Aggreko, the global leader in mobile and modular energy solutions, today announces a new partnership with Host City, the leading magazine and conference organisers for cities, rights holders, organisers, venues and suppliers of major international events.

As part of the new partnership, Aggreko will become the headline sponsor of the flagship Host City 2021 Conference, as well as Official Sustainability Partner of the Host City Americas Conference. Today’s announcement is the latest in a long and successful partnership between the two organisations, with Aggreko having supported Host City since it moved to Glasgow in 2015.

In addition to the partnership, David De Behr, Head of Sales - Aggreko Event Services, has been appointed as Advisory Board Member for Host City. David has worked within the events team at Aggreko for over 20 years, delivering innovative energy solutions for some of the biggest events in the world, including the Olympics and Glastonbury Festival. David’s role as an Advisory Board Member will focus on helping Host City to develop their sustainability efforts.

David De Behr, Head of Sales – Aggreko Event Services, said: “As the energy transition gathers pace, the global events sector continues to take the changing landscape in its stride, with events organisers continually adapting the way they operate to reduce their carbon footprint. As a key player in events, we’re proud to be supporting Host City in its efforts to achieve its sustainability targets.

“As an Advisory Board Member, I look forward to working closely with the Host City team. This partnership brings our two organisations even closer together after many years of successful collaboration, and demonstrates our collective commitment to leading carbon reduction efforts in event energy solutions”.

Ben Avison, Editorial and Conference Director at Host City said: “The topic of how to stage sustainable events gets more prominent every year at Host City and we are pleased to provide a platform for Aggreko to share its leadership in the urgent field of carbon reduction. We look forward to shaping the agenda with David’s expert input, and to welcoming him to the stage alongside other world class speakers in Glasgow and the Americas.”

About Aggreko

Aggreko is a world-leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services. We are working at the forefront of a rapidly changing energy market and are focused on solving our customers’ challenges to provide cost-effective, flexible and greener solutions across the globe.

We harness innovation that helps us maintain a global reach and supply portable equipment for a wide range of uses. From unique commercial industrial projects, through to utility provision and humanitarian emergencies.  We bring expertise and equipment to any location, from the world’s busiest cities to its most remote places.

Aggreko specialises in serving eight key sectors: Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Mining, Petrochemicals & Refining, Business Services & Construction, Events, Data Centres and Utilities.

Across these, our equipment offers maximum fuel flexibility, using gas, diesel (including HFO), and renewable fuel sources. We offer microgrid and storage solutions and are developing our offer to include more tools to help our customers adapt to the energy transition the world is experiencing. What makes us unique is our extensive expertise, experience and values.  This means we put our customers first, innovate and deliver leaner and more efficient equipment quickly.

Since 1962, Aggreko has grown from a small local business to a global energy pioneer. We have more than 6,000 employees, operating in around 79 countries. With revenues of approximately GBP 1.6bn (USD 2.0 bn or Euros 1.8bn) in 2019, we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (AGK.L) and headquartered in Scotland.

Aggreko draws together global expertise and technology development to go further for customers. The ability to provide power, heating and cooling will continue to open-up opportunity and create potential for individuals, communities, industries and societies all over the world.

Together and over time, we believe our services will make a massive difference.

About Host City

Host City is the event and media brand that connects the owners, hosts and organisers of major events.

Through its conference, exhibition and online publishing platforms, Host City shares best practice within the international community of international sports, business and cultural events.

Host City events are renowned for the highest level of speakers, content and networking.

Launched in 2014, the annual global Host City conference takes place in Glasgow each November/December. The first Host City Americas takes place online on 29-30 June 2021, following the success of Host City Asia events in 2018 and 2019.

For more information visit www.hostcity.com 

Make no mistake, the rights holders of international events are in the middle of a fight for survival.

“With no ability to travel around the world for international events, it’s an existential crisis for international federations,” said Clare Briegal, CEO of the International Netball Federation.

“We’ve faced major disruption to our events and are revising our international calendar,” said Jim Scherr, CEO of World Lacrosse. “We’re hoping to get thought this immediate Covid crisis but it’s going to change the world forever, the way we govern and administer sports.

“This is going to affect all of us for probably the rest of our careers.”

Facing the same enemy

“We’re all facing the same enemy,” said Damiano Zamana, deputy CEO of the International Motorcycling Federation.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going – and the IFs, IOC, event hosts and national governments have all played their part.

“The Swiss government were quick to put in place tools supporting the international federations. The IOC brokered the position of the IFs very well, so they made partial unemployment for personnel available. There were also funds available from Swiss banks at favourable interest rates.

“We set up several working groups: one dealing with promoters who have main responsibility of organising and hosting the events; and another organising disciplines where we do not have a promoter – working with cities and local clubs.

“For commercial partners with difficulties, we reached ad hoc agreements with them.

“Despite a consistent loss, as everybody, with the support of Swiss government and with cost containment we were able to break even at the end of the year and be a bit more confident facing 2021.”

Event cancellation and postponement creates issues that reach beyond the immediate impact of lost ticket sales.

“We took a set of financial actions in order to cancel the cancellation fees for the rider licenses,” said Zamana. “We were able to keep almost 80 per cent of the Junior Series going, which was important to avoid the ‘Covid gap’ for young athletes. If you are six to eight years old, you cannot be an elite athlete so you can’t train.”

Risk too much to bear

The INF’s junior events were not as fortunate as its World Cup, which took place in 2019 and is due to place again in 2023.

“The Covid gap is a key consideration,” said Briegal. “We took the decision with a heavy heart to cancel our under 21s, as it’s a key pathway event. By the time we get to ‘23 and ‘27 there will be athletes that won’t have had that experience.

“Our approach was to protect the senior events which are more critical for our member countries and where we get most of our exposure and income. That has to be protected, the qualifiers have to be protected – the risk of staging the under 21s was just too much to bear for us.”

2021 remains a year of uncertainty for event organisers. “Some federations have decided not to run events this year. We are one of the federations who hope to run two events this year,” said Joern Verleger, President, International Fistball Association. “We are crossing our fingers and preparing. Let’s see how these things develop.”

Throughout the crisis, the federations have supported their members and communities.

“One of our challenges was to help our national governing bodies return to play. We formed a task force with our chief medical officer,” said Scherr.

“We scuttled about a third of a budget – then reallocated funds to our national members so they could stay in business.”

The INF worked with NETFIT and its members all over the world to provide online coaching, including coaching sessions for young people in Liberia. “When there’s no international netball what are we there for? To keep the international family together,” said Briegal.

“And if you want to think about the power of fans, think about what happened in UK and Italy around the European Super League. The fans are very much still there. We need to capture and amplify this.”

Supply chain stretched

The event supply chain has also been massively hit by the crisis, affecting some sports more than others.

“Our sport depends on suppliers – you need a motorcycle!” said Zamana.

Despite Covid, motorcycle sales were up 13 per cent last year – but not everyone has been able to access the equipment they need.

“In Australia, if you need to order a motorcycle the production and distribution time has become so stretched you have to wait four years. Fortunately this is not the situation in Europe, which is closer to the source of production.

“This is having an impact, so we need to modify our planning. The plants are back to normal production and we hope that this gap will be absorbed completely within 24 months.”

On a different scale, fistball also requires specialist equipment. “The ball is very important, and so is our relationship with sport equipment manufacturers,” said Verleger. “We’re interested to establish more connection with service providers.”

Digital reorganisation

Like all organisations, the IFs have faced governance challenges, with closed offices, remote workers and virtual congresses. “We’re a very friendly sport, used to meeting to celebrate the sport,” said Briegal. “The challenge is how to make these online conferences enjoyable for delegates!”

Scherr said “We had to do a complete pivot, all of a sudden working remotely. We worked hard to make sure we all have the same connectivity, moving to cloud storage – and then making sure volunteers had the same. We settled on zoom for external and teams on internal for functionality and privacy. Our biggest concern is that now people are using their own hardware, how do we manage GDPR?

“We are trying to aggressively build digital and social media following for the sport on the back of our events.”

Digitalisation has proved less of a barrier to World Obstacle, whose globally disparate membership has meeting virtually for years. “We have General Assemblies by Zoom since 2015, so we are used to having these kinds of meetings,” said Michel Cutait, deputy Secretary General of World Obstacle (FISO).

“It suits our structure – we have a committed team, a young federation, but we are very connected with young people and we think we have a great future. We have ambitious plans for our World Series and World Championships involving AR and VR, partnering with technology companies – and a very natural location for broadcasting and streaming.”

Brighter later

No matter how dark the climate is right now, the future is surely much brighter in comparison.

“The vaccination is going on with different results in different areas of the world – moving on quite well in Middle East, UK, and US, but slow in other parts of Europe,” said Zamana. “I hope the vaccination will continue with speed to give us a bit more freedom of movement while respecting the protocol.”

The progress of protection against the virus impacts how long it takes federations to recover.

“It depends on how 2022 will go,” said Zamana. “We’re already switching to our ‘plan B’ budget for this year.

“If for 2022 we go back to 100% of activity, we’ll recover in 5-8 years to where we were before, in terms of investment, sports developments, junior development and commitment to antidoping.”

Access to insurance is an issue for all event organisers. “The majority of IFs don’t have shareholders; they are not for profit. I’m struggling to renew a simple insurance policy – they are asking for a lot of financial information, because the insurance companies are not willing to take a risk on a small federation. We ask the insurance industry to support us: I understand the concerns, but please understand who have in front of you – we are not Nestle or Novartis!”

Scherr said “We have to navigate the world of liability – to manage the risk to the athletes, the spectators. What we do know is there is still demand from the public to consume sport. We need to work together to face this new world.”

A quick rebound is possible, said Briegal, responding to a question from Andy Bough of Cube International. “There’s a lot of pent up money. Licensing and merchandising are important to us, after ticketing and broadcasting. It’s a big growing area – a lot of our fans love to shop.”

Major events don’t always make the most of this retail opportunity, she said. “Organising committees have been conservative about the investment they are prepared to make up front and, in all cases, we’ve sold out in two days.

“Let’s hope the 2022 Commonwealth Games is a good retail opportunity. We encourage organising committee to look at the commercial opportunities of merchandise. I’m very positive – I think there’s demand out there.”

Even when events can’t take place, retail is an important source of income for federations. “If they can’t go to events, people want to demonstrate support for their teams in other ways. International fans can’t go to the Olympic Games, so how are people going to celebrate? In fan sites in their own countries. There are always opportunities.”

A challenge the sector faces is uncertainty around the recovery of international tourism. “You’ve got to make people feel comfortable travelling – it’s a big problem we’re going to have to solve together,” said Briegal.

Michiel Aulbers, Commercial Head for Global Business and Partnerships, ATPI said “We are an international travel association. In our marine and energy division we’ve had mission-critical travel, moving staff from oil rigs home – we’ve learned a lot.

“The big challenge for the sports world will be availability – a lot of the airlines have downscaled on flights and staff. We want to find connections to your event from airlines.”

Get with the Olympic programme

Looking further in the future, Los Angeles is hosting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Could lacrosse, which originated in North America from indigenous peoples, be part of the programme?

“We hope we have an opportunity to join LA28. It’s been in five Olympic games,” said Scherr, who was CEO of the US Olympic Committee from 2003 to 2009. “Given the sports selection process we think there’s an opportunity. There’s a tremendous amount of competition, but we think it would great for the LA28 Games. It certainly should be a great game changer for the sport of lacrosse around the world.

“LA28 have almost all their venues built already, or existing venues. There’s quite a bit of overlay to do. It’s a great Games, they’ve announced two founding partners on the sponsorship side, it’s an interesting proposition. The IOC Agenda 2020+5 and the question of cost and complexity of the Games might change how all federations fit into the Games.

“We’re looking forward to a fantastic Games in LA in 28 and hope we can be part of it.”

[Source: IOC] The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will partner with five International Sports Federations (IFs) and game publishers to produce the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first-ever, Olympic-licensed event for physical and non-physical virtual sports.

Taking place ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the OVS will begin on 13 May, continuing through to 23 June 2021. The Olympic Virtual Series will mobilise virtual sport, esports and gaming enthusiasts all around the world in order to reach new Olympic audiences, while also encouraging the development of physical and non-physical forms of sports in line with the recommendations of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to grow direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports. Its conception is in line with Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the IOC’s Digital Strategy. It encourages sports participation and promotes the Olympic values, with a special focus on youth.”

David Lappartient, Chair of the IOC’s Esports and Gaming Liaison Group (ELG), and President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), said: “On behalf of the ELG, as well as the UCI, I am delighted to be involved in the launch of the first-ever Olympic Virtual Series. A number of IFs have well established virtual sports initiatives; and thanks to the cooperation between the IOC, the IFs and the publishers, the OVS is an exciting step forward for the virtual sports world and the Olympic Movement”.

The following International Federations and gaming publishers will be part of the Olympic Virtual Series:

- World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) – eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020, Konami Digital Entertainment

- Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – Zwift, Zwift inc.

- World Rowing - Open format

- World Sailing - Virtual Regatta, Virtual Regatta SAS

- Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) - Gran Turismo, Polyphony Digital

The OVS creates a stage to connect the physical sporting world with the virtual and simulation sports gaming community, providing an opportunity to engage with the Olympic Movement. Each IF will offer its corresponding event in a format that maximises online mass participation and prioritises inclusivity and participation through the OVS. The mass-participation Series allows participants around the world to compete from home or their training facilities in order to generate excitement in the build-up to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

All five OVS events will differ in form and concept, and will operate via the sport’s respective publisher platform where participants will be able to take part. Fans will have the opportunity to engage and follow the events on the Olympic Channel. Additional information on how to participate, as well as prizes included with select events, will be announced soon. Information will also be available online at www.olympicchannel.com

In line with Recommendation 9 of Olympic Agenda 2020+5, which states “Encourage the development of virtual sports and further engage with video gaming communities”, the launch of the first-ever OVS supports the IOC’s Digital Strategy and aims to leverage the growing popularity of virtual sport to promote the Olympic Movement, Olympic values and sports participation and grow direct relations with young people. It supports the IFs in further establishing virtual and simulated forms of sports as a discipline within their regulations and strategies. Building on the success of their respective events, both the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), along with other International Federations such as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and World Taekwondo (WT) have confirmed their excitement and commitment to exploring inclusion in future editions of the OVS.

Sarah Lewis OBE OLY has announced her candidacy for President of the International Ski Federation (FIS - Fédération Internationale de Ski), the world’s largest winter sports governing body.

The official candidacy nomination has been submitted to FIS by the Royal Belgian Ski Federation, of which she is a member.

The candidacy could ultimately make her the fifth – and first female – President in the 97-year history of FIS, founded in 1924 and whose disciplines now represent over half of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games programme.

Lewis is pledging to transform FIS into a global movement for world skiing and snowboarding as part of her FIS Piste Map - the blueprint for the future of the organisation. 

She will further integrate the 135-member ski and snow sport National Associations and the athletes into the governance, drive a digital transformation to strengthen commercial potential and introduce crucial governance reforms to future-proof FIS.

She is also pledging to implement a Covid Recovery Fund for National Associations, renounce a presidential salary and introduce financial efficiencies notably in these unprecedented times. Boosting gender diversity, athlete, youth and emerging member nations initiatives, strengthening the all-important symbiotic relationship between ski, snow sport and tourism, and focusing on sustainability, the environment and legacies for the mountain regions hosting global events are also important priorities.

FIS, whose current President Gian-Franco Kasper stands down after 23 years, will see its first contested and virtual election in its history, on 4 June 2021.

New era

Lewis was Secretary General of FIS for twenty years until last October, when her departure was announced – she is now running for President in this “new era” of FIS. 

She had always stated that she would not declare a candidacy to run as President before the conclusion of the FIS World Cup and Championship season, to maintain complete focus on the sport and athletes.

“We are entering a new era for FIS and global sport - an era that requires FIS to tackle its role in a changed, more inclusive and demanding society, and an era that FIS must embrace for growth, a healthy future for our sport, with our athletes at the centre,” she said. 

“We have been presented with a unique opportunity - to elect a 21st Century President, whose full focus is to work hand-in-hand with the National Associations and stakeholders, leading FIS on a strategic transformation to become a global movement for world skiing and snowboarding.

“I have devoted myself to our sport as an Olympian, to FIS and our community, and to the Olympic Movement as a participant, manager and a leader. 

“I am now making this journey for one reason - to work together to build a FIS that is fully representative of the global ski and snow sport community, and fully equipped to take us well into the second centennial of FIS, with a crystal clear plan, transparency and accountability. Together I believe we can achieve much more.”

Lewis, who put on skis aged five, has spent her life in snow sport. By the age of 15 she was training internationally, becoming a ‘citizen of the world’, and at 24 she represented Great Britain at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.

In 2000, after two years as FIS Director, she was appointed Secretary General.

She has made it her mission to understand the global landscape and has actively participated in competitions and events in 59 member nations over the years, while taking every opportunity to promote FIS and snow sport as a member of the International Olympic Committee Programme Commission, sitting on three Olympic Winter Coordination Commissions and two Youth Olympic Games Commissions, and working at five Olympic Winter Games. 

Lewis has also served as Secretary General of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) and Chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency Independent Observers at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

In 2018, she was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to sport. 

[Source: Grundy Communications]

Visit www.sarah-lewis.com to see the full Presidential campaign manifesto of Sarah Lewis.

The International Ski Federation (Fédération Internationale de Ski) is responsible for the Olympic disciplines of alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, freestyle skiing and snowboarding, and is headquartered in Oberhofen, Switzerland, in close proximity to some of the world’s most famous snow sport destinations.

Sarah Lewis is speaking at Host City Americas on 29-30 June, Online.

UEFA, the administrative body for football in Europe, has denounced the agreement of twelve leading European football clubs to establish the Super League as a new mid-week competition.

AC Milan, Arsenal FC, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid CF and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined the planned Super League as Founding Clubs.

“UEFA, the English Football Association and the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A have learned that a few English, Spanish and Italian clubs may be planning to announce their creation of a closed, so-called Super League”, said a statement.

“If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we – UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations – will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.

“We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening. Football is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way.

“As previously announced by FIFA and the six Confederations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.

“We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up to this. We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced. This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough.”

Discussions with UEFA and FIFA

In their statement announcing the agreement, the founding clubs said: “Going forward, the Founding Clubs look forward to holding discussions with UEFA and FIFA to work together in partnership to deliver the best outcomes for the new League and for football as a whole.

 “The formation of the Super League comes at a time when the global pandemic has accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model. Further, for a number of years, the Founding Clubs have had the objective of improving the quality and intensity of existing European competitions throughout each season, and of creating a format for top clubs and players to compete on a regular basis.

“The pandemic has shown that a strategic vision and a sustainable commercial approach are required to enhance value and support for the benefit of the entire European football pyramid. In recent months extensive dialogue has taken place with football stakeholders regarding the future format of European competitions. The Founding Clubs believe the solutions proposed following these talks do not solve fundamental issues, including the need to provide higher-quality matches and additional financial resources for the overall football pyramid.”

The league aims to include three further clubs and to open “as soon as practicable”, eyeing an “August start”.

The development of the Super League, financed by JP Morgan, comes at a time of unprecedented private equity investment in sports events.

The UK government has said it will do everything  it can to prevent English clubs participating. The plans have been widely criticised by fans and the wider footballing community.

INTERKULTUR is the world’s leading organizer of international choir competitions and festivals, bringing together more than 10,000 choirs and nearly half a million singers over the last 30 years. People of all countries, cultures and worldviews come together in peaceful competition, celebrating the motto: “Singing together brings nations together”.

“Singers and choirs are very eager to travel and we like to work with cities around the world on forward-looking ideas for them,” Hans-Robert Dapprich Director Communications, Marketing and Sales, INTERKULTUR told Host City in an exclusive video interview.

“Our unique events are not only a wonderful experience for singers from all over the world but also for the welcoming host cities and their citizens.”

Cultural events of this kind benefit the host cities in many ways: marketing, business, networking and contributing to the urban development.

“The host cities and regions are the focus of the events. They are the greatest incentive for the choirs to make the sometimes very long journeys,” Dapprich explained.

Cities vibrate with music and life

A major event like the World Choir Games can attract more than 70 nations, 30,000 participants and an additional 300,000 visitors.

“They bring money to your city, visit the restaurants and connect with your citizens. This of course does not only apply to the big events, but also to the smaller festivals and competitions, to which numerous singers from all over the world travel and fill your city with life.

“The host cities are transformed into a wonderful, colourful spectacle where singing and sound are everywhere. The cities vibrate with music and life. The streets, restaurants and squares are filled with international sounds and spontaneous singing.”

For the host cities, these experiences are reflected in the far-reaching economic impact in tourism, culture, retail and hospitality – and of course, a large international media presence.

Andris Berzins, former president of Latvia put it this way after hosting the World Choir Games 2014 as well as the European Choir Games in 2017 in Riga: “Of course, this is the best marketing for a country – showing our strengths and actually expanding our international contacts.”

Reuniting the world

Another high-profile endorsement comes from Barack Obama, former President of the United States, who said in support of the World Choir Games 2012 in Cincinnati: “Events like the World Choir Games remind us of choral music’s power to transcend languages, cultures and borders to reveal our shared humanity.”

INTERKULTUR’s founder and president, Günter Titsch, was driven by the idea of a worldwide connection of people from all cultures on the wings of music – bringing together choirs and singers of all ages, colour or ideology in peaceful competition. Such ideals should resonate with audiences who are becoming increasingly concerned about the values of the events they support.

“By bringing people together – regardless of their origin, religion or world view, united by the universal language of music – we, the singers and the host cities and citizens contribute to bringing the world a little closer together,” said Dapprich.

“This is the essence of our work: it's not just about a competition or an event, it's about the people from all over the world, the exchange, the friendship and community – and of course a unique experience for locals and participants celebrating with the world together on one stage.”

Music, singing and live events have a great power to connect people, giving a sense of community. “That was missing last year and is still missing: the closeness to each other, concerts, singing together, but also travelling.”

While choral communities have taken many creative approaches to connect virtually, singing and performing together cannot be replaced.

“The choral world wants to sing again and to stand together on one stage. They want to meet again with singers from all over the world, they want to travel and explore new cultures and cities. And, together with you, we are ready to offer them exactly what they are looking for.”

With vaccination programmes well underway and many countries planning outdoor and cultural events in the summer, the indications are that the world will soon get a grip on the pandemic and that life will resume in some sort of new normality.

The 11^th World Choir Games, which had to be postponed from last summer, are taking place in Flanders, Belgium on 30 October to 7 November 2021. The upcoming World Choir Games in Gangneung, Korea 2022 and Auckland, New Zealand 2024 are also on the horizon. And there are regional events to attract choirs from every nation, every size and interest.

“The choral world wants to travel again and sing on the beautiful and appealing stages of this world. And for this, we would like to engage in conversation with cities around the world, whether you might be interested in a smaller competition to present your city or region, or it’s about the big events like the European Choir Games or Asia Pacific Choir Games.

“The target group of choirs and singers is very open and eager to travel, and we would like to show them the world together with you. Get in touch with us and send us an email. We are looking forward to it!”

To find out more about hosting and staging INTERKULTUR events, contact Hans-Robert Dapprich on dapprich@interkultur.com

[Source: IAEH] The International Association of Event Hosts has published the results of a survey conducted to understand the impacts of the pandemic on members’ events in 2021. IAEH members in Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Middle East, Europe and North America participated in the survey. The results show that the impacts and responses differ according to geographic location.

Most host organisations are expecting and planning to return to major events in 2021

o             Two thirds of members responding currently have cancelled or postponed events no later than September 2021, and only 17% currently have cancelled or postponed events in 2022.

Plans for ‘stadium’ events to re-commence

o             Two thirds of host organisations have already or are planning to allow’ stadium’ events in 2021.

o             In Australia and New Zealand ‘stadium’ events have either already re-commenced or are planned to re-commence with full capacity in April 2021.

o             In Asia, Europe and North America, 25% have plans for ‘stadium’ events to re-commence with full capacity but only late in 2021 or in 2022.

o             24% of all respondents have no current plan date for ‘stadium’ events to re-commence. The majority of these are in Europe.

Restrictions

o             For members hosting ‘stadium’ events with restrictions, the limits that apply are of no more than 50% capacity.

o             Some members also reported that restrictions are being imposed according to social distancing rules rather than percentage of capacity.

Measures adopted to support the events industry

o             The majority of host organisations have actively put in place measures to support the events industry. 50% of organisations reported event-specific initiatives in addition to general national government support.

o             Measures are similar across regions including mainly financial aid such as wage subsidy, interest free loans, tax relief, emergency funding, and reimbursement packages.

o             Members rated the effectiveness of these measures were higher in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Middle East (7 out of 10) than in Europe and North America (5.5 out of 10).

Guidance for staging major events varies across the world

o             50% of members responding are using external resources - some based on resources from the World Health Organisation, others based on national or regional advice.

o             25% of members responding don't yet have any guidance in place for major events to go ahead.

The survey was completed by 24 IAEH member organisations between 8th and 29th March 2021.  A similar survey was conducted by the IAEH in May 2020. Comparing the results, a significant difference is on planning for ‘stadium’ events to re-commence.

In 2020, the level of uncertainty was much higher and the large majority (80%) of host organisations reported that there was no planning date for ‘stadium’ events with an audience to re-commence. Whereas in 2021, 76% answered that there is a plan date, with specific restrictions or full capacity.

The support measures also developed significantly since May 2020 and now the majority of host organisations have actively put in place measures to support the events industry.

The International Olympic Committee’s latest strategic reform programme, Agenda 2020+5, recommends that virtual versions of Olympic sports should be considered for inclusion in the Games, only if they require a comparable level of physical activity.

But at the 137^th IOC Session, one IOC Member called for the Olympic umbrella to be extended much wider, to encompass the full scale of the opportunity of gaming.

Following addresses from IOC Members Christophe Rolland and Gianni Infantino, on the recommendation to encourage the development of virtual sports and further engage with the gaming community, Yelena Isinbayeva, IOC Athletes’ Commission Member asked: “Why don’t we try or even think about including competitions like Counter Strike or Dota into the Olympic programme?

“We used to discuss about virtual sports many times, since the very beginning of computer sport before it grew in popularity. And we’d say, if the Olympic movement doesn’t take it under its umbrella someone else will.

“And now we can see the size of the competition for Counter Strike – it’s huge competition, with a huge amount of prize money and with huge number of participations around the globe. Online, it can be a billion people watching around the globe – and I was one of them, because I was interested to find out what people are watching. And I would say it is really impressive when you understand the rules.”

The need to encompass Esports is clearly not lost on the IOC. In his address, Jean-Christophe Rolland said: “It is a fantastic opportunity that the IOC and the Olympic Movement want to seize in virtual sports – I should even say have to seize.

“Technology continues to develop at an incredible pace. The games… become more and more realistic and the platforms on which they operate become more accessible. Therefore the numbers of people engaged in these virtual forms of sport continue to grow incredibly fast.”

Gianni Infantino highlighted the catalytic effect of the pandemic. “The impact of Covid has introduced many challenges, but it has also accelerated many existing trends. Throughout Covid-19 the gaming industry has continued to grow, highlighted by a 30% growth in gamers, 75% growth in gaming usage and the industry being worth over US$150bn in 2020.

“This growth has been mirrored in virtual sports, where several IFs, including my own, have accelerated our investment and focus on virtual forms of our sport to engage with young people and hosted official virtual competitions.”

“Fully reflect the physical activity”

Rolland stressed the importance of the roles and responsibilities of IFs in establishing virtual and simulated forms of sports, citing the example of rowing on ergometers at the recent 2021 Virtual Indoor Rowing Championships.

“It is exciting that this recommendation opens the possibilities for IFs to look at potential proposals to include their respective physical virtual sports in the Olympic programme in the future. To be clear, this is only considering those virtual sports which fully reflect the physical activity of the actual sport and are fully governed by the respective IF. They will be considered as a discipline of the sport within that IF.”

“Virtual sport must be linked to physical activity,” added IOC Member William Frederick Blick. “In Uganda, the ergometers are used when the weather is bad. I’ve also attended a competition where they used ergometers to promote the game within the city. This is probably the right way to go; it should be linked to physical activity.”

But Isinbayeva highlighted that competitive gamers also undergo rigorous physical and mental training. “They train in the gym – training can be eight hours a day like a normal athlete – because they have to be physically prepared to sit for eight hours or more in front of the computer and play the game. Of course they train their concentration, their mental health, because only strong mental athletes can participate on that.

Incentives and digital natives

Isinbayeva also stressed the need to make traditional sport more attractive to future athletes. “Yes, of course we need to offer them better conditions; we have to share our values, we have to show them what they will get if they practice or choose more traditional sport.

“But I see the tendency that more youth really want to compete in Counter Strike, because they can get money faster than participating in Olympic games and gaining sponsors. They can start to compete there, if I’m not wrong, from age 16 – and from age 18 they can earn good money if they are in the right team.”

“Every generation of young people has embraced the new technologies and entertainments of their time,” said Infantino. “This current generation has embraced video games and digital entertainment. The IOC digital strategy is focused on reaching out to young people around the world on their platform in their language.

“The object of the recommendations is therefore direct engagement through virtual sport and gaming to encourage sports participation and promote the Olympic values, with a special focus on youth.

“The upcoming Olympic hosts in Paris 2024, Milano-Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 also have a clear focus of reaching out to digital natives in innovative ways, including through the opportunities that virtual sports give to reach out directly to literally anyone anywhere any time.”

Rolland said: “With this additional doorway we will be able to reach out to these young athletes and young audiences at the mass participation level and enlarge the community of people connected to sports. It will also ensure that at the elite level the competitors can be assured they are competing in a well-regulated and well protected competition environment free from manipulation of any kind. And finally, it will allow an official level of regional and global events as these events continue to develop.”

IOC Member Sarah Walker, who sits on the Commissions for Athletes and Digital & Technology, said “As someone who’s into gaming and virtual sport I think there a really cool opportunity for new and young audiences to be interested in the Olympics but also to learn about Olympic values and everything that the Olympics can provide for younger generations. I’m looking forward to how this recommendation evolves and incorporates the engagement with younger generations.”

“Act as soon as possible”

Competing for their attention will be not be easy. “In the future it will be a huge challenge to the Olympic movement, to the traditional sport, this computer sport, which is not less interesting than the Olympic Games,” said Isinbayeva.

“So, to be competitive to this, we have to offer them a better condition – or we can take them under our umbrella, if it’s possible. We don’t know if they will accept this, because being on the Olympic programme has many conditions and restrictions – the qualifying process, the number of participants, the countries, I don’t know – but why don’t we even think about it, why don’t we try? We definitely have to act as soon as possible otherwise we will lose this chance.”

Ultimately, strategy is just as important as speed. “Over the past few years we have taken the first steps into this world of virtual sports and the current context has certainly reinforced the relevance,” said Rolland. “The opportunities are incredible if we approach it with clear strategy and direction.

“The new Olympic Agenda 2020+5 recommendation shapes this direction and we look forward to seizing these vital opportunities, the changing landscape of technology, society and sport bring to us.”

• Brisbane moved to “targeted dialogue” as the first project to meet feasibility criteria

• This doesn’t mean a host has been elected now

• If targeted dialogue is unsuccessful, “continuous dialogue” with Brisbane and other interested parties could resume

• New approach to selecting hosts enables long term strategic outlook

• Expert advice is to "seize solid existing opportunities" due to impact of Covid crisis

• No double award with 2036 due to uncertain outlook beyond 2032

The IOC progressed Brisbane to the “targeted dialogue” stage of candidature for the 2032 Olympic Games following “expert advice” to “seize solid existing opportunities and secure the future” – but planning even further ahead is not recommended by IOC Members addressing the 137th IOC Session.

, Chair of the Future Hosts Commission for the Summer Games addressed the question of whether to consider a double award for 2032 and 2036, akin to the dual awarding of Paris and Los Angeles.

“The 2024 and 2028 double award was a very different situation for many reasons, not least because it was an election 11 years ahead, while 2036 would represent 15 years before the Games,” she said.

“In addition the Olympic Games will evolve tremendously during this period. The Games are a reflection of society and there is going to be an evolution in national and individual priorities on sustainability, human development and other topics.

“The UN Sustainable Development Goals are expected to be concluded by the early 2030s and there will certainly be new, more ambitious objectives with which the Olympic movement will want to align. 

“The Games should also reflect the fast-evolving sports landscape. In addition there can also be many changes to the political landscape over such a long period, which adds to the uncertainty.”

IOC Member and Austrian Olympic Committee President Karl Stoss also highlighted the importance of keeping future Games bids open to other prospective hosts.

“It is great to have a long perspective of our host cities and regions,” he said. “With 2032 Brisbane and Queensland we have a long-term strategy about our hosts of our [Summer Olympic] Games after Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles and hopefully Brisbane Australia," he said.

“But it is also our responsibility, and from the perspective of good governance and fairness, not to go too far in the future, because there may be some other interested parties and cities and regions.

“We have a good choice if we do it for 2032, but in the mind of good governance and fairness for all – maybe all other interested cities and regions – we have not to go too far in the future.”

The IOC elected in January 2019 to take a new dialogue-based approach to selecting Olympic hosts.

“The non-committal and confidential nature of the approach, with no financial commitment, benefits both interested parties and the IOC,” said Kloster Aasen.

“It has encouraged interested parties to come to the table to test ideas and concepts and explore a vision or a potential for hosting future games or ask for information.”

The process begins with a phase known as “continuous dialogue”.

“Since there is no submission required in continuous dialogue, as opposed to the past, interested parties spend very little money and benefit from up to date information and expertise from the IOC at no cost to them. They can test plans and assumptions without public debate and see how to best align their Olympic planning with their own development plans for their communities.

“This flexibility also benefits the Olympic movement to have a long-term strategic outlook across editions of the Games.”

Through the new procedure, a candidate’s hosting plan is moved from continuous dialogue to targeted dialogue when it meets certain criteria, as has now happened with Brisbane.

“It became clear that one project, and only one project met all the opportunities we have seen in the public feasibility assessment, and that project was Brisbane.

“Moving to a targeted dialogue means that we are moving a project to a second stage for a detailed development and assessment.... [it] does not mean that we are electing an Olympic host now.

“Once a preferred host has been selected for a particular edition of the games, no other interested party can enter into targeted dialogue for the same Games, unless the first targeted dialogue has been unsuccessfully concluded.”

Brisbane will now develop its plans in more detail.

“If Brisbane delivers, the Executive Board would be in a position to put Brisbane 2032 forward to the Session to a vote. If not, despite best efforts by both parties, the IOC and Brisbane, the Executive Board could advise the Future Host Commission to go back to continuous dialogue with Brisbane and other interested parties.”

Global economic repercussions

The impact of Covid 19 has been felt by National Olympic Committees and interested parties in continuous dialogue. “Many projects were put on hold while governments were concentrating on protecting the health of their cities and trying to shore up their economies,” Kloster Aasen said.

And the impact will be felt for years to come. “Once the health crisis is over, it is going to have global economic repercussions. The world economy is going through an unprecedented crisis. The current health crisis will have wider global consequences especially with respect to the labour market and the risk of increased inequality.

“While the impact of the crisis can be witnessed now, experts forecast that the world economy is likely to be most impacted over the next 5 years, during the period when we would have expected to elect a host for 2032 under the previous candidature system.

“The expert advice that we have been given is that we should seize solid existing opportunities and secure the future for a next generation of athletes who are facing an uncertain future.”

It was "the miracle of Sochi", back then at the World Choir Games 2016. Afghanistan’s Noor-e Omid choir competed in the world's largest international choir competition, the so-called Olympics of Choral Music.

During the Taliban regime, religious extremists had censored singing and music in society. It was only after 2001 that Afghanistan’s music scene slowly began to re-emerge and by 2016, the miracle happened: Afghanistan had its first ever polyphonic choir, and it was the country’s first choir to take part in the World Choir Games.

The story left a lasting impression on everyone involved, including the then Artistic Director of the World Choir Games, Prof. Dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß. “In their country, people have not known music for generations, but now these young people somehow heard about the ‘Choir Olympics’, learned sheet music, rehearsed a programme, and fulfilled a lifelong dream by participating in the Games.”

Yet this story is just one of the many "miracles" that happen year after year at INTERKULTUR’s international choral events like the World or European Choir Games. Wherever people of different faiths and cultures come together, a great deal of understanding and tolerance is needed. At INTERKULTUR events, this spirit of acceptance arises naturally – after all, singing together calls for harmony.

And so choirs from countries that are opponents on a political level, such as Iran and Israel, meet in the choir competitions and festivals regularly and peacefully. And different religions connect in a very direct way, as happened at the World Choir Games 2010 in Shaoxing, China, when a German gospel choir visited a Buddhist temple and sang a Christian gospel – to the great joy of everybody on site.

At the European Choir Games 2013 in Graz, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian singers appeared together on one stage as one large festival choir and performed Giuseppe Verdi's Messa da Requiem together.

Such large concerts with hundreds of singers from different countries, cultures and religions have long tradition at the World Choir Games. No one sums up the immense impact better than a singer from Australia who, after taking part in the large festival choir concert of the World Choir Games 2016, said: “Well, this was fantastic, I've never been to such a happening before. It shows what you can do, if you invest in culture and if you invest in youth. Much better than buying weapons and guns: invest in culture and music!”

The debate about singing in public in Afghanistan continues today, with a social media campaign recently overturning a ban on teenage girls singing in public.

On the world stage, singers can discover the great diversity and enthusiasm with which people express their different cultures and religions through song. Find out how you can turn your city into such a special stage that brings people from all cultures and religions together here: https://worldofchoirs.com/wcg/

This article was written by Henriette Brockmann of INTERKULTUR.