Sochi Chosen for SportAccord 2015

(ATR) As international pressure grows on Russia over the Malaysia Airlines tragedy, the 2014 Olympic city is unveiled as host of the 2015 SportAccord Convention.

Sochi beat out competition from Abu Dhabi and Durban to secure the convention. It will be held in April or May, with the date to be announced shortly.

Marius Vizer, president of SportAccord, the umbrella organization for Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations which is a stakeholder in the convention, announced on Tuesday the decision to take the convention to Sochi.

"A city that demonstrated its passion for sport and capability through the successful organisation of the Winter Olympic Games, will once again embrace the entire sport community while activating its legacy," he said.

But organisers are braced for a backlash against the decision following global condemnation of Russia arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and accusations that they shot down MH17. A total of 298 people died in the disaster last Thursday.

SportAccord Convention managing director Nis Hatt tells Around the Rings that Sochi was selected because the Black Sea resort had pulled off a "phenomenal Winter Olympics".

He said that Sochi was also deemed the most suitable host as it fitted with the goal of an "enhanced and enlarged format" for next year’s convention, a more complex and diverse event which aims to attract to up to 7,500 delegates.

Sochi had been originally scheduled to host the 2013 SportAccord. But it was switched to St. Petersburg to allow Sochi to finish its 2014 Olympics preparations unhindered.

Hatt indicated that he expected some reaction to the decision to hand the convention to Sochi due to the escalating anger against Russia following both the MH17 crash, which has triggered a widening of EU sanctions against the country.

"Unfortunately there are always events taking place in the world where there are some bad things happening. Sports and politics in this case should not be linked together," he told ATR.

He said he was not worried about a possible boycott of the convention by some groups in the Olympic Movement or individuals impacting preparations for the event.

"Absolutely not," he said. "This is a free world and people are entitled to opinions on this."

"We might have individuals saying they are not going to participate. We can never rule that out," he added.

Russia’s visa system could yet be an issue, but Hatt said he didn’t think it would deter delegates and still expects to hit the 7,500 attendees target.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said Russia was honored to hold the 2015 convention in Sochi. "The Olympic Games legacy contributes to the development of Sochi as one of the most important sporting cities in the world, which makes it attractive for holding such significant events as the SportAccord Convention," he added.

Jay Stuart is stepping down as SportAccord Convention’s head of press and media. He is succeeded by John Hewitt, the organisation’s former event operations manager who becomes director of communications.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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