Panel discussion on Sport as a Catalyst of Macro-economic and Social Change at the ongoing 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2021, in St. Petersburg, Russia, yesterday.
The Peninsula
The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) highlighted the role of sport in driving social, economic, and infrastructural growth in one of the event’s panel discussions at the ongoing 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2021, where Qatar is being featured as a guest country.
The ICSS and Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) joined forces to co-organise a panel titled ‘Sport as a Catalyst of Macro-economic and Social Change’ where thought leaders and subject matter experts gathered to discuss how sport as a global multi-billion-dollar sector and the major sporting events have played a significant part in the development at a local and global scale.
During the session, the ICSS shared a case study ‘Business Case for the Purity of Sport’ developed by the ICSS, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA), which examines the political, economic, and social benefits of protecting the integrity of sport, and in particular the aspects of return on investment (ROI).
Dr. Bahruz Balayev, Acting Director Legacy & Innovation, ICSS, said, “The ‘Macro-economic and Social Impact’ session in itself is indicative of the significance and the growing understanding of sport as a major economic driver and the fact that many states today are also increasingly recognizing the importance of sport policymaking based on big data.”
Other speakers on the panel included Mohammed Al Kuwari, Chief Marketing Officer, Aspire Zone Foundation, Fatma Al Nuaimi, Communications Executive Director, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Aleksandr Medvedev, General Director, FC Zenit, and Vladimir Leonov, Minister of Sports, Republic of Tatarstan.
The ICSS will also participate in a panel discussion, ‘Youth Building a New World’ during the Forum. Dr. Balayev will speak about Save the Dream, a global initiative of the ICSS established to empower youth through safe access to sport and its educational and social values.
