‘Space Olympics’ secured for Sydney

The world’s largest space conference will come to Australian shores after a successful bid led by the Australian Academy of Science and the University of NSW, supported by Business Events Sydney. Awarded to the NSW capital over bidding rivals Shanghai, Prague, Valencia and Lausanne, the 2020 Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) – nicknamed the Space Olympics - will be hosted at the International Convention Centre Sydney, bringing with it up to 3,000 delegates and injecting $10 million of direct expenditure into the state’s economy. Business Events Sydney Chief Executive Lyn Lewis-smith credited Australia’s record as a “safe destination”, as well the country’s clear dark skies “which are perfect for stargazing” as major drawcards which helped to push the bid over the line.