(ATR) The 16th edition of SportAccord plays out this week in Bangkok, Thailand. It’s the first time the convention and conference have been held in Southeast Asia.
The convention is formally open from April 17 to 19, while federation-related groups hold meetings on the sidelines.
The Bangkok Convention Center, on the 23rd floor of one of the city’s skyscraper hotels, is the venue for the feds conclave.
"Uniting A Global Audience: Marketing and Sponsorship for the Future" is the theme of the conference schedule April 18 to 19.
World Games Elects Leadership
Jose Perurena is seeking a new term as president of the World Games Association at the group’s annual meeting April 16 in Bangkok. The IOC member in Spain is unopposed for a second four years at the helm.
Recognized Federations April 16
The three dozen sports that form the Association of Recognized International Federations meet for their general assembly on April 16. ARISF is led by International Powerboating Federation Raffaele Chiulli. ARISF is the in-between association for sports that are on the cusp of joining the Olympics, summer or winter.
Summer Federations Wade into Governance
As federation after federation run afoul of challenges -- whether scandalous bribery allegations, chronic doping or inept management -- it’s all a matter of finding good governance to right the ship. The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations takes on the next phase of its governance review of the 28 member federations at its Bangkok meetings this week.
The International Weightlifting Federation faces ongoing consequences from doping. AIBA, the International Amateur Boxing Association, is heading toward an end-of-the-month deadline to furnish a substantial document answering IOC concerns about governance.
The ASOIF Council meets privately April 16, while the general assembly April 17 is open. ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti will preside.
Winter Federations Huddle
The seven federations of the Association of International Olympic Winter Federations meet April 17. Gian Franco Kasper, ski fed president and IOC member, will lead the meeting.
For the first time in 25 years the International Biathlon Union will not be represented by Anders Besseberg at the group’s annual meeting. He stepped down as president in the wake of an Austrian police raid on the federation headquarters last week. He has yet to face any charges, but the investigation is said to center on allegations the IBU chief was bribed to conceal Russian doping issues. Besseberg denies receiving any money.
Bach to Bangkok
IOC President Thomas Back arrives in Bangkok April 16. While meetings of the IOC Executive Board are no longer part of SportAccord, Bach and other IOC colleagues will meet with the federations in joint sessions on April 18. He will leave later this week for a visit to India, a country angling to make an Olympic bid in 2032 or beyond.
GAISF Closes the Week
The cycle of SportAccord week will come to its customary close on Friday, April 20 with the annual meeting of the 100+ members of GAISF, the Global Association of International Sports Federations.
Led by FIBA secretary general and Swiss IOC member Patrick Baumann, GAISF is the umbrella group which formed SportAccord in 2003. GAISF, along with the Summer, Winter and Associated federation associations, owns the SportAccord convention.
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