Conference Streams

Melanie Duparc, Secretary General, World Union of Olympic Cities 

Sport can play a powerful role in contributing to some of the biggest public policy challenges like improving health and wellbeing, civic pride and social cohesion, enhancing skills and jobs, promoting sustainability and active travel. What have we learned and how do we continue to make the case for investment in an increasingly complex world.

Active Travel, Sport and Making Cities More Civilised, More Prosperous and Healthier

Chris Boardman had a highly successful professional cycling career and then went on to take up the challenge of leading both Active Travel England’s mission to get more people walking and cycling and Sport England’s work to make sport and physical activity a normal part of everyday life. We explore with him what’s worked, what hasn’t, the importance of political will at the city level and what cities can learn from each other in this sphere.

David Eades in conversation with… 

• Chris Boardman, MBE, Commissioner, Active Travel England, Chair, Sport England, Olympic Gold Medallist, Tour de France stage winner and yellow jersey holder, Hour Record Holder

…joined by 

• Tine Eriksen Green, Head of Major Events, City of Copenhagen 

Transforming a City With Investment Centred Around Reviving a Football Club

When Tom Wagner and his partner, the NFL legend Tom Brady, bought a controlling stake in Birmingham City Football Club in 2023 it was as part of broader city transformation project. As he said “we invested in Blues because of the of the opportunity to not only to transform a football club but also to be a catalyst for a change in the city itself” We talk with him about the lure of a club in the heart of a major city, and why he believes this is the start of a new era for Birmingham’s city centre.

David Eades in conversation with… 

• Tom Wagner Chairman of the Board, Birmingham City Football Club and Co-founder, Knighthead Capital, an investment company with over US$10 billion under management.

Exploring new event models, successes and innovation in an increasingly challenging environment for host cities, regional and national governments.

Moderator: Susan Sawbridge, Managing Partner, Daylight Ltd, New Zealand

• Esther Britten, Head of Major Events, UK Sport
• James Bulley, CEO, Trivandi
• Perttu Pesa Chair, International Association of Event Hosts
• Katie Sadleir, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation

Paul Bush, OBE, CEO of EventScotland reflects on 21 years of experience of the transformational power of sport, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2018 European Championships and 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

….in conversation with David Eades