Make sport a new growth niche: play and win
Sport is a powerful force for cooperation and peace. There are numerous examples of it. The power of sports inspires and promote the values of teamwork, non-violence, gender equality, social integration, tolerance and justice. Values that are beyond borders, cultures, races or religions.
In a region with acute inequality and deep turmoil, sport facilitates social integration and economic development, and becomes an instrument to address violence and insecurity, and offer better opportunities to young people.
Mediterranean countries have a lot in common. A sea, a history, culture, food, and values that remind us that it is possible to work together and create a new common destiny. These values are what sport transmits. The multipurpose nature of sport allows it to cover educational, social, health or economic functions.
Companies that focus their strategy, products or services around sport are growing and many sectors benefit from associated cultural, economic or recreational activities, such as telecommunications, construction or tourism. Sport can boost the ability to acquire and produce knowledge, which is a fundamental factor in competitiveness.
The sports and entertainment landscape is changing significantly in the Mediterranean region. The emergence of commercial events and properties in different countries of the region has meant that established right-holders and brands are having to review and fine-tune their own offering, as the consumer leisure environment becomes increasingly competitive.
The transformation of the Mediterranean region towards a knowledge economy is needed. This could be achieved by creating centres of excellence for education, health and sports, partnering with the best, to build a brand with investments aimed at creating an international reputation. Positioning the Mediterranean not only as a great tourist destination, but also promoting the economy, is a great game to see if they will be able to play and win.
Sport should be made a new growth niche through investments in infrastructure, helping in the creation of jobs for young people. An opportunity also to do business, besides to what some former athletes do in the humanitarian and corporate fields.
19th November 2021
17:00 – 18:30
Session: New perspectives for the development of the sports business in the Mediterranean
- What is the role that sport can play in the development of the region that could be materialised with the creation of a big potential industry in the Mediterranean?
- Understanding the social and economic impact of the sport industry
- How can the sport industry achieve ambitious goals in the region?
- Developing and supporting a growing sport industry in the region: the role of government, federations, multilateral funds, development agencies brands and the media. What needs to be improved? How should they support the industry?
- No entity can achieve success alone, so how do you build an environment of coworking or public-private collaboration to make sport industry grow?
- Which new technologies must the industry embrace to ensure innovation and remain competitive?
- Best practices and case studies in sport industry (Barcelona, Milan, Casablanca, Istanbul, Cairo)
About the event: Why we are different?
- We focus on content that is relevant to the Mediterranean region
- We gather passionate decision makers from the region and the world who can effect change in the industry and drive new initiatives in sport
- We foster an interactive, exclusive event where honest, open discussion and contribution from all participants is encouraged
- We help to shape the industry’s future so that collectively, with the support of the Mediterranean governments, we can all work together to ensure a cohesive strategy for sport
Who will attend?
Guests will be decision makers in sport, director level and above, including: government officials, brands, federations and clubs, venue owners and operators, rights holders, event organisers, agencies and industry suppliers, among others.
Moderator
Caterina Passariello | President, Canadian Chamber in Italy
Keynote speaker
Joan Laporta | President, Futbol Club Barcelona
Speakers
Abdou Diop | Managing Partner, Mazars Group Maroc
Maite Ventura | Managing Director – Middle East and North Africa, LaLiga
Marie-Cécile Tardieu | Chief Operating Officer – Invest, Business France
Gemma Riu i Botifoll | Cluster Manager, Andorra Esports Clúster
Geoff Wilson | Global sports strategist, Barça Innovation Hub
Matthijs Withagen | Senior Legal Counsel, Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)
Jordi Soler | CEO of Professional Videogame League, MediaPRO Group
European Regional Development Fund A way to make Europe