Role Models: Message from the President of the World Union Olympic Cities

“Cities act as laboratories, innovation centres and fields for experimentations.”
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Grégoire Junod, Mayor of Lausanne and President of the World Union of Olympic Cities

Grégoire Junod, Mayor of Lausanne and President of the World Union of Olympic Cities

Cities are key players in today’s world. As they are in-tune with the concerns and needs of their inhabitants, they act as laboratories, innovation centres and fields for experimentations. When they are open to new ideas, they are sensitive to other cities’ projects and initiatives. Cities are a source of inspiration for each other. City networks such as the Smart Cities & Sport are essential in nurturing these mutual experiences.

Sport – and sport related policies – is a field where cities can express their willingness to meet the expectations of their inhabitants. In addition to the provision of access to sport for the general public, sport can provide powerful leverage for social, economic, health, environmental or educational policies.

Cities often combine long-term sports policies with event hosting strategies including both one-time or recurrent events. Why do cities host and support sport events? Because they are convinced that sport events as inspiration for us and useful as we seek to inspire others.

This new Smart Cities & Sport publication offers a variety of cases that may resonate among us, either to inspire or to be inspired! In these unique and troubled times, when each of us is invited to re-invent social interaction, fan mobilisation or collective work, there is no doubt that the second volume of this publication on role models in sport provides new perspectives for cities and for the organisers of events within cities seeking to craft powerful messages and create long-lasting and inspiring legacies!