Global Sports Week Concludes in Paris and Los Angeles

2,000 delegates; 60 partners; more than 100 media take part in 2022 edition.

More than 2,000 people from 98 countries have attended events as part of Global Sports Week 2022, which took place across Paris and Los Angeles – the host cities of the next two summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti, Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet, LA28 CEO Kathy Carter, UK Sport Chair Dame Katherine Grainger, FIFPRO Secretary General Jonas Baer-Hoffman, Founder of Angel City FC Julie Uhrman, African Cup of Nations 2023 Organising Committee President François Amichia, Riot Games President Nicolo Laurent, Manchester United and England footballer Alessia Russo, Universal Music Group Executive Vice President Olivier Robert-Murphy, Six Nations CEO Ben Morel and FIFA Marketing Director Jean-François Pathy were among those who addressed the unique transatlantic forum.

Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, attended the Global Sports Week LA event ©️GSWParis

Organised under the patronage of UNESCO and the high patronage of Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, the third edition of Global Sports Week (GSW) got underway on May 9 with a reception at the Paris City Hall. The event continued with two days of conferences at the Accor Arena in Paris, concluding with a live link to the GSW @ LA event, presented by 17 Sport and the LA84 Foundation, which took place at the latter’s headquarters on May 11.

Since 2020, GSW has established itself as a leading annual gathering of the world sports economy, focussed on big questions at the intersection of sport, business and society.

This year’s edition saw strengthened support from the French government through its French Sport Touch programme to grow France’s international influence and attractiveness in and through sport. French local authorities representing more than 100 pre-Games training venues for Paris 2024 took the opportunity to showcase their projects in front of 25 National Olympic and Paralympic Committees who made the trip to Paris for the event.

Michel Cadot, the French Government’s Interministerial Delegate for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Major Sports Events, was among those to visit the exhibition.

On May 10, a special dinner cruise, co-organised by GSW and the French Government, gave international delegates a unique preview of the proposed Opening Ceremony route for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

©️GSWParis

Discussions at GSW 2022 centred on balancing growth and responsibility, under the theme of ‘Better Vs Bigger.’ 32 Young Sports Makers – 18-25s from 16 countries – were once again at the heart of the event, representing the voice of Generation Z through the programme.

Beyond the stage sessions, GSW 2022 also saw:

● The launch of the new Para Sport brand by the International Paralympic Committee and its President Andrew Parsons

● The unveiling of the sustainable “food vision” for Paris 2024 by the Organising Committee and its partner Sodexo Live!

● The signing of a memorandum of understanding between the French and Canadian National Olympic Committees to promote the Olympic values; the development of sport; and the French language within the international sports movement

● The 5th edition of Le Tremplin Invest Finals, Europe’s biggest sports tech investor event, which showcased 12 of the world’s leading sports start-ups*, selected from qualifying events in 7 countries

Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, attended the forum in Paris ©️GSWParis

Lucien Boyer, President and Co-founder of GSW, said: “This year’s Global Sports Week was about bringing the world of sport back together after two long years - and in a new context.

“Here in Paris, we felt the excitement building around the upcoming major events – both among our local communities and the international delegations. What is also clear is the growing awareness and excitement about how these major events can be used to tackle the big issues of society.

“Through our discussions, we have seen how power is shifting ever further towards fans and athletes; and the huge opportunities in that context of engaging purposefully with the priorities of a new generation. We look forward to continuing those conversations with our growing international community.”

Lucien Boyer, president and co-founder of the Global Sports Week ©️GSWParis

Noémie Claret, Managing Director of GSW said: “It was so good to feel the energy of people coming together again – in person and even across continents.

“I am especially happy that we were able to bring together so many diverse stakeholders – from so many different horizons. International, inter-generational and cross-sector connection is the heart of our concept to shake up the future of sports! My sincere thanks to our 60 partners - from all parts of the global sports ecosystem - who have committed to this effort by our side.”

©️GSWParis

About Global Sports Week Paris 

Global Sports Week Paris is an annual international forum that brings together leaders and disruptors from sport, business, culture, media, government, and society. Its goal is to accelerate the development of sport as an innovative, sustainable, and positive force at the heart of global society.

In 2022, GSWParis returns from May 9th - 13th with a central gathering at the iconic Accor Arena in Paris, supported by additional digital and overseas events.

Global Sports Week is organized under the high patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, with the support of numerous private and public partners. The event was first staged in February 2020 at the Carrousel du Louvre.

About Yutang Sports

As one of the official media partners of the GSWParis, Yutang Sports is a Chinese leading sports marketing and media platform, with an ultimate mission to connect China and world through sports. After years of growing, Yutang Sports, with a comprehensive media and marketing promotion system, is now dedicating to reporting sports business and marketing trends, providing sports business news, analysis, and exclusive data reports in both Chinese and English. Having been cooperated with top-level domestic and international sports summits, Yutang Sports, as a sower, cultivator and leader of Chinese sports marketing, is opening a window for Chinese sports industry to embrace the world.