Around 1,500 delegates from over a hundred countries are meeting on Westside as sport’s most important global gathering takes place in Birmingham this weeek.
The SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit is currently taking place at the International Convention Centre in Centenary Square, bringing together leaders from more than 120 International Federations (IFs), the International Olympic Committee, and other sports businesses and organisations.
The week-long event, which closes tomorrow (Thursday 11 April), combines official sports meetings, social networking gatherings and a fully themed conference programme. There is also exhibition space enabling IFs, industry, cities and regions to showcase and advance their sport and services.
Speakers included key sports figures such as Mark Rein, vice president and co-founder of Epic Games, UK Sport chair Dame Katherine Grainger, and Rob Alberino, a vice-president of current NFL Superbowl champions Kansas City Chiefs.
The five-day event, which follows the success of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, involves of high-level meetings, a bustling exhibition, and a packed conference programme entitled ‘The Power of Sport’.
Martin Gibbs, managing director of SportAccord, said: “We are delighted with the enthusiastic response of the global sports movement in coming back to SportAccord and the atmosphere in the city is fantastic.
“Our hosts are not only building on the legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, but they are also putting Birmingham and the West Midlands firmly at the centre of the sporting world, with an event that will bring together the sport economy’s most influential decision-makers.
“There is no other event where you find in one place so many International Federations, the International Olympic Committee, rights holders, cities and regions as well as sports business leaders.”
The West Midlands Growth Company said hosting the global summit was a significant achievement for the region.
Neil Rami, chief executive, said: “On the back of the hugely successful 2022 Commonwealth Games, we now have another major opportunity to showcase the region’s venues, infrastructure and expertise in delivering international events which leave positive legacies for our communities and beyond.”
Main picture: Graham Young
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