SportAccord President Highlights Sport's Global Impact at High-Profile Russian Summit

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Raffaele Chiulli, the President of SportAccord and the Global Association

of International Sports Federations (GAISF), underlined the importance of collaborating around "a

bold vision" as he spoke alongside Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, at a

high-profile forum yesterday.

Dr Chiulli was invited to participate as an expert speaker in a Plenary Session entitled ‘Development

of Sport in Integration with the World Community’ at the Russia – Country of Sports International

Sports Forum, which has brought more than 1,500 attendees to the city of Nizhny Novgorod.

In the Plenary Session, which was moderated by Pavel Kolobkov, Minister of Sport of the Russian

Federation, Dr Chiulli and his fellow panellists discussed a range of vital issues, including how sport

can be used as a unifying principle in the modern world, sport’s principles as the basis for

harmonious human development, and the ‘Sport for All’ concept of promoting the role of a healthy

lifestyle as a factor in the successful social and economic development of countries.

Dr Chiulli, who is also President of the International Powerboating Federation (UIM) and the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), highlighted the importance of "opportunity, accessibility and sustainability" in helping to improve sports participation levels.

"For many members of GAISF, this means we must not be afraid to take sport out of the traditional stadiums and into the streets," Dr Chiulli said. "Our role at GAISF is to be the United Voice of Sports. Together, we have 125 members, which is much more powerful than one International Sport Federation on its own. Together, we can share best practice and improve sport globally, and together we can solve and reverse the issue of declining participation."

In underlining the need for a collaborative approach, Dr Chiulli added: "We are always stronger when we stand together and, ultimately, this is the only way we can all learn from each other. Of course, it is not enough simply to bring people together. We must develop tools for learning and sharing. We must have a programme of activities that makes us think and react. As with any change, it is important to bring together all the main actors around a bold vision."

Alongside President Putin, Dr Chiulli shared the stage with Olga Golodets, Deputy Prime Minister of

the Russian Federation; Ivo Ferriani, President, International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation

(IBSF); Julio Maglione, President of FINA (International Swimming Federation); René Fasel, President

of IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation); and Aleksander Čeferin, President of UEFA (Union of

European Football Associations).

After the Forum, President Chiulli was amongst an exclusive group of international sports executives

invited to meet with the President of the Russian Federation to discuss about how to shape the

future of sport.

Dr Chiulli will provide the Opening Address at SportAccord’s upcoming International Federation (IF)

Forum 2019 from 28-30 October 2019 in Lausanne. The IF Forum 2019 Programme will focus on

‘Athlete Centred Sport’.

At Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 from 10-12 December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dr Chiulli will once again set the scene with opening remarks before participating in a Panel Session entitled ‘The Future of International Sports Governance’ under the conference’s umbrella theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’.

The next edition of the annual SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit will take place from 19-24 April 2020 in Beijing, China.

For further information about the IF Forum, please download the brochure here or visit: https://www.sportaccord.sport/if-forum. For further information about Regional SportAccord, click here and for further information about the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit, click here.

Follow SportAccord, the IF Forum and Regional SportAccord via Twitter @sportaccord or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.

For media enquiries, email: media@sportaccord.sport

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EDITOR’S NOTES

The International Federation (IF) Forum

The IF Forum takes place annually and targets the specific needs of the Olympic and International Sport Federations movement with 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, the IF Forum receives the full support of the International Olympic Committee.

Regional SportAccord

Regional SportAccord brings together international sports federations and organisations involved in the business of sport for their region. The 3-day event is attended by international sports federations and regional leaders of the sports community. Regional SportAccord is aimed at international sports federations, cities and ministries, rights holders, subject matter experts, media and industry – represented at the highest levels.

Regional SportAccord is an offering of SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit whose stakeholders include: 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), GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations), and Associate Members.

SportAccord

SportAccord brings together international sports federations and organisations involved in the business of sport. The annual World Sport & Business Summit is a six-day event attended by leaders of the global sports community. It engages international sports federations, athletes, industry, rights holders, organising committees, cities, government, agencies, media, technology, legal teams, medical professionals, inventors, and subject matter experts – represented at the highest levels.

SportAccord is the only global sports business event attended by all the international sports federations and their stakeholders, who host their Annual General Assemblies during SportAccord. These stakeholders include: 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), GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations) and Associate Members.

SportAccord receives the full support of the International Olympic Committee. Follow #SA2020 on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr.