SportAccord Convention

Within the period from the 3rd till the 8th of April the SportAccord Convention took place in London. The motto of the Convention "Why Sport Matters" was an all-embracing platform for the discussions and sharing experience of the most progressive and successful worldwide organizations. More than 1700 delegates, including the leaders and top managers of the worldwide Sports Movement participated in it. The representatives of more than 100 International Sports Federations and entities registered for the Convention SportAccord -2011. Within theSportAccord session there were held the following events: SportAccord conference and General Assembly; the Exhibition displaying the most prominent nowadays achievements of Media, marketing organizations, sports equipment providers, of International Sports Federations; international sports and Anti-doping committees, international social responsibility sports organizations, organizing committees of the forthcoming multi-sports games, representatives of administration and municipalities of the sports capitals of the World and others. Also within the Convention were held the meetings, congresses, assemblies of such organizations as IOC, ARISF, IWGA, SportAccord Council, ASOIF, AIOWF, Peace and Sport. The FIAS delegation actively participated in the work of the Convention. The delegation included Mr. Vasily Shestakov, the FIAS President and Mr. Nikolay Lents, the Secretary General. The FIAS delegation participated in all official events of SportAccord. The working schedule was consistent, started from the 3rd of April and continued till the 8th of April inclusively. Owing to effective organization and well-structures system of communications provided by SportAccord the FIAS delegates were able to hold all discussions and working meetings needed. The delegates took part in the elections of the representative of "other Ifs" to the SportAccord Council. Mr.Espen Lund, Vice-president of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations was elected. The General Assembly of SportAccord re-elected Mr. Hein Verbruggen the President for the regular next presidency period unanimously. Also one more International Sports Federation entered the Sportaccord membership (International Icestocksport Federartion). 2nd SportAccord Combat Games, initiated by FIAS to be held in Russia declared At the SportAccord General Assembly the new-reelected President, Mr.Verbruggen declared of the decision to hold the next 2nd SportAccord Combat Games 2013 in Russia, in St.-Petersburg. The vice-governor of St.-Petersburg city- Mr. Mikhail Oseevsky- delivered his welcome speech and presentation to the participants of the SportAccord General Assembly. This epochal decision to hold the 2nd Combat Games in Russia, in St.-Petersburg, was the result of great work, done by the FIAS leadership, as soon as the FIAS applied Russian city candidature to bid for the 2nd Combat Games to the SportAccord Administration, and held all relevant discussions with the high Executives of SportAccord, IOC , Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee and others. The FIAS leaders also took corresponding efforts in order to get the support from the side of Russian Federation Government. The staging of 2nd SportAccord Combat Games in Motherland of SAMBO will let to upgrade the level of popularity of our Sport at a greater scale both nationally and internationally, and extend it worldwide. FIAS & Peace and Sport Within the SportAccord Convention the FIAS and International organization "Peace and Sport" undersigned the Memorandum of Understanding. Also the working meetings were held, whereas it was discussed in details the further perspectives and possible ways of cooperation, including the development of SAMBO in the far-remote poor regions (such as Columbia, Congo, Burundi, Haiti, Palestine, Cote d' Ivoire). The basis of the mutual cooperation concept- the Sport as a strong tool for social support of people and promotion of healthy way of life to strengthen the realization of corresponding social responsibility projects. FIAS, in perspective must take the role of initiator and leader of SAMBO development and promotion programs , as well as SAMBO ideology, providing methodological, organizational and sports-technological assistance for the programs implementation. Where the "Peace and Sport" must provide assistance in foundation of National SAMBO federation in corresponding country to ensure the long-lasting sustainable legacy and involvement of local people into practice of SAMBO sport on permanent basis ( at least for 3 years afterwards). Also the perspective opportunity to involve SAMBO Ambassador - Feodor Emelianenko into the prestige "Peace and Sport" program "Worldwide Sport Movement Champions for peace and sport" was discussed. The SAMBO development in China People Republic was discussed with the representative of United Nations in China, the Chairman of the International Peace Foundation Mr. Lee Ruo Hong. The future possible promotion of SAMBO within military sport was discussed with representatives of SIZM, who delivered to FIAS the presentation on detailed program of their activity and potential ways of mutual cooperation with FIAS ( to learn more about SIZM, please, refer to this link SIZM presentation) FIAS discussed with the representatives of World Academy of Sport the opportunities of cooperation in the filed of elaboration of educational programs for FIAS on organizational and methodological matters. FIAS discussed possible cooperation with the representatives of media company Eurosport on perspective of broadcasting of the major FIAS events. As the observers, the FIAS delegates participated in the ARISF General Assembly, in order to study the latest requirements and tendencies in the field of Olympic Movement development among the International Sports Federations, affiliated to ARISF and recognized by the IOC. FIAS discussed with the representatives of SportAccord DFSU the perspective of possible cooperation in the field of Anti-doping policy and collaboration with Anti-doping national organizations and WADA. Canton De Vaud. FIAS Headquarters in Lausanne. In a friendship manner the FIAS held the meeting with the representatives of the Administration of the Canton de Vaud; the minister of Economy and the president of Tourism Buro. The agreement on mutual programs development directed to promotion of SAMBO sport was reached. The organizational issues of FIAS activity at its Headquarters in Lausanne, were discussed. The FIAS held a number of constructive working meetings with the Leaders of the Worldwide Sports Movement. Such as : the President of SportAccord - Mr. Hein Verbruggen; the IOC EB member, President of the NOC of Australia - Mr. John Coats; the ARISF President - Mr. Jan Fransoo; the IWGA President - Mr. Ron Froehlich; the IOC Sports Director - Mr. Christophe Dubi; the IOC Member, Sports for All commission member - Mr. Tamas Ajan; the Special Advisor of the United Nations Secretary General on Sport - Mr. Wilfried Lemke and others.