Melbourne - Tops The World For Sports

[Metal Head]

From a proud Melburnian


MELBOURNE has been named the world's top sports events city, ahead of joint second Paris and Sydney, in the first analysis of its kind.

The result is predicted to provide a boost to tourism, bids for events - including the soccer World Cup - and international opportunities for Melbourne's events planners and organisers.

The study found Melbourne had an "unparalleled track record reputation" for hosting sport, with international events industry bosses also praising its "versatility, stadia, city atmosphere and local passion for all sports". In welcoming the result, Premier Steve Bracks said: "The world is acknowledging what we already know - that Melbourne is the sport capital of the world.

"This year's Commonwealth Games was just the latest in a long list of world-class sporting events staged in Melbourne - a list that stretches back to the 1956 Olympics and beyond."

The study to find the best location to hold a sports event was completed by London-based consulting and research firm ArkSports, whose clients include the NFL, BT, Visa and Ladbrokes.

Berlin, in Germany, was fourth, with London fifth. Twenty of the world's top sports cities were selected for the study, based on their history of hosting events.

Factors that were analysed and scored included each city's events list from 2002 to 2010, the public interest in terms of attendances and media coverage, their legacies, the city's quality of life, facilities, transport and accommodation, government support, weather and tourism.

In addition to analysing data, ArkSports took on the opinions of 50 events industry executives, including major sponsors.

As well as being overall winner, with 341.5 points - 29 points ahead of its nearest rivals - Melbourne was top for the level of public interest in events, its facilities, its number of major events won and the level of government support.

It finished second in the majority of other categories, including quality of life (behind Vancouver), accommodation (behind New York) and weather/tourism and legacy (behind Sydney).

The only area in which it polled badly was transport.

[bitingmidge]

It's the middle of November, the first test starts in ten days, and the forecast for tomorrow gives Melbourne a maximum temperature of 14°.

Any wonder you blokes have to run around a lot.

P
(Lying on the beach where it's 27° under a clear blue sky, thinking of you and your great sporting city!)

[echnidna]

yeah BM, we don't waste electricity on air conditioners running non -stop just to feel cool & comfortable.

[Sturdee]

MELBOURNE has been named the world's top sports events city, ahead of joint second Paris and Sydney, in the first analysis of its kind.

Sorry, but I don't share your enthousiasm for this.

I would be much happier if we had a reputation for a good free road network, adequate public transport, sufficient hospitals so we don't have long waiting lists, sufficient modern schools, an adequate police force and properly resourced CFA, a name for excellence in medical research and the provision of adequate water resources to name a few, rather than waste public moneys on professional sporting events.


Peter.

[ozwinner]

I have to agree with Sturdee seeing as how Im not a sports head.
In fact most sports bore me to tears with the exception of 1 day cricket.

Al

[Article99]

Provided the MotoGP's at the island every year, and the Upper Yarra rifle range still stands, I really could care less. (Quite selfish, but both are reasonably self supporting places that don't hold their hand out for money from the government every five minutes.)

[Rossluck]

This "Melbourne" you speak of, is it in Australia? I've never heard of the place.

[Groggy]

This "Melbourne" you speak of, is it in Australia? I've never heard of the place.

I think I may be able to help. Go to the list of the Worlds Most Liveable Cities. Find Brisbane, then, look up.

[bitingmidge]

I think I may be able to help. Go to the list of the Worlds Most Liveable Cities. Find Brisbane, then, look up.

Ahhh yes Sir Groggy, well spotted.

If you do that the only thing in eyeshot would be the Sunshine Coast!

cheers,

P

[vsquizz]

Melbourne: See Mexico

[Rossluck]

I'm not much into these parochial comparisons of cities and states in Oz. I've travelled the country a bit and lived for a while in most cities (the exception being Melbourne and Hobart). They all have their good points and bad. Melbourne's a fantastic place but too cold in winter, Brisbane's beautiful in winter but too hot in summer, Sydney has a nice climate but too many people (for me) and so on.

In the end it's like saying that the Barrier Reef is better than Uluru, or visa versa.

But I do agree that Melbourne has a special association with sports. I mean, AFL's like a religion.

[bennylaird]

Only trouble with the northern states is the hot weather, you can keep that, anything hotter than maybe 32 is just uncomfortably

[Rossluck]

Only trouble with the northern states is the hot weather, you can keep that, anything hotter than maybe 32 is just uncomfortably

I agree. I hate the heat.

[Waldo]

G'day,

Poobah to be named top sports city, so what - woohoo.

I'll nominate it for having the worst weather for any city in Australia, so I like to nominate that it should be called a province of Antartica. Give me heat and humidity any time, I'd rarther be hot than cold. (and yes, I do know what hot is, I'm a Queenslander )

And it's still damned Winter down here! Brrrrrrrrrrrr.

[bennylaird]

Lovely day Waldo, come outside and frolic in your budgie smugglers