Huge Interest in Hosting SportAccord Conventions

(ATR) Around the Rings has learned that nine cities have submitted bids to stage the 2017 and 2018 editions.

Nis Hatt, managing director of SportAccord Convention, told ATR on Wednesday that five bids had come in for the 2017 edition and four for the following year’s meeting for international federations. The deadline for submissions was Jan. 28.

After the convention’s struggles to find a host for this year’s edition – now taking place in Lausanne after Dubai stepped aside – Hatt was delighted in the renewed appetite to stage the annual gathering of Olympic Movement movers and shakers.

"There is no doubt that we enjoy and have the full support of the sports community for the interests of bid cities. Definitely it is good news. I am very positive about it," he said.

Hatt said event organizers are "analyzing interest shown from various corners of the world", with a view to presenting the bids to the convention’s executive committee at the April 17-22 meeting. Next year’s host is expected to be announced at the convention in the Olympic capital.

He said the aim was to take the convention "back to where it was a few years ago" before former SportAccord president Marius Vizer made an attempt to commercialize the event and increase visitor numbers. Vizer aimed to increase attendance at the event to more than 5,000 participants but his goals did not come to fruition.

Since the fallout from Vizer’s bitter attack on the IOC in spring 2015, convention officials decided to cap attendance to 2,000 people. There was a "desire to have a more intimate experience", Hatt said.

April’s meeting will include representatives of the IOC, NOCs and IFs along with exhibitors, bid and host cities.

Commenting on Lausanne taking up hosting duties, he said the decision in December brings the convention "back to the heart of sport".

Last month, SportAccord – the umbrella body for the world's IFs – postponed the merger with the SportAccord Convention until governance issues within the organization are resolved.

Further talks about a merger will take place at the SportAccord general assembly on the final day of this year’s convention. A decision in favor is possible, but Hatt thinks April may be "too soon".

Reported by Mark Bisson

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