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(ATR) SportAccord president Hein Verbruggen tells Around the Rings the umbrella association for international sports federations is fulfilling its mission statement one year on from its rebranding and relocation to Lausanne.
SportAccord now employs 10 staff in Lausanne and Verbruggen says its role in supporting and promoting the interests of its 104 members is more important than ever, in large part due to the repercussions of the economic downturn.
"We have clearly seen that the challenges for IFs are getting bigger, challenges that federations are simply not able to have the financial and human resources to address," Verbruggen told ATR.
Protecting the autonomy of federations against governmental interference and combating the scourge of doping and illegal betting in sport remain central pillars of the SportAccord mission following its rebranding from the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) in March 2009.
"There is an increasing awareness among federations that through SportAccord they can better address these things together and we can help them," he said, adding that the organization's anti-doping department was working proactively to help federations become compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency's new code.
Verbruggen is hopeful that a new online video platform for federations known as the 'Sports Hub' will be launched at SportAccord, the international convention taking place in Dubai next month. It is aimed at offering IFs, particularly smaller federations, the opportunity to widen their global fanbase via the online resource.
"We have invested in that and offer it to all the federations so they can promote their sports. Smaller sports who cannot afford to do that [screen video on their websites] themselves will have a SportAccord Sports Hub offering the possibility to have their fans in all parts of the world able to watch the sportsthey want to watch," he said.
Another initiative launched by SportAccord in the past year is the organization of multisports events, the first fruits of which are the 2010 Combat Games in Beijing scheduled from Aug. 28 to Sept 4.
The first SportAccord Combat Games, which includes 13 martial arts and combat sports, both Olympic and non-Olympic,will also operate a cultural program that aims to reflect the social and cultural values of these sports. Verbruggen said around 1,200 athletes would participate in the eight days of competition.
He described preparations for the Games as "fantastic". "We will have top Games," he said.
Following his role as chairman of the IOC coordination commission for the Beijing Olympics, he added: "I know first-hand that from an organizational standpoint there will not be many problems at all. It is important to set the standards very high from the beginning."
Crucially, SportAccord has generated around $2.5 million from the sale of marketing and TV rights for its inaugural Combat Games, revenue which will reinvested in increasing level of services to IFs, Verbruggen said.
The success of the Combat Games would determine when the next edition is staged.
"If it is a big success, we might do it every two years," he said.
He is keen to push forward with plans for future multisports Games. "Most of our federations do not have Olympic Games. They are looking for top Games and we want to develop that."
Looking ahead, Verbruggen disclosed to ATR that he is close to signing a contract to stage SportAccord's first Mind Games that would be held in autumn 2011. Chess is expected to be among the sports on the program.
Verbruggen also revealed is ambitions to stage the SportAccord Beach Games "before the end of 2012".
He does not know how many federations would be involved but said there has been "huge interest".
SportAccord's member federations will be updated on the multisports Games strategy at its general assembly taking place on the sidelines of the international sports convention of the same name in Dubai.
The conference is at the Atlantis Palm Resort, April 25-30.
Written by Mark Bisson.
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