Representatives of the Portuguese Sports Foundation traveled to Australia to start the meeting concerning the project of internationalization of the Portuguese High Performance Sports Centres.
Following the project for the internationalization of the Portuguese Network of High Performance Sports Centres – HIGHSPORTUGAL, Market Access, a company selected by public tender, carried out the activity 3.3 of this project, entitled “International Promotion Actions with the organization of meetings and exploratory talks in the targeted markets, advised by expert consultants to promote the national offer of HPSC”.
The execution of this activity includes actions to promote the Portuguese HPSC in the 10 targeted markets – Germany, Angola, Australia, Brazil, China, the United Arab Emirates, France, the United Kingdom, Russia and Sweden.
Following the exploratory contacts with the Australian market, Market Access consultants João Sardo and Jenny O’Sullivan traveled to Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Gold Coast from May 15 to 18, 2018, to meet with specialists and local representatives, respecting a previously established agenda:
- May 16, 2018: meeting with the Melbourne Uni Boat Club, in the presence of Franz Imfeld High, Coach of High Performance Sports; Golf Australia, with High Performance Manager Matt Cutler; School Sport Australia and Scoreboard Consultancy, with Vice President, Jude MacGuire and CEO Robert Carroll; Athletics Australia, with Adam Bishop, Interim Director of High Performance Sports;
- May 17, 2018: meeting with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), in the presence of Chief of Operations of High Performance, Dion Russell; Swimming Australia, with Gary Vandeburgt, Team Operations Manager; Gymnastics Australia, with Mary Schumacher, High Performance Administrative Manager; Australian Minister for Sport Adviser, with Minister Counselor Rebecca Johnson; Equestrian Australia, with Gina Haddad, Consultant to the High Performance Sports Centre;
- May 18, 2018: Visit to the Australian Olympic Committee, with Luke Pellegrini, Head of Games Operations and Sports Services; Exchange Me Travel Agency and Sports Tours, with Managing Director Laura Kostouros; Sydney University (Elite Athlete Program), with Leoni Lum, Program Manager for Elite Athletes.
In addition to face-to-face contacts with the aforementioned entities, Market Access consultants, representing the Portuguese Sports Foundation, also held Skype conferences with Siobhan James and Glen Corcoran, leaders of the Bond University High Performance Sports Centre.