18-19 October 2009

Global Sports Industry Congress

Intercontinental London Park Lane

The sports industry is now estimated to be worth $500 billion worldwide, but the bulk of recent growth – and the most exciting prospects for the future – are coming from the high growth economies of the Middle East, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Far East and Africa.

A long list of upcoming international games highlights the importance of these new players. The next two World Cups (South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014), the next Winter Olympics after Vancouver (Sochi 2014), the next Summer Olympic Games after London (Rio 2016) and next year’s Commonwealth Games (Delhi 2010) will all take place in these markets.

Eventica put the spotlight on these ‘Emerging Sport Nations’ with its first ever event devoted exclusively to the business of sport, the Global Sports Industry Congress, held at the Intercontinental London Park Lane on 18-19 October 2009.

The programme featured a powerful line-up speakers from all around the world, including Sir Craig Reedie, Member of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Dmitry Chernyshenko, CEO of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

There was also a live onstage interview with Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, giving the industry its first opportunity to meet key decision-makers from the city after its historic winning bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Copenhagen on 2 October.

The conference was followed by a very special dinner at London’s famous Hurlingham Club. The guest speaker, Paul Deighton, CEO of the London 2012 Olympic Games Organising Committee, gave an inspiring address about his team’s work behind the scenes in the run-up to the games, and Johann Koss, Founder and CEO of the event charity partner Right to Play, delivered a moving appeal about his organisation’s efforts to use sport and play as a tool for reaching children in the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

The dinner also featured a unique sports-themed charity auction, where funds were raised for Right To Play through. A high profile guest list included the Rt Hon Gerry Sutcliffe, British Minister for Sport, Eduardo Paes, the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Russian footballer Roman Pavluchenko, BBC presenter John Inverdale and senior representatives of leading corporates, such as EDF, Mace and Siemens.

To see the final programme for the conference, please see the menu to the right.

For more details on plans for the follow-up event to be held in 2010, contact the organisers on +44 (0)20 7183 2560 or at info@eventica.co.uk.