Kasper Paves Way for SportAccord and SportAccord Convention Merger

(ATR) A memo from SportAccord Council chairman Gian-Franco Kasper upholds key objectives behind the anticipated merger between SportAccord and SportAccord Convention.

The proposed merger between the two organizations will be the top item of business at SportAccord's Extraordinary General Assembly in Lausanne on Nov. 11. SportAccord is the umbrella body for the world's International Federations and it also organizes the SportAccord Convention geared toward international sport business.

Kasper, who has presided over SportAccord on an interim basis since the resignation of Marius Vizer in May, outlined three projected objectives in the new SportAccord structure.

First, SportAccord would organize both the SportAccord Convention and IF Forum. Additionally, the re-structured organization would provide various services to IFs, which are not already offered by other stakeholders. Lastly, it would facilitate the organization of multi-sport events as necessary.

Francesco Ricci-Bitti is the acting president of the SportAccord Convention. He is also the current chief of ASOIF and former head of the International Tennis Federation.

Staff members of SportAccord and SportAccord Convention have shared an office in Lausanne since July.

Kasper noted in the memo, dated November 4, that substantial feedback and suggestions pertaining to the merger were received and statutes have been drafted. However, the upcoming dialogue between members will help to finalize details pertaining to governance of the new organization.

The election of a new president to relieve Kasper is not scheduled for next week and will most likely come at SportAccord’s annual General Assembly during the convention next spring. SportAccord leaders are searching for a host city for the convention after Dubai unexpectedly backed out last week.

Ricci-Bitti said that SportAccord was "disappointed" in the decision, given how hard the two bodies had been working recently to finalize the necessary preparations.

Members will continue discussions regarding a replacement city for Dubai with Ricci-Bitti mentioning Doha as a possibility.

Turmoil within SportAccord began after the former president Vizer launched a scathing diatribe directed at IOC President Thomas Bach at April’s General Assembly in Sochi.

Vizer’s antics swiftly prompted 22 Olympic and seven non-Olympic sports to withdraw or suspend their SportAccord membership.

The IOC, International Paralympic Committee, Commonwealth Games Federations, and bodies recognizing Summer and Winter Olympic sports all parted ways with SportAccord, throwing the entire future of the umbrella organization into doubt.

Russia withdrew from hosting up to the next five editions of the annual Convention, a deal brokered by Vizer.

Next week’s meeting in Lausanne is expected to be a big step towards righting the ship of the SportAccord organization, which was established in 1967.

The SportAccord meeting precedes the annual International Federations Forum scheduled for Nov. 11-13. More than 100 Olympic and non-Olympic sporting federations are expected to gather at the event.

The ninth edition of the event will be held at the Royal Savoy Hotel in Lausanne and is organized by SportAccord.

The three-day event targets the specific needs of the various sporting federations through workshops, panel discussions and case studies.

Reported byBrian Pinelli

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