Thursday 05 December 2013

London has been named the world’s leading city for sporting events in a global study by Sportcal, ahead of Moscow, Rio de Janeiro and Beijing.

The Sportcal Annual Cities Index, analysed nearly 700 major sporting events between 2008 and 2019, with London leading the way due to its success in attracting major sports events to the capital including the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and the IAAF World Athletic Championships in 2017. Other events coming to the city include the Tour de France 2014, EuroHockey Championships 2015, the European Swimming Championships 2015, the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships 2015 and cycling’s UCI Track World Championships 2016.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “London is without doubt the greatest city on the planet for sporting events. We are delivering on our post-2012 promise to fill the city’s Olympic and Paralympic venues with elite sporting events and we will continue to do so in the years ahead. As well as bringing real economic benefits to our city, these events are a tremendous catalyst for increasing grassroots participation and producing the stars of the future. I am delighted that our status as world leader has been recognised through this latest accolade.”

London Partners Chief Executive, Gordon Innes, said: “A key focus for London Partners has been to secure and deliver major sporting events for the city and ensure that London delivers on its 2012 legacy promise. To have this achievement recognised on the world stage underlines the scale of London’s success in attracting elite sporting championships and we are thrilled to have been named the Global Sports City for 2013.”

London was positioned 1st in the Sportcal Index with a score of 26,313, compared to Moscow’s 19,529 and Rio de Janeiro’s 15,515 points. The Index is based on multi-sport events and world championships that rotate on a regular basis and are open to be hosted by countries on all continents (with the exception of the major continental multi-sport games).

Notes to Editors

Sportcal Annual Cities Index
For further information about the GSI Cities Index visit www.sportcal.com/impact

Contact

Ellie Wilson
Media PR Manager – Major Events Business Tourism, London Partners
ewilson@londonandpartners.com
020 7234 5709 / 07595 654 085