The 54th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities, organized by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), continued today with its virtual keynote address from Pete Giorgio and Alan Switzer from Deloitte, the largest global professional services network.

Via a video presentation, the duo discussed Deloitte’s perspective and insights around the impact of COVID-19 on the sports sector, including the practical steps that sports organizations can take to adapt to the “new normal”, opportunities arising from the challenging circumstances, and how that advice can be tailored to horseracing organizations.

Giorgio, a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP, leads the organization’s United States Sports practice. He is the co-author of Deloitte’s 2020 report Games without fans: How sports organizations can thrive now, and in the long term as well as the co-author of the April 2020 report COVID-19 Outlook for the Sports Industry.

Switzer is a director in the Sports Business Group, Deloitte’s global center of excellence in sport business. He has worked extensively in horseracing for over 15 years, including producing multiple Economic Impact studies on racing—notably in respect of British and Irish racing.

The IFHA Conference is typically held in-person in Paris, France, the day after the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), but in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year it is being conducted as a series of videos released during the first two weeks of October.

All videos from the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities will be released on the IFHA’s YouTube channel, its website (www.ifhaonline.org), and its social media platforms. They will also be available as podcasts.

The first video, a panel discussion examining how to sustain the business of horseracing, as well as sports in general, in the midst of a pandemic and economic uncertainty, was released yesterday.

The next video/podcast will be sent out tomorrow, Wednesday 7^th October, and will feature a panel discussion focusing on adapting the broadcast, production, and media experience to a COVID-19 racing and sporting landscape.

The first International Conference of Horseracing Authorities was organized and hosted by the Société d'Encouragement in Paris, France, on October 9, 1967. Since 1994, the annual conference has been organized by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities at France Galop. In 2019, the conference convened delegates from more than 50 different countries with a number of other racing executives and media members in attendance.
 

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