It's been a diverse month of exciting, evolving and essential issues on my programme. July concluded at Wembley Stadium for the historical final of the magical #Euro2022 Tournament. To be present in person for England's first victory in this tournament was memorable at a match with the highest ever attendance at the Championships and which attracted the biggest audience of any show of 2022 on the BBC with nearly 25 million watching live on TV and streaming.
Next Up was the inaugural #CommonwealthEsportsForum where I contributed to Panel 5: Esports, Sport, Music, Entertainment as a prelude to the first ever #GlobalEsportsChampionships at the #Birmingham2022 #CommonwealthGames. The positive reaction from all stakeholders to the inclusion of Esports by all stakeholders was impressive, beginning with the athletes and team officials, organisers, partners and media, fans and followers was overwhelming. Underlined by the emotions of the athletes being presented with medals and their national anthem played in tribute to their achievement for the first time was moving.
Back to the mountains to join the 11th edition of the Moving Mountains Forum in #LesDiablerets Switzerland to contribute to the debate on "The challenge of sustainable winter resorts" as part of an esteemed panel of experts and resort representatives who shared details of their actions and challenges. I contributed from my experience of participating at events in 60 nations over the past 40+ years from being an athlete through to 22 years as FIS Secretary General. During this period I have experienced and seen the changes that have contributed both to running events, as well as the recruitment of youngsters. I also gave an insight into reactive and proactive measures that we and many organisers initiated to implement #sustainability measures.
To conclude this diverse and fascinating month I attended the "Swiss Federal Wrestling and Alpine Festival" the famous Eidgenössische Schwing- und Älplerfest which is the Swiss National Sport that is a true festival celebrated by more than 500'000 visitors during 3 days and broadcast live for more than 10 hours per days on national television. The ESAF was founded in 1895, the wrestlers are national celebrities, and the title is contested every 3 years in a different place each time with the "amateur" winners awarded with a prize cow, and subsequently countless commercial contracts. It could best be described as wrestling in sand
Coming up next month is #LeadersWeekLondon which opens up with the Leaders Sports Awards where I served in the Jury who convened at the #OlympicStadium in early July.
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