The organisation of events is perhaps the primary activity of sport and recreation organisations. Workers in the sport and recreation industry, salaried and voluntary, are essentially organisers of people whether they be event directors, coaches, referees, instructors or facility supervisors. This organisation of people is manifest by what we see and call an "event". The term event in the recreation industry usually refers to a situation where participants, facilities, equipment and other resources are co-ordinated to enable a form of sport or recreation or some allied activity to be undertaken.

There are many different types of events at many different levels. Events may be sporting events such as matches or tournaments, promotional events such as exhibition matches or sporting displays in public venues and/or they may be educational events such as sport clinics, special courses or conferences. Even fundraising activities such as a chocolate drive or a bingo night can be seen as an event. The learner should therefore be aware that the term "event" has a wider meaning.

Irrespective of the type of event, the skills required to manage an event are much the same and only the magnitude and complexity differs. Persons who are called upon to manage an event may acquire many titles but in this text for the sake of simplicity they will be called the Event Director.