IAEH Video Archive

In this session, the AISTS team provided an overview regarding the methodologies they use to measure the economic impact of sporting events. Topics covered included:

– Introduction of AISTS: overview of the organisation’s background, research focus, and its work in developing methodologies for assessing the economic impact of sports events.
– Purpose of economic impact studies: discussion on why such studies are essential for justifying investments, supporting strategy and decision-making, and ensuring accountability and transparency.
– Challenges of inflated impact claims: exploration of the need for objective, comparable, and conservative methodologies to avoid exaggerated economic impact figures.
– Methodological framework: explanation of direct, indirect, and induced impacts, and the complexity of data collection across multiple stakeholders.
– Standardisation and credibility: presentation of the AISTS/IOC-endorsed methodology as a consistent, transparent, and conservative model for measuring impact across events.
– Discussion: Audience raises issues around defining reference areas, handling internal versus external inflows spending, and ensuring consistency across regions and event types.
– Data collection innovations: dialogue about emerging methods such as mobile and banking data, versus traditional surveys, and cultural differences affecting data accuracy.

Kevin McMullan from EventFlanders provided an insightful presentation and led a discussion with other event hosts on 30 June 2025 on the topic of CO2 emissions and compensation strategies. Areas covered included:

– CO2 compensation
– Working with third parties for impact reports
– Calculating emissions
– Strategies to reduce emissions at major events
– Compensating emissions
– Choosing projects to support for reducing emissions
– Local vs international projects
– Difficulties in estimating emissions
– Questions around sports vs tourism- what creates emissions?
– Who should be responsible for reducing emissions?
– Considerations of the broader context of climate justice
– Partnerships for climate justice
– Challenges in recognising global standards on climate/emissions

Perttu Pesä, Director of Major Events and Chair at the IAEH, provided an in-depth talk on 16th June 2025 to IAEH members meeting in ANOC, Lausanne covering data research that has been carried out on major events in Tampere, Finland. Topics covered include:

1) Monitoring models
– Objectives
– Indicators
– Starting points for partnership and financial support for events
– Distinguishing events

2) Figures and rankings
– Event visitors, sales and turnover
– Visitors at selected events and venues
– Overview of the event industry in Tampere
– Collecting public feedback
– Spending by visitors breakdown

This presentation was followed by a discussion by members on issues involved in applying indicators and collecting data. In this context, methodologies, working with partners and collective trends were considered.

Iain Edmondson, IAEH Honorary Member and Founder and Manager of Legacy Delivery, continues his insightful series on the Common Indicators for Measuring the Impact of Events, this time by considering their practical application:

– The importance of relativity and comparison in impact assessment guidance
– Using KPIs to plan and deliver, with before and after examples
– Choosing relevant common indicators for events
– Super League Triathlon exemplified- use of previous cases for future preparation
– Use of KPIs to consider who and how an event should impact
– Use of self-assessment scales
– Different frameworks for different purposes
– National wellbeing indicators framework case example

Mapping and monitoring major event contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals – 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

15 June 2022

As part of the 2022 IAEH AGM’s programme, Sustainability Consultant Benjamin Barrett was invited to present on the relevance of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Benjamin’s presentation included:

– Policy driven events
– Contributing to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
– Key steps for UN SDG mapping
– Case study on ensuring healthy lives and well-being
– Monitoring SDG contributions
– Building an evaluation framework
– Sustainable procurement code

11th April 2022

Hosted by:
Rick Traer (IAEH Director and CEO Emeritus, Sport Tourism Canada)
Presented by:
Iain Edmondson (IAEH Honorary Member and Legacy Delivery Ltd. Founder & Managing Director)

The IAEH promoted this webinar in its commitment to support members in implementing the guidance on common indicators for measuring the impact of events.

The report is authored by Iain Edmondson commissioned by ASOIF to aggregate the perspectives of key players in the sporting event evaluation industry.

Link to the guidance

17th November 2021

Hosted by:
Peter Hunt (IAEH Director and Tourism and Events Queensland Events and Experiences Director)
Presented by:
Iain Edmondson (IAEH Honorary Member and Legacy Delivery Ltd. Founder & Managing Director)

The IAEH promoted this webinar in its commitment to support members in implementing the guidance on common indicators for measuring the impact of events.

The report is authored by Iain Edmondson commissioned by ASOIF to aggregate the perspectives of key players in the sporting event evaluation industry.

Link to the guidance

The Changing Landscape of Global Sport
15th June 2021

As part of the 2021 IAEH AGM’s programme, ASOIF Executive Director Andrew Ryan was invited to share insights on the landscape of IF events in the coming years.

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) is the umbrella organisation for the 33 sports on the summer Olympic Games programme for Tokyo 2020.

Andrew’s presentation included the following content:
– Global Trends Impacting Sports
– Future of Global Sport
– Impacts of Covid-19
– Event Impact Studies

Hosted by IAEH director Iain Edmondson

“Social and Economic Impacts measurement: Towards a common language based on KPIs and definitions”
Key topics covered by the webinar:
⋅ Guidance and key rules for measuring benefits
⋅ Demystifying economic impacts
⋅ Challenges and approaches to measuring social impacts