to continued and future success will be ensuring we better demonstrate the value and impact they bring, especially around sustainability, EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion), and health and wellbeing.

Events also provide a range of employment possibilities, and we therefore must ensure it continues to be an attractive sector to work in that fairly rewards its workforce with regards to pay, conditions, security and opportunities if we are to continue to be the perfect stage for events. 

Host City: This is your 11^th Host City, what are you looking forward to this year and what can people expect to hear from you?

Paul Bush: First of all, we are delighted to once again be a Global Presenting Partner for this year’s event.   It takes a huge effort to attract, secure and plan a two-day conference of this scale so a special thanks to all those involved so far. Host City is always a great opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the world and share learnings and new ideas from the last 12 months, as well as look to the future.

Once again there is a great agenda across the two days with some really interesting topics being covered including AI, monetisation, sustainability, EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), and event delivery, all of which continue to be at the forefront of our thinking as an industry.

I look forward to seeing everyone in Glasgow at the Technology and Innovation Centre on the 20 to 21 November.

Host City 2023: Register here: https://www.hostcity.com/host-city-2023/register

Senior leaders of the organising committees of the next three Olympic Games have confirmed to speak at Host City 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland on 20-21 November.

Taking place with the support of Global Presenting Partners and Hosts Glasgow Life and EventScotland, this year’s event brings major event owners, organisers and hosts from all over the world together at the Technology and Innovation Centre around the conference theme of Driving and Reacting to Change.

And this year, senior figures from the LA28, Milano Cortina 2026 and Paris 2024 Organising Committees of the Olympic and Paralympic Games are among the confirmed speakers.

Hilary Ash, Vice President, Games Delivery & Infrastructure, LA28 will give a Fireside Chat on what's next for the LA 28 Olympics. She will share a unique overview of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games vision and mission; sport parks concept and use of existing venues and Games Plan including sports programme and venue mapping.

Ash is instrumental to LA28’s technical operations and Games delivery planning, specifically for the sport and venue masterplan and budget considerations. She led the development of the bid books. She was a 2019 Recipient of the Sports Business Journal New Voices Under 30 Award. Previous roles included and producing ESPN X Games and the Rose Bowl Game.

Giulio Alessandrini, Head of Venues & Infrastructure, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is speaking at Host City on the panel Changing Venue Requirements. He has a wide knowledge of the sport industry infrastructures, including venue design, procurement and commercial strategies, site management and events delivery.

Previously, Giulio was Senior Technical Services and Overlay Manager at FIFA, where he headed the planning, scoping and implementation of all overlay infrastructures across a number of FIFA tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 and several others. Before that he worked within several Organising Committees including Baku 2015 European Games, Gold Coast 2018 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and delivered overlay at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Carole Colin Kjaer, Digital, CRM and Data Director at Paris Organising Committee for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and digital in the sports and consumer goods sectors. She has spent more than 12 years at the Carlsberg Group before joining Paris 2024, where she was in charge of sports sponsorship including Euro 2016.

Other speakers at Host City 2023 include Petra Sörling, IOC Member and President, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF); Vlad Marinescu, Director General, International Judo Federation and President, International Esports Federation; Jimena Saldaña, CEO / Secretary General, PanamSports Organization; Abi Ijasanmi, COO, CAF; John Langford, COO, AEG Europe; Jana Ebert, Conference Manager, European Society of Human Genetics; Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society; Susan Deighan, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life; Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland and many more leading figures from the owners, organisers and hosts of the world’s greatest sports, business and cultural events.

Host City taking place at the Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow, Scotland on 20-21 November with the support of Global Presenting Partners and Hosts Glasgow Life and EventScotland.

For speaking and hosted buyer opportunities, contact ben.avison@hostcity.com. For sponsorship, exhibition and commercial enquiries contact adam.soroka@bric.com

[Source: IOC)] IOC Honorary Members Beatrice Allen, Sir Craig Reedie and Ung Chang, as well as Andrzej Kraśnicki, the former President of the National Olympic Committee of Poland, were today awarded Olympic Orders in a ceremony held during the 141^st IOC Session in Mumbai, India. All awardees were introduced by HSH Princess Nora of Liechtenstein, Delegate Member for Protocol.

Beatrice Allen, from Gambia, was an IOC Member from 2006 to 2020. An expert in international development and gender issues, Mrs Allen enjoyed a long and storied career in her native Gambia as well as internationally within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Mrs Allen also occupied numerous positions within sporting institutions in Gambia as well as being a member of several IOC Commissions.

Presenting her with the Olympic Order, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “You have dedicated your life to making the world a better place through sport and to improving the lives of our fellow human beings.” Emphasising Mrs Allen’s role as a tireless advocate for gender equality, President Bach continued: “Promoting women in and through sport has been a central theme throughout your career. Whether as the Head of the Gambia Softball Association, as Chair of the ANOCA Women and Sports Commission, whether as Vice President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation or as President of the Gambian NOC – you have made it your mission to advance the role of women on and off the field of play. For over a decade, the IOC has been able to count on your great experience, especially the many IOC Commissions where you actively contributed with all your expertise, knowledge and insight. With your vision, your energy and exceptional personality, you have made your mark in the Olympic Movement and for this we will always be grateful.”

Sir Craig Reedie joined the IOC membership in 1994. A keen sportsman, Sir Craig began his sporting career as a national and international badminton player. After retiring from competitive sport, he went on to make a name for himself as a leading sports administrator. His early foray into sports administration was within his own sport as Chair the Scottish Badminton Union. He subsequently rose to become President of the International Badminton Federation, where he led the successful campaign to include badminton on the Olympic programme. He chaired the British Olympic Association for over a decade, during which he played a key role in London's successful bid for the Olympic Games 2012. He was a key figure in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Praising Sir Craig’s contribution to the IOC and the Olympic Movement, President Bach explained: “He joined the IOC in 1994, bringing his expertise to bear in numerous IOC Commissions, and later on as well as a member of the IOC Executive Board and IOC Vice-President.” Addressing him directly, President Bach said: “Dear Craig, as the third President of the World Anti-Doping Agency, you had to go through some of the most difficult periods of this organisation. But with all your diplomatic skills, your good sense of humour and your openness, you finally managed to navigate the rough waters and finally steadied the ship.”

Both Mrs Allen and Sir Craig should have received their Olympic Orders in 2021 and 2022 respectively, however with the global pandemic and the associated restrictions, the IOC chose to wait to award them for a time when it was possible to celebrate them in person among friends and colleagues.

A third Olympic order was awarded IOC Honorary Member Ung Chang of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), who joined the ceremony by video link. In his absence, the Order was collected by his son, John Chang.

Addressing the assembled audience, President Bach explained: “For decades, Ung Chang has been a driving force to promote the role of sport in the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea. [He] was always the bridge connecting the Olympic Movement with the Olympic community in the DPRK. Throughout his illustrious career in sport, whether at the National Olympic Committee, at the Olympic Council of Asia, as IOC Member and as an active member of many IOC Commissions, Ung Chang was above all a trusted advisor, who always built bridges of friendship and understanding through sport and its values. He continues to do so today even as IOC Honorary Member, ensuring that the DPRK athletes will always be a part our Olympic community.”

Addressing Mr Chang directly, President Bach said: “My dear friend, even before my election as IOC President, I could always turn to you for your advice and your wisdom. This trustful connection even deepened, and this proved to be invaluable in addressing the often complex challenges that we faced together.” He continued: “Ahead of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, you again played an essential role when it came to the negotiations about the participation of the NOC of the DPRK in PyeongChang. Again, you were the bridge connecting the DPRK to the wider Olympic Movement in the discussions leading to the Lausanne Declaration – the agreement that made the participation of the athletes of the DPRK in PyeongChang possible. […] you made a great contribution which ultimately led to the unforgettable Opening Ceremony, when the athletes from the Republic of Korea and the DPRK marched together as one team behind one flag, the Korean Unification Flag, sending a powerful message of peace to the world. For this, we will always be grateful to you.”

The final Olympic Order of the Session was awarded to Mr Andrzej Kraśnicki, the former President of the National Olympic Committee of Poland. 

Describing Mr Kraśnicki’s contribution to sport, President Bach said: “The strong standing of Polish sport in the world today is the result of a long journey of modernisation. The person who took this modernisation to new heights is Andrzej Kraśnicki – a highly respected leader. Highly respected by the athletes, the Olympic community in Poland but also highly respected by the world of politics, business and culture in his country. He put all these great relationships at the service of sport in his country. It was under his leadership – and thanks to the respect that he also enjoyed at the European level – that the European Games were awarded to Poland. As IOC President, I am very grateful that he strengthened the Olympic Movement in Poland – always defending and promoting the autonomy of sport – and for being such a reliable partner of the IOC.”

Addressing Mr Kraśnicki directly, President Bach said: “I always knew that you were a person with a big heart, which you always showed to me and to so many of your friends. But it was during the difficult times that your big heart and especially your compassionate human side shone most brightly. Your humanity was plain for all to see when the Polish NOC under your leadership received countless athletes and members of the Ukrainian Olympic community who were fleeing their county after the Russian invasion. In this time of their greatest need, you offered shelter and assistance, you opened the facilities of Polish sport to them. You stood by their side in their darkest hour and it is acts of solidarity like these why we all admire you. Not only as a great sports leader but as a true humanitarian. You really have made the world a better place through sport, my dear friend.”

Among the other personalities honoured during the Session were Mr Mamadou Ndiaye of Senegal, who was elected to the membership in 2015. Although he is stepping down at the end of 2023, Mr Ndiaye will remain a member of the IOC Commission for the Coordination of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 and will be closely involved in the 4^th Summer Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.

The Olympic Order is the highest award of the IOC, given for distinguished contributions to the Olympic Movement.

Ed: Sir Craig Reedie GBE is the long-standing chairman of Host City, having spoken at every edition since its launch in 2014.

[Source: ITTF] On 17 October 2023, at the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session held in Mumbai, India, Petra Sörling, President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), was elected as a Member of the IOC.   

Notably, Petra Sörling is the first President of the ITTF to ascend to the esteemed position of an IOC Member, marking a historic chapter for table tennis. With dedication and unwavering commitment, both President Sörling and the ITTF are poised to actively contribute to the Olympic Movement and the global community.  
In response to her election, Sörling expressed, “I am deeply humbled and grateful to have been elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee. This is not just an honour but also a significant responsibility that I am ready to embrace.   

“This is even more momentous as this is the first time for the International Table Tennis Federation to see its President become an IOC Member, making this a historic chapter for our sport as well. As I step into this new role, I am driven by my passion for sport. I grasp the magnitude of this role; I am committed to undertake the responsibilities it brings, and to dedicate myself every day to make a meaningful contribution to the Olympic Movement and our global community.   

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to President Thomas Bach, to fellow members of the IOC, the IOC Executive Board, the IOC Members Election Commission, and the table tennis community for their unwavering support. Together, we will work to strengthen the Olympic Movement, promote sustainability, champion diversity, and continue to inspire the next generations with the Olympic values. Let us make the world a better place and foster positive changes with sport.”   
President Sörling's distinguished career is rich with remarkable achievements and leadership roles.  

In the realm of table tennis, she achieved a historic milestone in 2021 by becoming ITTF President, making her the first woman to attain this prestigious position. Prior to this, she served as Vice-President of ITTF from 2009 to 2013, before taking on the role of Vice-President Finance from 2013 to 2021. Outside of ITTF, Petra served as the Deputy President and Board Member of the Swedish Table Tennis Association (2003 – 2013), before serving as President of the Swedish TTA (2013-2022). 

Furthermore, she held the position of Vice-President of the European Table Tennis Union (2007-2009). These roles underscore her profound commitment to advancing the sport of table tennis. 

Her contributions to the Olympic Movement include participation in the International Olympic Academy (IOA) Young Leader Programme (2002) and her current role as a Member of the IOC Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (2022-). Beyond table tennis, Sörling contributes her expertise to the Swedish National Olympic Committee (NOC) as a Board Member since 2021. She also serves as an Executive Committee Member of the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) since 2022. In 2023, she added to her portfolio by joining the Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation and becoming a Member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) Council. 

Her election comes after the IOC Executive Board proposed eight new IOC Members on 8 September 2023, following the recommendation of the IOC Members Election Commission.

[Source: IOC] Shanghai and Budapest have been selected as hosts for the Olympic Qualifier Series, a new series of festival-style events combining sport with urban culture. This decision was confirmed on 12 October by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The two-part series, taking place in the period leading up to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, will be an important step in determining which athletes qualify in BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing for Paris 2024.

The Olympic Qualifier Series, a key project under Olympic Agenda 2020+5 , brings together the best athletes from each of the four sports involved in the Series in a vibrant festival-like atmosphere in a single urban park. These compact events held over four days offer fans an immersive Olympic experience merging sport, art, music and culture. The Shanghai stop on the Series will be held at the Huangpu Riverside from 16 to 19 May 2024, while the Budapest event will take place at the Ludovika Campus from 20 to 23 June 2024. The Series' conclusion in Budapest will coincide with Olympic Day, the annual celebration of the Olympic Movement, held every 23 June, which next year also marks the end of the athletes’ qualification period for Paris 2024.

The Olympic Qualifier Series will represent a significant milestone in the athletes' journeys towards Paris 2024, serving as the ultimate qualification stage for BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing. At least half of the qualification quota spots for Paris 2024 in these sports are allocated through the Olympic Qualifier Series, with 464 athletes set to compete.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: "The Olympic Qualifier Series offers an exhilarating pathway for athletes to qualify for Paris 2024. They will be able to showcase their skills in vibrant major city locations in front of passionate crowds. Shanghai and Budapest perfectly align with the concept of the Olympic Qualifier Series, serving as the ideal backdrop for an exciting new chapter in the Olympic Movement. The Series promises an unforgettable Olympic experience for both athletes and fans, with the conclusion on Olympic Day adding a special touch of celebration to the Series.”

President Bach continued: “This series of Olympic qualification events represents a key milestone in enhancing and promoting the road to the Olympic Games. By bringing together the best athletes from these four sports in iconic urban environments, we aim to give them more visibility and highlight their remarkable achievements on the road to Paris.”

The IOC is working closely with the four partner International Federations to deliver the Olympic Qualifier Series – the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) and World Skate – which retain responsibility for running their respective competitions.

Xie Dong, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, said: “We are thrilled to host the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai in 2024. It is a remarkable opportunity for our city, known for its rich sports history and talents, growing industry and strong sports atmosphere, as it strives to build itself into a world-renowned sports city. The event will be held on the banks of our beloved Huangpu River, adding to the beauty of the surrounding scenery as it comes alive with the energy of the most talented athletes. This top-tier event, celebrated for its youthful and urban atmosphere, will undoubtedly ignite the passion of Chinese youth for BMX, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing.”

Balázs Fürjes, Co-Chairman of the Budapest Local Organising Committee, said: “Budapest, a pioneering city, is honoured to bring together a new generation of Olympic sports at a vibrant urban festival in 2024. We will be ready – again – to host the world’s best urban sport athletes following on from the highly successful and trend-setting Budapest 2019 World Urban Games. We are also delighted to celebrate Olympic Day together, just over a month before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. As always, we are committed to offering our best in the Hungarian capital, ensuring we remain gracious hosts and contributing to the development of Olympic sports.”

Commenting on the Olympic Qualifier Series' distinct nature as a prelude to Paris 2024, American skateboarder Jake Ilardi said: "I think the Olympic Qualifier Series is going to be a unique experience because, usually, when we qualify, it's just skateboarding only. I think it will be cool to take a break from the competition, watch the other athletes, see how they prepare, see what they’re bringing to the table. It will be a good time, and I think it will be a precursor to Paris 2024, giving us a taste of what's to come."

Speaking about the Olympic Qualifier Series, Brazilian sport climber Anja Kohler said: "I always like when different sports are represented at the same event because then you can go watch different sports, experience great sports moments and meet a lot of new people, and for me it is just one more motivation to push to participate in the Olympic Qualifier Series. It will be a lot of tension because everybody wants to qualify, but at the same time there will be a lot of joy and great sports moments."

Discussing the anticipated atmosphere at the Series, French BMX freestyler Anthony Jean-jean remarked: "I think that we can expect a very beautiful atmosphere, like always in our sport. There is always a good spirit and a good atmosphere between the athletes. The interaction with the public will be good. Both the athletes and the public will be aware of what is at stake. [There will be] a lot of pressure and implications for every nation, which will need to give their best to hope for a quota place, so it'll be a great moment and great competitions to prepare for Paris 2024."

Sharing her excitement for the Olympic Qualifier Series, B-girl Yell from the Republic of Korea said: "The Olympic Qualifier Series are very exciting for me. They are the final shot, the decisive blow, the last shot just before the buzz. It is that moment of suspense between what you have achieved so far and what you dream of achieving... It will be a magical atmosphere!"

The Olympic Qualifier Series contributes to the continuous evolution of the road to the Games. It builds upon the successful inclusion of urban sports at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, where these dynamic sports were featured in urban parks. The urban park concept will come to life again in the heart of Paris at Place de la Concorde at the Olympic Games next year. The Olympic Qualifier Series provides a preview of the electrifying experience that awaits spectators in Paris.

[Source: OnePlan] The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a major event like no other, powered by innovation. For the organising committee and its stakeholders, this includes how the planning of the Games is being done, including operations, security, transport, workforce management and so much more.
OnePlan is the Official Supporter of GIS Mapping and Digital Twin Software for Paris 2024, and our award-winning software is being used to plan the Games. It includes a 3D digital twin view, Venue Twin, that any user at Paris 2024 and its stakeholders can access to provide life-like visualisations of how the venues will look – simply accessible via a web browser.
Our digital twin solution leverages some of the latest computing and processor technologies of Intel, worldwide partner of the Olympic Games. Read on and watch below how venues in central Paris are being transformed virtually by organisers of Paris 2024 to streamline its operational planning.

Eiffel Tower Arena
The Eiffel Tower Arena will be a magical setting for the Beach Volleyball and Blind Football at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With a capacity of 12,860 spectators, this temporary stadium will provide unique sporting moments during the Games.
As with all the temporary venues for Paris 2024, this venue currently only exists in Venue Twin. It gives the organising committee and their stakeholders a hyper-realistic way to plan and visualise all aspects of the operational plan for this arena, including security, transport, crowd management, workforce planning, and more.
The 3D digital twins wins we’re creating with Paris 2024 are fully interoperable with the 2D map views in the same system. When a plan is changed, however big or small that change, it’s instantly shown in the 3D view. This gives organisers hands-on access to real-time plans for every venue so they can plan collaboratively with whoever needs access.

La Concorde
Place de la Concorde is being transformed for Paris 2024 into an open arena to host urban sports in their natural environment at the heart of the city. Temporary venues will host Skateboarding, Breaking, BMX Freestyle and 3×3 Basketball, with these spectacular sports taking place virtually non-stop for the duration of the Olympic Games.
In planning Concorde, organisers have to take into account a myriad of factors to ensure the events are safe and successful. This includes how the existing city infrastructure needs to change to accommodate these temporary venues, security scenario planning, traffic management, workforce positioning and responsibilities, fan experience, optimizing for peak sporting conditions and so much more.
This is all being visualized in our state-of-the-art Venue Twin software, which can be viewed by any stakeholder any time, from anywhere. It’s reducing the time and costs of planning the next Games, thanks to our powerful cloud-based solution that’s easy for anyone to use.

Invalides
The Esplanade des Invalides is one of Paris’ preferred leisure destinations where locals and tourists enjoy sport, music and walking. For the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it’s being transformed into a show-stopping venue for Archery, Para-Archery and other sports.
The Invalides Venue Twin that we’ve created with Paris 2024 shows how event organisers are planning with temporary infrastructure on existing city environments. The centimetre-accurate placement of crowd infrastructure includes how fans with additional access needs will be able to easily access the venue and have excellent views of the action.
When planning operations at Invalides using the Venue Twin visualisations, organisers are able to view how the venue will look at different times of day and in different weather conditions. This is an innovative way in which the Paris 2024 organising committee is able to plan the Games with multiple scenarios in mind, and plan for any potential scenario.

The European Olympic Committees President Spyros Capralos had a positive conversation with the Mayor of Istanbul ahead of their General Assembly there, and said he would be honoured to give Istanbul the opportunity to bid for the Games.

Asked by The Sun journalist Rob Maul who the frontrunning cities are for the next edition in 2027, Capralos said “We are discussing with the National Olympic Committees who are interested. I cannot hide that we had a very pleasant conversation with Mayor of Istanbul. We are also in conversation with others."

Answering a question from Host City, Capralos confirmed that they were engaging with western European destinations, but there is a lack of interest from them in hosting the Games. “It takes two to tango. You can't force them if they don't want to do it," he said. "But if we don't have a candidate from western or northern countries it doesn’t mean that it is not a success."

He cited the success of the 2023 European Games in Poland in inspiring the nation to bid for the Olympic Games, and mentioned that Deloitte will present a study on the financial impact of this edition.

Hasan Arat, Vice President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee and Member of the EOC Executive Committee led Istanbul’s bid for the 2020 Olympic Games. “Look at what has happened here over the last 20 years: the sports and city infrastructure is great; we have everything,” he said. “It is depending on the political leaders to decide if they want to do it. It is a great place to host such an event. This is important for my country and my people.”

Capralos highlighted that Games can be hosted without spending a lot of money. “There is no need to spend money on new facilities. If you (Istanbul) decide to go ahead we'd be honoured to give you this opportunity.”

He also revealed that the European Games could be hosted by more than one nation, citing the example of the European Olympic Festival in January, which was hosted by Italy but with some events taking place in Slovenia. “We do not object and we will be happy to see more countries working together,” he said.

The 2027 European Games will be the fourth edition, following three editions in the east of Europe. The multi-sport European Championships was successfully launched in Glasgow in 2018 followed by Munich 2022, with the host selection process underway for 2026.

“The European Games are not there to replace the European Championships,” said Capralos. They serve as the main event for qualifying athletes for the Olympic Games. It is a very important event, after the Olympic Games. We're not here to stop any other events.”

Other items on the EOC General Assembly agenda include governance improvements such launching the process of appointing a CEO.

Capralos also explained why Russian athletes were not allowed to compete in the 2023 Games, despite the fact that the IOC has paved the way for Russian athletes to participate in Paris 2024. “The decision was made after consulting with government of Poland. It was done for the safety of the athletes, as we could not guarantee the safety of athletes from Russia. We will continue following the IOC recommendations.”

Host City 2023 conference and exhibition, the largest international meeting of cities and sports business events, returns to Glasgow, Scotland on 20-21 November.  

Taking place with the support of Global Presenting Partners and Hosts Glasgow Life and EventScotland, this year’s event will once again see hundreds of major event owners, organisers and hosts from all over the world gather at the Technology and Innovation Centre around the conference theme of Driving and Reacting to Change.

Speakers include Hilary Ash, Vice President, Games Delivery & Infrastructure, LA28; Giulio Alessandrini, Head of Venues & Infrastructure, Milano Cortina 2026; Vlad Marinescu, President of the International Esports Federation (IESF) and Director General, International Judo Federation and many more organising committees, rights holders and hosts.

To further build on its great reputation as the premier global gathering of sports, business and cultural events, the 10^th Host City conference features a hosted buyer programme for the growing community of international event owners and organising committees.

Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, said: “Having delivered a spectacular summer of mega events, from the success of the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships and the city’s 75^th anniversary of hosting the World Pipe Band Championships, to Banksy’s incredible, sold-out Cut and Run exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow continues to merit its reputation as a global leader for delivering world-class cultural and sporting events.

“We’re looking forward to Host City returning to Glasgow in November and to welcoming major event owners, organisers, federations, cities and wider stakeholders to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing the global events industry today. Events contribute significantly to Glasgow’s visitor economy and support the city’s wider health and wellbeing agenda. We’re excited to again be part of the conversation and to be able to share our experience of delivering engaging events with positive long-term benefits that create a genuine legacy for our communities.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland, said: “EventScotland is delighted to continue its partnership with Host City having been a long-standing supporter of the conference since its inception in 2014.  With the global spotlight recently shining on Glasgow, and Scotland for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, we are excited to once again welcome a range of excellent speakers and industry colleagues to Glasgow for two days of knowledge sharing and collaborative discussion.

“This year’s conference theme entitled ‘Driving and Reacting to Change’ will encourage us all to consider the importance of proactive adaptation, resilience, and transformation as we continue to navigate the dynamic and ever-changing world we operate in. I look forward to meeting with attendees in November and hearing from the esteemed line up of speakers the Host City team has assembled.”

[Source: 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships] The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships have been declared a huge success after a preliminary estimate of 1 million spectators turned out to watch the festival of cycling, while millions more tuned in around the world to see the 11 days of cycling action taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland.

The final event of the programme, the Women Elite Road Race, brought the curtain down on the inaugural event that has seen 13 UCI World Championships combined into one mega event for the first time ever.

Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky claimed the top spot following a thrilling finish to the race that saw tens of thousands line the route between Balloch and Glasgow. It was the first time the women’s elite road race has closed a UCI World Championship, with 207 riders (including Women Under 23) taking on the 154.1km course. This is up on the 129 riders that took to the start line at the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia.

A total of 653 medals were awarded and 220 UCI Rainbow jerseys races have been raced as fans of all ages flocked to venues across the country to witness cycling history being made, with sold out crowds at events across the programme. Additionally, spectators lined roads, ramps, and routes at locations including Glasgow Green, Stirling, Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Angus, Fife, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, and Dumfries and Galloway, to cheer on riders at free events up and down the country.

Across all competitions, almost 8,000 elite and amateur athletes took part with Great Britain topping both the cycling and para-cycling medal table with 56 and 44 medals, respectively. A full list of 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships medal winners and results is available here.

Such numbers demonstrate how the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships have undoubtedly inspired new fans of the sport and created new experiences for thousands of spectators at home and abroad. In addition, EY (Ernst & Young) have been commissioned to conduct a qualitative social and economic impact assessment for the event to detail the value that it has brought to Scotland.

The delivery of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships would not have been possible without the support of the 4,000 volunteers who have supported in key roles across every venue, from making sure spectators have the best experience possible, to assisting with media operations and supporting elite cyclists.

UCI President David Lappartient said: “The inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships have taken our sport to new heights. The 13 UCI World Championships that took place in Glasgow and across Scotland united all members of the wide cycling family, bringing together different disciplines, an unprecedented number of nations and a record number of television viewers worldwide. The fantastic welcome from Scotland and the excellent organisation created a clear benchmark for future editions of this magnificent cycling show, that will take place every four years, before the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Paul Bush OBE, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Chair, said: “The 2023 Cycling World Championships have brought together around 8000 athletes from over 130 countries, in what has been an unprecedented celebration of cycling. 

“It is testament to Scotland's reputation as a world leading events destination that we were handed this opportunity by the UCI, and I just want to thank everyone who has played a role, from our funding partners to our host regions, the athletes, the spectators and of course the volunteers. Everyone has contributed to a memorable event that has further boosted the nation's reputation as a major event destination.

“Our host venues have thrived, making history in staging world class sporting events and welcoming thousands of visitors over the course of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. Signing off with huge crowds of spectators lining the streets of Glasgow to watch the women's elite road race has been very special, providing a fitting finale to an event which has inspired new fans of the sport and showcased Scotland in the best light to the millions watching around the world.” 

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “I would like to thank all the athletes, volunteers, and staff, including those from the emergency services and other partner organisations, who played such important roles in delivering this unique and hugely successful event which showed Glasgow and Scotland at their very best.

“I am immensely proud of how the UCI Cycling World Championships showcased our welcoming and inclusive country and have been delighted to see the huge crowds turning out to watch the action. The Championships have undoubtedly been yet another vote of confidence in Scotland as a destination of choice for staging major global events.

“We will work now to ensure this event leaves a lasting legacy that benefits our economy and environment, and that inspires people from all walks of life to be more active and healthier through the power of the bike.”

A great events city

Leader of Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken said: “From the first race to the last; riders, fans and officials have been telling us that 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will go down in history as not only the biggest, but one of the greatest ever held.

“The UCI approached Glasgow to pioneer this new ‘super’ UCI World Championships because they understood what a great events city this is; what an amazing passion for sport it has – and they knew we were the safest pair of safe hands when it came to making it all work.

“The faith they showed in Glasgow to host a truly global event was remarkable and I’m delighted the city has been able to repay that faith so emphatically – surpassing their expectations and even our own.

“The sport has been fiercely competitive, with racers needing to be at the very peak of their powers to be in contention for medals – and it has drawn huge audiences, on the road, in venues and across the world on television.

“There is nowhere quite like Glasgow when it comes to creating an atmosphere and people who are ready to throw themselves into an event, heart, and soul.

“One of the big themes of this event has been ‘The Power of the Bike’ – and I think these UCI Worlds have also resonated because they have given people an opportunity to rethink their ambitions for what our city can be.

“For Glasgow, the last eleven days have demonstrated that The Power of the Bike is making an already great city more vibrant and healthier; accessible, active and connected.” 

Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport said:  “The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has been a wonderful showcase for why the UK hosts brilliant major sporting events. Over the past 11 days of competition, we’ve seen some incredible performances, including from a British team who have turned out numerous extraordinary sporting moments, all against a backdrop of passionate and knowledgeable fans who have created a fantastic atmosphere at all the venues. 

“Bringing events like the UCI Cycling World Championships to British shores is only made possible through the support of The National Lottery, so we owe a big thank you to everyone who buys a lottery ticket.”

British Cycling CEO, Jon Dutton, said: “Like so many people I leave the UCI Cycling World Championships feeling incredibly proud of our British riders, whose bold, brave, and brilliant performances have taken this event into the hearts and homes of fans across the country.

“New stars have been born, our household names have delivered in spades, and we now have an amazing opportunity to harness all of that inspiration to ensure that more people ride, race and enjoy our sport in the future.”