[Source: SportAccord] Raffaele Chiulli, the President of SportAccord and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), underlined the importance of collaborating around “a bold vision” as he spoke alongside Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, at a high-profile forum yesterday.
Dr Chiulli was invited to participate as an expert speaker in a Plenary Session entitled ‘Development of Sport in Integration with the World Community’ at the Russia – Country of Sports International Sports Forum, which has brought more than 1,500 attendees to the city of Nizhny Novgorod.
In the Plenary Session, which was moderated by Pavel Kolobkov, Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation, Dr Chiulli and his fellow panellists discussed a range of vital issues, including how sport can be used as a unifying principle in the modern world, sport’s principles as the basis for harmonious human development, and the ‘Sport for All’ concept of promoting the role of a healthy lifestyle as a factor in the successful social and economic development of countries.
Dr Chiulli, who is also President of the International Powerboating Federation (UIM) and the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), highlighted the importance of “opportunity, accessibility and sustainability” in helping to improve sports participation levels.
“For many members of GAISF, this means we must not be afraid to take sport out of the traditional stadiums and into the streets,” Dr Chiulli said. “Our role at GAISF is to be the United Voice of Sports. Together, we have 125 members, which is much more powerful than one International Sport Federation on its own. Together, we can share best practice and improve sport globally, and together we can solve and reverse the issue of declining participation.”
In underlining the need for a collaborative approach, Dr Chiulli added: “We are always stronger when we stand together and, ultimately, this is the only way we can all learn from each other. Of course, it is not enough simply to bring people together. We must develop tools for learning and sharing. We must have a programme of activities that makes us think and react. As with any change, it is important to bring together all the main actors around a bold vision.”
Alongside President Putin, Dr Chiulli shared the stage with Olga Golodets, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; Ivo Ferriani, President, International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF); Julio Maglione, President of FINA (International Swimming Federation); René Fasel, President of IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation); and Aleksander Čeferin, President of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations).
After the Forum, President Chiulli was amongst an exclusive group of international sports executives invited to meet with the President of the Russian Federation to discuss about how to shape the future of sport.
Dr Chiulli will provide the Opening Address at SportAccord’s upcoming International Federation (IF) Forum 2019 from 28-30 October 2019 in Lausanne. The IF Forum 2019 Programme will focus on ‘Athlete Centred Sport’.
At Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 from 10-12 December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dr Chiulli will once again set the scene with opening remarks before participating in a Panel Session entitled ‘The Future of International Sports Governance’ under the conference’s umbrella theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’.
The next edition of the annual SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit will take place from 19-24 April 2020 in Beijing, China.
For further information about the IF Forum, please download the brochure here or visit: https://www.sportaccord.sport/if-forum. For further information about Regional SportAccord, click here and for further information about the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit, click here.
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