SmartCities&Sport

summit 2023

Be ready for the experience! Discover Paris, before the 2024 Olympic Games!

27-29 of November! Save the date!

reaching new summits

Since 2014, the smartcities & sport summit has been building a solid reputation and has become a highly anticipated event among sport cities and within the international sports ecosystem. Every year, more than 300 participants from all over the world come together to learn, think and debate on how best to use sport in cities.

The ascent of the summit takes place over two days of high-level conferences, networking time and social events that allow participants to enjoy exchanges in more informal settings. The strength of this event is that it not only provides cities with a shot of motivation and inspiration that enhances and reveals the potential of sport in their activities – but also enables them to develop new connections with international sports federations eager to discuss their hosting ambitions.

The next edition of the smartcities & sport summit will take place in Paris, France, November 27-29, 2023.

programme
speakers
market place
price
venues
access

welcome to paris, france!

The smartcities & sport summit 2023 will take place November 27-29 in Paris, France, the host city for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games!

A few months before the opening ceremony of the XXXIII Olympiad, the City of Light welcomes sports cities from all over the world as well as representatives of international sports federations.

This will be a unique opportunity to experience the Olympic Games before anyone else, to go behind the scenes and to taste the emotions of the summer of 2024 when the 10,500 athletes will put on a show.

Paris’ iconic landmarks are being transformed into sporting arenas to offer spectators an unparalleled experience and provide an exceptional setting for sporting prowess.

Beyond the Games, Paris is a city of sport in every sense. Many actions are being taken to transform the city into a sports arena, to make sport accessible to all and to live at the pace of sport.

We look forward to seeing you in Paris and to unveiling an exciting programme in the near future. Stay tuned!

city of paris, france

summit programme

SPORTS EVENTS AS CATALYSTS FOR CITY TRANSFORMATION

The organisation of sports events creates momentum and for host cities, is an opportunity to take stock of the existing facilities, to assess the short and long-term solutions, to evaluate economic, urban and societal challenges and to plan events that contribute to the transformation of the city in a way that meets local needs, both for the community and the individuals.

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monday, november 27

welcome to paris!
19:00 welcome cocktail

to get the game on, a welcome cocktail will take place from 19:00. the perfect opportunity to meet and start networking!

 

tuesday, november 28

9:00 - 12:30

From economic to social challenges, from the community to the citizen level, sports events are a tool at the service of engagement within the city.

 

9:30 - 10:00 hosting sports events: opportunities for the economic and social fabric

 

10:00 - 11:00 engaging sponsors on and through sports and sports-related values

 

11:00 - 11:30 coffee & networking break

 

11:30 - 12:30 Interview with a special guest

 

12:30 - 14:00 networking lunch

 

14:00 - 17:00

Through sports events, cities can redefine the public space, physically and mentally, give people new sport places as well as new perceptions and perspectives on sport places and sport practice.

 

14:00 - 14:30 Toolbox - Highlights PARIS 2024 - From events to legacy for cities

 

14:30 - 15:30 sports events as boosters for social inclusion - Visibility and promotion of parasports as a step towards long term impacts

 

15:30 - 16:00 network coffee

 

16:00 - 17:00 redefining territories through sport events

 

19:00 gala dinner

 

wednesday, november 29

9:00 - 12:30

How can sports events contribute to a more responsible society? 

 

9:00 - 9:15 welcome to the Stade Roland-Garros

 

9:15 - 10:30 federations session - from local to international sports actors as an engine for ecological transition

 

10:30 - 11:30 the marketplace (and coffee break)

 

11:30 - 12:30​ engagement and sport events: citizen action, cultural brigdes and fan mobilisation

 

12:30 - 13:30 lunch

 

summit speakers

ioc president thomas bach at the opening session of the smartcities & sport summit

 

We are proud to announce that IOC President Thomas Bach has confirmed his participation as a Keynote Speaker at the opening of the smartcities & sport summit 2023, to be held in Paris 28-29 November. This edition marks the 10th anniversary of the smartcities & sport summit and will be dedicated to sports events as catalysts for city transformation.

Gabriele Freytag

head of the directorate for sport - senate department, berlin
Gabriele Freytag graduated in Sport and Business Administration at the University of Bayreuth. She started her professional career as a sports marketing consultant, worked as a researcher and acted from 2008-2015 as managing director at the Executive Academy of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). In 2015 she assumed responsibility for sports development and marketing in the Sports Metropolis Berlin. Since 2019 she is head of the Directorate for Sport at the Senat Department. Since working for many years in the field of sport in rather key positions she has a comprehensive knowledge regarding sport innovation and sport development.

Eddy Fehri

Head of Marketing France - ASICS
Eddy Ferhi is the Head of Marketing for ASICS, the market leader in France for footwear Running, Tennis, and Indoor sports. Former international athlete, sport has always played a big part in his life. And much like ASICS - whose name comes from the acronym for Anima Sana In Corpore Sano - he is deeply convinced that physical activity can make a difference in how you feel in your body, but also in your mind. Since its creation in Japan in 1977, ASICS has indeed been deeply involved in promoting inclusivity in all areas of sports, to make sure that the physical and mental benefits of moving truly become accessible to all.

Amadou Fall Ba

director of festa2hvp, project manager dakar en jeux festival, manager, Maison des cultures urbaines - Dakar
Amadou Fall Ba has been the Director of Festa2H (international Hip Hop and urban culture festival) for 15 years. In 2017 he was elevated to the rank of Knight of Arts and Letters of the French Republic. Since March 2014, Amadou has been in charge of urban culture under the Mayor of Dakar as well as MCU manager (Dakar house of urban culture). In 2016, he oversaw the construction of Dakar's first public Skatepark, to be inaugurated in October 2023. He has been the Dakar en Jeux festival project manager since 2022, as a prelude to Dakar 2026.

Eric Desbonnets

vp paris 2014 - operations and sustainability, coca-cola france & non-executive director - infineo
Graduated in Food and Agriculture from ISA Lille Engineering School, Eric Desbonnets is in charge of Operations and Sustainability for the Paris 2024 Games for Coca-Cola in France.  His previous role was VP Supply-Chain, accountable for manufacturing, logistics and customer service in France. He has started his career with Coca-Cola 30 years ago. He has European experience as Group Operations Director, having led 6 plants across UK, Belgium and France. Eric is also Non Executive Director of Infineo, a PET bottle recycling center in Beaune (France), joint-venture between Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Plastipak.

Elisa Yavchitz

General Manager - Les Canaux
Elisa Yavchitz is the General Manager of Les Canaux, the Social and Innovative Business Organization of Paris. Les Canaux is a dedicated organisation for all collaborative and inclusive actors that aims to place solidarity and the environment in the core of their projects. Les Canaux promotes and develops social business in France and abroad and also hosts International Organizations events such as C40 Cities or the Yunus Centre in Europe. Elisa Yavchitz is convinced that social business can generate job offers, increase solidarity, effective change for the most impoverished and enable environmental and social innovations."

Emmanuel Grégoire

first deputy mayor of paris - in charge of urban planning, architecture and Greater Paris
Emmanuel Grégoire graduated from the Institut d'Études Politiques in Bordeaux and has a degree in Philosophy. He began his career in a consulting firm, then moved on to the new technologies and health sectors before becoming involved in city affairs with various left-wing figures. In 2018 Emmanuel Grégoire became First Deputy Mayor of Paris with the portfolios of urban planning, architecture, Greater Paris, relations with the arrondissements and the transformation of public policies.

Erin Bromaghim

Deputy Mayor of International Affairs - Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
Erin Bromaghim serves as the Deputy Mayor of International Affairs in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, focused on bringing global opportunities to Angelenos and connecting Los Angeles to economic and cultural partners around the world. Most recently, Erin served as the Mayor’s Director of Olympic and Paralympic Development ahead of the 2028 Games and concurrently as the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Fellow for the Sustainable Development Goals and as a Visiting Senior Fellow on City and State Diplomacy with the Truman Center for National Policy. Erin previously spent 14 years as a senior civilian with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Akiko Nagano

director for International Relations - Comprehensive Sports Promotion Division, Bureau of Citizens, Culture and Sports, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
As a civil servant of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Akiko Nagano works for the promotion of sports. She was part of the Tokyo 2020 bid project, and in 2014 seconded to the Organising Committee, where she served as the head of planning and coordination throughout the seven and a half year journey. After her return to the TMG in 2021, she was tasked with the TMG’s sports vision development, and is currently in charge of international relations.

Marie Barsacq

executive director - impact and legacy for the organising committee for the olympic and paralympic games - paris 2024
A lawyer by training, Marie Barsacq worked for ten years for the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF), devoting her energies to employment, training and qualification in the sporting movement. She then joined the French Football Federation (FFF). Since 2018, she is a member of the Executive Committee of the French Football Federation. Marie Barsacq then took up position as the Director of Impact and Legacy for the Paris 2024 Bid Committee, and then Executive Director within the Organising Committee.

Nicolas Ferrand

Chief Executive Officer - SOLIDEO "société de livraison des ouvrages olympiques"
Nicolas Ferrand is a graduate engineer from École Polytechnique and École des Ponts ParisTech. He also holds a Masters degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts lnstitute of Technology (MIT) in Boston. He is CEO of the Société de Livraison des ouvrages Olympiques SOLIDEO, the public body responsible for delivering the venues for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.

Pierre Rabadan

Deputy Mayor, City of Paris - in charge of sports, olympic and paralympic games and the seine
Pierre Rabadan is a former professional rugby player and has been the successful captain of Stade Français, an iconic Parisian club. In 2015, he retired from his sporting career and joined Anne Hidalgo’s office as sports advisor to participate in Paris‘ bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to promote the organisation of major international sporting events in Paris. In 2020, he has been elected Paris councillor and appointed Deputy Mayor in charge of Sport, Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Andrew Parsons

President - international paralympic committee
Andrew Parsons is serving his second successive term as President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) having originally been elected in 2017. Before this he served as IPC Vice President and IPC Governing Member. He was the President of the Americas Paralympic Committee from 2005-2009 and between 2009- 2017, He was President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee after previously being Secretary General.

join the market place

The smartcities & sport summit marketplace session is a unique opportunity to make exclusive connections with international sports federations. This is an ideal moment to forge new relationships and start new collaborations with key actors in the sports world.  

International Sports Federations are specially invited to attend the fall IF Seminar which is fully integrated into the summit and will take place at the Stade Roland-Garros on Wednesday, 29 November at 9:00 am, prior to the Market Place. The morning’s focus is on how sport events can contribute to a more responsible society, and the IF seminar will be dedicated to the role of federations (from local to international levels) taking part in and accelerating ecological transition.  

register as an IF
more information

discover the venues

Pullman Hotel

Located in front of the Tour Eiffel, the 430-room hotel offers a perfect location to discover the city of lights. From spacious rooms and suites to several meeting and reception rooms, the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel welcomes international events. Artistic and connected, open to the world and rooted in local life, the 4-star hotel invites all visitors to enjoy an immersive experience in one of the most prestigious areas of Paris.

Perfect for leisure or business, the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel has 24 flexible spaces. The FRAME bar, restaurant & terrace is an ideal spot for cosmopolitan meet-ups. Many rooms and meeting rooms also offer views of the Seine, Trocadéro & Eiffel Tower. The FRAME brasserie, open from noon to 9pm, has a street-art decor and an inventive French menu using fresh produce partly from our organic kitchen garden and blended with spicy highlights.

Paris City Hall 

The City Hall (Hôtel de Ville) and its prestigious square have been added to the list of historical monuments that will host competitions in the heart of the capital during the Olympic Games, along with the Grand Palais, the Invalides, and La Concorde. The marathon, the mythical race of the Games, will thus depart from this emblematic city hall. It is rich in history, and since 1357, has been the seat of the Parisian municipality.

The current neo-renaissance style building, was rebuilt by the architects Théodore Ballu and Edouard Deperthes on the site of the former City Hall, which was burnt in 1871 during the Paris Commune. It is distinguished by its majestic facade with a length of 143 meters and a height of 18.80 meters (26.80 meters for the corner pavilions and 50 meters for the bell tower). The square is now the lively site of entertainment, exhibition, and culture. In the summer of 2024, it will be transformed into a spectacular playground. 

Stade Roland-Garros

Roland-Garros is an emblematic site in world tennis. Named in memory of French aviator Roland Garros, the stadium was built in 1928 to host the French players’ Davis Cup exploits in a setting worthy of the event. Since then, Roland Garros has also hosted the annual French Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Expanded and modernized many times over the years to compete with its Grand Slam counterparts, the stadium now has 17 clay courts, it includes the new 5,000-seat Simonne-Mathieu court, built in the Serres d’Auteuil garden, and the 15,000-seat Philippe-Chatrier court, the main stay of the stadium, which is now equipped with a revolutionary retractable roof (it takes only 15 minutes to open or close the 11 wings, each weighing 330 tons). The Stade Roland-Garros will be a key venue for Paris 2024, hosting a total of four sports: tennis and boxing (a nod to history, the stadium once hosted major boxing matches in the 1970s) during the Olympic Games; wheelchair tennis and sitting–volleyball during the Paralympic Games. 

access the summit

by plane

The largest airport in Paris, Roissy Charles de Gaulle, is 29km from the Pullman Tour Eiffel hotel. Taxis are available on–site and by reservation. It is also possible to reach the hotel by public transport, taking the RER B and then metro line 6 from “Denfert-Rochereau” to “Bir-Hakeim”.

Orly airport is 18km from the Pullman Tour Eiffel hotel; taxis are available on–site and by reservation. With public transport, the hotel is accessible by taking the Orlyval, then the RER B to Denfert-Rochereau and metro line 6 to Bir-Hakeim.

For more information, please visit here. 

Subway

The nearest metro station is “Bir-Hakeim” on line 6, a 4-minute walk from the hotel. The “La Motte – Picquet Grenelle” station, where lines 6, 8, and 10 meet, is a 12-minute walk away. 

RER C station “Champ-de-Mars Tour Eiffel” is a 5-minute walk from the hotel. 

For more information, please visit here.  

By Taxi

The taxi network is highly developed in Paris, with several vehicles accessible for disabled people. Around 40 call stations are available in the city and reservations can be made in advance. 

It takes about 20 minutes to get to the heart of Paris, 40 minutes to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, and 30 minutes to Orly airport. 

BY RAIL

The City of Paris has many train stations connecting it to the rest of the country and to Europe. In addition to the Austerlitz, Montparnasse, and Saint-Lazare stations, the Gare du Nord, the Gare de Lyon and the Gare de l’Est offer connections to neighbouring countries. 

The Gare du Nord connects to the North of Europe (Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany). From the station to the Pullman Tour Eiffel hotel, take the RER B to “Denfert-Rochereau” and metro line 6 to “Bir-Hakeim” or metro line 4 to “Raspail” and line 6 to “Bir-Hakeim”. 

The Gare de l’Est connects to Germany and Luxembourg. From the station to the Pullman Tour Eiffel hotel, take metro line 4 to “Rapsail” and line 6 to “Bir-Hakeim”. 

The Gare de Lyon connects to Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. From the station to the Pullman Tour Eiffel hotel, take RER A to “Charles de Gaulle-Etoile” and metro line 6 to “Bir-Hakeim”. 

For more information, please visit here.  

BY CAR

Located a few steps from the Tour Eiffel, the Pullman Hotel is at 18 Avenue De Suffren, 75015, Paris 15, France. 

For more information, please visit here.  

register now!

The summit will provide a high-level and prestigious platform for the exchange of ideas and experience to more than 300 participants. It is aimed at anyone involved in international, national and local sports; including: cities, sports federations, national Olympic committees, non-profit organisations, companies and sports clubs.

Smart Cities & Sport
become a member!
save money!
  • 50% discount on the first delegate pass and 25% on a second delegate pass
  • two-day conference sessions
  • lunch
  • welcome cocktail
  • gala dinner
  • eventApp

The fee to become a member and benefit from the discount is CHF 280.-

CHF 755.–
regular participant
delegate pass
  • Two-day conference sessions
  • lunch
  • welcome cocktail
  • gala dinner
  • eventApp

 

 

    CHF 950.–

    join us in paris, france!

    More than 300 participants are expected for the smartcities & sport summit 2023. We look forward to seeing you there!

    register now!

    logistical information

    Visa

    It is the responsibility of the participants to obtain a visa if needed. Please check the visa requirements for your nationality here. 

    If you have any questions, please contact the French Consulate responsible for the area in which you reside.  

    If the visa is not granted on time, the cancellation policy will be applied.

    Weather

    Average November temperatures range from 5°C (44°F) to 11°C (65°F). 

    For the current weather forecast, please click here. The weather is generally cloudy but dry at this time of year. 

    time zone

    Central European Time (CET) 

    (GMT+1:00 from 29 October 2023) 

    Electricity

    Type C, E and F plugs which support 220 to 240 volts 

    feedback from participants 

    {

    Thanks to the summit we have the opportunity to meet new cities and potential clients for the solutions developed by the members of our association. We particularly appreciate the emphasis on the quality of the programme in order to best promote our activities.

    {
    daniel cordey
    chairman, association of global event suppliers
    {

    Every year we look forward to coming to the summit as it is an engaging platform for meeting our peers from around the world and to get inspired with new ideas to bring sport to our city. It’s also a great place to meet international sports federations and share our ambitions.

    {
    ariane croteau
    account executive, québec city business destination
    {

    smartcities & sport is an engaging and inspiring partner that we are very happy to work with. The richness of the network lies in its ability to connect two worlds: cities and sport – to strategically shape the future of cities through sport

    {
    lars lundov
    chief executive, sport event denmark
    {

    The summit is one of the few events where it is possible to meet different cities from over the world to showcase our different events! The Marketplace session is not to be missed by any federation interested in building new relationships with cities!”

    {
    ignacio soriano
    3x3 head of events & partnerships, FIBA