The fourth annual SportAccord convention got underway in Seoul, South Korea Monday and runs until Friday at the Grand InterContinental Hotel.
More than 800 delegates are attending and will be addressed by some of the most influential people in world sport including Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee; Gilbert Felli, Olympic Games Executive Director of the International Olympic Committee; Yang Shu’an, Vice President of Beijing 2008; Patrick Baumann, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation; and Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Organising Committee of the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007.
Monday’s agenda included private meetings of the sports federations.
The SportAccord 2006 Opening Ceremony Monday evening was addressed by the Chairman of the SportAccord 2006 Organising Committee in Korea, the President of the Korean Olympic Committee; the Acting President of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF); the President of the IOC; and the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.
There was also be a Taekwondo demonstration.
A joint dinner given by the host country South Korea followed for all SportAccord delegates, International Olympic Committee members and members of the ANOC.
Meetings continue Tuesday, and Wednesday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet with the associations before hosting its Executive Board meeting through to Thursday.
On Wednesday the SportAccord conference will focus on two breakout themes – “Staging a Successful Major Event” and “Financing and Promoting a Sport” – subjects, which will appeal to sports federations, event-hosting cities and their commercial partners. It is also the first of the three days of the SportAccord exhibition featuring more than 60 exhibitors including governing bodies, organizing committees, bid cities and commercial organizations.
