Just heard about ThinkSport? Find out more!

Are you a professional already working within the sports industry, or is this a career you are interested in pursuing?

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about us, and information on who we are, and what we do.

What is ThinkSport?
ThinkSport is the first network of its kind that brings together sports-related expertise and excellence in Lausanne, the Canton of Vaud and across Switzerland: from sports organisations, research and development institutes, educational bodies, businesses, health institutions, and the public sector, to international organisations and NGOs.

We act as a facilitator for positive and creative dialogue between these different sectors, and as a one-stop-shop for any professional looking for information and expertise within the many strands of international sport.

What was the motivation to create ThinkSport?
The key motivation was to build a centre of excellence for sport, given the unique concentration of different organisations and individuals in the region already linked to sport on the one hand, and the potential for better collaboration among these players on the other. It is all about driving talent, innovation and progress in sport.

Who are the organisations and people behind ThinkSport?
ThinkSport is an association founded by the City of Lausanne, the Canton of Vaud, the Swiss Confederation and the International Olympic Committee. The office is run by Director Anna Hellman, and supported by two full-time staff, Kevin Gabrielli (Project Manager) and Stephane Mottaz (Sales & Marketing Manager).

What is the mission of ThinkSport?
Our mission is to highlight the knowledge, expertise and diverse sport initiatives found in the City of Lausanne, Canton de Vaud, Switzerland and beyond, and to connect the variety of organisations and people with interest in international sport.

What are the aims of ThinkSport?
ThinkSport acts as a one-stop-shop for any professional looking for information and expertise in the sport sector. Our aims are:

• To emphasise the proximity of the sport, business, research and educational capabilities available to the sporting community in Lausanne, Canton of Vaud and Switzerland.
• To create business efficiencies by encouraging partnerships between organisations and individuals.
• To encourage organisations and companies working within sport to see the region as a source of knowledge and international expertise, and help them negotiate their way around the international sporting landscape.

What is ThinkSport’s connection to the International Sports Cluster Lausanne?
“International Sports Cluster Lausanne” was the working title under which the project started. With our official network now launched, the new name associates well with ‘think tank’, which reflects the spirit of this network, and highlights ‘sport’, as the key building block of collaboration – the tie that brings the different sectors all together as ThinkSport.

What services and products are offered by ThinkSport?
We offer the following initial services and tools:

• An information office with customised support, currently located in the Maison du Sport International in Lausanne;
• A database of innovative sports-related projects (already online), companies and organisations working in or with sport (Who’s Who) and education opportunities (coming soon);
• A calendar of our network featuring business conferences, meetings and events taking place in Switzerland.

ThinkSport is continually developing additional activities and services.

How many people work in sport in the region?
The Canton of Vaud is home to 55 international sports organisations, which have a total of more than 1,500 full-time employees. Additionally, there are 13 universities in Vaud alone, as well as two hospitality schools, ranked numbers 1 and 2 of the best hospitality schools in the world. Many of their courses cover topics that impact sport. Approximately 300 NGOs are located in the Geneva region, with many of them using sport as a tool for reaching development goals; as does the United Nations, which has several agencies based in Geneva. There are also a large number of commercial organisations working within sport located in the region.

Is ThinkSport’s reach limited to Switzerland?
Although progress is initiated in Lausanne, Canton of Vaud and Switzerland, due to the many influential sports organisations here, the network also extends to participants across the globe and has an impact at international level. For instance, many ThinkSport participants, such as international sport organisations and world-renowned corporations, are located in Switzerland, but operate globally.

Is ThinkSport a profit or non-profit organisation?
ThinkSport was not created primarily as a commercial organisation, but the plan is to develop the network as a sustainable and cost-efficient association. The objective is to generate enough revenue to develop services for, and projects with, ThinkSport members, which will add value to their day-to-day activities. Revenues will be largely generated through contributions from the founders, commercial partners, and through membership fees.

What are the costs for members?
This is something being worked on at the moment which will be communicated once the membership model will be finalised. As a first step, ThinkSport is introducing our organisation to the different sectors with whom we will be working. It is important to give everybody the opportunity to understand our mission and our range of services and activities. In a few months’ time, and as a second step, membership will be open to any person or organisation working in, or wanting to work in sport. Fees will be kept at a moderate level – our objective is to make ThinkSport a cost-efficient and sustainable association providing services of added value to our members.

Want to know more? Contact us at info@thinksport.org and keep following us on www.thinksport.org.