Sporting for All – Bringing sports to everyone

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5 August 2021   SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit in Ekaterinburg Rescheduled for May 2022 LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord in full coordination and agreement with the Russian Federation has announced that the World Sport & Business Summit in Ekaterinburg has been rescheduled to 15-20 May 2022. The next edition of sport’s most important global gathering has been rescheduled to its traditional spot in the sport event calendar to maximise participation from the international sporting community, with expectations that travel restrictions worldwide will have eased significantly by then. “The Russian Federation will host a momentous edition of SportAccord in Ekaterinburg, so it is important that as many friends and colleagues as possible can gather in person from across the sporting world,” SportAccord President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli said. “The safety and wellbeing of our delegates has always been our top priority, and the measures developed by the Organising Committee in Ekaterinburg will still be as relevant and applicable when SportAccord takes place next year. “However, with further vaccination roll-outs over the coming months, we are confident that global travel restrictions will have been relaxed by then to enable as many delegates as possible to travel to Ekaterinburg, ensuring […]

The athletes at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 have elected Pau Gasol, Maja Włoszczowska, Federica Pellegrini and Yuki Ota to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Athletes’ Commission (AC), for a term ending at the Olympic Games LA28. The newly elected members join the Commission to represent the athlete voice within the Olympic Movement. Between 13 July and 3 August, 6,825 athletes voted in the IOC AC election at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, representing a participation rate of 61.27 per cent, one of the highest in the history of AC elections, the first of which was held at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996. With the highest number of voting stations for any IOC AC election, athletes had the opportunity to vote in 11 locations, including the Tokyo Olympic Village, satellite villages and other official Tokyo 2020 accommodation sites. In total, 30 candidates, from 30 different countries and representing 19 sports, stood for election. IOC AC Chair Kirsty Coventry remarked: “It is fantastic to see the high turnout of athletes participating in the Athletes’ Commission election. We had an impressive list of candidates, and I want to thank all of the candidates for putting up their hands to represent athletes from […]

GRIESKIRCHEN. The Sparkasse IFA Fistball World Championships have come to a close with a dramatic final between Germany and Austria in the male U18 event. The German team prevailed, and also drove home the victory against Austria earlier today in the female U18 tournament. The German squad hence scored four titles in Grieskirchen and now holds all international fistball titles; the Austrian hosts won four silver medals. Quadruple for Germany in Grieskirchen Three World Championships – in the women’s and both the U18 female and male tournaments – and the U21 men’s European title: Germany took home four victories this weekend. Today the two U18 squads won against the Austrian hosts. In the U18 female final, Austria pulled ahead 1:0, but the German team bounced back and scored a 3:1 win. In the U18 male final, Germany had established a comfortable 2:0 lead when the Austrian team got back into the game in front of their fans – the match went into the fifth set which was again won by the German squad, thus securing the title. Austria took the second place in all four finals this weekend. Brazilian Teams Prevail in Bronze Medal Matches The game for the third […]

GAISF PRESIDENT RAFFAELE CHIULLI MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli today praised the success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and celebrated its role in promoting friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals, as part of the United Nations (UN) International Day of Friendship. The UN International Day of Friendship, celebrated annually on 30 July, encourages people around the world to connect with friends. Friendships can have a huge impact on mental health, particularly during times of loneliness and isolation. President Chiulli said: “In a world where we often face challenges, and particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, friendship is more important now than ever before. I am therefore delighted that this year’s edition of the International Day of Friendship falls during what has so far been a hugely successful Olympic Games in Tokyo, a truly global celebration of perseverance, inclusion and friendship. I have no doubt that these special moments will inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities around the world for generations to come.” Source: https://gaisf.sport/gaisf-president-raffaele-chiulli-marks-international-day-of-friendship/

GRIESKIRCHEN. After a two year corona break the first international fistball matches took place on the opening day of the Sparkasse IFA Fistball World Championships 2021 in Grieskirchen. First, the women opened the tournament by competing against each other in the preliminary rounds. After two games Serbia and Germany fought their way to the top of their groups. However, the organisation committee was forced to put the games on hold for a short period of time due to extreme weather conditions. Luckily, it was still possible to carry out all scheduled games for the day. In the final game of the day fans were presented with a gripping game in a dramatical showdown between Austria and Germany.  Defending champion Germany off to a good start Germany beat Austria in a long and highly competitive last game of the day. Although it seemed like the Austrian team would win the encounter in the beginning, the defending champion soon put them in their place and ultimately won the match. Now Germany finds itself in an ideal position as they also won the game against Chile. Austria can chalk up a victory against Switzerland, who in turn won their match against Chile. The […]

Not child’s play at all: Here are some of the youngest Olympians at Tokyo 2020 SHARE TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 26: Momiji Nishiya of Team Japan celebrates during the Women’s Street Final on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) 2021 Getty Images Japanese skateboarder NISHIYA Momiji is just 13 years old – and has won gold at Tokyo 2020. We take a look at some of the other young prodigies competing at the Games. What, exactly, were you up to at the age of 13? Probably not competing at the Olympics – or for that matter – winning gold, which is what 13-year-old Japanese skateboarder NISHIYA Momiji did on Monday (26 July) in the women’s street event, as the sport made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020. From NISHIYA to 12-year-old Syrian table tennis player Hend Zaza, who at age 12 is the youngest athlete at the Olympic Games this year, we take a look at some of the other young stars to watch out for during the Olympics. Sky Brown, 13 – Team GB – Skateboarding With new sports in the Olympic programme comes an […]

Congratulations Brisbane 2032 The AIMS family would like to congratulate Brisbane and South East Queensland for winning the bid for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We have fond memories of the outstanding 28th Commonwealth Games and the award winning SportAccord 2019 and the SportAccord UTS Sport Festival. The Prime Minister of Australia the Honourable Scott Morrison MP stated, “The enduring legacy for the entire nation with everlasting community benefits and inspiring the next generation of Australian athletes”. The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP premier of Queensland stated, “Queensland’s fundamental approach is to align games legacy with long term plans”. The Honourable Ms Palaszczuk was one of the driving forces behind the 2019 SportAccord and the UTS Festival. Congratulations Brisbane 2032.

IOC Gives Full Recognition to 6 Sports and International Federations History has been made at the 138th IOC session in Tokyo Japan The IOC General Assembly approved the recommendation by the IOC  executive board to give full recognition  to six International Federations and Sports The IFs concerned are: The International Cheerleading Union (ICU) – provisionally recognised in 2016 The International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) – provisionally recognised in 2016 The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) – provisionally recognised in 2018 The International Federation Icestocksport (IFI) – provisionally recognised in 2018 The World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) – provisionally recognised in 2018 World Lacrosse (WL) – provisionally recognised in 2018 Kit Mc Connell the IOC sport director made the presentation to the General Assembly for full recognition in accordance with the Olympic charter. All these IF’s and sports already had provisional recognition, demonstrating their conformity with the Olympic charter and fulfilling all the requested criteria. Full support has been given and no objections were made from any of the existing IOC member federations or any of the IF associations. All of these IF’s and sports maintained their full independence and autonomy, meeting the criteria outlined in the recognition for summer and […]

The AIMS Family mourns the passing of former FIS President and IOC Honorary member Gian Franco Kasper. AIMS is deeply saddened at the passing of Mr Kasper, who served the FIS for 23 years as Secretary General and another 23 years as President. Gian Franco was also the President of the Olympic Winter Sports (AOIWF), and former GAISF President. He served on the IOC Coordination Committee for six Olympic Games and was instrumental in supporting the AIMS family. He was one of the founding members of United Through Sports. AIMS President and GAISF Vice President Stephan Fox who has sat beside Gian Franco Kasper on the GAISF Council stated: “We would like to extend our utmost respect to a truly unique sports personality. We send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones at this time and we will hold his memory in our hearts with fondness and with a smile.”

Youth Ambassadors are motivated and inspiring young people who represent and advocate for young people’s right to information, for greater social considerations and have the ability to make a global impact. Youth Ambassadors play an active and decisive role in UTS events and the UTS World Virtual Youth Festival saw 71 nominated ambassadors from around the world come together as a global call to action for inclusion, equality, non-discrimination and peace. Their involvement in the world’s first ever world youth festival saw 113 International Federations, NGOs, Organisations, and sport related entities come together and be represented on the global stage. UTS ensures that the voices of young people are always heard and at a crucial time as the world navigates through the covid pandemic, the voices of the youth are even more valuable than ever. We invited a group of exceptional Ambassadors to join two online workshops in the aftermath of the World Virtual Youth Festival. The role of the youth is critical to discuss their opinions and feedback form the festival, their thoughts for the next edition and to brainstorm what we can learn to ensure the next edition is even better. UTS Ambassadors included: Daniela Guerrero Martinez, International […]

Nationwide project in Poland sees thousands of young athletes introduced to teqball A nationwide project in Poland has seen thousands of young people introduced to teqball over the past month. Throughout May and June, Ekstraklasa Foundation organised the project “Akademie Klasy Ekstra” (“Extra Class Academies”). Ekstraklasa is a company that organises elite-level football matches in Poland, whilst the Ekstraklasa Foundation cooperates with professional football clubs in Poland and their academies. During the project, over 2,500 talented young footballers enjoyed teqball coaching sessions and competitions across the country. The project, which ran from 24 May – 17 June 2021, is in its sixth year. It features the organisation of football tournaments for children U9 and U11, with the academies of Ekstraklasa clubs inviting their youth or friendly teams (partner clubs) to tournaments. Over 100 teams participated in the project this year. Following the initiative of Tomasz Zabielski, Teqball has been promoted for several years during the project. Tomasz Zabielski is the President of the Polish Sports and Culture Foundation (organiser of the recent Ząbki Teqball Challenger Cup), co-founder of the Warsaw TEQ Club and President of the Ekstraklasa Foundation Children from the leading football academies in Poland have participated in a series […]

Get inspired and learn to meditate with IOC Refugee Olympic Team hopeful Asif Sultani Not only does Asif Sultani have an extraordinary tale to tell, recounting his harrowing journey from Afghanistan to Australia via Iran, but the karateka is also ready to pass on the secrets of his sporting success and inner calm to anyone who wants to listen. Even among the wealth of opportunities available during the five-day festival of Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences, the one offered by Refugee Athlete Scholarship-holder Asif Sultani stands out. The Afghanistan native, who now lives in Australia, is a walking, talking, karate-kicking emblem of hope. And that is the emotion he most wants to share. “Life would be impossible without hope,” said the man who is aiming to compete for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020. “I had to have that hope as a kid – that one day I would be somebody, one day I would empower and inspire people.” It has certainly not always been easy, as Sultani’s online audience quickly learn. The cheerful and amiable refugee begins with a summary of his life to date, illustrated by a series of evocative photographs. Aged seven, Sultani and his family […]

  SportAccord has announced that InvestAccord, a new conference dedicated to exploring financial issues and investment opportunities, challenges and best practice strategies in sport, will launch at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021. The new conference concept at SportAccord 2021 in Ekaterinburg, Russia, will take place on the morning of Thursday, 11 November 2021 at the IEC Ekaterinburg-Expo and will feature expert speakers, timely topics and pitches from the sports industry’s most exciting technology start-ups. The conference will be geared towards investors, as well as International Sport Federations, sport organisations, promoters and properties that are interested in exploring new revenue streams, investment sources and how sport and business can work together. InvestAccord will feature panel sessions and presentations focusing on topics like esports, investing in sports technology and the sports investment landscape. A panel of investors, asset managers and experts will also be on hand to provide insightful feedback following quickfire five-minute pitches from ambitious start-ups in areas such as ‘HealthTech’, ‘SmartTech’, blockchain and NFTs, social media and big data, and augmented reality. InvestAccord will sit alongside SportAccord’s other established conference streams, offering delegates clear signposts to specific areas of interest during a busy week of meetings and […]

SportAccord will bring together political leaders and governmental decision-makers from around the world for the inaugural MinisterAccord at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. MinisterAccord, on the afternoon of Thursday 11 November 2021, will be an exclusive gathering of Ministers from sport and tourism, designed to discuss and examine the most pressing and relevant issues for countries and regions within the international sport movement. MinisterAccord will provide nations, leaders and ministries with a unique opportunity to work together to develop the future of sport and consider how to engage with International Sport Federations and ultimately drive growth opportunities within sport and sport tourism. In addition, the gathering will allow for key governmental decision-makers to share best practices and explore how sport can break down barriers for the development of a healthy society and economy by inspiring people to live an active and healthy lifestyle. MinisterAccord will feature a Welcome Address from SportAccord President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli and a Host Nation Address from Russian Federation Minister of Sport Oleg Matytsin, as well as further speeches, and an open and interactive discussion session followed by a lunch gathering. “MinisterAccord is an exciting addition to the programme for SportAccord 2021 […]

A total of 29 athletes from 12 sports will form the Olympic Refugee Team at Tokyo 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today. The chosen competitors, selected from a group of 55 promising refugee athletes from 13 countries that were given IOC scholarships, are set to compete across athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, judo, karate, taekwondo, shooting, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling at the Games. The squad, which features athletes from 13 host National Olympic Committees, includes six which competed on the first Olympic Refugee Team at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. These are swimmer Yusra Mardini, judoka Popole Misenga, and track and field athletes Anjelina Nadai Lohalith, James Nyang Chiengjiek, Paulo Amotun Lokoro and Rose Nathike Lokonyen. Alaa Maso is also set to compete in swimming, while Misenga is one of six judoka selected for the team by the IOC, joining Sanda Aldass, Ahmad Alikaj, Muna Dahouk, Javad Mahjoub and Nigara Shaheen. Dorian Keletela, Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa Mohammed and Tachlowini Gabriyesos have been chosen as the other track and field athletes. Badminton player Aram Mahmoud, boxers Wessam Salamana and Eldric Sella Rodriguez, canoeist Saeid Fazloula and cyclists Masomah Ali Zada and Ahmad Badreddin Wais have also been […]

Empowering youth champions of life: Partnering with the sport sector to build youth and community resilience to violence and crime 01 June 2021 – While preventing crime is often considered the responsibility of law enforcement, for efforts to succeed a much more comprehensive approach is required. This includes building strong partnerships with a wide diversity of sectors – including education, social, health, youth, civil society and sports – to tackle the root causes of violence and crime and promote positive youth development and wellbeing, with a focus on early prevention, and investing on young people and local communities. The contribution of the sport sector in the context of holistic crime prevention approaches was explored further during the 30th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). During a side event held at the Commission, innovative sport-based interventions were showcased which underlined the role of sport in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and preventing violence and crime. The event provided a platform to distinguished sports actors to share their views and experiences on using sport for social development, building on sport values, and on multisectoral partnerships. During the opening of the side event, Daniela Bas, Director for Inclusive […]

IAF 2021 Highlights As the biggest IAF to date got underway, nearly 2,000 athlete representatives had registered to join moderator Jeanette Kwakye, an Olympic sprinter, IOC AC Chair Kirsty Coventry, and a host of other keynote speakers in the first-ever digital edition of the Forum to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission (AC) and also to take advantage of the fact that this Forum is being held digitally, invitations had been extended to all AC members globally, not just the AC chairs. “We have three main objectives for the Forum: to inform, build, and discuss,” said Kirsty, who invited a member from each of the five continents to summarise their discussions at the continental breakouts in the days leading up to the main event. The breakouts resulted in three main takeaways: the importance of ensuring that ACs are effective; active engagement and close collaboration between ACs and other sporting organisations; and maximising opportunities to connect and interact with other ACs. IOC President Thomas Bach encouraged attendees to make an impact on the Forum. IOC AC Vice Chair Danka Barteková then took the floor and touched on some of the most important athlete-centered initiatives from recent times. Danka […]

  IFA 2021 Women’s World Championship moves on short notice to Austria  – U18 & Women’s World Champs now in Grieskirchen at the same time – “We hope the teams appreciate the offer to be able to have World Champs at all.” It had already become clear that it would be difficult to conduct the IFA 2021 Fistball Women’s World Championships in Switzerland in mid-July. As yesterday’s decisions by the Swiss authorities did not bring any significant changes, the organizers in Jona have declared that they are not available to host the World Championships under the current conditions. The International Fistball Association (IFA) has been working on a replacement solution for the last few days and is awarding the World Championships to Austria at short notice. “Our Fistball friends in Jona, whom we would like to thank very much for their commitment, have tried in close exchange with the responsible authorities to find a viable solution for the Women’s World Championships. It is with great regret that we have to acknowledge that hosting the Women’s World Championship in Switzerland is not possible,” said IFA President Jörn Verleger. The direction was already clear since Saturday, May 15, after a coordination between […]

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – International Sports Federations were praised this morning for setting an inspirational example over the past year, as leaders at the International Federation (IF) Forum 2021 underlined the importance of solidarity across the global sports movement. In the Opening Address at the fully virtual event today (25 May) International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach reserved special praise for IFs in a timely update on preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He thanked sport’s global governing bodies for “leading the way” in having “demonstrated that sports competitions can be organised safely”, even before the international roll-out of vaccination programmes. The IOC President said that the top priority remains the organisation of a “safe and secure Olympic Games for everyone – the athletes and all participants, as well as our gracious hosts, the Japanese people”. He added: “This is why, together with our Japanese partners and friends, we have put in place comprehensive COVID-19 countermeasures to ensure that the athletes of the world can come together in a safe environment for everyone.” In his Keynote Address, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “I have been encouraged to see some sporting events and leagues returning in recent months, […]

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and 8th United Nations Secretary-General H.E. Ban Ki-moon are among the influential speakers lined up for tomorrow’s fully virtual International Federation (IF) Forum 2021. The IOC President will provide a significant update on preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with Keynote Addresses by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and then H.E. Ban Ki-moon, who is also the Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission, following the Opening Address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). These official addresses will be livestreamed at 09:00 CEST on 25 May via the IF Forum 2021 website. The event, which will bring together more than 300 leaders from over 125 International Sports Federations, will explore the theme of ‘Lessons We Are Learning from a Global Crisis and How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger’. The invitation-only IF Forum 2021 will be staged virtually via the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, with expert speakers including representatives of the IOC, umbrella sports associations and individual IFs, as well as sports industry executives. Various topics will be covered, such as ‘Moving Forward, Pivoting and the Lessons We Are Learning’, […]

The AIMS President spoke on crime prevention through sports as part of its efforts to support the implementation of the Doha Declaration. The United Nations office on drugs and crime launched a global youth crime prevention initiative on the power of sports to prevent crime and to effectively build resilience of at-risk youths. The CCPCJ invited important organisations to present their projects and Mr. Fox presented the IFMA ‘Sport is Your Gang’ initiative which won the World Spirit of Sport awards. Mr. Fox went into details on how martial arts serves as a social institution in promoting universal values and ethics with respect to the core foundations. The youth-oriented mission is to support youths from challenged backgrounds, promoting dialogue, encouraging positive self development and healthy lifestyles. He presented the success of their street project and how we must and can work together to empower the youth, to rise above the many challenges they are facing which deprived them of their dignity and autonomy. Keynote speakers included Konstantina Orologopoulou, International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS) and Governance Coordinator speaking on behalf of the IOC and Youri Djorkaeff, Chief Executive Officer, FIFA Foundation among others. This is the second time where IFMA […]

  D O H A D E C L A R A T I O N G L O B A L P R O G R A M M E S I D E E V E N T S Effective crime prevention should not be the exclusive responsibility of law enforcement and criminal justice systems. Instead, it requires holistic and inclusive approaches that address root causes of violence and crime and involves all relevant sectors of Government, the private sector and civil society actors, including the sport sector and youth. Building on the UNODC Youth Crime Prevention through Sport Initiative under the Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration and its “Line Up Live Up” programme on life skills training through sport, the event aims to raise awareness on the role of sport as an enabler of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, and to discuss the role of the sport sector in the context of holistic crime prevention approaches, showcasing good practice examples and promoting multisectoral and innovative partnerships. Agenda OPENING John Brandolino, Director, Division of Treaty Affairs, UNODC Daniela Bas, Director, Division for Inclusive Social […]

From July 23 to 29, 2023, the best Fistball players in the world will come to Mannheim. 800 days before the start of the Men’s World Championship, the City of Mannheim, the hosts International Fistball Association, the DFBL and TV 1880 Käfertal presented the official logo of the 2023 World Championship on the large video cube in Mannheim’s SAP Arena. “Mannheim is a sports city and ball sports plays a major role in this. Mannheim is represented by teams in six of the 15 national ball sports leagues. That’s why I’m very pleased that the fourth Men’s Fistball World Championship to be held in Germany will take place in Mannheim and that we can expect 16 teams from different continents and more than 30,000 fans in our city. With the Fistball World Championships and the German national garden show (“BUGA”*= short for “Bundesgartenschau”), two major events will take place in Mannheim in 2023 at which we can present ourselves to our guests as a cosmopolitan, livable and sustainable city,” says Mannheim’s sports mayor Ralf Eisenhauer. Verleger: “The World Championship will be different from what we have been used to”. The unveiling of the event logo took place on the large […]

PEACE AND SPORT LAUNCHES THE “PEACEMAKERS PROJECT”, IN COLLABORATION WITH TEN FIELD ORGANIZATIONS! Through a bottom-up approach, the Peacemakers Project will address various social issues. For its implementation, it will rely on the application developed by Peace and Sport in partnership with MyCoach and on the expertise of the selected organizations: Terres-en-Mêlées, COP-Colombia, Fundación ADA, TIBU-Maroc, the National Olympic Committee of Burundi, All Black Hong-Kong, Naandi Foundation, APJS, AKWOS and RFI Clubs. In order to best meet their needs, Peace and Sport will accompany them in the coming months, from the training of peace educators to the impact assessment related to the realities on the ground. Ten field organizations with a strong local anchor will use the Peace and Sport x MyCoach mobile application, an innovative digital solution that trains peace educators for their field programs. WHAT DOES “PEACEMAKERS PROJECT” PROVIDE?   TRAININGS TO PEACE THROUGH SPORT CONCEPTS PEACE AND SPORT X MYCOACH – ANNUAL AND PROGRESSIVE CONTENTS  PROGRAMME PLANNING & FOLLOW-UP TOOLS MONITORING & EVALUATION METHODOLOGY GLOBAL PROMOTION AND COMMUNICATION During 2 years, « Peacemakers Project » will provide training to 200 peace educators and benefit to 2000 children. “PEACEMAKERS PROJECT”: 10 FIELD ORGANIZATIONS! DISCOVER THE PEACEMAKERS ONGOING PROJECTS  

Centralised hub for all things Olympic will deliver new digital content, grow digital engagement   The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled Olympics.com, its new digital platform, which provides a comprehensive source for information, news and original content related to the Games. As we approach the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Olympics.com will be the single source for all Games-related information, as well as comprehensive detail about every modern Olympic Games going back to 1896. Fans can learn more about their favourite athletes, with individual athlete pages, and get up to speed on the latest news related to the Olympics, athletes and competitions. There will also be new digital features, including more personalised user experiences, ticketing, fantasy games and an Olympic e-commerce presence.

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’, […]

INAUGURAL OLYMPIC VIRTUAL SERIES TO INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS AND GAME PUBLISHERS IN BASEBALL, CYCLING, ROWING, SAILING AND MOTOR SPORT The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will partner with five International Sports Federations (IFs) and game publishers to produce the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first-ever, Olympic-licensed event for physical and non-physical virtual sports. Taking place ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the OVS will begin on 13 May, continuing through to 23 June 2021. The Olympic Virtual Series will mobilise virtual sport, esports and gaming enthusiasts all around the world in order to reach new Olympic audiences, while also encouraging the development of physical and non-physical forms of sports in line with the recommendations of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5. IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to grow direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports. Its conception is in line with Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the IOC’s Digital Strategy. It encourages sports participation and promotes the Olympic values, with a special focus on youth.” David Lappartient, Chair of the IOC’s Esports and Gaming Liaison Group (ELG), and President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), said: “On […]

WADA’s 2021 Play True Day Campaign reaches over 87 million people around the globe The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is proud to announce that its 2021 Play True Day Campaign – centered around the theme “What does Play True mean to you?” – reached over 87 million people around the globe. The campaign, which took place on 9 April, once again saw athletes, National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations, Sports Federations, governments, Major Event Organizers and other stakeholders from the global anti-doping community unite in celebration of the Play True message. Since 2014, in April of every year, WADA and the anti-doping community worldwide have celebrated ‘Play True Day’ – a day that is dedicated to raising awareness among athletes, the sporting public and others about the importance of protecting Clean Sport. WADA President Witold Bańka said: “Thank you to all who took part in WADA’s 2021 Play True Day Campaign. It is amazing that the clean sport message was shared with over 87 million people worldwide. This demonstrates what we can achieve when the anti-doping community unites towards our common goal of a healthy sporting environment. WADA is very grateful to all who embraced the spirit of the day and stood shoulder […]

IFA APPROVED UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2019-2023 The International Fistball Association (IFA) has approved an updated version of its Strategic Plan for the period 2019-2023. This will be IFA´s roadmap for the upcoming two years and reflects the COVID-19 crises as recently approved IOC Agenda 2020+5. The IFA 2019-2023 Strategic Plan can be found here: https://www.ifa-fistball.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/11_IFA-Strategic-Plan-2019-2023-update_final.pdf “The IFA board and officials will be using this strategic plan to guide our decisions over the next years,” said IFA President Joern Verleger. “We see it as a working document that will help us make explicit decisions about our activities and priorities based on strategic considerations.” “Our updated plan for the period 2019-2023 spells out our vision and values, our core strategies, and the steps for achieving them,” added Verleger. The approval was preceded by an extensive consultation of the draft in an IFA Policy Forum on March 30, 2021 and a resolution by the IFA Athletes Forum on April 17, 2021. IFA has also updated partially its Mission Statement, which says now “We encourage gender equity and diversity in all aspects.” IFA has outlined strategic goals: • High quality IFA events; • Governance structures according to good governance principles; • IFA serves as […]

On World Health Day, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, reiterated his call for governments to include sport and physical activity in their COVID-19 recovery programmes during an online webinar hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Speaking at the event, which addressed the challenges and opportunities presented to sport and physical activity systems by the COVID-19 pandemic, President Bach invited national and international stakeholders to work with the Olympic Movement to use sport to help build a healthier society. “The Olympic Movement is ready to play its part to engage with all the governments and to engage with everybody to activate our population to be more active and, in this way, to contribute to a healthy society for everybody,” he said. “I invite you: join me in becoming active and join the Olympic Movement to include sport in your crisis recovery programmes, so that together we can show what we can do in solidarity for healthier societies and happier people.” Sport and physical activity contribute directly to physical and mental health and to combatting non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as demonstrated in the WHO’s new Guidelines on Physical Activity & Sedentary Behaviour. THE ROLE OF SPORT TO […]

AIMS Stands for Fair Play AIMS is a value-based organisation and it is all our AIMS to make sure that all our athletes can trust in these values. AIMS as an IOC recognised umbrella body is committed in protecting the integrity of sport. We all believe in the value of respect between athletes and officials. Fair play regardless where we stand in the pyramid, we all must respect the rules and disregard and reject any opportunity to cheat or gain an unfair advantage. Fair play is our common language and true champion is definitely the one who trains, competes and honours the strict code of Play True.

On Saturday 10 April at 2:00 (CET) the 2nd IFA Athletes Forum on the main topic “Women in Fistball” will take place in virtual form. The forum will be live streamed on the IFA Facebook page and as a MS Teams meeting (http://tiny.cc/AthletesForum). The forum will be very interactive, and viewers will have the opportunity to ask their questions. The IFA Athletes´ Commission under the leadership of chairwomen Katharina Lackinger prepared the 2nd IFA Athletes´ Forum. Main topic will be “Women in Fistball”. The forum will be covered on IFA Facebook page as well as MS Teams meeting (http://tiny.cc/AthletesForum). The main question of this year´s forum is how we can make Fistball more attractive especially for girls/women. Several members of the IFA Athletes´ Commission agreed to make a point of statement on the questions raised during the forum. IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner will present a short comparison between women’s and men’s world championships as a fact check. In addition, athletes Celina Traxler, Tanja Bognar, Eric Kindler, Karin Kempinger, Hinrike Seitz or Nick Trinemeier, among others, will give a speech. Via questions on the IFA Social Media Channels and an “advocate of the audience” the viewers can comment on the […]

HOW CAN WE ALL #TURNITAROUND? Last weekend the 5th SDG Global Festival of Action, supported by the UN SDG Action Campaign, took place. This time it was held virtually due to the pandemic. The festival tried to find new ways to exchange knowledge, increase mutual understanding, develop solutions, and connect key partners and organizations to take action toward the Social Development Goals (SDGs). The 2-day festival provided a dynamic and interactive platform where delegates can see the latest innovations, new ideas, tools and approaches to the SDG implementation. UTS was in attendance for several of the exceptional sessions taking home key messages and many thought-provoking concepts. The event incorporated 1 main stage, a Japan stage, 4 interactive spaces, 300 speakers from 80+ countries, 4 networking zones, 28 workshops, 20 exhibits, 10 performances, with the slogan: “Let’s #turnitaround, For People and the Planet.” During the festival delegates could connect with international leaders, changemakers, activists, the private sector and more. The event attracted more than 10K from 180+ countries and is here to encourage and inspire decision-makers, corporate companies, government, UN leaders, media, social entrepreneurs and activists. The 4 different themes were discussed: Climate Action, Gender Equality, Inclusive Systems & Finance and Poverty & […]

In the latest article in our series on gender equality, we speak to IOC Young Leader Rohith Maradapa about his efforts to provide mentorship and sporting opportunities for underprivileged girls and boys in India. Rohith Maradapa has always had strong female role models in his life. One of his grandmothers reported on cricket for a magazine in the 1950s. The other captained her college basketball team. And his mother is a leading expert in nutrition. But each of them still faced hurdles due to the societal expectations of women in India. Recognising the gender bias that still exists, Maradapa – an international rower for India – established Just Play India with support from the IOC Young Leaders programme and Worldwide Olympic Partner Panasonic. In a country that sees an unprecedented ratio of women drop out from school – with figures suggesting 40 per cent of girls aged 15-18 are no longer in education – the Just Play India initiative aims to keep children in school longer and enable them to dream bigger by providing personalised mentorship support and access to sport. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maradapa has adapted his programme to provide online training and mentorship, reaching 130 students across two cities. […]

  Sport is one of the most powerful platforms for promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls. We must and will continue to emphasise the unique power of sport in defying gender stereotypes promoting equal opportunities and empowering girls and women across the planet. Sport for Women’s Empowerment and Employment Programmes (S.W.E.E.P.) was founded as an organisation in 2014. S.W.E.E.P. carries out an important mission to work, involve all members of the sporting pyramid to be part of the change. The United Nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development recognises sport as an important enabler of sustainable development especially towards the empowerment of women and the young generation in general. Inclusion, diversity, and gender equality plays a centre part in the work of the Olympic Movement. The IOC Agenda 2020 has been instrumental, and Tokyo 2020 will be the first gender equal Olympic Games. All 206 National Olympic Committees for the first time ever, have a one to one ratio of female to male athletes in their respective Olympic teams. S.W.E.E.P. just conducted the Philippines first online international sports conference which was under the patronage of GAISF, AIMS and United Through Sports. Sport leaders, NGOs and entrepreneurs came together for the […]

Kickboxing Thailand Inauguration                      Thailand’s national sport is Muaythai but it has a long history in kickboxing with legends like Changpuk competing in the K1 events in Japan against opponents much heavier such as Ernesto Host, Rob Kaman and Branko Cikatic. Or the late Nokvit, giving away more than 40 kilos against French superstar Jerome Le Banner. Kaoklai, winning against Mighty Mo, superstar Alexy Ignashow and no one ever forgot his fight against Hong Man Choi who was twice his weight. Then it was time for the legend Buakaow, winning twice in the K Max Tournament. Making him a household name around the world showcasing the strength of Thai fighters. The World Association of Kickboxing Associations (WAKO) is the sole recognised International Federation for the sport of kickboxing and has done outstanding work in youth and grassroot development, gender equality and universality. Wako and kickboxing are included in many multi sport games and also in the upcoming Sea Games in Vietnam and the Asian indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand. A special event was held at the Sports Authority of Thailand for the inauguration of the new national kickboxing association […]

GAISF and Kellerhals Carrad yesterday hosted a webinar for International Sports Federations (IFs) on competition law and the athlete eligibility landscape within the European Union and abroad. Over 57 of GAISF’s Members registered for the webinar which consisted of an introduction by Kellerhals Carrard Partner and Co-Founder Dr Francois Carrard, along with presentations by other Kellerhals Carrard Partners, Lic. Iur. Christophe Rapin and Dr Vincent Jäggi, regarding recent General Court of the European Union decisions on athlete eligibility. In addition, a Q&A session, moderated by sports lawyer, TV presenter and former Olympian Dr Zsuzsa Csisztu, was held to facilitate in depth discussion and knowledge sharing on this key area within the world of sport. GAISF and SportAccord President Dr Raffaele Chiulli said: “It is always a pleasure for GAISF to provide its Members with access to best in class learning and knowledge sharing opportunities, especially during these challenging times. We were particularly delighted to see the high level of engagement and sharing of best practices among the IFs who attended the webinar.”

Within the framework of exchange of ideas and best practice IFA invites all AIMS member federations to participate in the IFA Policy Forum on Tuesday, March 30, at 6 P.M. (European time). Please register by email to registration@ifa-fistball.com All registered attendees will receive an MS Teams link to participate in the evaluation and discussion. The IFA approved its current Strategic Plan 2019 – 2023 in 2019, and the Strategic Plan is to be evaluated annually at the second meeting of the IFA Board of Directors. For this purpose, a public IFA Policy Forum will be held on Tuesday, March 30, prior to the IFA Board meeting scheduled for April 17, in which all stakeholders will have the opportunity to participate in the discussion on the future course of the IFA. The current COVID19 pandemic is not included in the 2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan, but will have a profound impact on the implementation of the plan in the coming years. In addition, at its 137th Session in March 2021, the IOC unanimously approved a new IOC Strategic Roadmap to 2025, called Olympic Agenda 2020+5. This will also have an impact on the IOC Recognition Process. Olympic Agenda 2020 The Olympic Agenda 2020, […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 23 March 2021                                                                                                                                CityAccord to Explore Event-Hosting Outlook in Evolving Landscape at SportAccord 2021  LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord has confirmed that the theme of ‘Event Hosting in the New Reality and Ever-Expanding World of Sport’ will be explored during the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 CityAccord Conference in Ekaterinburg, Russia at the IEC Ekaterinburg-Expo. Following the CityAccord host welcome by Evgeny Kuivashev, Governor of the Russian Federation’s Sverdlovsk Oblast region, a presentation focusing on major events and sport tourism will provide delegates with an insight into the SportAccord 2021 host city’s capabilities and ambitions. “Ekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk Oblast are justly considered not only the industrial and cultural but also the sports center of Russia, with the sports community’s interest in the region growing year by year.” Kuivashev said. “We hosted FIFA World […]

Sport is one of the most powerful platforms for promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls and the IOC has been leading the way in gender equality. The IOC has followed through on this commitment to use sport to advance the well-being and the rights of women and girls around the world. The agenda 2020 has had such a positive impact, not just on the field of play but for female coaches, female officials and within the decision-making organs. From the 24th to the 26th of March an online virtual conference for sport towards women’s empowerment and employment programme (S.W.E.E.P.) will take place. The event is under the patronage of GAISF, AIMS and United Through Sports and will see renowned female sport leaders, coaches and so many others representing over 40 organisations, IOC Executive board member Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski. Philippine Olympic Council Executive member Pearl Managuelod, Paralympians and Olympic athletes and so many more. The opening speaker will be GAISF vice-president and AIMS president Stephan Fox. A special thank you must go to Ms. Geraldine Go-Bernardo, Founder Sport Management Council Philippines For all members of the GAISF, AIMS and United Through Sports family, certainly registration is free, please pass on and join this fantastic conference, the programme is attached.   Check their […]

The international sports federations can rightfully be proud of their youth. The many youth ambassadors from over 100 organisations have sent messages and have emphasised the role of solidarity in sports in the face of the corona virus crisis. The slogan of the Olympic movement is ‘We are always stronger together’. The ambassadors of the international sporting youth stood together in a unified message making the world a better place through sport. The cooperation of the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee and Special Olympic International was a message of the Olympic movement on inclusion, equality and non-discrimination. These outstanding ambassadors not only spur social change but they are the change makers. As we go into the weekend let us enjoy some of these ambassadors and the sport federations they represent. We stand united through sport!

WMF signs historic Memorandum of Understanding with UTS March 9, 2021: The President of the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF), Dr. Gerhard Zimmermann, the Secretary General of WMF, Sandra Walker, the President of United Through Sports (UTS), Mr Stephan Fox, and the CEO of UTS, Julia Govinden signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Saturday, March 6. The MoU, which will run for two years, was signed virtually during a video conference and is a step to contribute to the development of humankind as well as the promotion and development of Minigolf Sport and youth locally and around the world. It also promotes information-sharing, including academic and professional resources and documents, and additional events hosted by both parties. Both parties will jointly establish a working team to carry out the cooperation projects as defined under this MoU. Dr. Zimmermann said: “The memorandum aims to promote and develop an active lifestyle through Minigolf sport, exchange information, resources and academic and professional documents, participate in various events hosted by the two parties and develop practical relations between them. Our relationship with UTS officially started on October 22, 2019 in cooperation with the main sponsor of the World Championships 2019 Invengo Group Company Limited […]

AIMS President speaks at WMF Exco meeting The World Minigolf Federation, one of the founding members of AIMS, held their important online meeting of the Executive Committee. With important reports of their athlete’s, medical, development and many other committees. The AIMS President, thanked President Gerhard Zimmerman, for the invitation and thanked the President for his vision, not only for the sport of minigolf but also in his capacity as the secretary general of the AIMS family. Mr. Fox congratulated WMF family for the outstanding work, for growing the organisation around the world. With their healthy balance of being a competitive sport and at the same time a healthy leisure activity. WMF combines core values of integrity, teamwork, respect, passion and connecting generations. Mr. Fox also thank secretary general Sandra Walker, for not only her efficiency but also ensuring that minigolf played an important part in the United Through Sports initiative. WMF has done outstanding work not only for their own members but also to support the sport community in general.

TOKYO 2020 FIRST EVER GENDER-BALANCED OLYMPIC GAMES IN HISTORY, RECORD NUMBER OF FEMALE COMPETITORS AT PARALYMPIC GAMES ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC), THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (IPC), THE TOKYO 2020 ORGANISING COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT (TMG) ARE REITERATING THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKE THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES THIS SUMMER A LANDMARK IN GENDER EQUALITY ON AND OFF THE FIELD OF PLAY, PAVING THE WAY FOR A MORE EQUAL AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. At the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: – Almost 49 per cent of the athletes participating will be women, according to the IOC quota allocation. These will be the first gender-balanced Games in history. – There will be a ground-breaking competition schedule. ensuring equal visibility between women’s and men’s events and featuring nine more mixed events than at Rio 2016, raising the overall number to 18. – For the first time ever, all 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) should have at least one female and one male athlete in their respective Olympic teams. – All 206 NOCs and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team will be encouraged to have their flag carried by one female and one male athlete at the […]

                                                                        The Gold Coast Titans are not just a football club which has a little community programme but it is a community club which has a football team. The Titans together is about caring, inclusion, unity and inspiration. We say thank you to the Titans and the City of Gold Coast for all their support at the United Through Sports initiative both at SportAccord in 2018 at the beautiful Gold Coast and 2020 at the World Virtual Youth Festival. Titan’s we bow down to you.

The United Through Sports World Virtual Youth Festival was a celebration for and with the youth of the world, towards a better tomorrow. The festival promoted inclusion, non-discrimination, equality and peace under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee and Special Olympic International. Over 100 international federations, organisations and Olympic host cities joined together under the banner of UTS in this global celebration. The youth participated in their abilities to shine to be the best they can be promoting sporting and cultural exchange in a time where solidarity, unity and standing together is more important than ever. We celebrated the youth in the different events and thank all the outstanding panellist, speakers the kingdom of Thailand for all their support. Now we would like to honour the winners of the youth ambassadors. The international federation youth ambassadors with their powerful messages, their dreams and hopes have inspired all of us, we say thank you to each and every ambassador. Our ambassadors share a unified message, that every child and human being must have a fundamental right of access to sport and playing. The youth have showcased to us how to include the sustainable development goals into their […]

The Asian Sepaktakraw Federation conducted their continental elections in which incumbent President Abdul Halim Kader secured a landslide victory against two challengers. Mr. Boonchai Lorhpipat has been elected as Secretary General. The AIMS family congratulates both President and Secretary General and is looking forward to a continued cooperation.   Press Statement

AIMS family mourns the loss of Ernesto Dohnalek. The honorary President of the International Fistball Federation (IFA). Ernesto was a man of sport and was President of IFA from 1995 to 2011, a native of Argentina. AIMS is sending their thoughts to his wife Andrea, his children and all family members. Certainly, our thoughts also go to the IFA family and Ernesto’s succeeding President Karl Weiss and current President Jörn Verleger. AIMS president Stephan Fox sends his condolences on behalf of the AIMS family and stated that Ernesto was a true ambassador for the Fistball and World Games family. His personality on and off the field as a true sports man will live on. Someone so special can never be forgotten.     

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has signed a far-reaching memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on February 24, 2021, the UN agency mandated to help member countries guard against the serious threats posed by drugs, crime and terrorism. The MOU formally establishes and facilitates a mutual framework for cooperation and information-sharing between the two agencies in the broad area of sports doping. WADA President Witold Bańka said: “Following on from the MOU that WADA signed last week with Europol, this agreement is another step in the fight against doping as we seek to protect sport against criminal forces acting within the sporting environment. WADA and the UNODC share common objectives with regard to preventing the abuse of drugs, both in sport and society at large. It makes sense, therefore, for us to collaborate towards these shared objectives. “This MOU formalizes and enhances the existing cooperation between the two organizations and focuses primarily on the areas of research and trend analysis, forensics and transnational organized crime. I thank the UNODC for its vision and renewed commitment as it joins forces with WADA in this important way.” UNODC Executive Director Ghada Fathi Waly said: “UNODC […]