A year ago, Global Sports Week was born with great fanfare, with an impressive cast and a majestic setting, the Carrousel du Louvre.
But in 365 days, almost everything has changed with the pandemic.
The majestic setting will always be there, with the Eiffel Tower as the prestigious hostess, but for everything else, the time will be digital and videoconferencing.
Nevertheless, Lucien Boyer, one of the three creators of the event, wants to make good heart against bad luck by looking for aspects if not positive in the current context, at least motivating.
“Organizing this event shows that despite the very complicated context, it is still possible to extend a dynamic and to demonstrate a lot of creativity and innovation.
In fact, it's even stimulating, although it would have been easier to duplicate the first edition just by improving it.
Especially since it had been a success.
But then, everything had to be reinvented, and I am delighted with the strong support we have found from the international world of sport.
So in a way, I would say it's a second first edition. ”
Under the sign of Covid-19, but not only
This support will be reflected in the presence of several major players in sport, whether they are athletes (or former athletes) such as Tony Parker, Tony Estanguet or Gerard Piqué, but also many major institutions - Fifa, CIO, NBA … - and a multitude of players in the sports world in different fields.
From February 1 to 5, Global Sports Week will strive to give grounds for hope to a sporting world severely shaken by the economic crisis, resulting from the health crisis.
But out of the question, however, for Boyer to see the event being vampirized by the Covid-19: "What is certain is that sport is a reflection of society", he analyzes for Le Figaro.
“So what happens at any given time in society has to have an impact in sport.
We will not be able to mute the impact of Covid-19 on the sports world.
But the goal is really to move forward and find solutions.
In this, this virus is more a revealing of problems which were already there, of which it only accelerated the awareness.
And this pandemic has also accentuated this health requirement. ”
Health, a new fundamental pillar
Hence its addition to the five fundamental pillars determined a year ago.
Namely climate, power, equality, data and lifestyle.
For Boyer, “the new generations are extremely demanding on societal commitments, on the meaning we give to all of this.
It is a key factor of success, including commercial.
Today, adhering to societal or environmental issues has a positive impact on the appreciation of potential consumers.
Failure to do so is to endanger the activity.
Models that are being challenged are likely to lead to better things.
Simply, it is the moment when things change that is the most delicate, when you have to put your back round and be patient enough to come out stronger and with a better future than what we feared. "
"We realize that in sporting events where there is not a highly developed event part, there are other provisions which allow other potential economic models to be generated"
Lucien Boyer
On the economic level, many avenues will be opened in order to reflect not on another economic model than the current one, based in particular on events, such as ticketing, or TV rights, but on a complementary one.
Or additional.
“There was no reason not to develop all these elements of ticketing, etc. But in sport, there are other dimensions,” says Boyer.
Beyond the show, it is also a form of content that is extremely promising in terms of stories, inspirations, images.
If you take the example of the Vendée Globe, there is no ticket office, and yet there is enormous enthusiasm.
However, since the sailors are very far away, they have to tell a strong story that prompts people to take an interest in it.
There is a monetization to be done, such as the race with the virtual game (Virtual Regatta) bringing together a million people.
So we realize that on sporting events where there is not a very developed event part, there are other provisions which allow to generate other potential economic models based on the monetization of income and valuation work. intellectual property. "
"This event is not the world of sport talking to itself"
Lucien Boyer
With the stated desire, beyond having a direct connection with five other cities (Beijing, Tokyo, Milan, Los Angeles and Dakar), to open up the field of possibilities and to be as “global” as possible.
“This event is not the world of sport talking to itself.
We also meet speakers from other worlds, such as Alessandro Benetton or Nicolas Hieronimus (L'Oréal).
We try to make the connection between different spheres.
It will not be global, because no one can be, but it will be as diverse as possible, with the effects of rebounds and multiplying networks.
We hope that this platform, which will remain open, gives birth to a community that will operate all year round.
We want to encourage them to continue to network.
The conversation will have to be prolonged. ”
So that this second edition gives impetus and dynamism that the pandemic had called into question.
“The objective is to be able to connect all the forces present which are dynamic on the question of sport for the future.
The sport is so constrained by everything that has happened in the past year that there is a kind of energy that is a bit held back somewhere.
We will give him an opportunity to express himself. ”
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