International sporting federations need to offer more to host venues and cities

International Federations should show a greater commitment towards helping host cities to amplify their brands through events, delegates heard at SportAccord Gold Coast heard yesterday.

In a Panel Session on sport destination cities branding in the CityAccord event stream, MI Associates Principal James Paterson said that international federations “should be far more focused on how to help the city to tell the story”, adding “you need to have something that showcases what that destination is all about and rights-holders should be far more proactive. It’s really about rights-holders and cities building a relationship together.”

The Scene Setter presentation was provided by Nitro Circus President Andy Edwards, who explained how city branding has evolved into activations such as “spectacular stunts on iconic cities or landscapes, bespoke original content and in-market athlete visits”.

EventScotland Director of Events Paul Bush advised that that rights-holders should treat host cities as true commercial partners and acknowledge that “money is not there on a plate”.

Hamish Anderson, Head of Major Event Acquisition and Strategy at Visit Victoria, said it is always important to “tell a story about who you are as a city”.

According to Carol Hudson, Vice President Sports Development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau of Florida, USA, such an approach includes showing the city’s flexible hosting capabilities.

Image: Nitro Circus at Wollongong's WIN Stadium.