This year the SportAccord Convention, a premier international sports gathering, will take place in Belek/Antalya, Turkey from April 6 to 11. The Convention annually brings together over 2,500 leading representatives from the international sport industry. Such an impressive scope is not surprising as the conference is supported by the International Olympic Committee, who organises the IOC Executive Board spring meeting at each Convention. In addition, SportAccord provides a venue for the sessions of the General Assemblies of AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations) and ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations).

The Russian International Olympic University will be taking part in this major sports networking event for the third time. The University will take a stand at the exhibition, which will be running in parallel to the Convention (stand № 119), to present its educational programmes, the MSA course in particular. Exhibiting will increase RIOU's visibility and promote its programmes in front of the key decision makers in world sport (93% of attendees represent top management; the number of participating International Sport Federations and Associations totals 89).

This year RIOU is expanding its participation. Nikolay Peshin, Vice-Rector for research and head of RIOU's delegation, will join the line-up of speakers in the debate on establishing new markets. The discussion will place a special emphasis on sport competitions and programmes for youth and the role of such events in the globalization of sport. In his contribution Professor Peshin will focus on the humanitarian legacy of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi and RIOU as its key element. Speakers will also include Kosta Iliev, Sports Director at FIBA Europe, Gideon Sam, President of the South-African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and Yusuf Hacisuleyman, Сhairman of the Mediterranean Hoteliers Association, amongst others.

The Youth Club will be a highlight of this year's conference. For the first time SportAccrod will feature a panel of young people who will be talking about youth participation in sport, their aspirations, preferences and interaction with the sport media.

We will be delighted to welcome you at our exhibition stand 119! 

See you at SportAccord!