30/07/2024
GLOBAL SPORT AGORA 2024 LAUNCHED AT OLY HOUSE IN PARIS
Today, the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) and City of London Corporation hosted an informal lunch for an array of athletes and representatives from sports organisations and the world of business at OLY House in Paris to launch the 2024 Global Sport Agora (GSA) and the 2024 Olympic Athlete Scholarship Programme.
Connecting the corporate and finance sectors with the sports industry since 2022 through providing a forum for discussion and networking, the 2024 GSA will be returning to Guildhall in London on 22nd October this year.
Speakers at the lunch included Joël Bouzou, President of the World Olympians Association; Olympian Suzanne Grayson; and Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation.
Chris Solly, Chief Executive of WAoS, said: “We are delighted to be in Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games to officially launch this year’s GSA among friends and colleagues in the worlds of sport and business.
“It is fitting that we are at OLY House because never before has the role of athletes been so under the spotlight as they look to seek a fair return on their contribution to major events.
“The 2024 GSA will examine this subject and put forward a framework to support them in their discussions with world sport and commercial entities.
“Meanwhile, we are delighted to continue our investment in their education through the renewal of our Olympic Athlete Scholarship Programme with the World Olympians Association.”
City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:
“We are delighted to be hosting the Global Sport Agora for the third year at Guildhall and look forward to welcoming senior business and sport leaders to discuss some of the major issues affecting sport this year.
“Sport is a key element of our flagship Destination City programme – the City Corporation’s growth strategy for the Square Mile - enhancing and elevating our attractiveness as a UK and global visitor destination.
“The UK sports sector is integral to our economic success and global reach – and our research shows major UK sport events could deliver up to £4 billion of soft power, trade, and investment benefits in the next decade.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS
About the GSA
Hosted by the City of London Corporation and the World Academy of Sport, the invitation-only GSA is a purpose-driven movement aimed at connecting sport governing bodies and their stakeholders with the global private enterprise sector through dialogue, debate and workshopping. The GSA has the goal of creating sustainable collaborative relationships based on mutual respect and contemporary global societal trends in the rapidly changing landscape of world sport.
The GSA was first held in September 2022 with a second edition following in September 2023. Click on the link below to explore their main outputs:
https://worldacademy.sport/gsa
This year, the GSA will once again offer a safe space for both sports and global business leadership to have genuine conversations and establish joint priorities for the future. Before then however, the GSA Steering Committee is working with both communities to develop the GSA 2024 topic areas aimed at supporting the sports industry and its partnership with the private sector, driving value and sustainability, while maintaining a focus on athletes and societal betterment.
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Meanwhile, major sport events in the UK could deliver up to £4 billion of soft power, trade and investment benefits in the next decade, according to a report commissioned by the City of London Corporation and UK Sport.
About WAoS
Thought-leader, the World Academy of Sport (WAoS), the Education Partner for World Sport, delivers learning programmes for sports and event participants - athletes, managers, administrators, officials and coaches - through a series of tailored educational programmes. For further information visit: https://istudy.sport/ and https://worldacademy.sport
