[Source: SportAccord] Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), will be a Keynote Speaker at the fully virtual International Federation (IF) Forum 2020 next month, SportAccord has confirmed.
Dr. Tedros, who has been a prominent figure in the international response to the Covid-19 pandemic, will deliver a Keynote Address on the theme of the conference – ‘How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger from a Global Crisis’.
Having been elected to serve a five-year term at the helm by WHO Member States in 2017, Dr. Tedros is globally recognised as a health scholar, researcher and diplomat with first-hand experience in research, operations and leadership in emergency responses to epidemics.
The Keynote Address will follow a Welcome Address by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and an Opening Address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord.
Dr Tedros said: “Sport plays a vital role in our closely connected global community, bringing joy, teamwork, peace and ways to promote the physical and mental health for people of all walks of life.”
“But like many other areas of life, COVID-19 has also turned the sporting world upside down, forcing to us to find new ways to enable people to participate in their favourite sports, while keeping them safe in the process. WHO has been working closely with sporting federations during these challenging times to assess the risks associated with COVID-19 to protect the health of players, staff and fans. We will continue working with you to bring sports back on line safely for all.”
Dr. Chiulli added: “We are very excited to be welcoming Dr. Tedros to the IF Forum. He has played an incredibly important role in the global Covid-19 challenge presented to all of us – including the international sports movement – and we are delighted that he will join us virtually to provide unmissable insights into the role sport can play in helping to drive the broader recovery of society as we hope to move on from the turbulence of this year.”
All of the IF Forum sessions will be streamed online, with SportAccord having adopted a fully virtual format for the event due to ongoing challenges in relation to international travel and in-person gatherings in the context of the pandemic.
More than 30 expert speakers have been lined up to participate in the conference programme. During the packed conference schedule, a range of experts will discuss strategies to drive the recovery of sport following the pandemic whilst establishing game plans that sports leaders can put in place to mitigate challenges that may arise from possible unforeseen disruptions in the future.
Topics that will be debated will include crisis management, scenario planning, how to limit risk from a legal and financial perspective, law-related commercial considerations for IFs and how to stay connected and reassure athletes, fans and stakeholders in times of adversity.
The invitation-only IF Forum 2020 will bring together more than 200 leaders from over 125 International Sports Federations, with delegates, and speakers.
For further information about the IF Forum, click here or download the brochure here, and follow #IFFORUM2020 on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.
