Dear Friends,
We believe an update on the 2023 Games is long overdue. We have to admit, we’ve been quiet for way to long. Yes, the Games are coming, but let us explain in more detail. It has been a tough couple of months, organizing such an event is not what it used to be. We have been negotiating various opportunities but unfortunately some potential sites were not able to accommodate us for various reasons, others did not provide the value for money we want to offer. At the end of the day we would like to see the Games appeal to widest possible audience allowing as many of you as possible to come and compete. This means finding a location that suits a wide variety of budgets, and is accessible through good flight connections at reasonable prices.
This year we also want as many of us as possible, if not all of us, to compete and live in close proximity. We also want the sporting facilities to meet the highest standards of amateur sports. On top of everything, our jobs now all require to do more with less. This unfortunately means having significantly less time and energy to dedicate to voluntary projects such as the IAG. All these things combined made our search and efforts quite challenging.
A healthy work-life balance is of immense value and the Inter-Agency Games have been one of the most prominent initiatives of achieving this. We know how hard and passionately you pursue and train for your sport, so we are determined to see a successful IAG event to be held this year!
We are happy to share that we now have sufficient offers to make a final choice of location soon. We expect to announce the details soon and share the official invitation with your focal points immediately after.
The expected dates for the 2023 are in early to mid-October. This allows us to make use of post-season prices as well as give you enough time for planning and to apply for eventual visas. If you have questions, leave a comment bellow, I’ll try and answer as best I can.
For all the latest information, keep checking www.interagencygames.org and follow us on social media. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Steven
on behalf of the Vienna UNIAG Organizing Committee
Dear Steven,
You are doing a very good job, keeping us updated at every point.
Francis.
This is well noted
This is a great news and I hope to see this nice event happen!!!
All the best.
JM
How to register for the games
hi dear please let me know as soon as possible when the game start and in which country so we can arrange issue visa
Dear Steven, thanks for the update, well noted.
Thanks, Steven, for the info. I shall wait for the invitation letter in order to apply for visa.
Dear Steven,
Many thanks for the update!
I know that it is tricky to organise small events, I can’t even begin to imagine how huge is the task for such a big event as the Games.
My main question is, will the games take place in Austria, or in a neighbouring country?
With kind regards and all wishes for success,
Roland
(currently Section Head at the Agency, but will be retired by October!)
Hi,
While I can’t comment on the bidding exercise I can assure that we are adhering to the principles I mentioned. We are sure to offer a memorable experience.
All the best and hope to see you at the Games!
Steven
Thank you, Steven, for the information and hard work.
I am flagging the visa issue based on invitation letter; What I understand respective embassy will not accept me as UN staff until they receive an official letter through proper channel. So, if there any such thoughts to provide support this year to get visa easily? We appreciate your concern in this regard.
Sounds great, thank you 😊
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the update!
I’m just wondering if UNRWA has a FP or will it be able to participate as it seems no lt listed in the drop list?
Thank you,
Thanks for this update, Steven – all great to hear.
I am wondering if we could have mixed-gender volleyball teams in this year’s games? I hear it can be difficult for female players across the UN to build enough teams for a meaningful competition. Mixed teams would be a way to allow more people to participate.
Grateful for your and others’ thoughts on this.
So to avoid increased costs and time to organize logistics (especially for sports that have heavy equipment/golf) would be grateful for the earliest possible news with regards to date and location.
Greetings and thanks.
The link to the “latest information” takes us to “Copenhagen 2022” games. Hope to see a link to “Vienna 2023”.
Thanks again!
We will update soon, promise!
Hi Steven
Sorry i was referring to Goodwill ambassadors, actors, football/
tennis professionals or other sports. I don’t have the updated list but usually each agency have different names.
Many thanks, we’ll investigate!
Tahnk you Steven, great news indeed.
Have you considered using our ambassadors who are in sports as professional, they might help leveraging countries to host us. Like if they will do the opening for example and sign some T-shirts or somethinglike that. For the countries (hosts) such names might bring them high numbers of tourists including locals who would visit sports venue to take 🤳 or signature.
Looking forward for further details on the games for this year.
Cheers
If you have some names and links I will certainly look into it. I wasn’t aware of this, forgive my ignorance 🙂
I concur with Charles Garcia’s suggestion “would it be possible to consider the IAGs during the second half of September? October seems a little late in the year”
Weatherwise too, by October any location in Europe, good weather is not guaranteed to be able to enjoy the games!.
The locations left in the final bidding are all weather stable for October. While we might need some vests in the evenings, out sport competitions will be nice!
Thanks for the information.
However in some countries such as the DRC we have serious problems to easily have the visa.
We propose if possible to share the invitation letter 2 months before the Games to avoid the inconvenience experienced last year.
Best Regards.
We will have the invitation letter ready by the end of this month giving you six months to make travel and visa arrangements!
Sounds great, thank you 😊
Super et bonne nouvelle
Thank you Steven for this message as so many of our colleagues were wondering whether the IAG 2023 will take place. It is very good news and congratulations for not giving up
I know the tasks for organising such an event are immense given the scarcity of staff ressources and the number of people to cater at decent prices
I have only a suggestion: would it be possible to consider the IAGs during the second half of September? October seems a little late in the year.
With many thanks
Charles
Dear Charles,
I get your concern but our/my main partner here in Vienna is the IAEA which has their General Conference at that time, hence it is a no go. Also, we need to make use of off-season prices to be able to offer competitive product. If price was not an option we could host in any location at any time. However, our main concern is being attractive, unique, and secure for a wide range of UN colleagues across all locations and contractual categories.
All the best, Steven
Hi Steven,
Thank you for the update. I wonder, is it possible at this stage to adjust the disciplines schedule for those, who want to participate in more than one? For example, could you separate swimming (it takes a few hours in one day) and running? Or at least plan it for the different parts of the same day. It would be great.
Unfortunately not. The main problem is the risk of injury, as this would then affect more sports and teams. Equally, this would make scheduled even more challenging. Let’s hope we have more swimmers this year for a more elaborate tournament