International Federations and host destinations operate in closely connected worlds, but they do not always have enough opportunity to understand each other’s priorities, pressures and ambitions.
The SportAccord City Forum has been created to bring those perspectives together in one dedicated setting, within a Forum already centred on the International Federation community.
Taking place on the afternoon of Wednesday 7 October as part of the SportAccord Forum in Lausanne, the City Forum will bring destinations and International Federations together to explore how the hosting landscape is changing and what that means for both sides.
For destinations, the decision to pursue a major sporting event is increasingly about more than venues, infrastructure and the ability to deliver. Hosting is expected to contribute to wider ambitions, from participation and community engagement to economic impact, international positioning and long-term legacy.
For International Federations, the challenge is evolving too. The right host is not simply the destination able to stage an event, but one that understands the sport, shares its objectives and can help create value beyond the competition itself.
The conversation will explore how destinations and International Federations can develop stronger, longer-term hosting strategies. It will look at how priorities are changing, what makes a successful partnership and how hosting can contribute to participation, healthy ageing, community engagement and lasting value.
The connections will create opportunities for destinations and rights holders to meet directly, exchange priorities and explore areas of mutual interest, with SportAccord helping to facilitate introductions where appropriate.
The aim is simple: to help International Federations and destinations better understand what each side needs from a successful hosting partnership, and to create the conditions for the right conversations to begin.
“Hosting decisions are no longer simply about who can stage an event. They are about fit, purpose and the value an event can create for both the sport and the destination. The City Forum is designed to bring those conversations together.”
Kelly Fairweather, Managing Director, SportAccord
