Mass participation sporting event sector facing ‘mass extinction’

Set to hold a special industry webinar tomorrow on the challenges facing the sector, the Australian Mass Participation Sporting Events Alliance (AMPSEA) has advised that the mass participation sporting event industry is “crumbling before our eyes, putting at serious risk the $5 billion it generates for the national economy each year”.

Fearing that without immediate support from the Australian Government there is a “bleak future for the 3.4 million Australians this industry supports to get active and healthy each and every year”, AMPSEA’s webinar, the Australian Mass Participation Sporting Event Industry Facing Mass Extinction Forum will feature legends including Steve Moneghetti, Robert de Castella, Benita Willis, Wayne Hickson and James Kaan from the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.

The speakers will make a stand for the struggling event community in Australia as they seek Federal Government acknowledgement and funding to help save the industry’s future, focussing on three key areas of discussion including tourism, jobs and mental health.

Time has been allocated for questions at the end.

Highlighting that so far this year the industry has seen over 19,000 events cancelled, 11,000 jobs lost and over $75 million for charities not able to be raised, AMPSEA stated “the time for action is now”.

Those wanting to be part of the Forum must register in advance.

What: Australian Mass Participation Sporting Event Industry facing mass extinction forum
When: Thursday 12th November
Time: 11am AEDT
Moderator: Chris Robb from Mass Participation World
Guest Presenters: Steve Moneghetti, Rob de Castella, Benita Willis, Wayne Hickson, James Kaan
Click here to Register.

The Alliance goes on to state “the rapid onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an immediate and unprecedented impact on the mass participation sports events industry. This has resulted in a historic number of event cancellations and postponements, loss of jobs and subsequent economic impact on the secondary industries that service these events.

“The industry comprises thousands of independent event operators and related suppliers, that rely on registrations and corporate sponsorships to facilitate operations, pay employees and produce events. The full effect of the COVID-19 impact has yet to be realised. However long the pandemic continues, bans on mass gatherings (including mass participation sporting events) are likely to stay in effect (for the short to medium term at least).

AMPSEA was formed in May 2020 by a group of industry leaders within the event management sector with the purpose to find a safe solution to delivering mass participation sporting events in the new landscape of COVID-19.

AMPSEA is developing a strategy to secure financial support from the Government, leading a media campaign to drive awareness for our industry and producing best practise risk mitigation protocols to fast-track mass participation events back to business.