International Federations - Host City

IF Forum 2020 to Adopt Fully Virtual Format

The International Federation (IF) Forum, the annual event that brings together leaders from across the global sporting community, will be hosted by SportAccord in a fully virtual format next month.

In light of the challenges in relation to international travel and in-person gatherings in the context of the pandemic, the decision to switch to a fully virtual format was taken in order to give delegates sufficient time to adjust their plans ahead of the event in November.

With preparations having already focused on optimising the experience for virtual attendees as part of what was initially planned to be a ‘hybrid’ gathering, SportAccord is committed to delivering an outstanding experience for all participants, connecting the sporting world via technology, with all of the sessions streamed live online.

SportAccord President Raffaele Chiulli said: “The SportAccord team has worked incredibly hard to facilitate a solution that would allow the IF Forum to be held in a hybrid format as intended but, due to the evolving situation, this is no longer appropriate.”

“While we will not gather together in-person this year, the strong programme and line-up of contributors means that the IF Forum will be a vital signpost for the global sports movement as the dust settles on a turbulent 2020 and thoughts turn to a brighter future.”

“All of sport’s custodians and decision-makers have an important part to play in coming together to inspire positive change whilst safeguarding against future challenges, and the IF Forum 2020 will serve as an essential starting point.”

Experts will discuss strategies to drive the recovery of sport following the Covid-19 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 100 International Sport Federations, with delegates, speakers and exclusive Official IF Forum Partners discussing best practices.

For further information about the IF Forum, click here or download the brochure here, and follow #IFFORUM2020 on TwitterLinkedInFacebookYouTube and Flickr.

For media enquiries, please contact: media@sportaccord.sport.

IF Forum 2020 to Debate How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger Following Global Crisis

[Source: SportAccord] Experts will discuss strategies to drive the recovery of sport following the Covid-19 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.

International Sport Federation and Partner registration is open for this year’s edition of the annual IF Forum, which is organised by SportAccord for International Sport Federations and their Stakeholders is supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Further details about the IF Forum 2020 conference programme, speakers and participants will be announced in the coming weeks.

SportAccord and GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli said: “The IF Forum will be a vital signpost for the global sports movement in a turbulent 2020 and thoughts turn to a brighter future. As an integral part of communities worldwide, sport will play a crucial broader role as societies and economies emerge from the Covid-19 crisis."

“All of sport’s custodians and decision-makers have an important part to play in coming together to inspire positive change whilst safeguarding against future challenges, and the IF Forum 2020 in Lausanne will serve as an essential starting point.”

The invitation-only IF Forum 2020 will bring together 300 leaders from 125 International Sports Federations, with delegates, speakers and exclusive Official IF Forum Partners discussing best practice in an intimate environment.

Presentation slots have been scheduled over the course of the programme as part of exclusive rights and benefits available to Partners of the invitation-only event.

The IF Forum 2020 will also feature numerous other opportunities for Partners to engage directly with sport’s decision-makers, including VIP functions and social activities for networking.

To discuss partnership opportunities and take advantage of exclusive access to the IF Forum, contact our Sales Team by email at sales@sportaccord.sport or by phone at +41 21 612 30 79.

For further information about the IF Forum, please download the brochure here or visit: https://www.sportaccord.sport/if-forum.

For media enquiries, please contact: media@sportaccord.sport

Follow #IFFORUM2020 on TwitterLinkedInFacebookYouTube and Flickr.

A wake-up call for international federations

(Photo: Host City)

Featuring on the Olympic programme is still an incomparable way of capturing global attention, but sports will need more than this to hold attention and appeal in today’s crowded market.

“There is a need for a more entrepreneurial approach from international federations,” said Tom Dielen, Secretary General, World Archery, opening the IF Summit. “Our role is different to private companies. We need to develop sports, not just make money, and there we need to be creative.

“One highlight per year is not enough. You have to have event experiences for fans.”

One way of making sports more experiential is to make entertainment a stronger component of the programme. Dielen cites the example of the Superbowl: “After the half time show half the audience left – you wonder if the half time show is the real show!”

FIBA’s latest format places equal emphasis on entertainment. “3x3 Basketball has urban culture festivals with non-stop music,” said Ignacio Soriano, Head of Events and Partnerships at FIBA.

This event is open to cities and private promoters as well as national federations, who traditionally lead on hosting championships.

Sailing is another Olympic sport that is working more creatively with the private sector. World Sailing works with a number of “partner special events” – the Ocean Race, the Americas Cup, Sail GP, World Match Racing Tour, Star Sailors League and J Class.

“The special events have to sign a charter that links with our sustainability charter,” said Scott Over, commercial director at World Sailing.

“Sailing has a huge year this year – not just the Olympics, but also the first Offshore World Championships, a sport that may be included in Paris 2024, to be broadcast 24 hours a day for four days.”

Following the success of Beach Volleyball, which has been in the Games programme since 1996, FIVB launched Snow Volleyball as an opportunity to get into the winter sports market.

“Beach volleyball is influenced by the elements; we thought we could do that in winter,” said Nicolas Hyett, Technology and Innovation Manager at FIVB.

Hockey is another sport that has a relatively new format, Hockey5s, created for the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014. “New small formats are complementary to traditional ones,” said Hilary Atkinson, Olympic Games Director at FIH.

Creative event owners also need to increase their reach in new regional markets. Alistair Gosling, CEO of Extreme International said, “Saudi Arabia is just starting to open up, and sports is a massive part of that transformation. Tourism and sport go hand in glove.”

However, host destinations are increasingly at the mercy of health and environmental issues. “Contingency is the word of the day,” said Dielen. “The Rugby World Cup in Japan last year was a major lesson for federations in what to do when a match is cancelled.”

Earlier this year, the Melbourne Open qualifying rounds were cancelled due to rain and air quality concerns amid the bushfires.

“More and more this is a factor. And now of course the coronavirus is causing events to be cancelled or postponed.”

Since the IF Summit, World Archery have announced that Shanghai will host the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in the Autumn, instead of the Stage it was scheduled to host in May.

Dielen said sustainability is another big topic facing event owners, citing the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne as a great example of widespread use of public transport. “Although on the second Friday, children from all over the world including Greta Thunberg gave a climate strike, which closed the train station and had a negative impact on carbon footprint.”

Financial sustainability is also a perennial and growing concern for event owners and organisers – and not just the IOC with its “New Norm” strategy.

“We took a decision in 2018 to have conversations with venues to see how they can be strategic partnerships – turning it into more of a conversation,” said Matt Evans, Events Manager at World Rowing.  

Alex Molina of Formula One said ,“We have the privilege of asking cities for a fee. Often this gets political – people say its’s better to spend the money on a hospital. But it attracts tourism, brings exposure to lesser known destinations – and brings economic impact.

“We have a responsibility to incentivise kids to get into engineering and motorsports. You need to adjust your product to kids – we need to think in terms of entertainment and bring in more music.”

Esports is competing massively for the attention of the next generation of fans. “We need to make participating actively as cool as esports”, said Atkinson.

So how can IFs make their events more entertaining, sustainable, global and safe? “Governance is the key to helping with all these things,” said Dielen.

IF Forum 2019 provides launchpad for athlete-centred sports strategies

[Source: SportAccord] Best practice strategies discussed at the International Federation (IF) Forum 2019 can act as a launchpad for positioning athletes at the heart of sports development, according to SportAccord and GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli.

Speaking in Lausanne at the conclusion of the three-day gathering, which is organised by SportAccord for International Sport Federations and supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr. Chiulli said that the vital topics discussed at the IF Forum would help to strengthen links between sport’s decision-makers and athletes.

Under a theme of ‘Athlete-Centred Sport’, delegates heard from a variety of experts on topics such as safeguarding athletes, financial wellbeing, athlete welfare and mental health, protecting clean athletes and strengthening the voice of athletes.

“Working together with our athletes is clearly the most effective way for us to develop our sports all over the world,” Dr. Chiulli said. “This involves working side-by-side with the athletes, listening to them and ensuring that our actions are helpful to them. Whether it is looking at the events calendar, empowering our athlete commissions or improving facilities for our competitors, I believe there is something we can all do.”

The importance of athlete commissions within IFs was highlighted by an engaging discussion that featured the IOC’s Head of Athlete Relations and Engagement, Kaveh Mehrabi, who spoke about the governing body’s International Athletes’ Forum.

Danka Barteková, the IOC Athletes' Commission Vice-Chair, detailed how the commission supports building an effective network of athlete representation and constantly engages with athlete representatives to collect feedback and provide support. Sarah Lewis OBE, Secretary General of the FIS (International Ski Federation) also shared her perspective on the role of the FIS Athletes Commission, including the composition and election of its members.

Dr. Chiulli, reflecting on the IF Forum 2019, added: “I hope that our discussions will not end here. We will continue to work together for the good of sport worldwide, because we are the united voice of sports. The lessons here can be passed on to National Federations, to ensure alignment throughout sports. Good governance requires us to lead by example.”

A workshop on ‘Athlete Centred Governance’ was led by Jenny Wiedeke, Communications Director, FIS, with Engaging Coach and International Speaker Gabriela Mueller Mendoza hosting a workshop on ‘Tools and Strategies for Athlete Engagement’. Other speakers included Dr. Thomas Bach, President, IOC; Philippe Leuba, State Councillor, Department of Economy & Sport at the Canton of Vaud; Stephan Fox, President, AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport) and General Secretary, IMFA (International Federation of Muaythai Associations); Jeanette Kwakye, Olympian and Broadcaster; Virginie Faivre, President, Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games and Lausanne 2020 Athletes’ Council, Christophe De Kepper, Director General, IOC; Sébastien Gillot, Director, European Regional Office and International Federation Relations, WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency); Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, President, FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine) and Member of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission – Medical and Scientific Group; and Susan Greinig, Medical Programmes Senior Manager, Safety Officer, IOC.

A special thank you goes out to  our IF Forum 2019’s Partners: Eurosport, MARSH, NAGRA, NEOM, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Deportivo and Sport Event Denmark, as well as Host City Partners Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud. IF Forum Partners had  the opportunity to engage and share knowledge with delegates via exclusive Partner presentations taking place throughout the Forum.

Attention has now switched to Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019, which will take place at Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center from 10-12 December, 2019. The event will bring together the Pan American, Olympic and non-Olympic communities in one location, attracting sports commissions, regional, national and international governing bodies, sports ministries, rights-holders, cities and regions, commercial entities and agencies.

Registration is open for the event, hosted by SportAccord in partnership with Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sports Foundation, International Sports & Health Associates and MGO.

For further information, email info@regionalsportaccord.sport or call +1 954 204 3081. You can also follow Regional SportAccord via Twitter @sportaccord by using #RSA2019 or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and FacebookYouTube and Flickr.

Experts to put athlete welfare at heart of IF Forum 2019 Conversation

[Source: SportAccord] Sport’s most innovative and influential figures will put the issue of athlete welfare firmly centre stage after a stellar line-up of speakers was finalised ahead of the International Federation (IF) Forum 2019 in Lausanne.

Representatives of international sports federations, stakeholders, governing bodies, public- and private-sector organisations will offer vital insights as part of a packed agenda from 28-30 October 2019 at the Hotel Royal Savoy, with the conference focusing on ‘Athlete Centred Sport’.

The annual event is organised by SportAccord for international sport federations and its stakeholders. The IF Forum is also supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and several IOC officials have been confirmed on the conference schedule, alongside leading figures from across the global sports spectrum.

IOC President Thomas Bach will offer welcome remarks alongside Philippe Leuba, State Councillor, Department of Economy & Sport at the Canton of Vaud, before SportAccord and GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli provides the opening address.

A series of speakers, including many with experience of being under the glare of the sporting spotlight, will then provide a series of unmissable perspectives via sessions, keynotes and fireside chats, with topics including safeguarding athletes, financial wellbeing, athlete welfare and mental health, protecting clean athletes and strengthening the athletes’ voice.

Olympian, Broadcaster and Host, Jeanette Kwakye, will provide an Athlete Keynote Address, before Virginie Faivre, President, Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games and Lausanne 2020 Athletes’ Council, is the focus of a Youth Athlete Keynote Address.

Scene setters ahead of panel sessions will also be provided by Christophe De Kepper, Director General, IOC; Sébastien Gillot, Director, European Regional Office and International Federation Relations, WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency); Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, President, FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine) and Member of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission – Medical and Scientific Group; Kaveh Mehrabi, Head of Athlete Relations and Engagement, IOC; and Susan Greinig, Medical Programmes Senior Manager, Safeguarding Officer, IOC.

On the final day, after a welcome and opening remarks from Stephan Fox, President, AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport) and General Secretary, IFMA (International Federation of Muaythai Associations), two workshops will take place. The first, on ‘Athlete Centred Governance’, will be led by Jenny Wiedeke, Communications Director, FIS (International Ski Federation); while the second on ‘Tools and Strategies for Athlete Engagement’ will feature Engaging Coach and International Speaker Gabriela Mueller Mendoza. A breakdown of the full conference programme at the IF Forum 2019 can be found here.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, says: “The calibre of speakers underlines the growing importance of this event, and by putting the wellbeing of athletes at the heart of the discussion, the IF Forum 2019 will provide an essential platform for exchanging knowledge and ideas on a hugely important topic.

We are also grateful for the support of the IF Forum 2019’s Partners: Eurosport, MARSH, NAGRA, NEOM, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Deportivo and Sport Event Denmark, as well as Host City Partners Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud.”

IF Forum Partners will have the opportunity to engage and share knowledge with delegates via exclusive Partner presentations taking place throughout the Forum.

The IF Forum 2019 will bring together more than 300 leaders from over 100 International Sports Federations, with delegates discussing best practice in an intimate environment.

For further information about the IF Forum, click here or download the brochure here.

For media enquiries, please contact: media@sportaccord.sport

Integrity, collaboration and digital top concerns of Olympic sports

Host City discussed the report with ASOIF leaders at their General Assembly in Bangkok in 2018

[Source: ASOIF] After almost 12 months’ work, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) today launched its report on the “Future of Global Sport”. The document aggregates the views of thought leaders and decision-makers from sport, business and government. It addresses political, social, technological, legal and economic influences, all of which are impacting International Federation (IF) decision-making and the model under which sport will be managed going forward. It also provides a historical overview of the foundations that underpin organised sport as we know it today and delves into the challenges currently being faced. The report concludes by laying out a vision for the future of sport over the next 20 years including key recommendations for the IFs and for ASOIF itself.

ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said on the occasion of today’s launch: “ASOIF has invested significant resources in this project and we believe the results will help IFs to better understand, anticipate and react to the changes and trends confronting them. In fact, some of the outlined future scenarios may serve as a wake-up call. This report invites us all to challenge our thinking at ASOIF and encourage our members to challenge their own.”

Key findings of the Future of Global Sport report include:

  • IFs must demonstrate an exemplary standard of governance in order to maintain the confidence of the media, governments, business and the public at large while also protecting the integrity of their sports;
  • IFs will need to develop a more proactive, creative, commercially driven and collaborative mind set, re-evaluating their role and strategies in favour of increased partnership with the private sector;
  • IFs will need to embrace “digital” in earnest, transforming their business models, organisational designs and operational cultures;
  • Today’s sporting event model will evolve so that true partnerships entailing closer cooperation and balanced risk-sharing among and between stakeholders, including business and government agencies will be a requirement;
  • Athletes with sufficient following are gaining influence in today’s disintermediated media landscape and will need to be offered greater incentives to compete in established events;
  • In order to attract new people to participate in and consume their sports, IFs must adapt their strategies to a changing society and to how, in future, people will discover and consume content;
  • If they adapt, IFs will remain widely accepted as unique bodies effectively capable of governing and administrating their sports on a worldwide basis as custodians of the rules, training of judges, managing the events calendar and coordinating and funding global development initiatives etc; and
  • It will become increasingly important to have an effective “umbrella” organisation working to promote and defend the Olympic IFs’ collective common interests given the range of major common challenges that IFs share but can never be expected to address individually.

Following-up on these findings, the report concludes with a blueprint for IFs to adapt and take advantage of the opportunities presented by today’s disrupted and competitive sporting landscape. This consists of ten recommendations for IFs related to two equally important themes of governance and entrepreneurialism.

The report will also provide ASOIF with guidance and a basis for prioritisation, particularly in relation to its work on establishing a solid future role for IFs, as the involvement of both public authorities (governments) and private business interests in sport continues to grow.

Click here to read the full report.

Blockchain expert Oliver Bussmann to deliver keynote at International Federation (IF) Forum 2018

[Source: SportAccord] Blockchain expert Oliver T Bussmann, CEO and Founder of Bussmann Advisory AG will deliver this year’s Keynote for the International Federation (IF) Forum due to take place from 5 – 7 November 2018 at the Hotel Royal Savoy in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The theme for the 12th edition of the IF Forum organised by SportAccord is entitled: Open Doors and Open Minds – New Tools for IFs. Delegates representing more than 100 international sports federations, associates and observer members from the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) will benefit from the insights shared by leading experts on subject matter such as cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

Keynote speaker, Oliver Bussmann, also President of Crypto Valley Association and Former Group Chief Information Officer for UBS and SAP commented:

“Blockchain technology is a game changer and holds many possibilities for the world of sport. Entrepreneurs and industry leaders alike have started to explore potential use cases, looking into opportunities to crowdfund athletes with potential, track athlete performance and ways to boost fan engagement.”

In his keynote, Bussmann will share a brief introduction to blockchain technology and market trends, and highlight the potential for blockchain in sport with case study examples.

Further IF Forum conference and panel sessions will cover:

  • The ever-changing global landscape and its impact on sport
  • 5G in live sports broadcasting: how 5G technologies are expected to transform production and distribution
  • Event/Ticketing Pricing - Marketplace Trends and Success Stories
  • AI, Robotics, Facial Recognition - Changing how events are delivered and who helps deliver them!

The IF Forum provides a platform for international sports federations (both Olympic and non-Olympic) to tackle global matters related to the Sports Movement. The annual 3-day gathering is also limited to a small number of industry partners and gives them exclusive access to an authoritative networking environment and recognition as a supporter of the Sports Movement. This year’s industry partners are Eurosport, Guadalajara, JLT, Sports Nevada USA and Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Deportivo.

The IF Forum also receives the support of longstanding Host City Partners Lausanne and the Canton de Vaud, as well as the International Olympic Committee.

The final day of the IF Forum will include an eSports Workshop hosted by GAISF and the International Olympic Committee. For further details on the IF Forum visit: https://www.sportaccord.sport/if-forum

Eurosport, JLT And Sports Nevada USA confirmed as commercial partners for International Federation (IF) Forum 2018

[Source: SportAccord] The 12th International Federation (IF) Forum organised by SportAccord today confirmed partnerships with Eurosport, JLT and Sports Nevada USA. The IF Forum is set to take place from 5-7 November 2018 when more than 100 international sports federations, associates and observer members from GAISF will gather at the Hotel Royal Savoy in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The IF Forum provides a platform for GAISF members (both Olympic and non-Olympic) to tackle global matters related to the Sports Movement. The annual 3-day gathering is also limited to a small number of industry partners and gives them exclusive access to an authoritative networking environment and recognition as a supporter of the Sports Movement.

Eurosport is one of the top sport destination broadcasters and this includes the Olympics in Europe. Eurosport channels reach more than 242 million cumulative subscribers across 75 countries worldwide. Its online sports news website Eurosport.com sees around 42 million users per month and along with the Eurosport app, enables fans to watch Eurosport anytime, live or on demand, via its digital streaming service the Eurosport Player.

This year sees JLT as an IF Forum industry partner for the 8th year running. They specialise in risk and insurance services to the sports industry and have worked with the international federations (IFs) since 1980. JLT offers a number of bespoke products specifically designed for IFs such as broad coverage, risk and insurance advice including arrangements, as well as liability claims for significant events.

Sports Nevada USA promotes the State of Nevada (USA) as an elite sports competition and event destination, and nurtures the Olympic Movement statewide. Sports Nevada USA hosts, facilitates, and supports such activities to further its mission, partnering with tourism agencies in Reno-Tahoe and Las Vegas including the Boyd Gaming resorts.

Commenting on the IF Forum partnerships, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said: “We are delighted to have JLT and Sports Nevada USA with us again. Their commitment demonstrates the value a partnership brings by being involved in a high-profile event. We are also pleased to welcome Eurosport into the fold for the 2018 edition.

“This year’s IF Forum should be an extremely interesting three days of discussion, debate, and insights into what the future holds for international sports federations and the wider global sport community.”

 

Limited partnerships are available and partners have access to the official schedule which includes: entry to all conference and panel sessions, workshops; VIP functions and social events; and the opportunity to deliver a presentation as part of the conference programme.

Host City Asia welcomes record participation of Olympic International Federations

(L-R) Simone Masserini, World Skate; Marco Maria Scolaris, International Federation of Sport Climbing; David Coletto, Abacus Data; Hiromi Kawamura, Tokyo 2020; Kevin Roberts, SportBusiness International speaking at Host City 2017

Host City Asia, taking place on 31 May in Beijing under the theme of “Investing in Events to Attract New Audiences”, is attracting rights holders of the world’s most popular major events, with a record number of Olympic International Federations (IFs) participating.

The leaders of Olympic IFs committed to attend include: Anders Besseberg, President, International Biathlon Union (IBU); Beng Choo Low, Secretary General, World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC); Luis Alexandre Pontes Rodrigues, Director for Asia and Oceania, Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).

Other IFs confirmed to participate at senior level include World Skate, International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).

The leaders of other major sports events represented at Host City Asia include Erich Wolf, CEO, Red Bull Air Race and Victor Cui, International CEO, ONE Championship.

It’s not just sports events represented either; with a panel on “How cities can become hubs for entertainment and culture”, Host City Asia serves the diverse interests of event hosts from China, Asia and Oceania.

Delegates will also hear from and meet organisers of the biggest international mega events hosted in Asia between now and 2022.

China’s biggest corporations are also supporting Host City at senior level, with Dalian Wanda Group’s Chen Hailiang a recent addition to the agenda – and more Chinese brands set to follow.

Other international experts confirmed to speak at Host City Asia include David de Behr, Head of Global Events, Aggreko; Patrick Vadja, Senior Risk Advisor, Marsh and Jeff Ruffolo (Expert Advisor to Beijing 2008, Guangzhou 2010, Nanjing 2014 and Beijing 2022).

“The stage is set for our first conference in Asia to be a huge success,” said Ben Avison, Editorial and Conference Director at Host City.

“Host City conferences always attract fantastic speakers and after four years of growth in the UK it should be no surprise that our first conference in Asia is set to be another hit.

“We are particularly overwhelmed that our Beijing event is enjoying the greatest ever level of participation from International Federations and other major event rights holders and we are delighted to be able to present such a great opportunity to host cities across Asia.

“And given that the Host City brand started life as a magazine published in China in 2003, it is a great pleasure to bring Host City back to its origins in the great Olympic city of Beijing.”

The first Host City conference took place in London in 2014, followed by three successively greater conferences and exhibitions in Glasgow. Host City 2018 takes place in Glasgow on 20 and 21 November.

Host City Asia takes place in Beijing on 31 May. For more information about Host City Asia please visit http://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-asia/

Sir Ben Ainslie to deliver keynote at Lausanne IF Forum focused on sustainability

(Photo credit: www.benainslie.com)

[Source: SportAccord Convention] Sir Ben Ainslie, four-time Olympic Gold Medallist & Team Principal, as well as Skipper of Britain’s America’s Cup Challenger, Land Rover BAR, will give the keynote on 8 November 2017 at the eleventh edition of the International Federation (IF) Forum focused on Sustainability.

Speaking ahead of this year’s event set to take place from 8-10 November at the Hotel Royal Savoy in Lausanne, Switzerland, Sir Ben Ainslie shared the following thoughts:

“It’s great that a flagship event like the International Federation (IF) Forum is focusing specifically on sustainability. Sports teams represent key role models in society and there is an opportunity for all sports teams to become truly sustainable businesses. At Land Rover BAR, we believe our influence should extend far beyond the race course, we look to educate and inspire to drive sustainability forward instinctively.”

This year’s IF Forum conference: ‘‘International Federation Impact - Leading the way towards a Sustainable Agenda’ will include Welcome Remarks from Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, and Philippe Leuba, State Councillor Department of Economy and Sport, Canton of Vaud.

Patrick Baumann, President of GAISF and SportAccord Convention will deliver the Opening Address to leaders of the international sports federations and discussed the significance of this year’s theme on Sustainability:

"Avery Brundage, 5th president of the International Olympic Committee once described sport as ‘an international phenomenon like science or music’ and he was right.  Sport has significant influence to shape the way people think about issues such as sustainability which is central to the future of our planet. As leaders of International Sports bodies we have a responsibility to use that influence by ensuring promoting sustainability and ingraining best practice into our events and operations.”

Marie Sallois Dembreville, Director of Corporate Development, Brand and Sustainability, IOC, will lead the Welcome and Opening Remarks on Thursday 9 November, and outline the objectives for the IF Forum, as well as the importance of implementing a common strategy.

The IF Forum conference will focus on infrastructure and natural sites, sourcing and resource management, climate, mobility, and workforce. The programme is a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee and all International Federations, and hosted by the SportAccord Convention team.

Speakers will include:

  • Inger Andersen, Director General of IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature
  • David Stubbs, Sustainability Expert
  • Antony Scanlon, Executive Director, IGF - International Golf Federation
  • Gloria Scarano, Mountain Protection Coordinator, UIAA - International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation
  • Sabrina Ibáñez, Secretary General, FEI - International Equestrian Federation
  • Andreas Graf, Human Rights Manager, FIFA - International Federation of Football Association
  • Elena Merdaca, Administration Director, FIE - International Fencing Federation
  • John Liljelund, Secretary General, IFF - International Floorball Federation
  • Max T. Edkins, Manager, Connect4Climate Programme, World Bank Group
  • Janne Leskinen, Secretary General, Lahti 2017, FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
  • Thomas Kurth, Secretary General, UIM - International Powerboating Union
  • Denis Décosterd, Chef du Service du développement de la Ville et de la communication, ville de Lausanne
  • Maël Besson, Policy Officer, Sustainable Development of Sport, French Ministry of Cities, Youth and Sport, French Government
  • Dr Beate Grupp, IIHF - International Ice Hockey Federation
  • Will Lloyd, CEO, Global Sports Jobs
  • Roger Piarulli, Executive Director, THF - Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, WT - World Taekwondo
  • Jörn Verleger, Secretary General, IFA - International Fistball Association
  • Volker Bernardi, Executive Director, WFDF - World Flying Disc Federation
  • Magnus Sverdrup, Head of International Relations, Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games 2016

An additional speaker will be presented by IKEA.

Panel sessions will be led by David Eades, Anchor and Journalist, BBC World who will also serve as Master of Ceremonies for the IF Forum 2017.

The IF Forum is for international sports federations, speakers and official IF Forum partners by invitation only.

Official Partners include: JLT Specialty, Nielsen Sports, Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition, Sport Event Denmark, Lausanne and the Canton de Vaud.

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