The world of sport is meeting this week in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The eighth edition of the SportAccord International Convention is being held at the Atlantis Hotel where more than 1'500 representatives from over 100 international federations (IFs), the Olympic movement and dozens of partner organizations are holding their annual session for the first time in the Middle East. SportAccord (formerly known as GAISF), ASOIF, AWOIF, ARISF and the IWGA (the respective associations of summer, winter and recognized international federations and the World Games) all held their Council meetings and General Assemblies at the beginning of the week, with meetings of the IOC Executive Board including joint sessions with the associations whilst the General Assembly of SportAccord concludes the Convention on Friday. The program has been complemented by a high-level conference and an exhibition that serves as a backdrop for networking. FIS President Gian Franco Kasper is a SportAccord Council Member whilst Secretary General Sarah Lewis is a member of the SportAccord Convention Steering Committee.
The growing worldwide importance and impact of sport has been the focus of the 2010 SportAccord Convention's conference sessions. In keeping with the event's first-time location in the Middle East, the conference themes of the SportAccord Convention in Dubai have focused on the changing geography of international sport, sport's key role in the big issues on the global agenda, the autonomy of sport and making the sponsorship relationship work.
Keynote Addresses, Interviews and Audiences of the Day have been a real highlight of SportAccord in Dubai. Wednesday saw Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, and Rahul Dravid, legendary Indian cricketer, whilst Thursday will feature Ian Thorpe, Olympic swimming champion, with the closing keynote by Kofi Atta Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General (1997-2006).
The staging of the SportAccord Convention in Dubai is also symbolic of the changed geography of sports. Other topics on the conference agenda include sponsorship and sustainability of sports, along with a myriad of opportunities for networking, meeting a wide spectrum of services, suppliers, media platforms and getting to know a new culture.
