world sport tourism show

Sports Tourism News is under maintenance - we will be bringing you something new soon!

How does sport contribute to tourism?

Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It allows people to experience the world’s different cultural and natural riches and brings people closer to each other, highlighting our common humanity.

The many important contributions of tourism encouraged the  UN World Tourism Organization  ( UNWTO ) to institute World Tourism Day, celebrated annually since 1980 on 27 September, to highlight the importance of tourism and its impact on our society.

Tourism and sports

According to UNWTO , tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world, while sport is one of the world’s largest social phenomenon. As a professional or leisure activity, sport often involves travel to other places, to play and compete in various destinations. Further, major sporting events, such as the Olympics and various World Cups, have become powerful tourist attractions.

Sports tourism constitutes a large part of the tourism industry, with some sources claiming that a  quarter of all tourism in the world is sports-related. Sports tourism includes not only participation in and attending sporting events, but also personal recreational activities.

Statements from the World Tourism Organisation and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have highlighted the importance of sports tourism; in 2004, the organisations committed to reinforcing their partnership and collaboration in the sports tourism domain, stating :

“Tourism and sport are interrelated and complementary… both are powerful forces for development, stimulating investment in infrastructure projects such as airports, roads, stadiums, sporting complexes and restaurants- projects that can be enjoyed by the local population as well as tourists who come to use them.”

Sports tourism and sustainable development

Tourism is an essential pillar of the  2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially  goals 8 ,  12 , and  14 . As a segment of tourism, sports tourism can also help achieve sustainable development .

At an economic level, sports tourism contributes to SDGs 1 (end poverty in all its forms everywhere) and 8 (promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all). Sports tourism promotes local businesses, creating demand in areas such as transportation, hotels and restaurants. Thus, local populations can avail jobs and income opportunities. Depending on the nature of the sports and experiences, local people can work as instructors and guides, who are likely to be paid more due to their special skills.

Further, sports tourism contributes to SDG 3 (ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages). Besides providing the tourists with sporting opportunities and an outlet for physical exercise, investment in sports tourism can also promote the participation of local populations in sporting activities.

Finally, sports tourism can also contribute to SDG 11 (make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Accessible sports tourism products like hand bikes provide access to sports opportunities for people with disabilities. Para-sport activities can be enjoyed by tourists and residents alike. The development of accessible sports tourism can improve accessibility in the destination city by the provision of not only sports products, but also accessible accommodation and transport. Furthermore, accessible sports tourism helps increase the understanding of people with disabilities in society.

Sports, tourism and sustainability

Sports federations, like the IOC, have realised the need for sustainable practices during mega sporting events. Thus, the IOC launched the International Federation (IF) Sustainability Project in 2016 to obtain an overview of their sustainability initiatives, identifying common topics, challenges and good practices. Building on the Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC Sustainability Strategy was developed in close cooperation with many stakeholders and partners to fundamentally shape the working practices of the IOC, the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement.

To develop synergies between the stakeholders so that sports and its facilities can be included in the local assets, it is necessary for decision-makers at all levels to understand their potential and agree to work together to set up sustainable development strategies. 

Host cities should target participants who are most likely to engage in sustainable behaviour while in the destination. This includes developing event portfolios geared towards sustainable event practices. The host city should also harness collaborative partnerships to foster social cohesion and build the capacity to increase sustainable practices.

From the design and construction of sports facilities and the way resources are managed, to valuing the natural environment and health and well-being of people, all decisions should be informed by sustainability principles. As the role and relevance of sport in today’s society continue to grow, progress can only be in cooperation and partnership with others, including the tourism industry.

• Related article: Active tourism
• Related article: How can fans support sustainability in sports?

Related Articles

PSD completes the first and second batches of Level 1: Introduction to S4D

Moving People deserve organisations that treat them as their first priority

Sport for Development Coalition launches weekly drop-in webinar series

Building communities through participatory sport for development

Steering board members.

Sport is taking tourism to a new global level

Living in an age of technology where travel and communications have improved with dizzying speed, the world has transformed to a global village. In it, tourism is fast reaching its zenith of success, with Youth Sports earning over US$ 7 billion in travel alone.

According to the statistics portal Statistica , the global sports market total revenue in 2005 was US$46.5 billion. In 2017, this revenue is expected to be US$ 90.9 billion. Statistics also show that around 75.3 million adults have attended organized sports events in the past 5 years and that 2/5ths of US adults are sports travelers.

Tourism can be local or international. Generally, when countries speak of tourism, the implied focus is on foreign tourists. Apart from this basic differentiation, tourism today has diversified to levels unimaginable a few decades ago.

One of the fastest growing kinds of tourism today is Sports Tourism, which denotes travel involving either being an observer or participant of a sporting event. Travel and Tourism expert Heather j. Gibson has defined Sports Tourism as “leisure-based travel that takes individuals temporarily outside of their home communities to play, watch physical activities or venerate attractions associated with these activities.”

Professor Paul De Knop of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels, was among the first people to introduce the concept of Sports Tourism during a presentation at the Wingate University in Israel in 1986. De Knop refined the concept in 1990, and identified three types of active sport vacations. As he says, there is the “pure sport holiday” where the main focus is participating in a sport such as skiing or golfing. Then, there is the “vacation,” where sport is not the primary purpose, but vacationers utilize sports facilities in their holiday environment. There is also the “private sporting holiday,” where people participate in informal “pick-up” games like beach volleyball.

Professor of Marketing at the University of Canterbury, C. Michael Hall, in 1992, drew attention to Sports Tourism, by identifying it as a significant factor that propels tourists to visit any particular country or area. He identified three tourism domains that influence travelers. The first is hallmark events, such as World Cup 2018 . Events such the World cup and Olympics are held every four years in a different city in the world. These mega events are probably the most strongly linked to sports-related tourism. Hall identified the second domain as outdoor recreation or adventure tourism, and the third as tourism associated with health and fitness.

Travel and Tourism experts define Sports Tourism in different ways. Profs Sean Gammon and Tom Robinson define Sports Tourism as  Hard Sports Tourism  and  Soft Sports Tourism , The “hard” definition of sport tourism refers to sheer numbers of people participating at competitive sport events such as Olympics or the World Cup.as people visit places and regions mainly because of such events being held there.  Sports Tourism is described as “soft,” when people travel away from home to participate in recreational sporting, or engage in leisure sporting pursuits such as hiking, skiing or canoeing. The US and Europe have some the best ranked, quality golf courses where golfers take pride in visiting. These could also be defined as “soft” Sport Tourism events.

From a tourism angle, sports is seen as a passive “spectator sports” and an active “participatory sports.” Spectator sports are part of the entertainment industry. College athletes in American universities are known to be in “edutainment” as they are entertainers as well as students. Athletic games function as emotion and stress relievers, and provide people with “safe” or ‘non-controversial” topics of conversation at social gatherings. Participatory sports like swimming or jogging may not have a competitive facet to them, but in all of them, the participants need to enhance their skill level and stamina. Spectator as well as participatory sports are important for the wellbeing of a community and its tourism industry today.

In fact, in contemporary society, sports is a year-round event, and travelling several hours to get to a destination is described as “close” or “routine.” Parents of sports-playing kids spend significant time researching hotels and restaurants close to event sites, as well as other attractions and things to do after the games are over for the day. In that way, a bit of fun is added onto a participatory sporting event.   In a survey conducted by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) on behalf of the National Association of Sports Commission (NASC) in 2008, families of amateur athletes were quizzed on a variety of topics related to sports tourism – from hotel accommodations to other travel-related expenditure. Accommodations was the most expensive on the list with an average cost of $171 spent per household. People who went for soccer events paid more on hotels than the tickets to enter the event. Families traveled the longest distance one way for events like football, baseball and ice hockey. And so, family vacations tend to get transformed into “Sport-cations .”

Sports have become the new kid on the block for tourism, and it is indeed going places, at least in the foreseeable future, with positive outcomes for families and communities. As one of the founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin said, “Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble.”

If you would like to contribute an article or contact our contributors, you can get in touch here

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

© The Yale Tribune 2017   |   Contribute: Send your article proposal to [email protected]

• About WordPress
• Get Involved
• WordPress.org
• Documentation
• Learn WordPress

SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit

The SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit brings together around 1,500 leaders and key decision makers from over 120 International Federations (IFs), the International Olympic Committee, and organisations involved in the business of sport.

The Summit provides an unrivalled platform enabling global business leaders and host cities to have access to all the International Federations and their stakeholders in one location over several days.

This unique event is a combination of official sports meetings, networking gatherings, a themed conference programme, and exhibition space enabling International Federations, industry, cities and regions to showcase and advance their sport, services and facilities.

There are many reasons why cities host the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit.

Discover the benefits of hosting the premier 5-day international sports summit of the key decision-makers in sport.

Click here to discover the World Sport & Business Summit 2024

SHORT TERM BENEFITS

LONG TERM BENEFITS

ACT Director of Experience Marketing and Research

SESSION 1: CHALLENGES IN SPORTS TOURISM FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Damià Serrano

Malta Tourist Board (virtual)

SESSION 2: SPORTS TOURISM FROM THE DEMAND SIDE, MARKET VOLUME AND POTENTIAL

Leslie Vella

Captain Barça hockey and captain of the Spanish senior men’s hockey team (via hologram)

SESSION 4.2: THE NEEDS OF SPORTS VISITORS: THE ATHLETES’ AND COACHES’ PERSPECTIVE

Captain Barça hockey and captain of the Spanish senior men's hockey team (via hologram)

Head of Social Events, Innovation and New Markets, Club Natació Sabadell

SESSION 4.2 THE SPORTS VISITOR NEEDS. THE ATHLETE AND COACH PERSPECTIVE

Ernest Aguilar Soriano

Events and activities manager for FGC Tourism

SESSION 7 OUTDOOR SPORTS. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF SPORTS TOURISM

Lluís Breitfuss

Chief Convention Bureau Officer- Tourism Kwazulu-Natal: KZN CONVENTION BUREAU (virtual)

SESSION 5: SUCCESSFUL DESTINATION GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE STRATEGIES IN SPORTS TOURISM

Sonto Mayise

Athlete (by hologram)

SESSION 1: THE CHALLENGES OF SPORTS TOURISM IN LIGHT OF THE NEW NORMAL AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Kilian Jornet

Event expert Sport EventFlanders

Geert bruynseels.

Founder & Executive Director Riverwind Foundation (virtual)

Timothy o’donoghue.

Chairman of International Gay Rugby Association (IGR)

SESSION 4.1 DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN SPORTS TOURISM

. (WOMEN, LGTB, PARASPORT. A MATTER OF RIGHTS AND A GROWING SEGMENTS)

Karl Ainscough-Gates

High Performance Coordinator at Cardiff Rugby (virtual)

Trystan bevan.

Managing Director at Slow Adventure

Sara mair bellshaw.

Director Sports & Tourism Consulting. Scientific Committee

SESSION 8.2: COMMERCIALISATION OF SPORTS TOURISM

Maurici Carbó

CEO Visit West Belfast (Sports Tourism for Peace)

SESSION 4.1 DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN SPORTS TOURISM. (WOMEN, LGTB, PARASPORT. A MATTER OF RIGHTS AND A GROWING SEGMENTS)

Harry Connolly

Professor George Washington University (virtual)

Lisa delpy neirotti.

Italy Tourism Ministry’s counselor

Manuela Di Centa

Italy tourism ministry's counselor.

Head International Rel. & Innovation Dev. CAR Sant Cugat. ASPC Secretary General. ICECP Olympic Solidarity Mentor. IOC Academic Advisory Board

SESSION 3: INNOVATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS TOURISM: STADIUMS, OLYMPIC GAMES AND MASS PARTICIPATION EVENTS

Josep Escoda

Head international rel. & innovation dev. car sant cugat.

Head of Diversity and Inclusion at FCB

Maite laporta.

Regional Manager – Europa & Oceania. ATTA – Adventure Travel Trade Association

Céline Fortin

Regional manager - europa & oceania. atta - adventure travel trade association.

Founder Pure Solution

Director of the International Sustainability Commission.  Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme

Kattia Juarez Dubón

Directora international sustainability commission. fédération internationale de motocyclisme.

Russian former professional ice hockey player and coach

Viacheslav fetisov.

CEO The Vale Resort (Wales)

Steven leeke.

International Academy of Sport Science and Technology (AISTS), Head of Business Development (virtual)

SESSION 6: THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF SPORTS:  NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ESPORTS & COMMUNICATION IN SPORTS TOURISM

Nalain Naidoo

Director of Second Cycle Degree in Wellness Culture: Sport, Health and Tourism (virtual)

SESSION 8.1: NEW RESEARCH IN SPORTS TOURISM AND OVERVIEW

Alessia Mariotti

Director of second cycle degree in wellness culture: sport, health and tourism.

Vicepresident, International Sports Travel Agencies Association

Marco mazzi.

Stadium and Commercial Director, Croke Park, Dublin

Peter mckenna.

CEO/Founder, Play and Train Company

Sylvana Mestre

Ceo/fundador, play and train company.

Director de Planificació Estratègica i Innovació at Institut Barcelona Esports (Ajuntament de Barcelona)

SESSION 6: THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF SPORTS: NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ESPORTS & COMMUNICATION IN SPORTS TOURISM

Martí Niubó

ALOHAS, Sustainable Solutions in Tourism (virtual)

Senior advisor, Destination Vadehavskysten (virtual)

Lars h olsen.

President of Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation and gold medalist in the Olympic Games of Barcelona

Paraskevi patoulidou.

Professor and Doctor at the University of Rijeka Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Marko peric.

Managing Director ADESP-Asociación Deporte Español & Attitude Praxis

SESSION 2: SPORTS TOURISM FROM A DEMAND PERSPECTIVE. MARKET SIZE AND POTENTIAL

Fabián Quesada

Director of Global Diplomacy Master’s Programme at Center for International Studies and Diplomacy

Director of Global Diplomacy Master's Programme at Center for International Studies and Diplomacy

Director MIC Sports & MICFootball SESSION 3: INNOVATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS TOURISM: STADIUMS, OLYMPIC GAMES AND MASS PARTICIPATION EVENTS

Juanjo Rovira

Director mic sports & micfootball.

Montagne Cluster (France) Mountain Tourism Cluster (virtual) SESSION 7 OUTDOOR SPORTS. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF SPORTS TOURISM

Nathalie Saint – Marcel

Montagne cluster (france) mountain tourism cluster.

Professor Dr. Terry Stevens & Founder Stevens & Associates

SESSION 3: INNOVATION IN DEVELOPING SPORTS TOURISM: STADIUMS, OLYMPIC GAMES AND MASS PARTICIPATION AT SPORTING EVENTS

SESSION 5: SUCCESSFUL GOVERNANCE OF A DESTINATION AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE SPORTS TOURISM STRATEGIES

Terry Stevens

Director of Research and Education at Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA) SESSION 2: SPORTS TOURISM FROM A DEMAND PERSPECTIVE. MARKET SIZE AND POTENTIAL

Jennifer Stoll

Director of research and education at sports events and tourism association (sports eta).

Assoc. Prof, Masters of Sport and Entertainment Management, Hamad Bin Khalifa University SESSION 8.1: NEW RESEARCH INTO SPORTS TOURISM AND GENERAL OVERVIEW

Kamilla Swart-Arries

Assoc. prof, masters of sport and entertainment management, hamad bin khalifa university.

Executive Director Catalan Tourism Agency SESSION 4.1 DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN SPORTS TOURISM. (WOMEN, LGTB, PARASPORT. A MATTER OF RIGHTS AND A GROWING SEGMENTS)

Patrick Torrent

Executive director catalan tourism agency.

Ventures Director, Plug and Play Tech Centre SESSION 6: THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF SPORTS: NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ESPORTS & COMMUNICATION IN SPORTS TOURISM

Ventures Director, Plug and Play Tech Centre

Partnerships and Information Management Museu Futebol Clube do Porto

SESSION 8.2: MARKETING SPORTS TOURISM

Luís Valente

Director UFEC -Union of Catalan Sports Federations

SESSION 6: THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF SPORTS TOURISM: SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES AND E-SPORTS

Pere Vilà Collmalivern

Director of Global Membership at SKAL International   (virtual) SESSION 2: SPORTS TOURISM FROM A DEMAND PERSPECTIVE. MARKET SIZE AND POTENTIAL

Lavonne Wittmann

Director of global membership at skal international.

Director Sport No Limit SESSION 8.2: COMMERCIALISATION OF SPORTS TOURISM

Cristina Tallardà

Director sport no limit.

Let's reveal the incredible world of sport from the touristic perspective! ℹ️ Feel free to write to our entdecke.net sport event via [email protected] so that we can organise sports tour to any destination you want

Sports Tourism on Air sport.entdecke.net

• 5.0 • 1 Rating
• JUL 3, 2023

Madrid: the city of tourism revolutions

Today we will talk about Madrid: the city of tourism revolutions. Héctor Coronel - The Director of Tourism at Madrid City Council – is our guest today. The "Sports Tourism on Air" podcast reveals the incredible world of sport from the touristic perspective. So the sport tourism industry stakeholders can be sure that with this podcast, they will always be on trend.

• MAY 28, 2023

London: the capital of England and the football world

Today we will talk about London: the capital of England and the football world. Anil Kandola - sports journalist at “talkSPORT” – is our guest today. The "Sports Tourism on Air" podcast reveals the incredible world of sport from the touristic perspective. So the sport tourism industry stakeholders can be sure that with this podcast, they will always be on trend.

• APR 9, 2023

Madrid: the most titled city of European football

Today we will talk about Madrid: the most titled city of European football. Dermot Carrigan - a Spanish football correspondent for  “The Atletic” - is our guest today. The "Sports Tourism on Air" podcast reveals the incredible world of sport from the touristic perspective. So the sport tourism industry stakeholders can be sure that with this podcast, they will always be on trend.

• MAR 5, 2023

Liverpool: a place where you will never walk alone

Today we will talk about Liverpool: a place where you will never walk alone. Joe Rimmer -  a head of football for “Liverpool Echo” - is our guest today. The "Sports Tourism on Air" podcast reveals the incredible world of sport from the touristic perspective. So the sport tourism industry stakeholders can be sure that with this podcast, they will always be on trend.

• JAN 9, 2023

London: a triangle of passion and emotions

Today we will talk about London: a triangle of passion and emotions. Andrew Gamble - a sports journalist for "The Mirror" - is our guest today. The "Sports Tourism on Air" podcast, reveals the incredible world of sport from the touristic perspective. So the sport tourism industry stakeholders can be sure that with this podcast, they will always be on trend.

• DEC 14, 2022

Manchester: a city with a sports heart and a tourist soul

Football, ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, handball, Formula-1, and many other sports disciplines have a huge amount of fans all around the globe. And when the world recovers after the COVID-19 pandemic, the sports tourism industry experiences an impressive rebirth. In the "Sports Tourism on Air" podcast, we reveal the incredible world of sport from the touristic perspective. So the sport tourism industry stakeholders could be sure that with this podcast, they will always be on trend. Today we will talk about Manchester: a city with a sports heart and a tourist soul. Nick Brooks-Sykes - Director of Tourism at "Marketing Manchester" - is our guest today.

• © sport.entdecke.net

Customer Reviews

Top podcasts in sports.

• Current Edition
• Baseball/Softball
• Soccer/Lacrosse
• Sports Destinations
• Planning Resources
• Faces of Sports Tourism
• Facility/Complex Info
• Facility Videos

Select Page

Sports Tourism Trends for 2022 ‘The New World’

We have a secret …  sports saved the tourism industry’s bacon in 2020 and 2021.

Yes, COVID-19 knocked us all for a loop, but one great thing came from it. Most tourism leaders across the country finally realized the value sports brings to the collective table. We say most because, ironically, there are still some destinations that are talking about when leisure travel and the meetings industry will bounce back. The answer may be “never” but some are still holding out hope that the tourism industry will be back to normal in the near future.  We think that is very unlikely. Sports tourism will continue to drive the bus for our industry in 2022 and likely the years that follow.

For our seventh edition of the SPG trends article, we did a little something different this year.  We reached out to our entire Huddle Up Group team as well as a couple of key industry gatekeepers to compile this year’s list.

Without further ado, we offer you the top 10 trends we are closely following as we move into 2022.

• Downsizing – Nearly every CVB, sports commission, or event organization we work with cut their staff in 2020 and 2021. Most reduced their working teams by 40-60% during the peak of the pandemic. Some have slowly started hiring people back, however many have not. A good number of folks figured out they could run with a leaner ship and are going to see if that is sustainable as things ramp back up.
• Alignment – In times of crisis, communication becomes more important. This was certainly true of the sports tourism industry over the past 20 months. The pandemic forced tourism driven organizations to fight for declining resources, which means they had to be able to effectively message their mission and impact and how that aligns with the community they represent. This forced alignment should bear fruit in the future as communication lines are more open now than in years past.
• Vulnerability – Many of the CEOs we have spoken to recently talked about the limited control they had over their funding sources. Most of the resources spent in our industry are discretionary. If nobody travels and bed taxes are not collected, tourism agencies suffer financially. If parents get furloughed, there is no money to spend on travel sports, including annual membership dues to NGBs. If events are cancelled, there are no registration fees collected and event owners lose a primary revenue source. It’s a vicious circle that leaves organizations at financial risk. The goal is to diversify revenue streams as much as possible so your organization is not vulnerable if one financial channel shuts down.
• Accountability – Resources are more limited today than in prior years. Given that we have to try to do more with less, the microscope is now on every transaction that is made. Every dollar has to have a good result and those that are tasked with governing our organizations are paying a lot more attention to how money is spent. Transparent organizations have a process for why decisions are made and document every move.
• Choices – Today, our industry has an unprecedented number of resources available to leverage in an effort to drive our organizations forward. There are more conferences, events owners, digital tools, certifications, and (of course) consultants that sports organizations can use in an effort to grow their impact. The key is choosing the right tools to engage with and work through that will drive the highest and most efficient return on investment. Going back to the previous item on accountability, industry leaders have to be sure and measure the results of every investment to preserve the integrity of their organizations.
• Focus – We can all agree the pandemic has changed the way we all do business. This would include adjusting the approach on what events we look to partner on, whether you are an event owner or a destination. It’s more important today to “right size” the events you seek to host or produce to generate maximum impact. This can include how we market the event, when it takes place on the calendar, and even if we limit capacity to create scarcity in the marketplace.
• Development Mentality – Destinations have been forced to become more of a creator than a responder. We work with many CVBs and sports commissions to help build a culture of “” These organizations are now leading efforts to develop physical products (new venues), develop new events, develop human capital (staff and board), and to develop relationships (with local sporting clubs and regional/national event owners). Today, tourism leaders are proving to be more proactive than reactive. They are seeking to create vehicles to push their sports tourism agenda forward. Develop your pathway or leave it to others to potentially choose your fate for you.
• Remote Control – This one is a carryover from last year’s list. Working remotely is not just a trend that industry was forced to adopt due to the pandemic. It is here to stay. If anything is the “new normal” this is it. Given that the generations entering the workforce today largely prefer flexibility, remote work teams were likely going to take over the business world anyway. COVID-19 just sped up the process. Some organizations we work with have decided to keep the remote work team in place, and a few in the extreme have decided to not renew their office leases.
• Silent Sports – Several outdoor sports have seen massive spikes in participation the past two years. Golf, canoe/kayak, and fishing (among others) all offer opportunities for those destinations that seek them. These “silent sports” have become a cornerstone for business development with many CVBs across the country.
• DMO vs. CVB – We have seen more CVBs transition to a bigger vision for their destinations. Numerous tourism bureaus are moving towards a destination marketing organization (or DMO) mission. The difference between the two is subtle but its important. DMOs are responsible for branding and marketing their destination beyond working to attract visitors as a primary mission. DMOs have a lot of verticals to contemplate and manage. Yes, tourism is one, but just one of many things a DMO blends into a community-wide strategy to put their destinations in the best light. We believe this trend is a good one in that DMOs typically have a broader stakeholder audience than CVBs might have, as the DMO works on promotional elements that would appeal to markets beyond tourism. These additional audiences could include the area’s business climate, economic development, politics, arts and culture, and the like.  By transitioning to a DMO, tourism suddenly has a more important and integrated seat at the larger table in these destinations.

While the past two years have been a rollercoaster, a lot of good has and will come from what we have all been through. Those that accept the challenges of the past and build from them rather than focus on them have a bright future ahead.

Good luck to all in 2022.

Yours in Sport,

About the author: Jon Schmieder is the Founder of the Huddle Up Group LLC, a sports industry consulting company led by award winning executives.  Schmieder has 25 years of experience in leading sports tourism and events organizations through strategic growth and increased community collaboration.  The Huddle Up Group has worked with more than 250 sports organizations and destinations on over 150 strategic projects.  In 2017 the Huddle Up Group was given the Superior Service Award, the highest honor a consulting firm can earn from the National Association of Sports Commissions.  We can be reached at [email protected] or 602.369.6955.  To receive the weekly “Monday Huddle Up” visit www.HuddleUpGroup.com or sign up at www.tinyletter.com/JonSchmieder .

© Huddle Up Group, 2021

One-On-One Interviews

Trending in Sports

Useful Links

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Credit card rates
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Business credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Checking accounts
• Online checking accounts
• High-yield savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car insurance
• Home buying
• Options pit
• Investment ideas
• Research reports
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Solar eclipse maps show 2024 totality path, peak times across the U.S.

A total solar eclipse  crossed North America Monday with parts of 15 U.S. states within the path of totality. Maps show  where and when astronomy fans could see the big event  as skies darkened in the middle of the day Monday, April 8.

The total eclipse first appeared along Mexico's Pacific Coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT, then traveled across a swath of the U.S., from Texas to Maine, and into Canada.

About 31.6 million people live in the path of totality , the area where the moon fully blocked out the sun , according to NASA. The path ranged between 108 and 122 miles wide. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path of totality.

Solar eclipse path of totality map for 2024

The total solar eclipse started over the Pacific Ocean, and the first location in continental North America that experienced totality was Mexico's Pacific Coast, around 11:07 a.m. PDT, according to NASA. From there, the path continued into Texas, crossing more than a dozen states before the eclipse enters Canada in southern Ontario. The eclipse exited continental North America at around 5:16 p.m. NDT from Newfoundland, Canada.

The path of totality included portions of the following states:

Texas OklahomaArkansasMissouri Illinois KentuckyIndianaOhio Pennsylvania New York Vermont New Hampshire Maine

Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan also experienced the total solar eclipse.

Several major cities across the U.S. were included in the eclipse's path of totality, while many others saw a partial eclipse. These were some of the best major cities for eclipse viewing — though the weather was a factor :

San Antonio, Texas (partially under the path)Austin, TexasWaco, TexasDallas, TexasLittle Rock, ArkansasIndianapolis, IndianaDayton, OhioCleveland, OhioBuffalo, New YorkRochester, New YorkSyracuse, New YorkBurlington, VermontMap of when the solar eclipse reached totality across its path

The eclipse began in the U.S. as a partial eclipse beginning at 12:06 p.m. CDT near Eagle Pass, Texas, before progressing to totality by about 1:27 p.m. CDT and then moving along its path to the northeast over the following few hours.

NASA shared times for several cities in the path of totality across the U.S. People could have also  checked their ZIP code on NASA's map  to see when the eclipse was to reach them if they were on, or near, the path of totality — or if they saw a partial eclipse instead.

!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r

NASA to launch rockets into total solar eclipse path

Thief says he tried on, then melted down Yogi Berra World Series rings | 60 Minutes

Total solar eclipse cuts path across U.S.

Recommended Stories

Total solar eclipse guide 2024: what time it is, where the path of totality is, how to watch it safely and more.

Everything you need to know about the April 8 celestial event.

Total solar eclipse 2024: Before-and-after photos

Before-and-after photographs taken along the path of the total solar eclipse in North America reveal the stunning, awe-inducing nature of the celestial phenomenon.

Do your eyes hurt after the eclipse? Here's why they may be irritated and what to do.

Searches for 'eyes hurting' are spiking after Monday's solar eclipse, but experts say the pain will subside in most cases.

Total solar eclipse: Watch the moment of totality across ​t​he U.S.

Watch livestream video of the solar eclipse.

Solar eclipse triggers onslaught of conspiracy theories across social media

Let’s break down some of the common conspiracy theories around the April 8 solar eclipse.

A guide to watching today's total solar eclipse safely — from why glasses are essential to making sure you've got the proper pair

Grab a pair of (authorized) eclipse glasses and watch safely with these expert tips.

Yankees push back start time for game vs. Marlins due to solar eclipse

The Guardians also moved back the start time for their home opener on Monday.

Solar Eclipse 2024: How to watch and record today's total eclipse

To find out all the details of watching and recording the total solar eclipse on April 8, read on.

Your April guide to a happier, healthier you: spring COVID boosters, total solar eclipse and the benefits of a rainy walk (really!)

A look ahead at living your best life this April, from the total solar eclipse to the rainy day activity you should try.

Braves' Spencer Strider to miss rest of 2024 season after undergoing elbow surgery

Strider made only two starts this season before suffering the injury.

'Perfect for my trip to Disney': Travelers love this waist pack — and it's on sale for $10

Fanny packs are back, and this is the one 35,000 five-star fans rave about.

I'm a shopping editor — this bidet attachment is the best thing I've ever gotten on Amazon and it's down to $34

This gadget will change your view about going to the loo.

AI will reshape the business world — here's where it's hitting first: Chart of the Week

Like much of the contemporary innovation, Big Tech's monopoly on talent and money means that AI's vanguard will take place in the advertising space — just like the internet.

Government spyware is another reason to use an ad blocker

Ad blockers might seem like an unlikely defense in the fight against spyware, but new reporting casts fresh light on how spyware makers are weaponizing online ads to allow governments to conduct surveillance. Spyware makers are reportedly capable of locating and stealthily infecting specific targets with spyware using banner ads. Predator is able to access the full contents of a target's phone in real time.

Mortgage rates today, April 13, 2024: Rates hover near 7%

These are today's mortgage rates. Although 30-year fixed rates are nearing 7%, you could get a lower rate temporarily with an ARM. Lock in your rate today.

Toyota seeks patent for chameleon color-changing paint

Toyota files patent for paint that can change color with a careful application of heat and light, rather than vinyl or fresh paint.

Here's the math keeping housing inventory so low

Many American homeowners are staying put because it's not financially smart for them to sell, stunting the number of available homes and keeping prices high.

NBA playoff picture: Nuggets' stunning loss to Spurs opens up No. 1 seed to Timberwolves, Thunder

The Nuggets suddenly need some help if they want the No. 1 seed.

Microsoft's Windows 11 beta testers may start seeing ads in the Start menu

Microsoft is exploring the idea of putting ads in your Windows 11 Start menu.

Bryson DeChambeau and his 3D-printed irons are topping the Masters leaderboard

Once again, Bryson DeChambeau is taking an unconventional route to the top of a leaderboard.

• Sports Betting
• Sports Entertainment
• New York Yankees
• New York Mets
• Transactions

Recommended

Spencer strider out for season after ucl surgery in braves injury disaster.

• View Author Archive
• Email the Author
• Follow on Twitter
• Get author RSS feed

Contact The Author

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Braves ace Spender Strider will miss the rest of the season as another one of MLB’s top pitchers has fallen victim to the growing epidemic of arm surgeries in the pitch-clock era.  

Strider underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow with internal brace, the Braves announced Saturday. The surgery was performed Friday by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Tex.

Strider led the majors in wins (20) and strikeouts (281) while pitching to a 3.86 ERA in 186 2/3 innings in 2023, but he barely got out of the gates in what would have been his third full MLB season. He struck out 12 but allowed seven runs in nine innings over what will be his only two starts.

The flame-throwing 25-year-old right-hander reported feeling elbow discomfort during an abbreviated outing on April 5. His velocity was noticeably down.

One day later, Braves manager Brian Snitker said that what the MRI showed “wasn’t good.” Within a week, Strider was under the knife.

Strider’s injury not only changes the landscape of the National League – who can challenge the Dodgers? – but opens a window for the Mets and Phillies atop the East Division.

On a larger scale, Strider’s injury also continues an alarming early-season trend of aces on the shelf. Strider joins the Guardians’ Shane Bieber, Red Sox’ Lucas Giolito, Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the Marlin’s duo of Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez as pitchers who are out for the season.

The list could grow because several other high-end starters are sidelined with elbow or shoulder injuries and their return timelines are murky: The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, Mets’ Kodai Senga, Astros’ Justin Verlander, Mariners Robbie Ray, Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff, Diamondbacks’ Eduardo Rodriguez and Rangers teammates Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom are not pitching.

There is a raging debate over whether MLB’s implementation of a pitch clock is to blame. Or is it mere coincidence and higher velocity and spin rates are at the root of the issue?

MLB’s recent dismissal of the pitch clock as a potential cause angered players like Cole.

“It’s shortsighted,” said Cole, a former member of the players’ union’s eight-person subcommittee. “We are going to really understand the effects of what the pitch clock is maybe five years down the road, but to dismiss it out of hand, I didn’t think that was helpful to the situation.”

Cole’s former Astros teammate Verlander had a different take, claiming “it would be easiest to blame the pitch clock.”

“Everybody [is] throwing as hard as they possibly can and spinning the ball as hard as they possibly can,” Verlander said, attributing that as the pitchers’ response to MLB’s change in baseballs a few years ago that allowed more batters to put up big home run totals.

The Braves, whose ace becomes Max Fried, need to pivot long before the debate is settled.

“[Strider] is so dedicated to his craft,” Snitker said recently. “He loves everything about this. He does everything right from being a great teammate to just all the dedication. I really hate this for him because he enjoys it so much.”

Share this article:

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

share this content

• Share this article on facebook
• Share this article on twitter
• Share this article on linkedin

2nd World Sports Tourism Congress: Tourism and Sports United for Sustainability

• All Regions
• 27 Apr 2023

Sports tourism can play an increasingly important role in the economic diversification, growth and sustainable development of destinations worldwide.

The 2nd edition of the World Sports Tourism Congress (WSTC), organized by UNWTO, Government of Croatia through its Ministry of Tourism and Sport, and the Affiliate Member Croatian National Tourist Board, brought together experts and leaders from across the sports and tourism sectors, alongside representatives of destinations and businesses. Held under the theme " Tourism and Sports United for Sustainability" , the Congress focused on key issues such as sports tourism's economic impact and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).  

Sports Tourism plays a key role in enhancing economic growth and social development in many destinations. It creates jobs and supports businesses in cities and rural communities alike

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "Sports Tourism plays a key role in enhancing economic growth and social development in many destinations. It creates jobs and supports businesses in cities and rural communities alike. In order to maximize its potential, public and private sector actors must collaborate, and that's where UNWTO steps in".

Ms. Nikolina Brnjac, Minister of Tourism and Sport of Croatia said: "I am very proud of having hosted this Congress in Croatia. We enjoyed hearing many excellent international and Croatian speakers, as well as presenting the many opportunities of sustainable development of sports tourism in Croatia. Croatian government has secured generous funds for building active tourism infrastructure, in line with our goal of making Croatia a globally competitive sports tourism destination."

Delivering sports tourism's benefits

Alongside assessing the impacts of sports tourism, the Congress also explored the potential benefits of the growing sector, including its links to health and wellbeing, and its importance for promoting destinations to bigger and more diverse audiences. In Zadar, leaders from both established and emerging sports tourism destinations shared their insights and best practices to produce recommendations for growing the sector in size and influence.

World Sports Tourism Congress

Zadar, croatia.

Related Links

• Download the News Release in PDF
• 2nd UNWTO World Sports Tourism Congress
• UNWTO: Affiliate Members
• Sports Tourism

Related Content

UN Tourism and Croatia to Establish Research Centre for...

UN Tourism Launches Tourism Investment Guidelines for A...

UN Tourism Members Advance Agenda for Europe as Region ...

UN Tourism and UN Habitat Partner for a Better Urban Fu...

Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024

Let’s have fun with the festive activities: fantastic parades, concerts, and EDM in a Thai style. Enjoy Thailand’s tallest dancing fountain show and the stunning performances of more than 1,200 drones in choreographed patterns.  ​See you from 11-15 April, 2024, at Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and Sanam Luang, Bangkok.  ​On the occasion of “Thai Songkran” being enlisted as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, this year, TAT invites everyone to enjoy the magnificent Thai New Year celebration, preserve our priceless tradition, and splash happiness across all the places.  ​Witness the spectacular Maha Songkran parades moving along Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, led by Miss Thailand Universe 2023, Anntonia Porsild as the Songkran Goddess, followed by the parades representing 16 provinces, Thailand’s soft power showcases, including an LGBTQ parade.  Special for you, we provide you the 2,000 seats exclusively on 11-12 April, 2024.  ​Enjoy the concerts at Sanam Luang for 5 consecutive days. The headliners include 4Eve, Milli, FHero, Bodayslam, and many more. Have fun tasting a variety of food from the line of food trucks. Watch the beautiful light decorations and installation art around Sanam Luang. Enjoy open-air retro movies on a vertical screen, rare cultural performances, drone light shows, and so many more!  ​Do not miss the highlights: The over-20-metre-high dancing fountain show, as well as the EDM zone for dancing amidst unlimited water splashing.

Date: 11-15 April, 2024  Time: 13.00 – 22.00 Hrs.  Venues: Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, and Sanam Luang Field.

Get Inspiration

Finding rest and blessings in ch..., get a glimpse of bangkok’s local....

Destination

LAO LIANG: THE LOST PARADISE

See & Do

4 Must-See Attraction in the Cit...

Mae hong son, thailand : may.

In an emotional display at Fenway Park, 2004 champs celebrate their anniversary while honoring those they’ve lost

Before the first pitch at Fenway Park this season, the Red Sox took a trip down memory lane that was as tearful as it was joyful.

A long-planned Opening Day pregame ceremony honoring the 20th anniversary of the drought-breaking 2004 championship team shared the stage with a moving tribute to Tim Wakefield, who passed away last October at the age of 57, and his wife Stacy, 53, who died at the end of February .

The meeting of the iconic and the icon occurred near the pitcher’s mound, when 2004 lead idiot Johnny Damon, resplendent with his long locks, shorts, red sneakers, and sunglasses, handed the World Series trophy to the Wakefields’ two children, Brianna, 18, and Trevor, 19.

Advertisement

“I just thought it was fitting for her to walk off the field with the World Series trophy,” Damon said. “Those kids are going through a lot. They know that they have a lot of family on the team that we had in 2004 and they can always count on us.”

After Brianna threw the ceremonial first pitch to Jason Varitek, the former Red Sox captain and close friend of Tim Wakefield wrapped her in a long bear hug between the mound and home plate. Varitek said Brianna double-checked with him Monday night that he would be available to catch her toss.

“I said, ‘I’m in the bullpen, but I’ll make it down there,’ ” Varitek said following the Sox’ 7-1 loss to the Orioles. “It was emotional. It was really emotional, but she held herself like a champ and I’m proud of the young lady that she is.”

Said Trot Nixon: “She’s got 40 uncles standing behind her.”

“Sometimes there’s just no more words to describe what happened,” Orlando Cabrera said. “We try to give them as much support as we can. And she’s an unbelievable girl. They’re going to make it.”

Nixon, who described the emotions of the day as “jaw-dropping,” said tears were shed.

“A lot of the tears were talking about Tim and Stacy,” he said. “I don’t know how to take it all in. I’ll be honest with you, it’s still hard to believe both of them are gone.”

Former team president Larry Lucchino, who died earlier this month , was also memorialized.

The heart of the program revolved around a multi-layered video that played against Don McLean’s “American Pie” standard.

The song’s sad introduction featured the final year of the 86-year drought, with “The day the music died” dwindling to silence against the Red Sox’ devastating 2003 American League Championship Series loss to the Yankees on Aaron Boone’s home run off of Wakefield.

As the song picked up, the 2004 team, led by a cast of self-anointed idiots in Damon, Kevin Millar, and Manny Ramirez, took over, culminating in the Game 4 World Series victory in St. Louis and the duck-boat parade back in Boston. The biggest cheers came for the moment when Varitek shoved his mitt into Alex Rodriguez’s face in the regular season and Dave Roberts’s steal of second base in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees.

The final portion of the song featured the tribute to the Wakefields and Lucchino, a series of professional, family, and behind-the-scenes photos.

As the video and song wrapped, a gathering of 2004 team members emerged from under their championship banner hanging on the Green Monster and walked to the infield, led by Brianna and Trevor.

“You can’t celebrate ‘04 without celebrating Tim also,” Varitek said. “It was just a beautiful day. They did a great job. I don’t want to overshadow the Jimy Williams and Lucchinos and everyone else who has passed. They mean a tremendous amount to all of us, but today was a special day for Tim to highlight that.”

The Red Sox paid tribute to others who died since the end of the 2023 season, including former manager Williams. Prior to the ceremony, the teams were introduced, the Orioles preceding the Sox, who were led out by clubhouse manager Tom McLaughlin.

“We wish there were a lot of other people that were here today, Tim and Stacy being the biggest ones — this was Tim’s favorite team,” Nixon said. “Brianna and Trevor did a fantastic job. They’re special people, and, obviously, they’re loved.”

Today Tim & Stacy Wakefield's daughter, Brianna, threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park, supported by her father's 2004 teammates. pic.twitter.com/ZQOEwWva2S — NESN (@NESN) April 9, 2024

On the warning track for the ceremony near the Red Sox dugout were Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, president Mike Gordon, CEO Sam Kennedy, and Henry’s wife and FSG partner, Linda Henry. John Henry owns the Globe; Linda Henry is its CEO.

Theo Epstein, the team’s general manager in 2004 and now a senior advisor within FSG, joined the executive reception of the championship team in the infield.

A group of patients from the Jimmy Fund and Franciscan Children’s delivered the traditional “Play Ball” to wrap up the ceremony.

A few 2004 team members made the NESN and MLB TV rounds before the ceremony, with Millar hosting Ramirez and Cabrera, and David Ortiz popping into the NESN booth behind center field. After the NESN appearance, Ortiz emerged in right field, wearing a white Red Sox hoodie. Along with two Red Sox security members, he walked unnoticed until he appeared on the videoboard, which evoked a roar from the still assembling crowd.

The bottom of the Green Monster light stanchion closest to the left-field foul pole was adorned with Wakefield’s red “49″ uniform font against a blue heart background. The blue heart is a nod to Wakefield’s long-time duties as the honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation, and matches the memorial patch the team is wearing this season. Fans were given the icon as a pin. There are plans for that commemorative patch to be sold later this season at ballclub’s team store on Jersey Street with proceeds directed to the Red Sox Foundation.

At the bottom of the other stanchion was a red “LL” on a blue circle, in honor of Lucchino.

Red Sox Family. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/J4630ekPmc — Red Sox (@RedSox) April 9, 2024

Most of the 2004 team members arrived at Fenway Park via the duck boat convoy system used in their memorable victory parade 20 years ago through the Back Bay and then into the Charles River.

The duck boat was adorned with the original “Reversed the Curse” sign from Storrow Drive that was altered from “Reverse Curve” soon after the Red Sox ended their 86-year championship dry spell.

Team personnel who attended the reunion included Jimmy Anderson, Bronson Arroyo, Jamie Brown, Cabrera, César Crespo, Damon, Brian Daubach, Lenny DiNardo, Keith Foulke, Bill Haselman, Adam Hyzdu, Ron Jackson, Gabe Kapler, Curt Leskanic, Derek Lowe, Mark Malaska, Dave McCarty, Ramiro Mendoza, Doug Mientkiewicz, Millar, Brad Mills, Mike Myers, Nixon, Ortiz, Ramirez, Calvin “Pokey” Reese, Phil Seibel, Earl Snyder, Dale Sveum, Mike Timlin, Varitek, Dave Wallace, Scott Williamson, and Kevin Youkilis.

Pedro Martinez was unable to attend the ceremony but spent time Monday in Boston with the Wakefield family and his former teammates. Manager Terry Francona and Nomar Garciaparra, who was traded midseason for Cabrera and Mientkiewicz, also were not in attendance.

The Boston Fire Department Quartet sang the national anthem, with Hanscom Air Force Base presenting the colors. A pair of F-35′s from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing Unit and a KC-46 from the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing performed the flyover at the anthem’s conclusion.

Said Damon: “It’s been such a beautiful, beautiful day.”

Michael Silverman can be reached at [email protected] .

More From Forbes

The stealthy revolution in saudi arabia will change the world.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

We all forget that, in the latter part of the Cold War, a US-led campaign encouraged the Saudis and Gulf states to spend money building Islamic-schools aka Madrassahs around the Muslim world. The aim? To counteract Moscow's widespread soft-power influence in youth-movements and colleges of the anti-colonialist/imperialist anti-western variety. The Saudi/US campaign succeeded all too well in countries like Turkey and Pakistan, and elsewhere, ultimately shifting the balance of power against the Soviets in Afghanistan by funding and training the Mujahideen resistance. But, for reasons still obscure, Washington didn't lean on the Saudis to halt the Wahhabist momentum once the Soviet union collapsed. Radical Islam had gained purchase as the dominant kinetic Muslim ideology. From it came Al Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban and numerous splinter terror groups. Iran got in on the act, despite being Shiite and anathema to the orthodox Sunni establishment, simply by usurping the political ends of the movement.

Which is where we are today - except for one fundamental difference. The Gulf has changed and Saudi Arabia is following suit. At a certain point, while the Saudis could still depend on oil, the smaller Gulf states decided their future lay in developing their economy as a travel hub and conference center. Real estate boomed in tandem to accomodate the transformation - not just to create hotels but as investment draws for all the grey money sloshing around the Mideast. In essence, the Gulfies got out of the global politics game. They had to. No tourist attraction survives with a fire-breathing puritan religious image. But to move from Islamism to conference centers to full-blown tourism - a lot of internal re-invention was needed.

For a start, the local population needed to embrace a thorough social realignment. Their womenfolk started working, meeting foreigners, meeting men outside the family and the like. Moreover, cultural life and night life had to change. This was not, in the past, a geographical area abounding with culture - or entertainment. At first, the conference center economy drew vast numbers of foreign men in need of entertainment after work hours at conferences. There was little to do. Ubiquitous hotel discos with loitering 'Russian' escorts became the norm - not a good longterm option. Women conferencers felt uncomfortable. Wives around the world discouraged their men from attending. The area got a bad reputation for being a Mideastern equivalent of Las Vegas.

It was time to move on to the next stage - shopping, culture, full blown tourism including female tourists and families. And so, international museums were encouraged to create extensions there. New museums devoted to Islamic Art went on global purchasing sprees. Top designer brands opened branches. The beach economy expanded, videos of hang-gliders floating above skyscrapers proliferated - a sort of artificial glamorous lifestyle was implanted and took hold after a fashion. The Saudis watched on the sidelines. But they had internal obstacles, namely the custodianship of Mecca, religious imperatives, a powerful phalanx of Wahhabi clerics symbiotic with the indigenous culture of the Saudi tribes since the 1700s. The isolated desert settings, the identity shaped by the elements - the flinty, puritan, patriarchal ethos seemed bred-in-the-bone. How could it ever change? The Saudis had their own authentic cultural identity and it was retarding progress beyond oil wealth. Lots of money without social evolution.

Enter Prince Mohammed Bin Salman , the de facto Saudi ruler with iron control for some ten years now. (Hereafter known as MBS). These days if you meet anyone, especially anyone female, from Saudi or doing business there, you'll find them surly and rebellious that the world identifies MBS with the endless war in Yemen, the assassination of journalist Jamal Kashoggi in Turkey, the detaining en masse of his local rivals and the like. Instead, or simultaneously, MBS arguably deserves a reputation for having launched the rebirth of Saudi Arabia on a new future freed of its historical shackles and ossified social hindrances. Essentially, what MBS has done is to initiate a socio-cultural revolution while freezing all political liberalization. Hence for example women can now drive cars solo but women's rights political activists are liable to get jailed. Meanwhile, the state is funding young Saudi women to study classical music in the UK, developing a vibrant fashion industry while conducting its own fashion week and opening up its vast desert hinterlands to international tourism with emphasis on regional attractions and identities. And, of course, the star-studded soccer league headed up by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Most observers in the west simply cannot fathom the multiplex contradictions in the scenario. In fact, taken as a whole, it fits precisely into Islamic tradition going back to the Middle Ages. The most authoritarian rulers often presided over the richest cultural courts. Take the Moghuls of India with epic poetry recited at court, with miniature painting and architecture flourishing to great heights. In the case of MBS, his iron control has kept the clerics and reactionary forces at bay while intimidating top rival businessmen in the elite from funding any subversion at home or rogue Islamist movements abroad. Why has MBS taken this peculiar path? The US is losing interest in protecting fossil fuel allies, especially in the Middle East. The world is turning to clean energy. Other oil powers such as Russia and Iran daily threaten the kingdom's strategic prominence. Oil qua oil is no longer a dependable solo bet.

Is Leadership an Art or a Science

Apple issues new spyware attack warning to iphone users, nyt strands hints spangram and answers for friday april 12th.

And Saudi's population is exploding. The economy desperately needs diversifying. Hence the Prince's decision to shift the wealth of Aramco to a national sovereign fund. MBS has seen the economic pluralism chosen by Gulf neighbors and decided to emulate them in what he thinks is the safest way - with complete internal control. Which is also why he chose detente with Iran and Russia, and a potential strategic deal with China if the US backs away. These are not the kind of regimes that demand political freedoms from their allies. The old alignments and heirarchies are all in play both in domestic and foreign policy, not to mention religious policy. For the society that controls Islam’s holiest sites to set an example of radical social change, well, let’s say it will affect the wider Muslim world, even the world as a whole.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions