Annual IF Forum Opens in Lausanne -- Monday Memo

(ATR)More than 100 International Federations will gather at the ninth edition of the annual IF Forum in Lausanne, Nov. 11-13.

SportAccord is hosting the event, which will take place at the Royal Savoy Hotel.SportAccord is the umbrella body for the world's IFs and also organizes the SportAccord Convention geared toward international sport business.

The IF Forumtargets the specific needs of the various sporting federations through workshops, panel discussions and case studies.

The line-up of key speakers this year includes IOC President Thomas Bach, SportAccord Council chairman Gian-Franco Kasper,IOC sports director Kit McConnell, andASOIF and SportAccord Convention president Francesco Ricci-Bitti.

Around the Ringseditor Ed Hula and European reporter Brian Pinelli are attending the 2015 IF Forum.

SportAccord Extraordinary General Assembly

A proposed merger between SportAccord and SportAccord Convention will be the top item of business at the SportAccord Extraordinary General Assembly on Nov. 11.

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

Turmoil within SportAccord began after former president Marius Vizer directed a searing verbal attack at Thomas Bach during April's General Assembly in Sochi.Vizer's antics prompted 22 Olympic and seven non-Olympic sports to withdraw or suspend their SportAccord membership.

This 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.

IOC Commissions Convene in Lausanne

Also meeting in Lausanne this week are members of every IOC Commission.

WADA Conference

On Monday, Nov. 9, an independent commission formed by the World Anti Doping Agency delivers its report on whether widespread doping in athletics has been kept secret through bribes and other corrupt practices.

The commission, led by Richard Pound, WADA's first president and a Canadian IOC member, will release its findings on line and at a press conference in Geneva.

WADA formed the commission in the wake of adoping scandal that tarnished the reputation of the All Russia Athletics Federation, leading to the resignation of former president Valentin Balakhnichev in Feb.

The scandal was triggered last Dec. after German TV documentaries exposed charges of cover-ups and systematic doping in Russian sport, while asserting that nearly all athletes used banned substances.

Fed Cup Final has Rio Implications

The women's Czech Republic Fed Cup Team will face off against their Russian counterparts in the 2015 Fed Cup final, Nov. 14-15.

Competition in the 53rd edition will serve as a qualifier for women's tennis at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Maria Sharapova, Olympic silver medalist, will compete for Russia in the final.

The match will be staged at the O2 Arena in Prague.

Written byNicole Bennett

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