Glasgow Marks Capital of Sport Title by Welcoming 3,000 Sports Scientists in 2024

Glasgow was announced as the 2024 host of The Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS) at the closing ceremony of the 2023 conference in Paris last week (Friday 7 July 2023).

The event, which will be held at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) from July 2-5 2024, is expected to attract 3,000 delegates and contribute nearly £5m to the city’s economy and will mark the first time in 28 years that the meeting will be held in Scotland.

“Paris has handed the ECSS baton over to Glasgow! We are so looking forward to welcoming the delegates to our city next year. The conference has been in planning for many years, so we are thrilled the news is out and our European Capital of Sport, Glasgow, is officially announced as the next ECSS host city,” said Aileen Crawford, Head of Glasgow Convention Bureau.

The announcement comes as Glasgow holds the title of European Capital of Sport (ECOS) 2023 – and becomes the first city to hold the title twice, 20 years after first achieving the accolade. The city’s second stint as ECOS celebrates two decades of success, development and investment, including the contribution made by coaches and volunteers during a time when Glasgow established its place among the world’s top sporting cities. Over the last 20 years, Glasgow has invested more than £200 million in its world-class sporting venues, including the Emirates Arena, Glasgow BMX Centre and the refurbished Kelvin Hall.

ECSS President Professor Jørn Wulff Helge said: “ECSS is honoured to bring its 29^th Annual Congress to Glasgow, Scotland in 2024. Glasgow stands out as a fun, vibrant city with a big character! It offers our participants a unique experience in terms of culture, architecture, art, music and hospitality.”

ECSS President-Elect Professor Alexander Ferrauti adds: “The state-of-the-art exhibition centre (the SEC) is the perfect venue for the congress, in a great location. We are thrilled to be working with the team at The University of the West of Scotland to organise this congress under the slogan ‘Enhancing Health, Performance and Community Sport’ and make it a fantastic experience for all who attend. We are excited for delegates to join us at ECSS Glasgow 2024 – this year’s European Capital of Sport!”

Glasgow has hosted a series of world-class events at outstanding venues during this period, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships, the first-ever European Championships in 2018 and UEFA EURO 2020 fixtures, and next month will play host to the UCI World Cycling Championships, attracting thousands of top-level athletes and spectators from around the world.

Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events, VisitScotland said: “In Glasgow and the rest of Scotland, sport and exercise is critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. This prestigious conference will continue to drive the health of the nation by inviting an international audience of sports scientists passionate about furthering the aims of their subject with academics and professionals from across the world. The value of sport as a vehicle for social change cannot be underestimated. This event will help empower the development of our young scientists and encourage strong partnerships within the private and public sectors. We are excited to expand the possibilities this event will bring to improve the health and wellbeing of our country.”

Professor Richard Davison, ECSS 2024 Congress President said: “I am thrilled to announce that the European College of Sport Sciences Congress in 2024 will be held in the dynamic city of Glasgow, solidifying the city's position as a world-renowned hub for sport and exercise. This event will bring together over 3000 leading scientists from around the globe to discuss and explore innovative ways of enhancing health, performance and community sport. As the 2nd largest sport and exercise congress in the world, the impact of this event on the field of sport and exercise science cannot be overstated. We look forward to welcoming our colleagues from across the globe to Glasgow, as we celebrate this exciting milestone and contribute to the city's recognition as the European Capital of Sport.”