Virtual IF Forum 2021 to Focus on How Sport and Society Can Learn Lessons to Emerge Stronger from a Crisis

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord has announced that this year’s fully virtual International Federation (IF) Forum will focus on ‘Lessons We Are Learning from a Global Crisis and How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger’ on 25 May 2021.

The IF Forum 2021 has been brought forward to next month from its traditional autumn slot to allow the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 to be rescheduled for 7-12 November 2021 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The 15th edition of the IF Forum will adopt a fully virtual format with expert speakers from across the global sports movement, including representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), umbrella sports associations and individual IFs, as well as sports industry executives.

The IF Forum will start with a Welcome Address by IOC President Thomas Bach and an Opening Address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations), followed by an Address by Dr. Richard Budgett, Medical and Scientific Director, IOC.

Presentations, updates, case studies and panel sessions will be provided on several vital topics, including ‘Moving Forward, Pivoting and the Lessons We Are Learning’, ‘A Return to Competition and Lessons from the Bubble’, ‘Athlete Mental Health’, ‘Commercial Approaches for IFs in the New Normal’ and ‘The Virtual Experience and its Home within IFs’.

Immediately after the closing remarks of the IF Forum, which will be staged virtually via the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, a virtual launch celebration from around the world for SportAccord 2021 in Ekaterinburg will take place on the same day, 25 May.

Dr. Chiulli will be joined by dignitaries from Russia in welcoming the international sporting community to the launch event, which will take place less than six months before the start of SportAccord 2021. There will also be further details about the conference programme for sport’s most influential global gathering in Ekaterinburg.

“We are excited to connect with International Sport Federations worldwide for what will be a timely and important IF Forum 2021,” Dr. Chiulli said. 

“The IF Forum will be an outstanding opportunity for our community to come together to discuss best practice ideas as sport explores strategies to accelerate on the road to recovery.

“The SportAccord 2021 virtual launch celebration will also whet the appetite for the most highly anticipated World Sport & Business Summit so far in stunning Ekaterinburg.”

The invitation-only IF Forum 2021 will bring together more than 300 leaders from over 125 IFs, plus other virtual delegates and speakers. For further information, click here or download the brochure here.

To discuss partnership opportunities and take advantage of exclusive access to the IF Forum, contact our Sales Team by email at sales@sportaccord.sport or by phone at +41 21 612 30 79.

You can follow SportAccord’s portfolio of events via Twitter @sportaccord or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, VK, and Instagram.

About The International Federation (IF) Forum

The IF Forum takes place annually and targets the specific needs of Olympic and International Sport Federations with a focus on sharing best practices and knowledge. The event is open to International Sports Federation members from ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations), AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), ARISF (Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations), AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport) and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations) and its Associate Members.

In addition, SportAccord receives the full support of the International Olympic Committee.

About Yutang Sports

As a principal media partner of the SportAccord, Yutang Sports is a Chinese leading sports marketing and media platform, with an ultimate mission to connect China and world through sports. After years of growing, Yutang Sports, with a comprehensive media and marketing promotion system, is now dedicating to reporting sports business and marketing trends, providing sports business news, analysis and exclusive data reports in both Chinese and English. Having been cooperated with top-level domestic and international sports summits, Yutang Sports is opening a window for Chinese sports industry to embrace the world.