Full-throttle: How accom is championing its sporting ties
The Gold Coast has been named the first Australian city to host SportAccord, a major world sport and business summit.
The convention will host delegates from the International Olympic Committee and heads of state, organising committees for the Summer, Winter and Youth Olympic Games, the World Games and delegations from other major events.
Queensland tourism minister Kate Jones said: “This event will bring 1500 representatives from up to 100 countries, representing 500 different international sports federations, rights holders, organising committees, businesses and other sporting organisations to the Gold Coast.
“This is the most significant meeting of international sport representatives held every year and securing it for the Gold Coast shows the world that we have one of the foremost major events destinations on the planet.”
The summit will run from May 5 – 10 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Football fury
South Australia’s AFL teams are demanding a seat on Adelaide Oval’s board to have a say over a controversial hotel development at the premier South Australian venue.
Both the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide (Power) have asked a parliamentary committee to consider allocating the clubs a seat on the oval’s Stadium Management Authority board, with the Power harshly criticised the current authority over a lack of transparency.
In his submission to the committee, Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan wrote the club had been given “very limited information” and said the development could “potentially impact our existing amenity at the stadium”.
The authority has denied a lack of transparency over the controversial development on the publicly-owned Adelaide Park Lands, the loan for which will be underwritten by South Australian government.
Premier Steven Marshall said: “We don’t propose any changes whatsoever to the governance arrangements.
“We have got to get on with the important jobs in this state … not sorting out football’s squabbles.”
New turf for Accor
French hotel giant Accor has signed a multi-year partnership agreement with the Paris Saint-Germain football club which will see it become the principal partner and official jersey sponsor starting from 2019/2020.
“Paris Saint-Germain’s booming popularity, unique lifestyle approach and world-acclaimed know-how to inspire supporters and partners alike, combines well with Accor’s new loyalty program which aims to offer ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences for current and future members,” said the hotel group in a statement.
Bathurst bolters
The world’s best cross-country runners will converge on Bathurst in NSW’s west for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Cross Country Championships in 2021.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced the successful bid as part of the NSW government’s Ten World Cups in Ten Years strategy.
Bathurst MP Paul Toole says the town is home to some of the best trail running terrain and scenery in the country, making it the perfect stage the oldest competition on the IAAF calendar.
“This is another coup for Bathurst and the wider Central West community with the Australian-first event expected to inject an estimated $2.6 million into the local economy,” Mr Toole said.
“The Central West offers first class hospitality and has a proud track record of hosting major sporting events and I am delighted the NSW Government has partnered with Athletics Australia to secure this major event for our community.”
The March 2021 event is expected to attract more than 700 competitors from 60 countries.
AccomNews is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.
