Who will host Play the Game 2021? Calling interested partners

Last call: deadline 28 February 2020

Play the Game 2021 is expected to gather 4-500 leading media professionals, academics, sports officials, sports business executives, and students from all over the world. We expect the conference will be arranged over four-five days in the second half of 2021.

Play the Game is an international conference and communication initiative aiming to strengthen the ethical foundation of sport and promote democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in sport. It is run by the Danish Institute for Sports Studies (Idan), a research institution set up by the Danish Ministry of Culture, but working with full independence from government. Idan’s task is to create an overview of and insight into the field of sport nationally and internationally.

Over the last two decades, Play the Game has achieved a unique status as the leading platform in international sport where expert observers and high-ranking sports officials engage in open, unrestricted, and constructive debates about the main challenges to modern sport.

The task for 2021 is to further develop the form, content and legacy of the conference which in all its previous editions has been met with enthusiasm by the participants, leaving a mark on their professional future and on the international sports agenda.

Co-organisers will be represented on the Programme Committee and be closely informed about or involved in all aspects of the conference planning.

The conference attracts worldwide media attention and connects the host city and country to the highest ethical standards in sport and sports administration. It offers opportunities to raise international issues of local and national relevance, and it helps local journalists, academics, sports officials and other stakeholders to increase their impact and strengthen their network on a global scale.

Former host cities are Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Coventry, Cologne, Aarhus, Eindhoven and Colorado Springs. Extensive documentation from previous conferences can be found at the conference websites.

A host can be a sports organisation, a city, a media company, a university/education centre, a sports club or a combination of all. Also well-organised groups of interested individuals may apply, but applicants must document solid organisational skills and financial capacities.

Formal requirements

As a first step in the selection process, we kindly ask possible co-organisers to send us a declaration of interest no later than Friday 28 February, 2020, at noon CET.

The declarations of interest will be followed up by a clarifying dialogue and a joint specification of the practical and financial requirements. If necessary, a formal bidding process will be carried out among the most qualified bids.

The selection process will be managed by the directors and conference manager of Play the Game (see below). They will make a recommendation to the board of Play the Game/Danish Institute for Sports Studies, who is expected to make the final decision in June 2020 at the latest.

In the declaration of interest, candidates are kindly asked to explain:

• the overall goals and visions for organising the conference, including how hosting can leverage their own work at the national level
• how the hosts can contribute to the continued development of the content and legacy of Play the Game
• how the local organising committee will be composed, and which potential partners it is realistic to count on at the local and national level
• how much funding is already available, and what is the strategy for further fundraising.

With regard to the latter, applicants are kindly asked to consider how they can contribute financially to cover:

• rental of appropriate conference venue and technical equipment
• flight and ground transportation costs for 30-40 invited speakers from across the world
• hotel (3-4 star level) and meals for the invited speakers and for a limited number of Play the Game representatives
• social and cultural activity programme
• national PR and marketing campaign for the conference

In addition, the host must commit to undertake fundraising together with Play the Game in order to support participants from less privileged countries.

Applicants are welcome to present their ideas about specific conference venues and other aspects of the conference practicalities.

Please submit your declaration of interest to:

Play the Game Att. Conference Manager Maria Suurballe maria@playthegame.orgmobile +45 20 20 68 38

- to whom further questions can be addressed.

If you need to send printed material, our postal address is:

Play the Game Frederiksgade 78, 2.DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Play the Game wishes to express its gratitude for the interest shown so far in hosting our 2021 conference, and we look forward to hearing from all potential hosting partners before Friday 28 February, 2020.

Best regards

Jens Sejer Andersen, International director