• Nathalie Deutsch, Young Sports Maker

    Nathalie Deutsch, Young Sports Maker
    It was the event not to be missed at the start of the year! The second edition of Global Sports Week took place from the 1st to 5th February, under the patronage of UNESCO and the high patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. With a new format that integrated digital and physical experiences, in Paris, Beijing, Tokyo, Milan, Dakar, Los Angeles and online, a new hybrid edition was made possible to keep the event successful, despite the current health situation.

     

    As a new unmissable event for the global sports industry, Global Sports Week not only offers a unique opportunity for leaders in sport and business, it also provides a special stage for the younger generation to raise their voices and lead the future.

     

    “The Young Sports Makers programme is aimed at young people from across the world - athletes, social entrepreneurs, students and young professionals - who carry the voice of the Generation Z. The Young Sports Makers were one of the breakout successes of the inaugural edition of Global Sports Week in February 2020. They participated directly throughout the programme, expressing opinions, and challenging received ideas through on-stage interactions with global leaders.” – Young Sports Maker, Global Sports Week’s website.

     

    For this edition, a new squad of Young Sports Makers with 22 young women,12 young men and 16 nationalities represented was formed to support the new format of the event. With a mission to shape debates and challenge the speakers and leaders in person, or through virtual events depending on their location, the YSM raised suggestions for the future, especially by highlighting the changes they wanted to see in the six shifts of the event: health, lifestyle, equality, data, climate, and power.

     

    Out of the 34 Young Sports Makers selected, one of our second year Global Sport Business Master student at AMOS London, Nathalie Deutsch, was represented.

    We spoke with her about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a Global Sports Week Young Sports Maker during this second edition of the Global Sports Week. She explains her experience representing her generation by sharing her thoughts on the insightful sessions on the topic of Data.

     

    How did you learn about the Young Sports Makers programme Global Sports Week?


    I have been following GSW since their first edition, as I had work colleagues who attended and I found the speakers and programme quite interesting, like a breath of renewal for this type of event (that can sometimes be “boring” and too corporate). I heard about the impact the Young Sports Makers (YSM) had in 2020 but I did not think too much of it afterwards to be honest, probably because I was only following the event from far. It is by following GSW on social media and subscribing to their newsletter that I heard about the 2021 YSM applications.

     

    For what reasons did you decide to participate in the programme?


    I’m in my final GSBM year and had some time to spare! (Not really). On a more serious note, I found the programme quite interesting and as an international individual I thought that it would be nice to meet sports makers from all around the world and to have an active role on the event. Learning more about current issues in sports and what the industry is doing to resolve them is also a plus and a good reason to get involved.

     

    How were you chosen to be part of the new 34 Young Sports Makers squad?


    First, I had to apply online and answer a series of questions (why I want to join, what is the biggest challenge I find in sports etc.) and submit a video of me answering the question. Then once you have been selected – this is the first stage - you have to do a workshop with all the other preselected YSM. This year we had the chance to work with Yunus Sports Hub (a global social business network creating solutions to local problems in and through sport), and after a couple of presentations, we were put into groups and had an hour to get to know each other, solve questions and write a mini essay around the 6 shifts of the GSW (Health, Power, Equality, Climate, Lifestyle, Data). It was a hard task due to the time pressure and with everything being online, connecting with other participants behind a screen and working as a team is an extra challenge. After the group work, I had to submit another essay and answer further questions. For the 2021 edition, we were 34 YSM selected with around 200 applications.

     

    What was your role during the Global Sports Week?


    My role would have been a bit different if we could all attend the event in-person… I chose the Paris Hub and would have been based at the Arena, but because of Covid-19 I had to change to the Digital Hub. As YSMs, we represent our Generation Z, and our main role is to let our voice be heard. Our role is to challenge speakers for more concrete answers or actions for the future of sports, meet and chat with participants, participate in talks and roundtables… Some YSMs had the chance to be on-stage live at the Eiffel Tower, either as speakers or as community managers picking out questions from the Live Chat. As for me, I had the chance to speak on the closing session, representing the Data shift, live from the Eiffel tower but from the comfort of my home.

     

    Did you have any specific preparations for your participation?


    Every YSM was assigned to a shift according to experience, preferences, and prepared questions. After being assigned to Data, I had to think about questions for the different sessions, and underline the most compelling challenges of the industry, while always keeping in mind that I represented GenZ.

     

    From your perspective, what do you see as the most significant mega-trends affecting sport right now?


    #Lifestyle Storytelling is at its peak.

    #Data Gamification and hyper personalisation are the future

    #Power Athlete’s platforms are powerful tools for “changemaking”

    #Equality Tackling issues should be considered as a team sport and what is happening on the field should be translated in governance faster (and the other way around)

    #Health Physical activity is the best opportunity to recover from the pandemic

    #Climate Sport has a real impact, and everyone should help out concerning climate fight, with sports events organisers needing to adorn the role.

     

    You are coming to the end of your second year of the Global Sport Business Master, what does the future hold for you?


    It is a hard time for everyone, and I wish that we could all answer that question. For now, I will be interning at Rugby League World Cup 2021 as a Volunteer & Accreditation Coordinator, working on an event that is all about diversity and inclusion, social impact, and legacy. I do not know what the future holds for me after that, but I know that I want to work on major sports events so that is probably where you will find me in the next few years ;)

     

    As a great representative of the new generation in the sports industry, would you like to give some advice to AMOS students and those who desire to pursue a career in sports in the future?


    Do not stay passive in your studies, always grab every opportunity you can. Whether it is volunteering on events, networking with lecturers, researching new trends in the sports industry etc., always do more than you would normally do and fight for what you believe in, for sports have the power to change lives, as long as you use them selflessly.



     
    Written by Victoria Chacon, Communication and Events Officer AMOS London.

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