{"id":722,"date":"2020-12-08T10:54:37","date_gmt":"2020-12-08T09:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sportaccord.sport\/wsbs-2022\/?page_id=722"},"modified":"2023-09-19T16:17:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T15:17:44","slug":"discover-birmingham","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sportaccord.sport\/2024-wsbs\/discover-birmingham\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Birmingham"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row el_class=”lead”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all know how incredible the Commonwealth Games was for the West Midlands, but last year\u2019s spectacle must be the start of a new sporting journey for our region \u2013 not the end.<\/p>\n

If we want to keep hosting the world\u2019s biggest sporting events then showcasing our region to sport\u2019s global decision makers is mission critical. That\u2019s why this SportAccord conference is so important \u2013 and why I\u2019m delighted we\u2019ve been able to pull it off.<\/p>\n

This is the first time the conference has been held in the UK for over a decade, and the last host \u2013 Australia\u2019s Gold Coast \u2013 secured the 2032 Olympic Games. There is no question therefore just what a major coup this is for the West Midlands, and we now must ensure we make the most of the opportunity and use it as a springboard for our future.\u201d<\/p>\n

ANDY STREET, Mayor of the West Midlands<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_section title=”Welcome to Birmingham and the West Midlands! Great places to visit \u2013 and to host an event” tab_id=”1695132451327-445b2c34-59f3″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”4091″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInRight”]Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region are world-class hubs of culture, delicious cuisine and contemporary living. Nowhere in the country is as easy to reach, with more than 90% of the population within a four-hour travel time thanks to the region\u2019s central location at the heart of the UK. Just over an hour from London and a short train journey to Birmingham Airport, the West Midlands region is a perfect destination to host SportAccord. More than 141 million visitors visit each year.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Birmingham and the West Midlands \u2013 a whole new ball game” tab_id=”1695132532262-3ab0797b-1751″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”4095″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInRight”]Comprising three major cities \u2013 Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton \u2013 and towns and boroughs including Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall, the West Midlands was the cradle of the world\u2019s first industrial revolution. The region is a heritage heavyweight, which packs a punch when it comes to sporting history.<\/p>\n

The region can lay claim to five of the oldest professional football teams in the world, including Premier League sides Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers. In 1888, Aston Villa\u2019s William McGregor invited other clubs to play regular games of football, creating the Football League.
\nThe West Midlands\u2019 sporting heritage also extends to the oval ball. In 1823, William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran on The Close at Rugby School, giving birth to rugby union.
\nEdgbaston Stadium is Birmingham\u2019s oldest international sporting venue, staging its first Test Match in 1902 and hosting two of the most dramatic Ashes climaxes of the 21st<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n

Edgbaston is also the place where Major Harry Gem and JBA Perera created Lawn Tennis in a back garden in Ampton Road in 1859. The suburb remains home to the crucial Wimbledon warm-up tournament, the Birmingham Classic.
\nGolf is a big deal in these parts too, with The Belfry\u2019s Brabazon course welcoming more Ryder Cups than any other venue.
\nBuilding on the success of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which saw the region warmly welcome 6,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories, Birmingham and the West Midlands boast world-class venues across the sporting spectrum, regularly hosting football, basketball, cricket, athletics, rugby, squash, tennis, netball and ice hockey, among others.<\/p>\n

It is fair to say that sport is very much part of Birmingham\u2019s DNA.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Experience Birmingham and the West Midlands on the go!” tab_id=”1695132530692-a23853a3-86bf”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”4098″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInRight”]Soak up the atmosphere in this compact and accessible city, where the art of noticing soon becomes a cultural game. There is much to enjoy, often in plain sight. Birmingham and the West Midlands have something for everyone.<\/p>\n

Birmingham is a modern walkable city, where you can meander through beautiful squares linking the cultural highlights together as you move between your official hotel to the International Convention Centre (ICC), the SportAccord venue \u2013 to take part in the World Sport & Business Summit.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Heritage, history and hobbits!” tab_id=”1695132899284-0f9fc3ef-cacb”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”4104″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInRight”]A region of legends, inventions and stunning architecture, delegates can revel in the dizzying heights of Birmingham and the West Midlands. Look up and marvel at Birmingham\u2019s breathtaking buildings, many of which have a cultural purpose. The Town Hall, a jewel in the city\u2019s crown, made its debut as a rock and pop venue in the late fifties and sixties. Buddy Holly, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath and numerous other bands appeared there \u2013 now it is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.<\/p>\n

Visit the Ikon Gallery, a stunning building filled with modern art; or Europe\u2019s largest Library housing a world-class collection of rare books \u2013 including the largest Shakespeare collection. Birmingham and the West Midlands region are home to 60 galleries and museums.<\/p>\n

Birmingham was the heart of British manufacturing and is still involved in manufacturing today. The National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull is a treasure trove of British motorcycle manufacturing, from its inception to the present day.<\/p>\n

Take a walk along the waterways in the heart of the city: \u201cThey say there are more canals than Venice,\u201d our President noted with a smile! Enjoy the canal caf\u00e9 vibe, sit and ponder the inspiration behind The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, created by West Midlands resident JRR Tolkien.<\/p>\n

After a busy day at SportAccord, head over to the city\u2019s majestic landmark, the Grand Hotel Birmingham – and join colleagues at the \u2018After Hours\u2019 bar for refreshments. This is the official Headquarters hotel for the 18th edition of SportAccord. Opened by Isaac Horton back in 1879 to designs by Thomson Plevins, the grande-dame hotel recently underwent a \u00a350 million restoration. Since re-opening its doors, it is now a hub for city meetings, networking, and events which take place in the breathtaking Grand Ballroom.<\/p>\n

From stunning scenery to fascinating stories of days gone by, there are opportunities for adventure at every turn in the West Midlands. This is the gateway to historic Stratford-upon-Avon, where you\u2019ll discover live theatre courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company and can retrace the footsteps of the Bard himself with Shakespeare\u2019s Birthplace Trust. Delve further into the region\u2019s rich history with a trip to Ironbridge Gorge, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Warwick Castle, Coventry Cathedral, or the Black Country Living Museum, home to 26-acres of reconstructed shops, pubs and houses depicting industrial Britain and filming location to the international hit series Peaky Blinders.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Step outside the city” tab_id=”1695132991607-b2aecfce-7e31″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”4096″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInRight”]Urban landscapes compete with spectacular scenery right on Birmingham\u2019s doorstep. Venture outside when SportAccord draws to a close, and visit the characterful villages scattering the rolling green countryside.\u00a0 Kinesis – \u2018movement\u2019 a familiar term in sport, can be linked to aesthesis otherwise known as \u2018perception\u2019. Stitching together glimpses of the Birmingham region – kinaesthetically \u2013 will take the delegate experience to newer heights. What makes a city beautiful is not just the sum of its parts \u2013 as iconic as they may be. SportAccord President Ivo Ferriani summed it Birmingham perfectly: \u201cA city of inventions, iconic landmarks and firsts, Birmingham’s rich tapestry of history, heritage and culture will provide a unique delegate experience for everyone. It is a brilliant Host City for SportAccord.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row el_class=”lead”][vc_column][vc_column_text] \u201cWe all know how incredible the Commonwealth Games was for the West Midlands, but last year\u2019s spectacle must be the start of a new sporting journey for our region \u2013 not the end. If we want to keep hosting the world\u2019s biggest sporting events then showcasing our region to sport\u2019s global decision makers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":13,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-722","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDiscover Birmingham - SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2024<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sportaccord.sport\/2024-wsbs\/discover-birmingham\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Discover Birmingham - SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2024\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[vc_section][vc_row el_class=”lead”][vc_column][vc_column_text] \u201cWe all know how incredible the Commonwealth Games was for the West Midlands, but last year\u2019s spectacle must be the start of a new sporting journey for our region \u2013 not the end. 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