Smart Cities and Sport Summit -- Conferences and Conventions

(ATR) The Smart Cities and Sport Summit will act as a platform for cities to meet, interact, discuss, and network.

The last edition of the Summit had over 250 participants representing over 60 cities and are hoping to gain hundreds more this year, the Secretary General of the World Union of Olympic Cities Melanie Duparc tells Around the Rings.

Some of the topics that will be discussed at the summit will include: how cities can associate their brands to international sports, health and the role of the city to promote an active lifestyle, and strategies on how to use sport to develop cities.

A "Big Debate" will be held at the summit focusing on risks, opportunities and government in sport.

"Sport is often associated with different issues that are affecting international sports including : doping, government issues and corruption. We will discuss how cities should react to these issues and how international sport can adapt themselves to insure that they can still find host cities for their events" Duparc says.

The summit will host a more interactive session called the "Master Class" which will teach cities how to design, communicate and measure their success.

Following the class the "toolbox" will highlight the practices of five cities in terms of designing and measuring their success.

One of the conferences newer sessions called the "Marketplace" will allow federations and members of world sports corporations the opportunity to network with cities.

"What we’re really trying to do is refer cities new tools and ideas so they can implement them when they are back home" relays Duparc.

The smart cities and sport summit will be held on Oct.10 through Oct.12.

The 2017 summit will mark the first time the event will not be held in the city of Lausanne. The location of next year's summit will be announced during the conference.

Media Accreditation for World Rugby Awards and ConfEx Now Open

The 2016 edition of the Conference and Exhibition (ConfEx) will be preceded by the World Rugby Awards for the first time, where the accomplishments of athletes, coaches and more will be celebrated.

Media can be accredited for the awards by visiting here and will be notified if your accreditation has been approved within 2-3 working days.

The theme of the conference is analyzing the future of rugby and determining ways the federation can excel in the ever-changing landscape of the Olympic Movement.

The conference will also discuss the impact of rugby’s return to the Olympics in Rio and its efforts to be a mainstay on the Olympic program.

Speakers will discuss how within the digital age growing trends such as virtual reality can change how fans connect with the sport thus impacting sponsors' choices and what viewers will be expecting from sports media markets.

"World Rugby ConfEx 2016 is shaping up to be our best yet with more participants, a vibrant and engaging exhibition space and a varied and insightful agenda," said World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper.

The conference is being held at the Hilton London Metropole from Nov. 14-15 and seeks to bring together the global rugby community to share knowledge and forge connections.

Russia Hosts Country of Sports Forum

Uniting over 3,000 people around the world the "Russia-Country of Sports" forum is used as a platform to promote various topics such as the development of sporting equipment to improving practices to prevent doping, the spread of racism and corruption in sport.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin will set the tone of the forum by speaking in the Plenary session.

Other exhibitions will include "Sports, Literature, Press and Multimedia" and "Modern Sport: Innovations and Perspectives, MISP". Russian and foreign book publishers specializing in sports publications will be part of a literary exhibition.

Members of the IOC, heads of sports federations and international athletes are all said to be participating in the event.

The "Russia-Country of Sports" forum will run from Oct. 10 through Oct.13.

Commonwealth Games Opens Doors to External Partners

The Commonwealth Games Federation will welcome stakeholders from international sports for the first time at its inaugural Commonwealth Sports Summit on Oct. 6.

The Summit will be held on the final day of the CGF’s annual general assembly in Edmonton, Alberta with the theme "It’s Within Us". The intensive one-day conference features keynote speakers, workshops and panel discussions.

Panel discussions will include topics such as governance standards, organization, youth development and sport initiatives for peace.

"Innovative and collaborative partnerships and open and courageous discussions are at the heart of what we do," said CGF president Louise Martin. "I hope the newly-launched Commonwealth Sports Summit will be an inspiring and engaging conversation with sports leaders from across Canada and the broader Commonwealth."

Confirmed speakers at the summit thus far include Paralympic swimmer Carla Qualtrough, secretary general of the Commonwealth Secretariat Patricia Scotland and Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River Ava Hill.

The CGF general assembly runs from Oct. 3-6.

Conference Schedule

Paralympic Inclusion Summit: Sept. 15-16

Commonwealth Sports Summit: Oct 6-9

Smart Cities & Sport Summit: Oct. 12-14

Africa Women and Sport Conference: Oct: 14-15

International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport: Oct. 27-28

World Rugby Conference and Exhibition: Nov. 14-15

Host City 2016: Nov. 21-22

World Sports Tourism Summit: Nov. 22-23

Peace and Sport International Forum: Nov. 23-25

FINA World Aquatics Convention: Dec. 3-5

International Sports Convention: Dec. 7-8

IPC Vista Conference: Sep. 19-22, 2017

Written by Courtney Colquitt

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