LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord Convention today provided an update on the Plenary Conference programme ‘Innovation in Action’ including speakers, additional sessions, and partners. SportAccord Convention will be held from 2 – 7 April 2017 at the Scandinavian Center in Aarhus, Denmark, this year’s European Capital of Culture.

With sport being the fastest growing sector in the entertainment industry, it also holds a unique place in the hearts and minds of supporters. Thanks to our Top Media Partner Dow Jones, Tom Glick, CCO of City Football Group will share his insights into how the club has opened the door to innovation, to build loyalty and grow support as well as commercial success, in a scene setter focused on ‘Innovation in the Business of Sport’. 

Commenting on the Group’s strategy, Tom Glick said, “At Manchester City and all our City Football Group clubs, we have a passion for innovation and for connecting with our fans everywhere in the world; whether in stadium or wherever they follow our clubs. Our fans are increasingly global, increasingly digital and increasingly mobile and we are delighted to be working with world-class partners who are helping us to find new ways to engage them.”

Continuing the theme ‘Innovation in the Business of Sport’, a panel will consider the risks of moving too fast for fans, balanced against the dangers of getting caught up in the wake of other, faster moving clubs, sports, and competitions. The session will address how sponsor engagement, digital, data and in-stadium technology, enables sport disciplines to deliver even more to meet fan expectations and draw so much more in return.

The Panel lineup includes:

Ishveen Anand, Founder & CEO, OpenSponsorship

David de Behr, Head of Sales, Major Events Division, Aggreko

Tom Glick, CCO, City Football Group

Fiona Green, Director & Co-Founder, Winners

The Panel for the session focused on ‘Innovation – A permanent change revolution, or an opportunity to reset your sport?’ is now confirmed and will look at how sports are using innovative approaches within their specific disciplines to advance both the sport itself as well as expand who is able to participate. 

Panel members includes:

Mark Barfield, Technical Manager, UCI

Johannes Holzmüller Head of Football Technology Innovation Department, FIFA 

Angela Ruggeiro, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Sports Innovation Lab and Chair of IOC Athletes' Commission

Chris Wells, Communication Manager, World Archery

David Eades, Journalist and Anchor for BBC World will moderate the sessions. Further details of the Plenary Conference as well as the LawAccord programme can be found at www.sportaccordconvention.com. 

SportAccord Convention is the world’s premier and most exclusive annual event at the service of sport. It is focused on driving positive change internationally and dedicated to engaging and connecting; international sports federations, rights holders, organising committees, cities, press and media, businesses and other organisations involved in the development of sport. The Convention is host to annual general meetings of governing bodies as well as bid cities, and once again, will welcome a delegation from the International Olympic Committee. 

Follow developments and updates on SportAccord Convention on Twitter @saconvention using #SAC2017 or on our LinkedIn company page https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportaccord-convention or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sportaccordconvention. 

For media enquiries, please email Jenny Edmondson, Media Relations Officer: jenny.edmondson@sportaccordconvention.com

EDITORS NOTES

SportAccord Convention

The SportAccord Convention is a not-for-profit organisation which annually brings together representatives from more than 100 International Sports Federations affiliated with the following umbrella organisations that host their Annual General Assemblies at the SportAccord Convention.

SportAccord, ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations), AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), ARISF (Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations), AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport) and Associate Members. In addition, the SportAccord Convention receives the full support of the International Olympic Committee.

Partners and Exhibitors involved in this year’s Convention include:

Gold Partners: Dow Jones Sports Intelligence, Dubai Sports Council, FINA Budapest 2017, Macau Sport Development Board as well as Sport Event Denmark who are also a Host Partner for #SAC2017. Silver Partners: Aggreko, EventScotland, Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, Edmonton Events, EventScotland, Malaysia Major Events. Bronze Partners include FIBA, Glasgow City Council.

Media Partners:

Top Media Partner: Dow Jones, Principal Media Partners: SportBusiness Consulting, Sportcal, Yutang Sports. Media Partners: AFP, Around The Rings, FrancsJeux, Host City, iSportconnect, SportAkademReklama, Sport Business Consulting, SportsPro.

Exhibitors:

AISTS (International Academy of Sports Science and Technology), Around The Rings, CIES (Centre International d’Etude du Sport), City of Berlin, City of Lausanne, Dow Jones Sports Intelligence, Dream Together, Dubai Sports Council (DSC)/MBR Awards, Edmonton Events, EventScotland, Fáilte Ireland, Federal Swiss, FIAS (International Sambo Federation), FIBA (International Basketball Federation), FICS (Fédération Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport), FINA Budapest 2017, FOSPO (Swiss Federal Office of Sport), Gracenote Sports, IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness), IFMA (International Federation of Muaythai Amateur), IMMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation), IOF (International Orienteering Federation), IRBF (International Roll Ball Federation), Japan Sport Council, Macau Sport Development Board, Malaysia Major Events, MARSH, New Zealand Major Events, Nüssli Group Support AG, Peace and Sport, Rider Levett Bucknall, Russian International Olympic University, Sarasota County Sports Commission, SmartScoring, Sport Event Denmark, Trivandi, UK Sport, Visit Victoria, Welsh Government, Wales, World Jump Rope.

For more information SportAccord Convention visit: www.sportaccordconvention.com