Mass Participation World

One of the many things we love about Asia is the cultural and ceremonial aspects that can easily be integrated into events to enhance the participant experience and showcase the country.

Some images from last year’s official opening of the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon which delegates at MPW23 Conference were invited to attend.

It will be the same again this year at MPW24 where the Race Expo will be at the same venue as the conference at Global City by Masterise Homes.

Thanks to our amazing partner Sunrise Events Viet Nam (SEV) Bang Trinh, Rob Zamacona and Phuong Le Viet, together with Techcombank (TCB) and Tu Thai Minh Diem delegates will be able to attend the official opening and press conference of this year’s event and then walk a few minutes to the stunning conference venue at the start of Day 2.

It’s not too late to register to join us in Ho Chi Minh City in just over a week from 5-7 December.

Full program, speakers and registration through the link in the comments below.

As we head towards 2025 in a world wrestling with uncertainty and change what will the conditions on the mountain we are climbing be?

In a little over two weeks we will flag off the 9th edition of MPW in Ho Chi Minh City and I’m hugely interested to hear the insights from the first session.

I’m honoured that Arnaud Ginolin, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) will be joining us in conversation with Bang Trinh, Co-founder Sunrise Events Viet Nam (SEV) to explore “A View from the Summit: Global macro trends - challenges and opportunities”.

Register today to join us as we explore “Climbing the Next Mountain: For Those Who Dare” with over 40 speakers – international experts from inside and beyond the Mass Participation industry.

Full program will be announced tomorrow.

Some of the key highlights include:

✅ Reaching the 7th Summit: How Tata Consultancy Services Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS Climbed to the Abbott World Marathon Majors with Wayne Larden

✅ A Climbers Perspective: Insights from Industry Leaders including Pierre Duvelleroy, Su Tien Ng and Mike Coleman

✅ On Top of the World for 5 Weeks: Insights into BMW Berlin Marathon becoming the biggest marathon in the world with Mark Milde

✅ Building a New & Different Mountain: Insights from the incredible ascent of HYROX with Alex Rausch

✅ Exploring a Different Mountain Range: What can we learn for the hotel and hospitality industry – including dynamic entry pricing with Craig Winnett & Jagdish Sandhu

✅ Climbing into the Future; Preparing for the oncoming AI Wave with Cade Netscher

✅ Summiting Sustainably: How the 7 Pillars can help grow your event and business with Mike Laflin

✅ Finals of the GSIC powered by Microsoft, MPW Innovation Challenge

Register using the link in the comments below

It’s been a remarkable year for the running industry with participation records broken all over the world.

Join us on Tuesday for the final World Athletics webinar of the year as we unpack it during “2024 in Review: A record-breaking year on so many levels”

Tuesday 19 November
7am NY | 12pm London | 8pm Singapore

Program with all times CET

1pm Welcome. Chris Robb, CEO and Founder, MPW

1.05 Marathon Pour Tous Paris 2024: A record-breaking legacy, Kevin Quinou, Head of Mass Events Operations, Paris 2024

1.20 Images galore. Tom Janas, CEO, Sportograf GmbH & Co. KG

1.35 From East to West: A year beyond expectations.

Kirsten-Ellen Fleming, Executive Director, Run Calgary/Calgary Run Society
Santoz Kumar, General Manager, The The IRONMAN Group Singapore
Dorte Vibjerg, CEO, Sparta Athletics & Running Copenhagen
Phuong Le Viet, COO Sunrise Events Viet Nam (SEV)
In Conversation with Chris Robb

2.20 How to Grow Your Event with Strava. Theo Bayssat, Sr Manager Partnerships Strategy & Operations, Strava

2.45 Perspectives to 2025.
Alessio Punzi, Head of Running & Mass Participation, World Athletics

2.55 Wrap-up/Closing Remarks.
Chris Robb

3.00 Close

Register now through the link in the comments below.

Reminder that MPW24 registration prices increase on Monday (17 November). Join us in Vietnam as we explore “Climbing the Next Mountain: For Those Who Dare”

Every mass participation event starts with the first step ….

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that what started out as an idea to bring the Mass Participation industry in Asia together has turned into a global initiative that will celebrate it’s 10th anniversary next year.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of many people especially Teck Yin Lim and Sport Singapore, Pierre Duvelleroy and njuko.com and Alessio Punzi and World Athletics whose early support helped lay the foundation.

They were followed by a multitude of partners, speakers and delegates from over 60 countries to help transform Mass Participation Asia into Mass Participation World. A huge thanks to all of you.

What was born in Singapore has created truly global impact.

We are now way more than just an annual conference and it is with great excitement, as we prepare for MPW24 in Ho Chi Minh City in partnership with Bang Trinh and Sunrise Events Viet Nam (SEV), that we announce the opportunity for Host City Partnerships for the next 5 years.

Albeit that 2027 is already locked in and we will soon make an announcement revealing an amazing partnership alongside a major global event.

I’m particularly passionate about taking MPW to emerging markets where we have already made huge impact.

If you are interested follow the links in the graphic below for details.

Expressions of interest close on 15 November after which a short list of Host City Partners will be invited to submit detailed proposals.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me directly [email protected]

Register for MPW24 through the link in the comments

We are delighted to announce our next group of speakers for MPW24.

Join us in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as we explore “Climbing the Next Mountain: For Those Who Dare”

I’m especially excited to hear insights from Mark Milde as to how this year’s 50th anniversary BMW Berlin Marathon officially became the biggest marathon in the world with 54,280 finishers.

Hugh Singe will be one of the facilitators for the World Athletics and World Academy of Endurance Medicine half day Medical Operations Workshop.

The recent Techcombank (TCB) Hanoi Marathon was postponed by a week due to Typhoon Yagi and Phuong Le Viet will join a panel to share how that enormous task was made possible by collaboration between multiple stakeholders.

The response to the GGSIC powered by MicrosoftMPW Innovation Challenge has been spectacular and I’m excited to be joined by Peggy Tng as we profile some of the solutions to the 41 problem statements we received.

The Belgrade Marathon has created an amazing “Heroes of Belgrade” social engagement program and DDarko Habušwill share details during our sustainability segment presented by Global Sustainable Sport

Like in many emerging markets, our industry continues to grow in Pakistan and Shoaib Nizami will share some interesting insights from Sports In Pakistan

EARLY BIRD ENDS TOMORROW. Register through the link in the comments below.

Delighted to have already received registrations from across the globe within the first 48 hours of opening for MPW24 in Vietnam.

Sign up before 18 October at early bird rates to join us as we explore “Climbing the Next Mountain: For Those Who Dare” during our 9th edition, in Ho Chi Minh City.

We are excited to invite the industry to dare to think differently as we look to harness the current global boom, especially in running - the largest marathon ever with 54,280 finishers in Berlin last weekend as just one example .

The analogy of the mountain and the image of Everest has been chosen for a number of reasons:

🏔️ Reaching the summit of Everest does not happen overnight – it takes years of training, experience and critically collaboration
🏔️ Everest stands tall but is at the centre of a huge range of mountains – without their “support” it does not exist
🏔️ Not everyone can or has to exist in the rare air of Everest’s summit – are you clear on the summit you are aiming for?

Some of the things we will explore include:

✅ Success Beyond Success – moving beyond the fixation on “operational success”, which should be a given
✅ Opportunities for greater collaboration between ALL stakeholders – as we say in Asia “grow a bigger rice bowl for everyone”
✅ Future generations – participants, leaders, workforce
✅ Sustainability – looking far beyond environmental
✅ Embracing technology – including solutions to some of the 41 “problem statements” we have received in the GSIC powered by Microsoft MPW Innovation Challenge
✅ An immersive Explore Performance simulation of climbing Everest with a multitude of practical and relevant lessons
✅ A World Athletics and World Academy for Endurance Medicine half day Medical Operation Workshop with Stéphane Bermon Director Health & Science Department, World Athletics and Hugh Singe, Managing Director, Event Health Management.

We will start announcing other speakers weekly from next week - stay tuned.

We hope you will dare to join us in Ho Chi Minh City from 5 to 7 December to explore how you can dare to be different as you set your future horizons and the summit you aim to reach.

Register through the link in the comments below or scan the QR code in the graphic to also see program and hotel details.

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It’s exciting times for the Mass Participation industry as events around the world attract record numbers.

However I have a concern that many are being blinded by the raw numbers without paying attention to how we leverage this huge opportunity to evolve and build a long-term sustainable industry that will not struggle when we hit inevitable headwinds down the road.

It is increasingly well documented that much of the “mainstream” sports industry is going through extremely challenging times as a result of flawed business models and poor governance. I think there are many parallels in Mass Participation.

So we have provocatively chosen the theme “Climbing the Next Mountain: For Those Who Dare” for MPW24, our 9th edition, in Ho Chi Minh City.

We are excited to invite the industry to dare to think differently as we release the first draft of the program which can be downloaded through the link in the comments.

The analogy of the mountain and the image of Everest has been chosen for a number of reasons:

🏔️ Reaching the summit of Everest does not happen overnight – it takes years of training, experience and critically collaboration
🏔️ Everest stands tall but is at the centre of a huge range of mountains – without their “support” it does not exist
🏔️ Not everyone can or has to exist in the rare air of Everest’s summit – are you clear on the summit you are aiming for?

Some of the things we will explore include:

✅ Success Beyond Success – moving beyond the fixation on “operational success”, which should be a given
✅ Opportunities for greater collaboration between ALL stakeholders – as we say in Asia “grow a bigger rice bowl for everyone”
✅ Future generations – participants, leaders, workforce
✅ Sustainability – looking far beyond environmental
✅ Embracing technology – including solutions to some of the 41 “problem statements” we have received in the GSIC powered by Microsoft MPW Innovation Challenge
✅ An immersive Explore Performance simulation of climbing Everest with a multitude of practical and relevant lessons
✅ A World Athletics and World Academy for Endurance Medicine half day Medical Operation Workshop with Stéphane Bermon Director Health & Science Department, World Athletics and Hugh Singe, Managing Director, Event Health Management.

I hope you will dare to join us in Ho Chi Minh City from 5 to 7 December to explore how you can dare to be different as you set your future horizons and the summit you aim to reach.

Registration will open on 16 September – in the meantime register your interest through the link in the comments to qualify for special benefits including five free passes

Huge thanks to Anthony Bonney, Managing Director,Grow On Purpose for his powerful support in helping curate the program.

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We are massively excited to once again partner with GSIC powered by Microsofticrosoft to launch the GSIC MPW Innovation Challenge, a unique platform designed to foster collaboration and innovation in the mass participation industry.
The Challenge aims to help transform the industry by bringing together stakeholders and innovative tech solution providers to address real-world challenges.
In an extension of the partnership between GSIC and MPW which started in 2018, the finalists will present their solutions to delegates and investors at the 9th edition of Mass Participation World Conference (MPW24) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from 4-6 Dec
Challenge Details:
The GSIC MPW Innovation Challenge invites companies and startups from around the world to address 10 curated problem statements submitted by various stakeholders from the mass participation industry accross five categories:
➡️ Data Analytics
➡️ Event Operations
➡️ Participant Engagement
➡️ Smart Venues
➡️ Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
If you are a stakeholder in the mass participation industry with a problem statement you can share by filling in a simple form using the link in the comments below before 9 Aug or contacting GSIC or MPW.
Key dates:
✅ 9 Aug: Problem statement submissions close
✅ 23 Aug: Submissions by Tech Providers open
✅ 21 Oct: Submissions by Tech Providers close
✅ 4 Nov: Finalists Confirmed
✅ 4-6 Dec: MPW24 in Ho Chi Minh City (details in the link below)

We are delighted to announce that MPW will again partner with Sunrise Events Vietnam (SEV) to stage the 9th edition of MPW in Ho Chi Minh City – our second successive year in the vibrant city and incredible country where the Mass Participation industry is booming.

MPW24 will also, once again, be supported by njuko.com together with MarathonFoto and Sportograf GmbH & Co. KG. We will be announcing more partners over the coming weeks.

As always, there will be new initiatives and formats including an exciting development in our MPW Innovation Spotlight segment. Stay tuned for details.

The conference will take place alongside the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon. Why not end your year by staying on to watch or run in the event and explore incredible Vietnam with its diverse attractions and culture.

Registrations will open in August so be sure to register your interest to receive regular updates and special offers through the link in the comments below.

If you are interested in becoming a partner, speaker or exhibitor please reach out to me directly.

We have assembled an amazing international panel for the next World Athletics Webinar which will take place tomorrow on the eve of International Women's Day.
I hope you can join us for "Celebrating Women in Running".
We will flag off at:
7am New York | 12pm London | 8pm Singapore.
Register here: https://bit.ly/celebratingrunningwomen