Glasgow’s Double
Celebration as Major Player in World League of Ultimate Sports Cities
Glasgow’s Double
Celebration as Major Player in World League of Ultimate Sports Cities
Glasgow has been ranked number eleven in the 2010 world league of ultimate sports cities according to new research compiled by SportBusiness, the leading monthly magazine for the business of sport.
Glasgow was also spectacularly named the overall winner in the marketing category.
Twenty-five cities made the initial cut based on their history of hosting sports events with Melbourne, Singapore and London taking the top three places.
The Ultimate Sports City awards were first given in 2006 and are decided every two years. Cities are scored on quantitative and qualitative criteria using a combination of primary research, statistical analysis and interviews.
The criteria for ranking included the number of annual sports events held, major events held or hosting rights secured between 2006 and 2014; numbers of federations hosted; facilities/venues, transport, accommodation, government support, security, legacy, public sports interest and quality of life.
Bailie Liz Cameron, Chair of Culture and Sport Glasgow and Acting Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “From grass-roots to gold medal winners, Glasgow is supporting sport and events like never before. I have no doubt that as new facilities are opened and we host more global sporting spectacles in the run-up to 2014, that Glasgow will build on this impressive debut performance. To be recognised as number one in the world for marketing of sports clearly shows Glasgow’s city wide marketing capability.”
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said: “Scotland’s events industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years and Glasgow is fast becoming one of the world’s foremost sporting events cities. To achieve such a high ranking in this prestigious roll call of event destinations is fantastic news for the city and positions Glasgow alongside real heavyweights in the industry such as Melbourne, Singapore and Vancouver.
“Sporting events bring huge benefits to cities, regions and countries; from media profile and economic impact to new and improved facilities and opportunities to develop and nurture home grown sporting talent. Glasgow has proved itself to be a fantastic host across a huge number of disciplines time and time again and, as we look towards the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, EventScotland is working in partnership with Glasgow City Council to ensure that we continue to attract and win exciting and world class sporting events for the future.”
Like many world cities, Glasgow has identified major events as a mechanism to deliver its economic, social, cultural and brand objectives.
Commenting, Scott Taylor, Chief Executive – Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “Glasgow is unique in its strategic approach of engagement with key agencies within the city and at national level. The Strategic Major Events Forum (SMEF) was established in 2005 to strengthen Glasgow’s competitive position in the global marketplace and is recognised internationally as a model of best practice.
“Glasgow’s high ranking in this prestigious world league table demonstrates the effectiveness of our strategic, collaborative approach to procuring, developing and creating major events for the city.”
The SMEF partners are: Glasgow City Council, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Culture and Sport Glasgow, EventScotland, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Scottish Enterprise.
The full Ultimate Sports Cities 2010 Report will be published in May 2010 along with detailed case studies on the shortlisted cities and noteworthy cities just below the top tier.