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VisitScotland's Paul Bush: co-hosting model for European Championships a 'disruptor on the market'
POSTED 31 Aug 2018 . BY Tom Walker
Paul Bush, VisitScotland's director of events, says the successful delivery of the recent Glasgow 2018 European Championships shows how the country's adopted delivery model is "causing disruption" in the major sports event market.

"For all involved, the European Championships has surpassed expectations and has shown what can be achieved when you are brave, ambitious and innovative", Bush said.

"As a new event, there was no manual for how the Championships should be delivered, giving us the opportunity to be bold and find different ways of working.

"While there were undoubtedly some challenges as we navigated our way down this new path, overall the sector really responded by creating a new delivery model that is causing real disruption within the market.

"I believe what has been delivered by co-hosts Glasgow and Berlin, in partnership with the European sports federations and the European Broadcast Union, is a model that is the way forward for sport events in the future."

With a potential total audience of more than 1.03 billion viewers across the continent, and an even wider audience via multiple digital platforms, the event was shown by more than 40 free-to-air broadcasters across 3,000 hours.

Early international TV viewing figures across terrestrial channels were strong across Europe. In Germany and France, more than 3 million viewers tuned in on a single day (Sunday 5th August) to watch the action.

"The quality of sport on offer also showed the calibre of the event," Bush added.

"This shows that bringing existing individual events together, under one umbrella, and creating a mutually beneficial multi-sport event that is shown across multiple media platforms, you can achieve greater reach and impact than when done on their own.

"Co-hosting the event with Berlin was also something very special and new. Co-hosting of events has rarely been done but again I think it is something we will see more and more of going forward.

"It is a great opportunity for cities and countries to come together and bid for events that otherwise might not have been possible on their own."

Held from 2 to 12 August, the 2018 European Championships were the first edition of the European Championships.

As well as Berlin and Glasgow, some of the multi-sport events took place in Edinburgh.

Around 1,500 athletes competed across the 14 championships, which covered major sports such as athletics, swimming, cycling and gymnastics, as well as rowing and golf.
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  Munich to host 2022 European Championships


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NEWS
VisitScotland's Paul Bush: co-hosting model for European Championships a 'disruptor on the market'
POSTED 31 Aug 2018 . BY Tom Walker
Paul Bush, VisitScotland's director of events, says the successful delivery of the recent Glasgow 2018 European Championships shows how the country's adopted delivery model is "causing disruption" in the major sports event market.

"For all involved, the European Championships has surpassed expectations and has shown what can be achieved when you are brave, ambitious and innovative", Bush said.

"As a new event, there was no manual for how the Championships should be delivered, giving us the opportunity to be bold and find different ways of working.

"While there were undoubtedly some challenges as we navigated our way down this new path, overall the sector really responded by creating a new delivery model that is causing real disruption within the market.

"I believe what has been delivered by co-hosts Glasgow and Berlin, in partnership with the European sports federations and the European Broadcast Union, is a model that is the way forward for sport events in the future."

With a potential total audience of more than 1.03 billion viewers across the continent, and an even wider audience via multiple digital platforms, the event was shown by more than 40 free-to-air broadcasters across 3,000 hours.

Early international TV viewing figures across terrestrial channels were strong across Europe. In Germany and France, more than 3 million viewers tuned in on a single day (Sunday 5th August) to watch the action.

"The quality of sport on offer also showed the calibre of the event," Bush added.

"This shows that bringing existing individual events together, under one umbrella, and creating a mutually beneficial multi-sport event that is shown across multiple media platforms, you can achieve greater reach and impact than when done on their own.

"Co-hosting the event with Berlin was also something very special and new. Co-hosting of events has rarely been done but again I think it is something we will see more and more of going forward.

"It is a great opportunity for cities and countries to come together and bid for events that otherwise might not have been possible on their own."

Held from 2 to 12 August, the 2018 European Championships were the first edition of the European Championships.

As well as Berlin and Glasgow, some of the multi-sport events took place in Edinburgh.

Around 1,500 athletes competed across the 14 championships, which covered major sports such as athletics, swimming, cycling and gymnastics, as well as rowing and golf.
RELATED STORIES
VisitScotland targets European visitor markets to grow Scottish tourism


VisitScotland is upping its efforts to market Scotland as a destination for european visitors, by hosting its first ever pan-European travel trade mission.
VisitScotland launches app for Chinese visitors


VisitScotland is looking to tap into one of the largest outbound tourism markets by launching a new app targeting millions of Chinese social media users.
Munich to host 2022 European Championships


German city Munich will host the 2022 European Championships following unanimous approval of its bid by the participating European sports federations.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
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IDEATTACK

IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and design company with headquarters in Los Angeles. [more...]
Painting With Light

By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
RMA Ltd

RMA Ltd is a one-stop global company that can design, build and produce from a greenfield site upw [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
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