Olympic Bid and Organising Committees to Converge on HOST CITY 2015

By Amelia Fisher-Starzynski from London, UK, Oct 27, 2015: Organising and bidding committees for some of the biggest upcoming sports events are due to attend HOST CITY 2015. The leading EU-based meeting of cities, rights holders, event owners and suppliers will see senior committee members from the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games and 2024 Olympic bidding cities come together in Glasgow on 9 and 10 November.

Under the theme ‘Creative Innovation Connecting Cities with Sports, Business and Culture Events’ HOST CITY 2015 will provide participants with a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and benefits of bidding for major global events as well as offering a chance to meet, influence and network with an influential collection of city leaders, organisers and cross-sector rights holders.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games Director of Communications, Mario Andrada, said of last year’s inaugural event in London:

“I was very pleased with the [Host City 2014] conference because the people who I spoke with were very focussed and professional. It was a pleasure and I learned a lot.”

Confirmed speakers for HOST CITY 2015 include:
• Sir Craig Reedie CBE, Vice President, International Olympic Committee;
• Louise Martin CBE, President, Commonwealth Games Federation;
• David Grevemberg, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation;
• Brian Cookson OBE, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI);
• Sarah Lewis, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the Association of Winter Olympic Sports Federations (AIOWF);
• Alexander Koch, Corporate Communications Manager for FIFA,
• Hidetoshi Fujisawa, Executive Director of Communications and Engagement, Tokyo 2020

Matthew Astill, Chief Executive of Cavendish Group, owner of HOST CITY 2015, said:

“Bidding and hosting cities are competing for a voice in a highly challenging global market place. We are delighted that they recognise HOST CITY as an event that is conducive to their needs and addresses the issues that are directly relevant to their business objectives.

“HOST CITY 2015 aims to foster new working partnerships in order to attract, build and host the greatest events in the world and we invite all participants to take part in open and frank discussions on the important issues facing major event bidding and hosting.”