By: Morten Okkels, Kommunen / Photo: Emil Spangenberg, VIBE
The bicycle riders constantly whizz by the windows of Danish Design Centre and at the same time, the event industry has gathered inside. VIBE – Centre for Strategic Events under Wonderful Copenhagen is hosting the conference and presents inputs on everything from cultural efforts in Germany and Scotland to music festivals. In focus on the first day of the conference however is the sport event going on outside the windows; the UCI Road Racing Championship in the streets of Copenhagen.
Breaking Barriers
“What I know, is just to develop the city and throw a party” opens Hjalte Aaberg, the current CEO of City of Copenhagen’s Technical and Environmental Department, and continues with an outline on how the socio-economic value exceeds the direct costs associated with the event. Aaberg also highlights the initial doubts related to the drastic pronouncement of closing 70 streets while the city already is full of renovation and construction work. Nevertheless, he doesn’t regret the decision.
“…Because, what a chance to break down barriers” he says.
The words are not chosen by random. The conference theme is breaking barriers and depending on the eye that sees, it refers to everything from barriers between countries, municipalities, institutions, people, public and private or professionals and amateurs.
As an example, the strategy for the championship has been to focus on the professional road racing sport without having individual bike riders – Tony Martin, Fabian Cancellera and Bradley Wiggins – dominating the show. Lord Mayor Frank Jensen and common people also had the chance to test drive the road racing circle, says Aaberg. And in the meantime “The Sound of Copenhagen” is circulating amongst the audience represented by bicycle bells used by conference participants. However, Aaberg disconfirm that the Danes have had too much of the bicycle story. The bicycle culture is a phenomenon that will stay relevant.
“The bicycle is a greater story about the Danes than the Vikings are” as he underscores. After Aaberg, Economist and sports consultant Lars Haue-Pedersen takes over the stage. He does not neglect the value of the road racing championship – as he jokes “sports are the only thing everyone loves”. He however modifies the unconditional happiness often associated with more and greater events. A point made by Haue-Pedersen is amongst others that for a person not caring about events in the streets, these will instead represent a reason to stay away. “It is an example on misunderstanding leading to the wrong strategy” he tells the audience.
The road to here
Martin Bender from Wonderful Copenhagen continues the theme on concerning the size of events. He highlights amongst others that Copenhagen has been hosting ever greater events through the years. Sport, capital of culture, MTV Music Awards… All the way to the foregoing culmination taking place on the street just outside the windows.
But some events may outgrow their own concepts as seen with the street party Distortion. Martin Bender honestly admits that you must be able to crawl before you can walk, so to speak. For instance we were too naïve when hosting the UEFA cup final in 2000, which ended with extreme hooliganism in the streets of Copenhagen. Contrary audacious courage also pays off: just a few years ago it was unimaginable to close the City Hall Square and surrounding areas but tests showed that it was in deed possible.
In the meantime it becomes ever more intense outside the Design Centre where the bicycle riders are still competing. Tony Martin takes the lead and puts Cancellara and Wiggins behind. Inside words are on management and strategy. The hosts encourage all participants to turn to the streets and experience the event unfold while trying to comprehend that there is always two sides of the same coin: To break barriers. Some participants make use of the offer while others follow the race with refreshments in hand from the Design Centre’s upper floor.