Show Preview: Looking forward to Beijing 2008 at SportAccord - March 2007  

Certainly, 2006 was a record year for the global sports industry, with the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Winter Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and many other international events being held on a bigger scale than ever before.

With 2007 now well underway, competition to host major events remains fierce. During 2007, host cities will be selected for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the 2014 Asian Games, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, UEFA EURO 2012 and many others.
One of the motivations for bidding is to promote cities as tourist and business destinations in an increasingly global marketplace. Wang Wei, executive vice president and general secretary of Beijing 2008 explained: “In August and September 2008 the eyes of the world will be on Beijing. We expect that large numbers of tourists will visit during the Games but many others may be inspired by the images they see to discover the city afterwards. The high profile of the Beijing Games has already helped bring more conventions to the city, such as SportAccord, the international sports convention, which will take place in April 2007.”

Meeting and greeting

With such a high level of competition to host events, SportAccord, which will be held in Beijing next month, will provide a valuable opportunity for bidding cities to meet their partners and stakeholders.
Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012 commented: “The high level of competition between London and the other Candidate Cities to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games highlighted the significance of the Olympic Movement as well as the broader sports industry. It was important that the London 2012 team had the opportunity to present our vision for the London 2012 Games to act as the catalyst for a new era in community development linked to sport; one that delivers significant social, environmental, economic and sporting benefits for the host city communities of London and the UK and changes lives - on and off the sporting field. SportAccord provided that opportunity.”
In addition to the representatives from London and Beijing, other industry leaders participating in the "Sport and the City" themed conference at SportAccord include Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive, WPP; Sir Craig Reedie CBE, vice president, British Olympic Association, Peter Ueberroth, chairman, US Olympic Committee; John Barton, head of sport, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union; John Furlong, CEO, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Tom Shepard, executive vice president global marketing, partnership & sponsorship, Visa International.

Technology at sports events

The role of technology at sports events will be covered at the convention in a session entitled ‘Focusing on Media Operations’. Jay Stuart, editorial director of PA Sport Services will lead a discussion between Anthony Edgar, head of Olympic Games media operations, International Olympic Committee, Anna Legnani, deputy director of communications, IAAF , Christian Knauth, marketing & communications director, International Ski Federation, Philippe Silacci, media & communications officer, International Gymnastics Federation, Florian Wanninger, head of communications, International Basketball Federation, and Sun Weijia, director of media operations, Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

All exhibition space, delegate places and sponsorship packages are now sold out for SportAccord 2007. Over 1,200 high level decision makers are expected to attend the fifth Anniversary of what has become known as the Official International Sports Convention, owned by the Associations comprising the 101 International Sports Federations.
See www.sportaccord.com for further details.

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