LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord Convention is delighted to reveal details for the inaugural conference programme: HealthAccord: The Power of Sport - The Power to Change, set to take place on the afternoon of Thursday 19 April 2018 at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre in Thailand. This builds on the success of the International Federation (IF) Forum 2016 where international sports federations gathered to discuss the power of sport to drive world health. 

Recognised as two of the leading experts in sports medicine and health, Co-Chairs for the new HealthAccord conference programme: Dr. Margo Mountjoy, Chair, ASOIF Medical + Scientific Consultative Group, IOC Medical + Scientific Commission-Games Group FINA Bureau; and Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, President, FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine) & Member of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission – Medical and Scientific Group commented:

“HealthAccord is testament to Sport’s commitment to continued innovation for our athletes, as well as the significant role sport can play in cultures and communities around the world. They went on to say:

“This is a defining time for sport and SportAccord Convention continues to be a strong platform for addressing global issues amongst sport and industry leaders. HealthAccord gives us an opportunity to reflect on how our policies, partnerships and resources can best be put into use to support athletes at every level, as well as to share and identify practical ways to influence citizens to lead healthier lives – particularly in urban areas.”

Drawing on the knowledge and work of experts from global health programmes, HealthAccord will be of interest to international sports federations, cities, governing bodies, sports scientists, the medical fraternity, and industries who have a vested interest in sport – all of whom can register for SportAccord Convention. HealthAccord will include presentations, panel sessions and case studies with two overarching sessions focused on athletes and global citizens, respectively. 

The first session: The Power of Sport will examine how to increase sports sponsorship and engage audiences through the application of ‘state of the art’ sport science and sport medicine, not only enabling an athlete to perform more spectacular feats that are ‘higher, stronger, faster’ to thrill global audiences, but will also enable athletes to remain active in sport for a longer duration. The session will identify the health principles underpinning the improvements in athlete performance and longevity in sport. 

The second session: The Power to Change will look at the Olympic health legacy and lessons learnt, as well as implications for the future towards healthy, active sporting cities. Emerging evidence shows there is a general demise in the cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal fitness of young individuals in western countries that seems to track the decrease in levels of physical activity. This decline in physical fitness also appears to be having a negative effect on sporting performance. There is the belief amongst some experts that the decline in physical fitness may impact negatively on sporting performance. 

As half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas and this trend is destined to continue, this makes it likely that more of the world’s population will be affected by sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity. There is an urgent need, therefore, for the Olympic movement and stakeholders in sport, to become social drivers and help to correct this mismatch. This session will examine what it takes to influence urban citizens worldwide, as well as the practical approaches that can be taken, so physical activity becomes part and parcel of their daily lives.

Further details can be found on the HealthAccord conference webpage. Registration and exhibition uptake for SAC2018 confirms strong interest for the next Convention taking place in Bangkok, Thailand from 15-20 April 2018, where delegates have numerous networking opportunities to connect with sporting leaders and decision-makers involved in the business of sport.

For media enquiries, please email Jenny Edmondson, Media Relations Officer: jenny.edmondson@sportaccordconvention.com 

SportAccord Convention

SportAccord Convention is the world’s premier and most exclusive annual event at the service of sport. Held in a different city each year, the Convention takes place over six days and is focused on driving positive change internationally and dedicated to engaging and connecting; international sports federations, rights holders, organising committees, cities, press and media, and organisations involved in the business of sport.

The SportAccord Convention is a not-for-profit organisation which annually brings together representatives from more than 100 International Sports Federations affiliated with the following umbrella organisations that host their Annual General Assemblies at the SportAccord Convention.

GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations), 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.

In addition, the SportAccord Convention receives the full support of the International Olympic Committee.

For more information about the SportAccord Convention visit: www.sportaccordconvention.com

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Margo Mountjoy MD, PhD, CCFP (SEM), FCFP, FACSM, Dip Sport Med

Margo is a former international level synchronized swimmer, and is now a member of the FINA Bureau, with the portfolio of sport medicine. Her area of research is in injury & illness prevention in aquatic athletes; as well as health promotion through physical activity.  She is also the Chair of the ASOIF Medical and Scientific Group and is a member of the IOC Medical Commission Games Group and the WADA Health Medicine and Research Committee. She is also a member of the FINA Bureau with the portfolio of sport medicine.

Margo is an Associate Professor at McMaster University where she teaches sports medicine.  She is also the Clinical and Academic Lead of the Health & Performance Centre at the University of Guelph where she has focussed her clinical practice on elite athlete health care and promoting physical activity in the community.  In addition, Margo has acted as the national team physician for Synchro Canada for 20 years and is currently the team physician for Athletics Canada and the National Triathlon & Wrestling team training centres.  

Prof. Fabio Pigozzi MD, PhD

CAREER 

Rector at the State Sports University of Rome “Foro Italico” (2013-2019); Full Professor of Internal Medicine and Director, Sports Medicine Unit, University of Rome “Foro Italico”; Scientific Director of the FIFA ((Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Medical Center of Excellence of Rome (2010-).

Contributed to several topics in Sport Medicine and Sport Science, particularly on cardiovascular response to physical exercise and training, physical medicine and rehabilitation, nutrition and antidoping.  Author of about 200 scientific publications.

SPORT ADMINISTRATION 

President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (2010-); Member of the Foundation Board  (2015-) and of the Health, Medical and Research Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency-WADA (2008-); Member of the Medical Commission–Medical and Scientific Group of the International Olympic Committee (2014-); Member of the Medical Commission of the Association of the National Olympic Committees-ACNO (2014- ); Member of the Medical and Antidoping Commission of the European Olympic Committees-EOC (2015-); Member of  the Medical Committee of the World Olympians Association -WOA (2015-); Member of the Executive Board of the Italian Olympic Committee (2001-2009/2013-2017).