Cycling Federation President and Pioneer of Freerunning to Speak at SportAccord Convention 2014
January 16, 2014
SportAccord Convention announced today that International Cycling Union (UCI) President Brian Cookson and freerunning pioneer Sébastien Foucan, sickness whose acrobatic exploits thrilled global cinema audiences in the opening sequence of James Bond film Casino Royale, will be among the speakers during SportAccord Convention 2014 taking place 6-11 April 2014, in Belek/Antalya, Turkey.
The UCI President, attending SportAccord Convention for the first time since his dramatic election last autumn, will deliver a keynote speech in a new-look Conference Programme at SportAccord Convention 2014 with the theme of “Sport’s New Frontiers.” Delegates will be able to hear top speakers and enjoy interactive sessions in new formats outside of the main auditorium as well as inside the event at Belek’s Susesi Convention Centre.
One of the founders of the urban youth discipline of Parkour, Foucan will expound his views on the importance of self-expression in sport and demonstrate his eye-popping skills in conjunction with The Youth Club, an imaginative session on the sporting tastes, habits and aspirations of young audiences.
Participants in a panel session on “Rule-Breakers and Game-Changers” will include Desmond Burke Kennedy, Chairman of Marketing & Media at the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF), Adrian Christy, Chief Executive of Badminton England,
and Brett Hasell, Marketing Coordinator of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). They will join the audience in debating the provocative question, if you could change the rules of one sport, what would you do?
Lisa Lazarus, Chief of Business Development & Strategy at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), will be among the guests for “A Woman’s World – The Journey Towards Sporting Equality,” a frank discussion of how to create better sporting equality – on the field of play and in the media, business and governing bodies. Olympic medallist Charmaine Crooks, President of NGU Consultants, will moderate the session.
These are just a few of the confirmed speakers and sessions on the programme, more details will be announced in coming weeks. As in past years, the conference moderator will be BBC World news anchor and journalist David Eades.
A discounted rate is in effect for delegates booking their places early via the website www.sportaccordconvention.com.
The 12th annual SportAccord Convention will be the first time the world sport summit is held in Turkey.
Held in a different city every year, SportAccord Convention is a unique opportunity for international sporting leaders to engage with business, and features a dynamic exhibition as well as the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport.
Belek/Antalya is a developing sports hub which recently hosted the 2013 World Archery Championships. In addition, the area will welcome in May the 2014 Turkish Airlines Ladies Golf Open which is part of the Ladies European Tour.
For more conference information, visit www.sportaccordconvention.com.
Contact alex.ross@