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After five days of meetings, conferences, events, and exhibitions in the Thai capital of Bangkok, the 2018 SportAccord Convention has wrapped up today, with organisers and participants considering the event to have been a “huge success”, during which key agreements were concluded.

SportAccord Managing Director, Nis Hatt today advised “the convention has been hugely successful. We have had around 2,500 people attending the convention this year, which is a very high number. “The president of the International Olympic Committee was here, and we had also the presence of the Prime Minister of Thailand and the Thai Minister of Sorts. We really enjoyed the hospitality of Thailand.”

The world’s largest annual world sport convention, SportAcccord this year featured a sports festival held on Wednesday evening nearby the SportAccord's venue in Bangkok’s main commercial district. The festival featured spectacular demonstrations of sepak takraw, a non-Olympic sport being played with a wicker ball mostly in South east Asia, and of traditional Thai boxing. Thai youth also addressed the organisers of the convention.

Hatt added “the sports festival was a strong statement. It is all about the kids and the future. It was quite moving to see all these kids coming there and explaining in a sweet and nice way their needs and their requirements.”

The impact of digital technologies on sports marketing was a dominating topic during the summit held on Wednesday and Thursday under the theme ‘Uniting a Global Audience: Marketing and Sponsorship for the Future’. On Thursday, Anthony Edgar, the IOC’s Head of Media Operations, delivered an insighful presentation on how the digital technologies transformed media management for the Olympic Games over the last 15 years.

Important agreements were also signed, including a partnership agreement between the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) on the organization of the editions of the World Beach Games after 2019. Among other agreements, the Peace and Sports organisation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Badminton World Federation for cooperation on future projects “in order to transcend conflict and foster cross-cultural goodwill, friendship and peace”.

Always a big draw at SportAccord, this year’s exhibition line-up saw more than 25 international sports federations as well as national federations take part, organising bodies, 40+ cities and regions, as well as organisations representing the financial, construction, hospitality, government and education sectors to name a few.

Hatt concluded “SportAccord would like to thank all the partners, supporters and exhibitors for their huge contributions to this year’s event on so many levels. Their involvement, support, loyalty and inspiration always plays a big part in SportAccord with many returning each year.

“We wish each and every one of them a productive year ahead and look forward to welcoming their return next year.” 

The SportAccord Convention annually brings together representatives from more than 100 International Sports Federations including representatives from major events held in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America.

In addition, 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 Associate Members host their Annual General Assemblies at the Convention.

Image: The exhibition at SportAccord 2018.

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