Gold Coast set to host 2019 SportAccord Summit

The Gold Coast has secured the rights to host the 2019 SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit, following on from the success of the Commonwealth Games.

A joint effort from Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), Tourism Australia (TA), the Gold Coast City Council and Destination Gold Coast (DGC), with the support of TA’s new Business Events Bid Fund, will see the event held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5th to 10th May.

Announcing the hosting of the event, Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister, Kate Jones, who spoke at the 2018 SportAccord in Bangkok, advised “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,” she said.

The six-day event engages international sports federations, athletes, industry, rights holders, organising committees, cities, government, agencies, media, technology, legal teams, medical professionals, inventors, and subject matter experts – represented at the highest levels.

Highlighting the role of the event as “the most productive meeting place for stakeholders in world sport”, President of SportAccord and the Global Organisation of international Sport Federations (GAISF), Patrick Baumann, stated “it is a pleasure to bring the SportAccord to the Gold Coast of Australia and I would like to thank the Government of Queensland for hosting SportAccord 2019.

“The 17th edition of SportAccord will be a special one, as it will help mark the one-year anniversary of the delivery of a successful Commonwealth Games and will provide the chance for our delegates to embrace all the qualities and opportunities the Gold Coast and Queensland has to offer.”

Kate Jones believes hosting SportAccord will continue to place the Gold Coast as a major events destination.

“The success of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games proved we have everything required to host large-scale, international sporting events.

“Hosting SportAccord is the next step in securing major international events for the city and our state which will bring benefits to Queensland for years to come.”

Looking forward to SportAccord 2019 Summit, Baumann added “it is a unique opportunity for the whole Oceania sports community to meet, interact and mingle with all international sports leaders in a SportAccord is the only global sports business event attended by all the international sports federations and their stakeholders, who host their Annual General Assemblies during SportAccord.”