Conference Matters 141

INDUSTRY

The potential for sports conferences remains largely unused

' Considering the number of inhabitants and performances, the Netherlands is

a real top-class sports country'

world of sports conferences. “Considering the number of inhabitants and performances, the Netherlands is a real top-class sports country.” He believes that sharing knowledge comes with this status. “Organising conferences should receive a little more attention, given the worrying trend that fewer association sports are being played after the health crisis.” In his view, there are enough speakers to fill those conference days. “With a number of coa ching greats and numerous former athletes, the re’s a good choice of speakers.” Clearly divided Lion Blok, partner at ZPRESS Events, organises the annual Nationale Sport Vakbeurs in Gorin chem. He explains that the world of sports con ferences and exhibitions is clearly divided in the Netherlands. The Dutch Olympic Committee*Dutch Sports Federation organises conferences to inform the affiliated unions, and in turn, the unions organise all kinds of events for their members to keep

On the whole, the Netherlands is an ideal country for sports conferences. We’re good at talking, there’s enough funds and we’re a real sports country. Unfortunately, the choice of quality sports-related conferences is poor. Frans Oosterwijk, Editor-in-Chief of Sport & Strategie, thinks that the Netherlands is a real sports conference country. “It can’t be any other way. We love chewing the fat, and we’re good at sports. And people from a sector always want to come together to talk about matters.” He believes that there are enough subjects to organise conferences for years. “About what we have to do to bring the Olympic Games to a country, about how to get women’s sports in the media, and so many other themes.” Worrying trend Robert Maaskant, a former football trainer, sports media analyst and business coach, also thinks that there is a lot to choose from in the By Bas Hakker

ness, the choices are limited. For example, the football sector doesn’t organise much outside of the annual KNVB Expertise Conference, which is actually a fantastic conference.” A missed opportunity if you compare it to Bel gium or Portugal, says Schnater. “Liga Portugal (the Portuguese Premier League) really tries to bring their own football clubs into contact with bigger clubs from abroad using various initiati ves. Smaller football leagues, such as the Swed ish league, organise a kind of closing or kick-off for the new season after every season.” Last December, he was still at the Polish Ekstra klasa, where all football clubs from the whole country come together for a two-day confe rence. “Their programme contains presentations related to sports business as well as an evening programme to encourage social cohesion bet

come to the conference, and there are 200 exhi bitors in a space the size of two football pitches.” Blok thinks that there is still a lot of potential in the world of sports conferences. “You don’t see that level of organisation anywhere else in the world, and we can use that for years to come. Isn’t it great that if you can’t afford to exercise, you can still do it with government help? We’re really a sports country, and we can be proud of that.” The choices could be better Bas Schnater, who works as an international con sultant for the UEFA and has worked for AZ Alk maar in the past, is a regular conference visitor at sports business events around the world. He thinks that the choices could be better. “In terms of conferences aimed at sports busi

organised sports is an important stepping stone for several conferences. The fact that it is more difficult to find board members in sports is also a hot topic. “Clubs and municipalities have to do something, which in turn leads to much innovation and rea sons to talk about it. For example, apps with which you can easily manage a sports club as a trainer.” Core target group The core target group of the Nationale Sport Vak beurs consists of people with board positions at amateur associations. “It’s not always easy to attract this target group to a conference. After all, it’s not their profession, so they sometimes skip a year. However, it’s about offering added value. Each year, six to seven thousand visitors

them informed. Furthermore, the Association of Sports and Municipalities organises all kinds of conferences to promote sports activities in cities. Nationale Sport Vakbeurs However, there aren’t as many commercial ini tiatives, like the upcoming 12th edition of the Nationale Sport Vakbeurs in November 2023. The event focuses on sharing knowledge, and there are always interesting speakers who gene rate extra attention. “Last year, we had a session where former sports presenter Kees Jansma interviewed Feyenoord coach Arne Slot, and that went very well.” He also believes that there are enough themes in sports that need to be discussed. Like Maas kant, he thinks that people participating less in

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