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St. Louis Sports Commission president to retire after luring big sporting events

St. Louis Sports Commission president to retire after luring big sporting events

Name a sporting event, and Frank Viverito has probably been there. Not just one time, but again and again and again.

Firsthand knowledge of the Final Four or Olympic gymnastics trials or U.S. figure skating championships and just about anything else imaginable has been his best business practice.

As president of the St. Louis Sports Commission since 1995, Viverito’s job has been to sell St. Louis as the landing spot for games and competitions of all shapes and sizes. His haul has been impressive.

With the commission’s plate full for a few years to come, Viverito is ready to step away, having announced his retirement at the end of 2022 at the organization’s board meeting Wednesday morning.

“We’ve spent every nickel on getting on planes, going to events and meeting the people who ran them to understand how they came together,” Viverito said. “That’s the only way we have ever done marketing. We’ve never had exhibit booths. We’ve never run a single newspaper or magazine ad. We’ve never sponsored a luncheon or dinner at a trade show. We don’t have trinkets.”

Viverito built the sports commission into one of the best in a field now crowded with hundreds in the United States. Three times it has been named the best in the country by the National Association of Sports Commissions.

The New York native along with his staff have relied entirely on private investment — most commissions benefit from public money — to bring some of the biggest sporting events to the city.

Top-drawing games have run the gamut from NCAA championships for men’s and women’s basketball, hockey and wrestling to major golf tournaments, Olympic trials and international soccer.

“I’ve talked to people from early on who said, ‘We really weren’t sure where this was going to go, but we’re pleased with where it’s gotten to,’” Viverito said. “I’ve always said this is such a great town to do something like this.”

The sports commission was formed in 1989, and St. Louis was one of 12 cities with a commission when the national association was formed in 1992. There are now more than 600 members.

The competition for events has become fierce with millions, even billions, of dollars involved. When Viverito made his first bid for the NCAA wrestling championships, he came to discover that three cities had made bids for three years. It would have been difficult to fail.

In 1999, he went to the wrestling championships at Penn State to spread the word about St. Louis hosting the next year.

“We were the new kids on the block, and this older gentleman came up to me — a grizzled former wrestler — and practically put a finger through my chest,” Viverito said. “He said, ‘I’ve been coming to this event for 65 years. Don’t you screw it up.’ It registered to me that this was a big deal.”

St. Louis has held the wrestling championships nine times, growing the event into what Viverito calls a celebration of the sport. He calls it one of the most rewarding success stories of his tenure.

The next generation of events will fall under Marc Schreiber, a longtime sports commission vice president and traveling partner for Viverito. Schreiber, who will become president, and vice president Chris Roseman spent a lot of time together on those trips, learning the ropes and cultivating relationships.

Together they scouted out opportunities and developed other projects such as the Musial Awards for sportsmanship, the Olympic legacy initiative and the upcoming Let ’em Play program as a support resource for referees at all levels.

“Just the events he has brought to St. Louis would make a resume of success,” Schreiber said. “But I think what made him so valuable was his visionary thinking. A lot of people wouldn’t go down these paths or think about doing these kinds of initiatives. He’s very much the vision behind them.”

When the sports commission was bidding for the 2020 Olympic gymnastics trials, Viverito and his staff arranged to take the USA Gymnastics staff to Washington University to see the newly installed Olympic rings and Francis Field, where Olympic events were held in 1904. When they exited the shuttle, the group was greeted by Jackie Joyner Kersee.

These are the kinds of touches Viverito and his co-workers have strived for to remain a player in an increasingly competitive field. St. Louis will always have memories of some major events that also were aided by Viverito’s wife, Patty, who has worked in commissioner roles with the Missouri Valley Conference for more than three decades.

The 2001 women’s Final Four was one of the biggest successes and received significant boosts from the presence of Missouri State and Notre Dame, led by guard Niele Ivey from Cor Jesu Academy. Four years later, the men’s Final Four did even bigger business at the dome with Illinois as a participant.

Then came the Frozen Four, a string of wrestling championships, the PGA Championship and men’s and women’s gymnastics trials, among dozens of events. Viverito will retire having helped lure an NCAA hockey regional in 2024, the Frozen Four in 2025 and first- and second-round games in the men’s NCAA basketball tournament in 2026.

What does he consider his role in all of it?

“The two things are a love for St. Louis and sports — just a passion for that — and the other attribute is consensus building and relationship building,” he said. “That’s what I did, and we built a team that could be successful.”

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President Sheikh Mohamed at UAE sports events over the years – in pictures

President Sheikh Mohamed at UAE sports events over the years - in pictures

President Sheikh Mohamed has been a regular visitor at sporting events across the UAE over the years. From football to Formula One, Sheikh Mohamed has shown keen interest in a variety of sports.

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One of the most memorable visits came last year, when the world witnessed a dramatic conclusion to the Formula One season at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.

There, Max Verstappen clinched the chequered flag and the season’s championship after the race was reduced to a one-lap showdown following a crash five laps from the end and a safety car deployment.

The Red Bull driver aced the one-lap dash and snatched the title from the hands of Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton. It was an unforgettable evening for those present at the Yas Marina Circuit, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who attended the race with Sheikh Mohamed.

Sheikh Mohamed has also attended the President’s Cup and Pro League Cup football matches. In the picture gallery above, you can see the sporting events and interactions Sheikh Mohamed has had.

Updated: May 17, 2022, 9:03 AM

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Morgan State University President Implements Mask Mandate For School-Sanctioned Events

Morgan State University President Implements Mask Mandate For School-Sanctioned Events

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Morgan State University is instituting a mask mandate for university-sanctioned indoor events and activities in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Maryland

President David Wilson sent an email to university students outlining his concerns on Friday. 

READ MORE: Baltimore City Health Commissioner Concerned About Rising COVID-19 Cases

Maryland had more than 2,400 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, and if cases continue growing, some jurisdictions may be forced to re-implement mask mandates.

So Wilson took the step of informing students that they—alongside faculty, staff, and guests of the university—will be required to wear the face masks at such events with 50 or more people starting on Monday.

“With the increased incidence of positive COVID-19 cases advancing across the nation—particularly here in Maryland, Morgan must take a proactive stance in safeguarding our campus community,” he said. “Recent upticks in Baltimore City, its surrounding counties, and right here on campus, have prompted the Morgan Campus Health Monitoring and Response Team (MCHMRT) to advise the wearing of masks for all University-sanctioned indoor events and activities.”

The measure “is being taken out of an abundance of caution and will be in place through the end of the semester,” he said.

READ MORE: Baby Formula Shortage Fueling Spike In Milk Bank Interest

The mandate will lead up to and include the President’s Commencement Luncheon, which is scheduled to kick off on May 21 at the University Student Center, Wilson said.

Earlier this week, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa asked that people voluntarily wear masks at in-door public spaces.

The city’s COVID-19 level was recently moved from “low” to “medium” and if it moves to “high,” then masks will become mandatory, Dzirasa said.

“We will continue to monitor the rates of incidence and positivity in the days and weeks following the end of this spring semester, particularly as we lead into the summer months and the beginning of the upcoming fall semester,” Wilson said in his letter. “It is strongly advised that each of you remain connected to University communications, website and emails for any updates related to COVD-19 protocols.”

The indoor mask protocol is being instituted in addition to mask requirements for classroom settings, BEARtransit, and campus medical settings.

MORE NEWS: 79-Year-Old Man Shot In Carrollton Ridge Friday, Police Say

Additionally, Wilson encouraged students, faculty, and staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.

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Spiro president on the future of events: ‘don’t wait for change, embrace it’

Spiro president on the future of events: ‘don’t wait for change, embrace it’

“Change and evolution are the only constants today,” says Jeff Stelmach, global president of Spiro, part of the global event management company GES. “We’ve had to embrace change to make things work for clients instead of letting change happen to them.”

That’s why GES has unveiled its new brand experience agency, Spiro; to keep the company abreast of changes in event management and across evolving consumer demands. Following the pandemic, the events industry changed for good, with a renewed focus on creating omnichannel experiences – and that’s here to stay. Customers are increasingly seeking events and spaces that prioritize connection and provide flexibility.

“We’ve evolved in the way we view experiences and how we create them,” adds Stelmach. “Spiro brings together our collective abilities, legacy of excellence, and global power to develop integrated solutions for our clients.”

GES realized pretty early on that life – and events in particular – wasn’t going to return to where it was pre-pandemic, so its Spiro offering allows marketers to hold events anywhere their audience is without having to compromise on networking opportunities, redefining what it means to come together.

Here, now, somewhere else or later?

Spiro was forged out of a need to change how events were traditionally run. Spiro sees in-person, virtual and hybrid events as equal opportunities for immersive, interactive storytelling and loyalty-building for brands with a capacity for conducting different sorts of events at scale globally.

The pandemic shifted the collective understanding of what constitutes an event, with more people opting to attend events digitally during the height of lockdown. Having greater flexibility and autonomy around how people attended events complimented growing interest in establishing a better work-life balance.

“Pre-pandemic, an event was a gathering of people with shared interests in a specific location, at a specific time,” says Stelmach. “Now, events and experiences exist beyond time and channels. We now meet, share, and learn across multiple mediums and spaces, because how people choose to engage with, show up for, and consume experiences has changed. An event or experience can be here, now, somewhere else, or later.”

The ‘new now’ reality

It’s important to create experiences that restore choice to event attendees and provide them with the option to consume content in a way that suits them at a time that’s convenient.

Stelmach adds: “Spiro is creating experiences that meet audiences where they are, with the global resources and structure to help industries and brands evolve into our ‘new now’ reality.”

Spiro is designed around a proprietary system that redefines how experiences are conceived, created, delivered, managed, monetized, and quantified. The process is known as community-centered experience design (CCXD), which maps out how economic, cultural, emotional, and behavioral shifts occur in event spaces across services. This provides brands with a clearer idea of what consumers want and how to cater to them.

Embracing all real life (ARL)

Spiro’s ability to tap into consumer needs and provide options that fit their criteria, while accepting their habits will inevitability change, is pioneering.

“Foremost is our concept of ‘there·ness,’ and how we design experiences that meet audiences where they are,” says Stelmach. “All of the new ways that empower us to attend events and experiences mean individuals can now decide what that means to them – which is relative to our individual preferences and choices.”

Prior to the pandemic, the possibility of pivoting to digital was a much-discussed conversation topic, but it wasn’t until consumers had to change their habits that interacting in this way became a possibility.

“We now effortlessly toggle between digital and physical spaces,” says Stelmach. “We live in a new space which we have to embrace. In the new now, we are together and remote; asynchronous and live. We call it all real life (ARL), where we can engage with experiences regardless of time, place, space, and medium.”

Adopting a medium and channel agonistic approach to events feeds into the current era of personalization and tailored experiences, but Spiro’s commitment to providing community through its CCXD allows for interactions to occur even after meetings are officially over.

Coming out stronger

The pandemic proved testing for the events industry – something Stelmach believes was one of the most impacted industries.

“Remote work, resource strain, financial belt tightening, and overwhelming uncertainty created stress and anxiety for everyone,” he says. “Those challenges were compounded by limiting our most effective coping mechanisms – in-person teamwork and co-worker support.”

Through regular feedback with his own employees during the pandemic, Stelmach realized the need for streamlining processes and considering individuals on both a professional and personal level.

Spiro was launched “as a strategy, to not only survive the pandemic, but to come out of it as a stronger world-class marketing solutions agency.”

Hybrid events are here to stay – but GES’s new Spiro offering recognizes the importance of evolving its propositions to continue meeting customers’ needs.

“We are not waiting for an ‘old normal’ to return or looking at hybrid event execution as an inconvenience,” says Stelmach. “It is a way to meet our clients and their customers where they are, by it offering a new set of monetization possibilities and approaches. This is the future.”

The future of meaningful connections

As technology continues to develop, Stelmach predicts so too will Spiro’s prowess, particularly in the way businesses can interact and connections can meet.

“Spiro will continue to change the way we engage,” says Stelmach. “What’s most important is to not lose sight of our purpose: people attend events and experiences, fundamentally, to join communities.”

Making meaningful connections at events plays a powerful and purposeful role. Event attendees seek to enjoy moments within event spaces and build their networks – something Spiro provides through its flexible and tailored offering.

Stelmach concludes: “We intend to create immersive moments so impactful that they expand into ongoing micro-experiences and robust contiguous communities.”

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US President Biden’s remarks on events of 1915 a repeated mistake: Türkiye

US President Biden's remarks on events of 1915 a repeated mistake: Türkiye

Ankara rejects “statements and decisions, which distort historical facts with political motives,” the foreign ministry said.

Türkiye respectfully commemorates the sufferings of the entire Ottoman population
Türkiye respectfully commemorates the sufferings of the entire Ottoman population “without ethnic or religious discrimination” said the ministry.
(AA)

Türkiye has rejected and condemned statements made by United States’ President Joe Biden regarding the events of 1915.

“Statements that are incompatible with historical facts and international law regarding the events of 1915 are not valid,” said a Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday.

“This includes the unfortunate statement made by US President Biden today, which is the repetition of the mistake he had made in 2021,” it added.

Stressing that Ankara rejects “such statements and decisions, which distort historical facts with political motives,” the ministry also condemned “those who insist on this mistake.”

“One-sided and selective approaches that serve no purpose other than to draw enmity from history are morally problematic and politically ill-intentioned,” it noted.

READ MORE: Türkiye: 1915 events being manipulated with baseless allegations

‘Commemorating all sufferings’

The ministry also asserted that commemorating “all sufferings experienced at that period, without ethnic or religious discrimination” requires a humanitarian and conscientious stance.

Türkiye respectfully commemorates the sufferings of the entire Ottoman population, including Armenians, it added.

“We reject the attempts to exploit this pain for political purposes.”

Citing Türkiye’s proposition to establish a joint historical commission and open both countries’ archives, Ankara reiterated its call to study “controversial episodes in history.”

That includes the events of 1915, “without prejudice by respecting the scientific and legal principles in order to reach a just memory.”

“Türkiye strives for peace and stability in its region and in the world, and the spirit of cooperation to prevail,” the ministry said.

“The normalisation initiative with Armenia is another manifestation of this understanding.”

READ MORE: Erdogan: Türkiye will continue to defend truth about 1915 events

Source: AA

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President Biden arrives in Seattle for Earth Day remarks, events announced for Friday

President Biden arrives in Seattle for Earth Day remarks, events announced for Friday

President Joe Biden is in the Pacific Northwest starting Thursday for a two-day visit to Portland and Seattle. Authorities say to expect delays on the ground and in the air.

Biden’s first stop was Portland, where he toured areas that benefited from his infrastructure bill.

After his Portland visit, Biden traveled to Seattle Thursday evening, and is landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shortly after 5:00 p.m.

Travelers saw delays due to Air Force One’s arrival at SEA Airport. According to airport officials, security protocols call for all air traffic to stop 30 minutes before and after the arrival.

During Biden’s arrival and departure, the Washington State Patrol said drivers should expect freeway closures around the Seattle area because of his visit. It is not known yet which freeways could be closed. 

On Friday, the President will deliver Earth Day remarks at Seward Park in Seattle at 10:30 a.m. He will then head to Auburn to discuss a plan to lower health care and energy costs. Biden will be speaking at Green River College at 12:30 p.m.

Biden is scheduled to attend a democratic fundraiser and is expected to stay until Friday, which is also Earth Day.

Although Biden is raising fuel economy standards for vehicles and included green policies in last year’s bipartisan infrastructure legislation, the lack of greater progress casts a shadow over his second Earth Day as president.

He will mark the moment on Friday in Seattle, where he’ll be joined by Gov. Jay Inslee, a fellow Democrat with a national reputation for climate action. During the Seattle visit, Biden plans to sign a climate-related executive order in honor of Earth Day.

According to a White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Biden will also discuss how he is fighting to bring down prescription drug costs, such as insulin, and will be also joined by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Congresswoman Kim Schrier.

Get breaking news alerts in the FREE FOX 13 Seattle app. Download for Apple iOS or Android. And sign up for BREAKING NEWS emails delivered straight to your inbox.

Biden’s last Seattle visit was in November 2019 while campaigning in the Democratic presidential primaries. He attended a fundraiser at the home of Amazon executive David Zapolsky.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Events DC Names Chief Operating Officer Samuel Thomas Interim President and CEO

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, today named Samuel Thomas as interim president and chief executive officer following a unanimous vote by the organization’s board of directors. Thomas, Events DC’s current chief operating officer, will replace longtime president and CEO Greg O’Dell, who announced his resignation last month.

Thomas has worked at Events DC for over 15 years and previously served as senior vice president and general manager of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center before his promotion to Chief Operating Officer. With more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he managed some of the country’s most prestigious and celebrated events, from four presidential inaugural balls to an Alpha Kappa Alpha function that broke the Guinness World Record for largest sit-down dinner ever recorded.

“It was a natural choice to have Samuel to step into this role,” Max Brown, chairman, Events DC Board of Directors, said after the vote. “Samuel has been an asset to this organization’s growth and his experience is vital to our continued success. He is in a position to take the helm, ensuring a seamless transition in leadership.”

“I am honored for this opportunity and look forward to working with our dynamic team,” Thomas said. “I am proud of our accomplishments, especially over the past two challenging years, and am eager to continue our work in hosting world-class event experiences for residents and visitors.”

Thomas will assume his new role on May 1. A search committee has been formed and the Board of Directors hopes to have a new President and CEO named this fall.

ABOUT EVENTS DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that hosts more than 1.7 million visitors and generates more than $400 million annually in direct economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, the non-military functions of the DC Armory, and the Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Stay current on the 190-acre RFK Campus Redevelopment Project at www.RFKFields.com. Events DC also built and serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and Entertainment & Sports Arena all conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Events DC), and Twitter (@TheEventsDC) — and on our new hub for live and on-demand event programming on GATHER by Events DC at www.gatherbyeventsdc.com.

SOURCE Events DC

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Trudeau invites Mexican president to event supporting Ukraine

Trudeau invites Mexican president to event supporting Ukraine

MEXICO CITY —
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday invited Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to take part in an event supporting Ukrainian victims of the conflict with Russia, amid criticism that Mexico has been too accommodating to Moscow.

During a phone call, Trudeau asked Lopez Obrador to participate in the “Stand Up for Ukraine” campaign event on Saturday to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people, the Canadian government said.

Trudeau is co-convening the event with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Lopez Obrador has tried to remain neutral in the conflict and has declined to impose sanctions against Russia. While his government backed a United Nations vote urging Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, it has also criticized Europe for sending arms to other countries – as it has for Ukraine.

Last month, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico expressed concern at a public display of solidarity between the Russian ambassador to Mexico and a group of Mexican lawmakers at the inauguration of a Mexico-Russia friendship committee.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Mexico, Oksana Dramaretska, on Sunday posted images of corpses on streets of Ukraine and tweeted at Lopez Obrador: “Do you really want to continue friendly relations with those in the Kremlin who are committing genocide after this?”

Lopez Obrador has not commented publicly on the tweet.

Dramaretska posted the tweet after the bodies of civilians shot at close range were discovered in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.

Ukraine has called the killings Russian war crimes. Russia denied targeting civilians and described evidence presented as a “monstrous forgery” staged by the West to discredit it.

Canada’s government said Lopez Obrador and Trudeau also discussed their concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict and global challenges stemming from it, including those related to energy and food security.

(Reporting by Dave Graham Additional reporting by David Ljunggren Editing by Leslie Adler)

 

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