05 >London &Coe

06 >Nurturing anation’s talent

04 >USA best insporting world

www.sportaccordconvention.com Issue 4 29|04|2010

DAILYThe world of sport has been transformed from one inwhich most sports were organised in Europe orAmerica to today’s world where “there are no moreborders.”

That was the message from Sepp Blatter, Presidentof FIFA, in the keynote speech opening theSportAccord Convention conference yesterday.

He set the scene for the panel discussion on TheChanging Geography of Sport, taking delegates on atour of a sporting world transformed and for the bet-ter.

“TV and sport have worked together in the pastgeneration to open all borders in our life and sport isno longer only for one part of society and for onepart of a continent,” he said. “Sport is now openeverywhere.”

The changed landscape of sport was not confinedto geography, said Blatter, whose dream of taking theFIFA World Cup to Africa will be realised in 42 dayswhen the 2010 showcase opens in South Africa. Itnow touches all aspects of society, from educationand the economy to politics.

“The basis of sport is education because it is basedon discipline and respect,” he said. “In sport theobjective is always to reach something. It is a chal-lenge and a it is about competition and it is about fairplay.

“You learn to win, which is easy. You learn to lose.In sport you learn the elements of life. If you go tothe school of sport will make you a better humanbeing. It will give you hope, not only of being a bet-ter champion (in your sport) but of being a betterhuman being and a better part of society. It gives youthe emotions you need in your life.”

NO BORDERS IN SPORT

FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCETwenty20 has changed the profile of modern cricket. It has poured more money into theglobal cricketing infrastructure and has been a catalyst for dramatic improvements inopportunities and playing standards across the world.

But for Rahul Dravid, Indian cricketer and ICC Player of the Year 2004, test cricket isstill the purest form of the game. And in his opinion the right balance must be foundbetween the increasing commercialisation and traditional precepts of cricket.

Amid the current controversy surrounding the legality of the financial management ofthe IPL, Dravid says: “It would not be fair for me to comment on the managementaspect of the IPL, but from a cricketing perspective it provides great opportunities forthe sport to continue to grow.

“Cricket has a huge potential to continue growing. In India particularly – I cannotspeak for other countries – there are more women and children attending cricket stadi-ums when T20 games are staged, which is great for the game.

“The negative media coverage is more to do with the management and franchise areasof the IPL, it is nothing to do with the sport itself. Hopefully the right things will bedone by the authorities appointed to clear up the mess, because the sport, and particlarly

Continued on page 12

The economic dimension of sport had expandedhugely with significant new markets such as Chinaand India opening up. “The BRIC countries (Brazil,Russia, India and China) are new markets in sportbut they are also new powers in the economy and inpolitics.”

The Middle East is also making its mark in thistransformed sporting landscape, said Blatter.“Formula 1 is around the world now and if you don’tbelieve me go to Abu Dhabi and you will see one ofthe highest technical Formula 1 courses.”

Focusing on the FIFA soccer World Cup, whichis to be held in Africa for the first time very soon, hesaid that the legacy of the event went far beyond theinfrastructure created for the event.

“The legacy will be education. The legacy of theWorld Cup will be education for all,” he said.“Football is the common denominator across Africawhere everyone is kicking.”

While acknowledging that the high profile ofsport could have a downside, from the murder ofIsraeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games to therecent terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, itwas offset by the use of sport for political reconcilia-tion.

In 1972, President Nixon and Prime MinisterChou En Lai played a symbolic game of table tenniswhile historical tensions between Turkey andArmenia were recently defused through a soccermatch.

The transformed sporting landscape had alsoopened up hitherto undreamt of sponsorship oppor-tunities. “Korea are the sponsors for the (2014) WorldCup in South America.”

Continued on page 9

DON’T MISS TODAY’S CONFERENCE PROGRAMME!Highlights of today’s Conference programme:

10:15 Interview of the day in coordination with Beyond Spoprt with Ian Thorpe

Olympic Swimming Champion.

11:15 Plenary Panel Session: Sport’s Role as a leader in sustainable development.

13:30 Global Agenda: The autonomy of sport

14:45 An Audience with HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

15:30 Closing Keynote Address: The role of sport as an agent of social change.

16:00 Kofi Annan interview and Q & A with Gregg Moss.

16:30 London presentation - Lord Dgiby Jones.

Full deatils of all the day’s proceedings on page four.

DAILY NEWS2

The World Academy of Sport, exhibiting at the Sport AccordConvention, offers a range of educational programmes for ath-letes, event organisers and sport administrators.

The academy was established in 2005 and is based in theManchester Business School at the University of Manchester inthe United Kingdom. Courses include short executive coursesas well as longer-term post graduate programmes.

“We also offer tailor-made closed programmes for thoseseeking further education in a particular area of event organisa-tion or sports administration,” said Kate Gallop, marketing co-ordinator, World Academy of Sport.

She explained that several of their programmes can be deliv-ered around the world through the Manchester BusinessSchool’s overseas education centres based Hong Kong,Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and theCaribbean. The academy offers a three-year Global MBA forSport and Major Events. “We also offer this course as a distancelearning programme,” Gallop added.

For those seeking an in-depth understanding of the sportindustry, the Post-Graduate Certificate in ExecutiveManagement (Sport Management), a part-time course deliv-ered over 6 months, is a good option. Short courses include a 5-day International Event Administration programme; a 3-dayExecutive Administration and Risk management programme;and a 3-day Athlete Performance Pathways programme. ■

Range of programmes

THE SPORTACCORD DAILY TEAMThe SportAccord Daily is produced on behalf of the organisers by Trident Communications Dubai.Editor:Mike MartinProduction Editor:Andy Forrester

Journalists:

Alan Ewens, Callan Emery, Tom Billinghurst, JillStockbridge, Paul McLennan.Photographer:Tom GordonPrinted by:Atlas Printing Press.

If you have a story to tell at the SportAccord Convention then the SportAccord Daily wants to hear from you. Thenewspaper will be published every day this week and circulated at the event. It’s your event newspaper, so let us knowwhat your organisation is doing. The Daily team is located in the Press Working Room (Silk Ballroom A). Drop in (weare on left by the entrance) or call Andy Forrester on 050 858 4168.

EQUIPPING THEWORLD FOR SOFTBALL

The game of softball was invented in 1887 and by 1952 talks wereunderway leading to the formation of the world governing bodyfor the sport, the International Softball Federation. Thirteen yearslater the first-ever softball world championship took place – anevent whose 45-year anniversary is being celebrated in 2010.

Bruce R. Wawrzyniak, ISF Director of Communications, said:“For decades now softball has continued to grow through numer-ous disciplines, and in a great number of countries around theworld. Today, millions of boys, girls, men, and women are com-peting in some form of the game, and a portion of that participa-tion is due in large part to development initiatives of the ISF.”

In the 90’s Softball’s world governing body’s developmentdepartment began an aggressive equipment programme. Sincethen there has been softball equipment valued at almost US$3million sent to just under 100 countries.

In February of this year an ISF newsletter reported on equip-ment shipments that had “been sent to the Czech Republic (fortheir school and club programme) and to Croatia (cadette andjunior club programme).” It went on to mention that “starterkits” had additionally been “packed for shipment to Jordan,Lesotho, and Spain, who all intend to use the gear for their schoolprogramme.”

But that isn’t the only means by which the ISF is getting softballequipment such as bats, balls, gloves, helmets, and catching gear

The SportAccord Convention Daily takes a look behind the scenes at the InternationalSoftball Federation (ISF), and how it hopes to spread the softball word here in Dubaias an attending federation.

Hitting the right note: Kids in Colombia pose with softball equipment received from the International Softball Federation.

into the hands of boys and girls throughout five regions (Africa,Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania). In the latter part of 2009the ISF signed a memorandum of understanding with Olympafricato provide equipment and softball coaches to 14 African countries.Earlier in the year the ISF committed USD$100,000 in grants inconjunction with development projects with the African SoftballConfederation that include a program at the university levelthrough the International University Sports Federation.

The aid doesn’t end there. Bruce added: “Softball’s is the onlyinternational federation to attend every Generations For Peacecamp since they began in 2007. The ISF has provided bothequipment and coaching instructors to these events put on in theMiddle East for leaders of youth who then go back to their coun-try and promote softball and other sports in a bid to help use sportto end conflicts.”

An additional resource that the ISF has created to furtherdevelop the sport is regional training centers. Its own worldheadquarters complex in Plant City, Florida (USA), has playingfacilities, but the organization didn’t stop there, establishing addi-tional sites in the Dominican Republic, Russia, and Italy, withAsia as its next target (China). With the ongoing commitment toglobal growth of the sport, it’s clear that the ISF is developingsoftball as the most inclusive team sport on the planet. You canfind more details on the Web: www.ISFsoftball.org. ■

GOLD SPONSORS

HOST PARTNERS

DAILY NEWS 3

29 April >

On this day in 2006, Chelseawon their third English leaguetitle having previously won thechampionship in 1955 and 2005.The Blues clinched the champi-onship by beating rivalsManchester United 3-0 atStamford Bridge. WilliamGallas, Joe Cole and RicardoCarvalho scored for Chelsea.

On this day in sport with

Infostrada Sports...

SPORTACCORD PLANSTO PLAY MIND GAMES

Here at the SportAccord Convention today,there will be a meeting to push ahead theconcept of the first SportAccord Mind

SPORT’S AUTONOMY: A MEDIA PERSPECTIVESpeaking as a journalist with more than fiftyyears experience of domestic and interna-tional sport, I believe autonomy of adminis-tration is fundamental to its preservation,protection and promotion.

This is so in every continent, whether inEurope, where bureaucratic laws canbecome interventionist or, say, in Africawhere funding is predominantly providedand controlled by government, which thenwishes to control and direct administrationeven to the extent of the appointment ofofficials. This can be harmful.

The coincidental role of the media, andparticularly the written press is important –more so than that of television, on accountof the fact that when television has pur-chased the screening rights for an event, it isnatural for commentators, editors and pro-ducers to promote the importance of theevent, irrespective of whether the regula-tions surrounding that event or that sportare being correctly upheld.

At the time of my introduction to sportsjournalism it was still a maxim, certainlythroughout much of Europe but also inlonger established seats of responsible mediacoverage elsewhere, that journalists were notsimply “supporters with typewriters”, butindependent minded critics and adjudicators

of events and of organisation.In other words, I believe it is part of the

media’s duty on the one hand to helpuphold the independence of sports authori-ty from external interference, on the otherto ensure, through transparency of cover-age, that all within a sport, on the field orin the committee room, is correctlyobserved.

While it would be presumptuous in anysense to suggest that the media were some-how a part of law enforcement, they alwayshave a responsibility to attempt to upholdtruth and legitimacy, to expose falsehoodand irregularity.

In that way, the media can be a comple-mentary arm of transparency.

In this context it is worth remembering,perhaps, that the exposure of all the trans-gressions that threatened to overrun theInternational Olympic Committee in 1988-89 were due to the action of media repre-sentatives.

Had it not been for the overwhelmingattention focused around the globe on irreg-ularities, the administrative revolution

achieved by the time of the Sydney OlympicGames would not have occurred, eventhough the ultimate achievement wasadministered in-house under the leadershipof the then IOC President, Juan AntonioSamaranch.

Therefore, it should deserve considera-tion, from independent-minded sportsadministrators, whether national or interna-tional, that the media should be their allynot their enemy, even if at times they mayfind some comment unfavourable.

The duty of the media, simultaneously,should always be to establish certainty offacts and background.

As that great golfer Bobby Jones observed,the creation of fame is not established exclu-sively by the achievement of the performer,but by the celebration of those who relaythe information to the rest of the world.

This was doubly evident, I think, in therecent Winter Olympic Games inVancouver and Whistler.

Firstly, there was extensive criticism ofinadequacies and errors in the constructionand management of the Luge/Skeletoncourse, the horror of a fatality excruciatinglyunwelcome to the hosts. Yet the publicitywill have helped ensure that no such mis-takes are ever made again.

Secondly, the mass-media presence spreadto the world the extent of the hospitality ofthe Canadian people, in particular theinhabitants of Vancouver.

The Canadians, leaving aside their ownnatural hunger for national success, createda special welcoming ambience for visitorsand competitors that helped to make this amemorable Olympics: the establishment ofthat enduring reputation was conveyedaround the world by the media.

In many senses, autonomous sport andthe media share a significant, helpful rela-tionship.

David Miller is the author of Athens To Athens: TheOfficial History of the Olympic Games and the IOC.His latest book, Olympic Guardians, co-authoredwith Alain Lunzenfichter, is to be published immi-nently by Prosport Publishing. ■

By David Miller

Games with a target of holding the firstevent next year. Sports on the programmewould include bridge, chess, go, draughts,xiang qi and possibly poker.

The embryonic plan envisions an event ofeight days with 200 to 300 of the world’sbest players taking part in competition forattractive prize money.

The setting will probably be large hotels.SportAccord would be the sole owner andrightsholder of the new event.

One of the key selling points of theMind Games is the tremendous onlinepotential, and a large part of the preparato-ry and promotional effort would be focusedon the internet aspects of the event withthe aim of building an interactive globalplatform.

The five federations committed to theMind Games – WBF (bridge), FIDE(chess), IGF (go), FMJD (draughts) andWXF (xiang qi) – boast a combined 700million registered players. ■

DAILY NEWS4

Former Australian Olympic swimming champion IanThorpe kick-starts Thursday morning’s conference at theSportaccord convention in an interview with GreggMoss.

The morning panel discussion – ‘Sport’s role as aleader in sustainable development’ – will seek to deter-mine how sport can path the way towards more respon-sible, greener products and events.

Moderator Ann Duffy, Corporate SustainabilityOfficer, VANOC, will preside over a panel comprisingAndrew Altman, Chief Executive, Olympic ParkLegacy; Thierry Borra, Coca-Cola Director for OlympicGames Management; HRH Princess Haya Bint AlHussein, President of Dubai Organising Committee forthe 2010 SportAccord Convention; Jacqueline Roast,President of Major Programmes CH2M HILL andJonathon Smith, CEO of Golf EnvironmentOrganisation.

They will discuss how notions of community canostensibly demonstrate a significant contribution to sus-tainable international developments, and why sport issuch an integral part of this mechanism.

The panel will also explain the social, economic andpolitical opportunities and challenges potential hostingcities can face.

After lunch, Michael Lenard, Senior ManagingDirector of Paladin Realty Members will moderate apanel that will consider the Autonomy of Sport.

Panellists, including H.H.Sheikh Amhad Al-Sabah,President of Olympic Council of Asia, IOC Member;Joeseph S.Blatter, FIFA President; Christophe deKepper, Chief of Staff for International OlympicCommittee and Nawal El Moutawakel, Chairwoman forRio 2016 Coordination Comission, IOC, will highlightthe pertinent issues emanating from an increasing politi-cal interest in sports institutions.

The global sporting milieu has developed rapidly froman amateur socio-cultural expression to a reliable eco-nomic dependency – so much so that governmentsaround the world are considering wielding powerfulinfluence over the management of future sportingevents.

The afternoon discussion ‘Global Agenda: TheAutonomy of Sport’ will address all the important need-to-know issues arising from the situation.

Following The Autonomy of Sport, H.H.SheikhMohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Presidentand Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, willgive his views on Dubai’s role in the world of sport withparticular reference to his personal experiences at thesummit of the international sports business.

The moderator for ‘An Audience with SheikhMohammed’ is Najla Al Awadhi, CEO of Dubai MediaIncorporated.

The SportAccord conferences draw to a dénouementwith a keynote address delivered by Kofi Atta Annan,Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (1997-2006).

Mr. Annan will propose key concepts as to how andwhy sport holds the potential to transcend notions ofmorality and health from a competitive arena to dailyinternational, and municipal society. ■

SPORT LEADING THEWAY TOWARDS AGREENER FUTURE

Conference preview

It may spark a million arguments from Moscow toMelbourne but according to Infostrada Sports it’s official -the USA is the best sporting nation on the planet accordingto a new index application launched this week by InfostradaSports at the SportAccord Convention.

The Sport World Index is described as an “application forobjective insight and analysis of sports performance acrossnations.”

And with 75 sports, 20,000 events and 2,000 competitionsanalysed over the past five years, it is considered byInfostrada Sports founder and director Philip Hennemann as“the only one of its kind in the world”.

“Next to measuring performances in specific sports it isalso important to make comparisons against other athletes,sporting disciplines and countries, and to take into accountother variables such as GDP, population, participants in thesport, the popularity of the sport, and money allocated tothe sport,” Hennemann told SportAccord Daily.

“There is an attitude that ‘content is king’ but I believe ifyou don’t bring content together into a comprehensiveapplication you are going to lose out. Working withQlikTech, we have produced a real state-of-the-art product.There is simply nothing like it.”

Developed by QlikTech, a leader in business intelligencesoftware, it is the first complete index allowing users tocompare all sport performances across nations.

“All sport tracking is important because without it there isa risk that key results are missed. A comprehensive view ofall of these factors make a great step forward in the analysisof sport,” added Hennemann, who stressed that while theindex on show is a five-year analysis the complete productcovers 100 years.

Infostrada Sports collects, analyses and distributes infor-mation with facts and figures on matches, athletes, teams,

USA ‘BEST IN SPORTINGWORLD’ SAYS NEW INDEX

leagues, tournaments, stadiums, sponsors and much morestored in one of the world's largest sports databases.

The company holds its data on any platform, in any for-mat, in any language and delivers to clients such as the IOC,FIFA, UCI, FIH, FISA, Eurosport, NOS, BBC, ZDF, SVT,Reuters and AFP.

The Business Intelligence solution QlikView combines allthe relevant sport data in one easy to use online application.With the World Sport Index, Sport federations andNational Olympic Committees can measure their currentposition in a particular sport based on population or GDP,for instance. Subsequently they can measure if their invest-ments result in better performances. Next to that it deliverssub-rankings in categories such as summer and winter, balland water, team sports etc.

The World Sport Index also enables decision makers inthe industry to identify and track investments.

“We chose QlikView as it proved to be the best businessintelligence tool available in the market. QlikView deliversgreat analytics and search possibilities with the simplicityand ease of use that makes it possible for anyone from thebusiness executives to the athletes themselves to explore ontheir own. This can help them to gain fact-based insight toinfluence future decisions.”

With some 60 Infostrada Sports staff dedicated to theongoing monitoring and updating of the information, clientshave access to information that is also tailored to their par-ticular needs.

“This is version 1.0 but we have been working with severalNOCs in a kind of work group to take on board ideas anddevelop the product further,” added Hennemann. “The soft-ware is also available as an application for BlackBerry and i-Phone. Interest in the product has been very good and weare excited as to how well it has been received.” ■

Philip Hennemann is analysing sportsperformances across the world.

DAILY NEWS 5

With 820 days to go, Lord Coe - former Olympian Seb Coe - is the man charged with making London 2012 a success. SportAccord Dailycaught up with the Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) to talk London, legacy and logistics…

LONDON & COEDaily News: Can you give us a status update as to the stand-ing of London 2012 in terms of facilities and timetable?

Lord Coe: We’re exactly where we want to be at this stage…construction wise, absolutely on schedule. That’s importantbecause the quality of the Games is predicated on the ability totest and test and test, so getting those venues within our controlas quickly as possible so we’re able to properly test is a veryimportant concept – and I know that from my time as a com-petitor.

You instinctively know, as a competitor, when you are in venuesthat may be complete but where the testing process has not been asintensive as it probably should have been. You pick that up veryquickly.

On the organisational side, I think we would say the hallmarksof any good business are the ability to raise revenues, the mainte-nance of cost control and smart procurement.

One of the things I will look back on with as much pride asanything is our ability to have raised as much money as wehave in arguably the most difficult climate since the 1970s.That is, in a large part, due to the quality of the team we haveassembled in the OCOG but is also a testament to theOlympic brand.

The 28th business partner is in place already and roughly 72% ofthe operational budget has been raised so we’re in good shape.

There is still work to be done on the cost base and tough deci-sions have to be made. We know this is a changed landscape andall our partners know the world has changed.

Finally, smart procurement means buying at the right time atthe best possible price. This is the right time and we have a pro-curement team taking care of that. But with two years to go, as anyOCOG or anyone who has been involved with this will tell you,this is the business end of the project.

Daily News: What have been the biggest challenges so far?

Lord Coe: Communicating, holding hard to the vision anddelivering against the vision that we took to Singapore in the biddocument. Making sure at every stage that we have communicatedcarefully and transparently and that we have engaged through ourcommunications strategy and maintained wide spread approval forthis project.

You will never convince everybody but I think it is a terrifictribute to our communications team that our message has beenconsistent and has penetrated.

Daily News: What have been the environmental hurdlesand how have you handled them?

Lord Coe: Sport is at the heart but central to this is sustain-ability - I think we have broadened the public understanding ofsustainability.

Legacy has always been key to our project. The OlympicStadium is a 25,000 permanent seat venue and the OlympicPark Legacy Company is sifting through sensible and coherentoffers as to how the venue can be sustained after the Games.The ability in an Olympic Park to leave something behind thatis sustainable for families and communities is also a form of sus-tainability.

When you are regenerating a large part of East London that hasremained unchanged for 60 years and you leave behind a landscapethat is cleaned and has sport at its heart, you are creating a new citywithin an old city.

Daily News: A lot has been made of the London 2012 legacy– how do you see London putting to use the venues that will beleft behind as a result of the Games?

Lord Coe: From the very outset in our masterplan, legacy wasenshrined. That has been in place since we started putting the biddocument together. The very fact that we are discussing it nowtells me that we are well ahead of the game – the Olympic ParkLegacy Company is systematically looking at every event withinthe Park with a view as to how we sensibly use it.

Having an organisation that is coherently being able to take sen-sible tenders for the use of those venues is a real step forward andcould become a template for how other host cities view their legacystory.

Daily News: Beijing was an unprecedented success – yousaid at the time that London would be different and would be “thefun Olympics”, while in Singapore you said London would bewhere “magic happens”. How do you deliver on “fun” and“magic”?

Lord Coe: I have never been to any major sporting event inthe UK where that has not been self generated.

I remember Euro 96, the Commonwealth Games inManchester and people still talk about the street parties around the1966 World Cup so I think that tends to take care of itself.

I think there is a risk that if you try to tightly choreograph it,you lose the point. But we are not leaving things entirely tochance… we will have our Life Sites, and a cultural Olympiad thatsegues into the torch relay and engages communities. DuringGames time we will have street activities very much likeVancouver.

What do I want for London? I want the part atmosphere ofSydney. I want the humanity and spirit of Barcelona. I want theobsession with detail that Beijing brought to the table. I want theway a city embraces the games like Vancouver did.

The great thing about the Games is you never stop learning.

Daily News: How important a project is London 2012 interms of the city’s colourful history?

Lord Coe: It is, in a large part, London’s historical colour thathelped nudge us across the line for 2012. We must never underesti-mate the brand value of London. It will also be the Queen’sDiamond Jubilee year, which makes it a massive occasion.

Having said that I also think the Olympic Games in 2012 adds tothat pageantry and will come at a time when I believe we will be ina transitional period out of some very difficult economic times aswe head back to buoyancy and certainty.

Daily News: You mention the economic situation and muchhas been made of the cost of the Games, but as we get ever closerto 2012, how do you see the games being viewed by the public?

Lord Coe: : I believe they have been consistently and solidlybehind this project since the beginning, primarily because theBritish ‘get’ the Games.

This will be the third time we’ve held them – and the first timewe have bid for them – and we are sports nuts in Britain. Ourresponsibility is to excite and built up enthusiasm and we havedone that in many ways.

There is a real challenge for us the length and breadth of thecountry to ensure that people – especially young people – under-

stand the relevance so of the Games. I spend two to three daysevery month engaging with local communities to drive the value.

Interestingly, the last piece of research showed 80% of publicsupport. Also, you talk about cost but we prefer investment.

At this moment there are 10,000 people working on theOlympic Park. Two years ago 10% of them were unemployed and agood chunk come from the most challenged local boroughs.

There has also been £6 billion pounds worth of procurement onthe infrastructure side that has gone as far and as wide as you canimagine… the most important thing is that in an economicallyfragile time this has not been about simply creating jobs but aboutsafeguarding jobs in economically challenged communities, whichis what I am most pleased about.

At the start of this process, when the economy was buoyant, itwas of course an important project but I don’t think any of usknew how important economically it would be to local communi-ties during tough economic times.

Daily News: You had an amazing career on the track – didyou ever see it as a risk to your reputation to be involved in such anambitious project?

Lord Coe: No because reputation is an interesting conceptand it is best left to other people to judge.

My passion has been sport. I was extraordinarily privilegedto have competed in an Olympic Games, I’ve written aboutthe Olympic Games, I’ve been a member of an IOCCommission and the Vice President of the largest Olympicsport, I was privileged to be asked to chair a bid and I’m nowon my last lap of my own particular journey, which is to haveworked alongside the most talented team I’ve ever workedwith in any walk of life and to deliver an Olympic Games - sowhy would you worry about your reputation? That’s for otherpeople to worry about.

Daily News: It’s August 2012, the Olympic flame has beenpassed on… what does Seb Coe do now?

Lord Coe: I have absolutely no idea and that’s pretty muchhow I have always been in my career.

I have always focused on the job in hand, whether it was winningan Olympic title, successfully defending an Olympic title, winning abid or delivering the Games. And that’s what I need to do... ■

DAILY NEWS6

NURTURING A NATION’S TALENTAt only one year old, the UAE National OlympicCommittee has a wide remit. As well as guiding the devel-opment of sports facilities in the Emirates, promoting theUAE internationally as a centre of sports excellence andnurturing national talent, the committee has been taskedwith running a feasibility study to evaluate the possibility ofa Dubai Olympic bid. Secretary General Saeed Hussain is abusy man.

“We have not bid for the 2022 Olympic Games. As SheikhMohammed announced, we are working on a feasibilitystudy that will help us identify the strengths and weaknessesof our transportation systems, our tourism facilities, oursports venues and other vital infrastructure. This learningprocess will benefit Dubai even if we never bid for theOlympic Games.

“But sports is not just about bids and winning, but aboutcreating relationships and striving for excellence throughfacilities and hospitality.”

The rapid development of sports facilities in the UAE isnot just to attract events to the country, but Hussain hopes itwill help bring about a sea change in the youth that will ben-efit the health of the nation.

“Our main focus is to develop national talent,” saidHussain, “and we will do this from the beginning, by devel-oping sports in schools. We have to build a pyramid, withOlympic talent at the top, but with a broad base of activechildren. This will bring us champions, but it will takepatience and will require a cultural change in schools.

“Around 40% of the children in the UAE have been diag-nosed with diabetes. Increasing the participation in sportsshould help to reduce these diseases,” he added.

The committee is still developing its strategy, and is look-ing to the Dubai royal family for role models. His HighnessSheikh Mohammed is a lifelong competitor in equestriansports; wife Princess Haya bint Al Hussein rode for Jordan inthe Olympics in 2000 and daughter Sheikha Maitha wonfour gold medals at the Gulf karate championships and com-peted in the 2006 Asian Games and the 2008 Summer

Olympics. Crown Prince HH Hamdan bin Mohammed wasa gold medallist in the Asian Games. However, it is onDubai’s only Olympic gold medallist that the committee ispinning its hopes.

“We would very much like Sheikh Ahmed BinMohammed Bin Hasher Al Maktoum to participate in ourwork with the young people, as he is such a great rolemodel,” said Hussain.

Meanwhile the committee is keeping a high profile at theSportAccord Convention. “We are trying to send a messageto all the delegates that the UAE is a centre for sports andcan host a variety of events. We have the accommodationand the venues, and now we have the experience havinghosted the Club World Cup and the Beach SoccerChampionships, with the Swimming Chmpionships comingup in December.” ■

SportAccord, grouping together 104 interna-tional sports federations and organisations, haslaunched The Sports Hub, a unique and com-prehensive multi video platform on theInternet.

The Sports Hub is composed of a portal,providing one single access point to all sports,and include sub channels featuring the differentsport and disciplines. With a fully customisedlook and feel, it will be a powerful tool forFederations to promote their sports. The gath-ering of sports, grouped under categories suchas ball or water sports, also allow cross promo-tion.

With more than 25 International Federationalready involved, The Sports Hub is dedicatedto all sports enthusiasts, allowing them notonly to follow their usual favourites, such asbasketball, swimming or equestrian but also todiscover fast growing sports like climbing, kick-boxing or floorball. The Sports Hub will alsoshowcase and multi sports Games, such as theWorld Games or the SportAccord CombatGames. Content will include top matches andcompetitions, but also interviews, backstagevideos or educational content.

Busy times ahead for SecretaryGeneral Saeed Hussain.

LAUNCH OF THE SPORT HUB ON YOUTUBE BY SPORTACCORD

SportAccord uses Content ID, YouTube con-tent management platform, to protect, promoteand monetize the content online and make sureit is accessible for all in its best quality globally.

Hein Verbruggen, President of SportAccord,

said, “This is an amazing opportunity for ourMembers and sports to enhance their presenceonline, thus getting more exposure. It will alsooffer an appealing one-stop-shop to all sportsfans”.

The Sports Hub will be launched during therSportAccord Convention. Promotion of theSports Hub is opn the homepage of YouTube,take a look! Make sure that you include it inyour favourites ! ■

DAILY NEWS 7

Engineering and programme management consultant CH2M HILL has teamedwith the SportAccord International Convention to develop a sustainable eventmanagement programme for the Convention over the next two years.

That knowledge is also being applied to the staging of sustainable sport eventswhich means managing social, economic and environmental factors to minimizeimpact and leaving a positive legacy.

As a starting point CH2M HILL has created the “Ten Golden Rules” of sustain-ability.

Here are numbers four to seven more:

4) Materials. Use renewable materials that have low environmental impact,are produce locally, have no harmful content and are from sustainable sources.

5) Biodiversity. Assess site biodiversity to ensure that in legacy, site biodiver-sity is maintained or improved. Ensure that planting and landscaping areappropriate to the local conditions and heritage.

6) Environmental impact. Minimise noise, dust and vibration disturbanceduring construction and the event itself. Minimise long-term impacts of mate-rials through sustainable procurement.

7) Inclusion. Ensure that the event is accessible to all ages, abilities, gendersand cultures without discrimination throughout its life cycle. Foster local com-munity ownership and build pride in the event and its legacy. Provide trainingand education to enhance inclusion.

Tomorrow: the final three. ■

The ten golden rules of sustainability (4-7) >

STUDENT SPIRITIS THE KEYThe flourishing success of the International University SportsFederation (FISU) is largely due to the inimitable spirit unique tothe student event.

Milan Augustin, Director of the winter university games ofFISU, said, at the SportAccord Convention: The great differencebetween these games and any others, including Olympic andWorld Games, is the spirit of the students.

“We build the structure of FISU around this spirit. And we aimfor a good balance between top sports competition and education.”

Marc Vandenplas, director of the summer university games ofFISU believes the SportAccord Convention provides a perfectplatform for emerging federations such as FISU to stand on.

“It’s a great platform to make new contacts, meet with otherfederations and talk to prospective bidding cities for the event – itwas at the 2009 Denver SportAccord Convention that we got theopportunity to do this for the first time,” he said.

The FISU games comprise a summer and winter event, both ofwhich are hosted by different cities around the world. It gives stu-dents, between the ages of 17-28, the opportunity to compete in awide variety of sports ranging from Archery to Weightlifting.

The summer and winter games are held every two years, andhave up to 15,000 and 4,000 competitors and officials respectively.The next scheduled FISU events are due to due be held in 2011.Shenzhen, China will be hosting the summer games, andErzurum, Turkey, the winter. ■

EDMONTON EVENTS TEAMLOOKS AT NEW APPROACHThe Canadian city of Edmonton is makingrenewed efforts to secure major sporting eventswith a new and integrated team approach to bids.

The Office of the City Manager has teamedwith the Edmonton Economic DevelopmentCorporation (EEDC) to beef up its capabilityto bid for events.

“We are working very closely with theEEDC and embarking on a long-term strate-gy,” said Candice Stasynec, Executive Directorof the Office of the City Manager.

“It’s necessary because we understand thatthis is a more competitive business today.

“There are some 300 cities around the world

about the size of Edmonton and they are allout to make their mark.”

Edmonton came on the world-wide eventscene when it hosted the 1978 CommonwealthGames. Since then, it has secured other majorsports events and built a base of some 30 festi-vals held annually.

Stasynec and colleagues have been regularvisitors at the SportAccord Convention sincethe early part of the century.

“It really is the perfect forum for what weare looking for,” she said. “It’s a unique gather-ing of the federations and an ideal opportunityto network.” ■

DAILY NEWS8

Representatives of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)stand are encouraging delegates to hit out at the sport, inthe most literal way. The stand is showcasing the electronicbody protector developed to add transparency in judgingand refereeing in competitions. The gillet not only protectsthe wearer, but sensors in the protector as well as in handand foot covers, register hits, effectively halting disputes.

The protectors on display have already been used in the2009 WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championshipsand will be used in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

This, along with the introduction of the padded hijab forcompetition use, is part of the reason that the sport ofTaekwondo is expanding rapidly.

The World Taekwondo Federation is the world’s soleinternational federation governing the sport, and last monthits number of members rose to 191 with the inclusion ofBurundi.

Eil-Chul Kim, Deputy Secretary General, PublicRelations & Marketing Division, said: “Every year the feder-ation expands. It is a sport that is growing in popularity indeveloping countries, partly because you require nothingexcept your uniform.”

The sport has also been spread by the Taekwondo PeaceCorps, a group of young people who travel around theworld teaching the discipline of Taekwondo to underprivi-leged children.

It is the discipline of the Taekwondo that also helps toexplain its spread. Kim added: “Taekwondo can be practised

by children in Kindergarten and in some places it is part ofthe school curriculum. It is practised in schools in China, as

WORLD TAEKWONDO FEDERATION SCORE AHIT AT SPORTACCORD CONVENTION

Stéphanie Albeiro, International Affairs Divison andStephen Kyle Donnell, Planning & Coordination Office try their hand at striking the gillet.

it builds respect for the teacher in school, for the parents athome and for other children.” ■

DAILY NEWS 9

www.eventscotland.org/sportaccord

EventScotland is responsible for leading Scotland’s preparations for Ryder Cup 2014. Investing in Scotland’s Championship calendar of golf events each year, we are reinforcing our credentials as a world-class destination for golf events.

For your last chance to win a pair of tickets to this year’s Open Championship in St Andrews, please come and see us on Stand A26, A27.

He concluded: “Our world is global. Athletes now come from anywhere and they are travel-ing everywhere. Everything has changed in the world and we in sport should be happy aboutthis. We have given to sport a new dimension. The cultural and education aspect of sport is moreimportant because we have to build a new world.” ■

NO BORDERS IN SPORT

Continued from page 1

HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, President of the JordanOlympic Committee, yesterday announced that GenerationsFor Peace has signed a partnership agreement with GeorgetownUniversity in Washington DC.

Launched in 2007 and recognised by the InternationalOlympic Committee (IOC), Generations For Peace trainsyouth leaders to use sport to bring together young people fromregions in conflict.

Through the partnership with Georgetown University, theGenerations For Peace Institute – which will open in Amman,Jordan later this year - will provide three prestigious annualacademic awards for the Conflict Resolution Programme in theDepartment of Government.

These will include the King Abdullah II of JordanGenerations for Peace Research Fellowship, HH SheikhHamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Generations For PeaceScholarship for Graduate Studies and two Generations ForPeace summer field research awards to MA candidates.

“These are very exciting times for Generations For Peace,”said HRH Prince Feisal, Founder and Chairman, GenerationsFor Peace, during the announcement held at the SportAccordConvention in Dubai.

“The Institute in Amman will inspire high level appliedresearch in sport as a peace building and development tool.

“We are also looking forward to working with GeorgetownUniversity whose international relations programmes areextremely highly regarded.

“The university also has a tradition of conducting innovativeresearch to address critical conflicts around the world as well asa strong commitment to peace, social justice and ethics.”

The Generations For Peace programme has enjoyed animpressive rise to international recognition with its cascade pro-gramme resulting in camp graduates returning home to train2,500 more trainers who in turn have worked with more than45,000 young people.

While the programme has seen 31 countries from two conti-nents participating, this year will see the first camp forEuropean delegates.

MAJOR MILESTONES FORGENERATIONS FOR PEACE

“This first ever camp for Europeans – to be held in Amman– will be vital for our growth and will mark a significant andhistoric milestone in the global development for GenerationsFor Peace,” said Managing Director Sarah Kabbani.

“Over 70 delegates from European countries will take partwith representatives from Bosnia, Cyprus, Serbia, Kosovo,Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Georgia.

“The end result is that for many of these European and Asiancommunities young people from all sides will be broughttogether for the first time through the power of sport.”

The ten-day programme stresses peace building focusing onthe need to build tolerance and understanding so that youthfrom communities in conflict can find common ground ratherthan be divided by differences.

Generations For Peace has succeeded in bringing togetherpartners who believe that commonalities outweigh differencesand that planting the seeds of peace is shared responsibility forall.

HRH Prince Feisal was swift to acknowledge the support ofthe Generations For Peace Founding Partner HH SheikhHamdan bin ZayedAh Nahyan and IOCPresident JacquesRogge.

“Much of our workhas been possiblebecause of the gener-ous support and com-mitment by the greathumanitarian HHSheikh Hamdan,” hesaid. “I would also liketo thank JacquesRogge and his col-leagues on the IOCExecutive Board forgiving IOC recogni-tion to Generations

HRHPrinceFeisal AlHusseinspeakingyesterday.

For Peace. Our right to be associated with the Olympic rings isan enormous honour and one that we will cherish.” ■

DAILY NEWS10

If you want a happy hybrid of sport and cul-ture, Greenwich is the place to be in 2012 sug-gests Ray Gerlach, Head of the 2012 OlympicUnit for the London Borough of Greenwich.

The borough, which will be granted royalstatus by Queen Elizabeth II in the same yearas the London Olympics for its long associationwith the royal family, is the “home of time,”according to Gerlach who is representingGreenwich at the SportAccord Convention.

Other than the currently under-construc-tion Olympic park, Greenwich will host themost events at London 2012. In total 34 eventswill be held at the borough’s three venues –Greenwich Park, the Royal Artillery barracksand the O2 Arena. Importantly forGreenwich, it will stage both Olympic andParalympic events.

“It will offer something different from previ-ous Olympics,” explained Gerlach. “There youwill be – right in the middle of a world her-itage sight, amid 150 different languages, a verydiverse cultural hub. And of course the richhistory of London speaks for itself.

“All of this, you have to remember will be

GREENWICH MERIDIAN TIME TO SHINE IN 2012

side-by-side with the most modern sportingevent in the world – the Olympic games. Itwill provide a wonderful spectacle.”

Looking to make the most of the uniquelandscape and historical core of Greenwich, theequestrian event will comprise a jump that sees

athletes going from east to west over the PrimeMeridian in one leap – an exclusive opportuni-ty.

Regarding the world stage, Gerlach believesthe SportAccord Convention is an ideal placeto communicate with federations and organisa-

SETTING THE STANDARDS FOR FAIR PLAYThe World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is celebrating 10 years of work-ing to ensure sports men and women around the world ‘play true’. Despitethe agency’s relative youth, it has been effective in setting standards for drugstesting and prevention, with more than 630 sports organisations havingadopted the World Anti-Doping Code.

Frederic Donzé, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications,said: “We were set up as an urgent response to a crisis in sport. The gather-ing in 1999 created a combination of sports and government that wasequipped to fight doping on a global scale.

“The sports federations provide the knowledge and inside information onthe doping, while the governments are able to legislate against them.”

Ten years on, the challenge remains but the ways in which WADA isfighting it have changed.

“We have always worked analytically, and will continue to do so througheducation, testing and sanctions on athletes. Science will continue to devel-op, as dishonest athletes find new ways to cheat, and the testing pro-grammes will go on. However, we are developing the non-analytical side.We are working closely with law enforcement, such as InterPol, to helpstop the upstream trafficking.”

WADA is also working with the wider entourage of athletes to bringconvictions to those who have influence in sport. Donzé said: “MarionJones would be a good example. She has been tested hundreds of times, butnever with a positive result. She was convicted through other evidence. Thisis what we are pursuing now, the athlete’s entourage, not just the athlete.We look for testimonial from coaches and fellow athletes and doping plans.”

WADA’s role at the SportAccord Convention is one of awareness andinformation. Both Director General David Howman and President JohnFahey are presenting and the stand is staffed with representatives ready toanswer specific questions. ■

Frederic Donzé onthe World Anti-Doping Agencystand atSportAccordConvention.

FIRST STAND UP PADDLE BOARDWORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSIf all goes to plan Dubai will host the first Stand UpPaddle (SUP) Board world championships in December.

“This is official,” Fernando Aguerre, the president of theInternational Surfing Association (ISA), told Sport AccordDaily. Aguerre is attending the Sport Accord Conventionin an effort to set up a World Beach Games event.

Speaking on the sidelines of the convention heexplained that the Dubai Surfing Club and which willorganise the event. The club is a member of the ISA.

“We want to Dubai to host this competition,” he said,adding that it was a great venue for such an event, whichwould be held at ‘Sunset Beach’ next to the iconic BurjDubai hotel.

On arrival in Dubai, Aguerre competed in the SurfDubai Kandora SUP Challenge held at Sunset Beach.

“This was a fantastic event put on by the team of theDubai Surfing Club. I gladly accepted their invitation tobe a part of this cultural and entertaining surf challenge.

“I am impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm ofthe young gentlemen that are leading the way for theDubai Surfing Club.  This is a great place for building thesport of surfing,” he said.

In Stand Up Paddle Boarding surfers stand on a surf-board and use a single-blade paddle to paddle into a waveto surf it. The popularity of the sport has grown massivelyaround the world in the past few years. ■

tions from around the world, most of whichwill be among the 4.3 billion tuning-in to viewthe Olympic games.

“The international audience we will beblown away by the panoramic view ofGreenwich, which will show it in all its splen-dour,” Gerlach said. “We are looking at thesegames as a fantastic opportunity to leave ourborough with a lasting legacy.

“In terms of both the Olympics as an historicoccasion, and as a chance to get more young-sters involved in sport, legacy is an importantissue for us.”

Greenwich Council has already initiatedsports participation incentives to the youngerdemographic of the borough, which has wield-ed significant results – 6 Greenwich athletesare now directly involved or on the cusp ofrepresenting Great Britain.

“Zoe Smith, the 15-year-old weightlifter, isan example of the rewarding bursary schemewe have instigated,” said Gerlach.

“It makes us wonder what sort of dormanttalent is still out there, it shows what moneycan do when it is used well.” ■

Ray Gerlach and KatrinaDelaney, Assistant ChiefExecutive Officer, explainingwhy Greenwich will be theplace to be in 2012.

DAILY NEWS 11

Nathalie Smeeman, who joined SportAccord earlier this year, isenjoying her very first SportAccord Convention as she leads anew marketing plan for the future for the SportAccord organi-sation.

The plan she will be implementing over the next 12 monthsincludes:

■ New Marketing strate-gy

New sponsor proposition■ Developing corporate

communication plan■ Increase awareness

contribution SportAccord tothe International Federations

■ Increase media atten-tion for the MultisportsGames

■ Create and developingnew extranet, communitymembers and social net-working platform

■ Brandguide, finalise new brandingAnd Nathalie has the perfect experience to carry it through.

As well as holding a Master of Marketing Degree from theUniversity of Groningen, she has various qualifications rangingfrom a Register Marketeer to Communication SciencesStrategic, Tactical Communication.

Prior to joining SportAccord Nathalie held the position ofDirector Marketing, Communication & Events for NetherlandsOlympic Committee, The Netherlands, where she worked for10 years. Before that Nathalie was a Unioversity lecturer for sixyears in Amsterdam as well as holding posts as As well as hold-ing posts as Director Marketing and Communications at theculture heritage museum, Board member Dutch Association ofPublicity & Advertising, Board member association of museumsin the Netherlands and Chairman of a marketing association.

Nathalie was also a member of the National SynchroniseSwimming Team for ten years, taking part in the WorldChampionship, World Cups, European Championship andNationals Championships.

Nathalie said yesterday: “My passion and background isSport and I really like to work in a sporting and dynamic envi-ronment. I am pleased to bring my knowledge, experience andspirit to the SportAccord team and the Sport Movement.” ■

WELCOME TOSPORTACCORD’SNATHALIE SMEEMAN

IRB TACKLINGOLYMPICPOTENTIALThe IRB does not have long to wait until rugby is an Olympic sport again, BernardLapasset, IRB Chairman, reminded on Tuesday at the SportAccord Convention.

“Step by step we are sorting out the format and conditions for 2016 Olympicparticipation,” explained Lapasset, who confirmed both men’s and women’s rugbywill have 12 teams present at Rio de Janeiro in six years.

2016 will be the first time rugby has held the prestigious Olympic status since1924 when the IOC cancelled its membership. However, this time around it willtake the form of the modernised 7’s version.

This form of rugby already has a global following through the IRB Sevens WorldSeries, which airs in 139 countries and visits five of the six populated continents inthe world. The UAE, South Africa, New Zealand, the United States of America,England, Hong Kong, Australia and Scotland host one of the eight events eachyear.

The fast-pace and excitement that has become a distinctive aspect of rugby 7’s issomething that the IRB feel renders it congenial to Olympic status. Lapasset sug-gested: “The exciting atmosphere, easy accessibility, fast and big-hitting style of thegame means it is worth television and Olympic coverage.”

The next steps on the Olympic ladder for the IRB, which include sorting out apools-system, participants and time-scales, are being climbed at the SportAccordConvention. Lapasset said: “We must now work closely with IOC directors tofully integrate rugby into the Olympic milieu.

“We are very proud to be a member of SportAccord, because it means we canincrease the awareness of rugby, and its Olympic potential by presenting ourselves,and talking to everyone here about it.

“Recognition of rugby on a global scale enhances the universality of it, and forme, and the IRB, it is a very exciting prospect.”

Asked why Olympic status was a necessary development for rugby, Lapassetsaid: “To win a medal at the Olympics is a great honour for anyone.

“To get rugby involved in this idea would mean a very exciting spectacle, andalso, a great chance for smaller islands like Tonga and Fiji to participate on aworldwide stage.”

The IRB Chairman also said that there was a possibility of creating a GreatBritish team for the event, which would aim to fuse England, Scotland, Wales andNorthern Ireland into one team.

“We cannot talk about England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland as sepa-rate countries, we must talk about a Great British team, where we will try to bringthem together for the Olympics,” he noted, “this is also a very exciting prospect forOlympic rugby.”

Finland is well known for organising successful sports eventsand Sport Finland is here to remind every delegate of thecountry’s potential.

Helsinki, while preparing for the EAA EuropeanAthletics Championships 2012 and the IWG WorldConference for Women and Sport 2014, is bidding to hostthe World Gymnaestrada 2015 and supporting near neigh-bour Lahti in its bid to host FIS World Ski Championship2015.

What does the country have to offer? Katrina Sahata,Project Manager, Sport Finland, is quite clear. “We offerwhat other cities offer in terms of expertise, good organisa-tion and infrastructure, and long traditions, but we alsohave some unique factors.”

The first factor is the environment. Not only is Finland aland of lakes, mountains and forests, but it is a home of

expertise on sustainability and environmental technology,especially in Lahti.

A second factor is the atmosphere created by the Finnishpeople.

Katrina said: “Finns love sport. Every event draws hugecrowds. Also there is a tradition of volunteering in Finland.The value of volunteering in Finland is estimated at aroundEuro1.5 billion per year.”

Finally, Katrina emphasises the stability of the nation.“While you never know what will happen in the future,Finland is a stable and safe country, with a low crime rate.We have four seasons, each offering different sports,although we are most famous for our winter sports.

“Lahti has hosted the World Ski Championships six timesand also World Cup events in Alpine winter sports. We aimto add to that figure.” ■

FINLAND BUSY BIDDING

DAILY NEWS12

the standard of the IPL deserves clean, legalbacking.”

The influx of commercial sponsorship andtherefore increased financial backing ofcricket, it is imperative to find the “rightbalance”, advocated Dravid, emphasising theimportance of not ruining the traditionalsplendour of the game.

“The money is not the problem – look atother sports like basketball, golf and tennisfor example, these are examples of sportsthat have more money than cricket but runeffectively.

“But no sport has ever been withoutproblems in its history. So it’s a question offinding a similar balance to other successfulsports.”

Reflecting on the impact of the faster 20-over a side format, Dravid, former Indiancaptain, said: “It makes you adapt your gameand attitude, which is good also for thelonger form of the game. But test cricket forme is still the purest cricket around. It reallytests your ability as a player.”

With the sudden emanation of what isapparently a Twenty20 frenzy in cricketingand media circles, there are many latentopinions that the shorter, more commer-cialised form of the game will dominate thefuture of cricket.

But, as Dravid points out: “When T20 isnot being played, test cricket is the mainfocus for everyone involved in cricket – Ithink this is a very important issue.”

Regarding the upcoming T20 World cupin the West Indies, the Indian superstar sayshe is looking forward to seeing the youngexciting talent that will be showcased in theCaribbean from 30th April to 16th May.

“I think India have a great chance to win,but as always you can never rule out teamslike Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. I amalso looking forward to watching players likeRoss Taylor (NZL), Cameron White (AUS)and Suresh Raina (IND). They are examplesof young players who have prospered fromT20 cricket,” he said.

Dravid also said he was at theSportAccord Convention to: “Representcricket, as I think it is important that sportslike cricket which have a truly significantscope are part of events like this.” ■

Continued from page 1

FINDING THERIGHT BALANCE

GOOD MORNING DUBAI A KNOCK OUT SUCCESS!Yesterday’s morning muaythai beach work outwas a huge success with over 50 SportAccordConvention delegates in participation.

Supported by the local muaythai trainers,Stephan Fox, former world champion andGeneral Secretary of the InternationalFederation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA), thedelegates were taken through a 45-minute fit-ness session.

Delegates of all shapes and sizes took in themorning sun as they were put through thework out which was structured for all ages andfitness levels, showing that muaythai is forevery body.

The session finished off with a refreshing dipin the beautiful ocean, as all the participantsbuzzed with energy and anticipation for morethe following morning.

IFMA general secretary Stephan Fox stated:“It was a fantastic atmosphere and all delegateshad heaps of fun, the youngest participant was14 and the oldest was 72!! The turn out wasmore than we had expected, which goes toshow that there is a demand for physical activi-ty, so you can be sure that we will be backagain in London for round 2.”■

The Muaythai boxerciseclass went down a storm forSportAccord Conventiondelegates.

28-STRONG SEEKS CLEARERBASIS FOR REVENUE SPLIT The members of ASOIF (the Association ofSummer Olympic International Federations)on Wednesday at SportAccord Convention

presented the outcomes of their GeneralAssembly on Tuesday to the IOC ExecutiveBoard in a joint session. There were 28 ASOIFmember federations taking part since theaddition of the International Rugby Board andthe International Golf Federation, represent-ing the two new sports on the Olympic pro-gramme, were unanimously admitted to theassociation the previous day.

The ASOIF members agreed to prolong theexisting agreement on how they divide theirrevenues to cover the London 2012 Games, oncondition that the basis for the current systemof grouping the federations is reviewed by theIOC post-2012. The estimated ASOIF rev-enue for 2012 is $375 million, up from $296million for Beijing. The members are dividedinto A-B-C-D categories, with Athleticsalone in the top tier getting about $35 millionnext time around and sports in the B grouptaking about $19 million each.

On the contentious question of the revenuesplit with the United States OlympicCommittee, there is progress, according toASOIF director Andrew Ryan. “The sides aredealing with each other and the federations,although they want to keep up the pressure,are happy to wait and see how the currentnegotiations turn out in the next few weeks,”he told SportAccord Daily.

The ASOIF members are setting up work-ing groups and commissions to follow up on

the 66 recommendations adopted at the IOCCongress in Copenhagen last November. Thiswill eventually feed through to changes in theCharter foreseen for the IOC Session inDurban in July 2011.

The ASOIF members also tackled the areaof autonomy by adopting new “model clauses”for disputes with national federations at a timeof increasing government interference in theaffairs of national federations. While interna-tional federations have suspended nationalfederations in some cases, the juridical basisfor this has been unclear. Now there aremodel clauses developed by FIFA and theUCI covering the legal aspects. ASOIF mem-bers have now requested confirmation fromthe IOC that only IFs have the authority to

recognise a national federation in a given ter-ritory.

ASOIF members also unanimously calledon the IOC to reexamine current rules onapparel so that athletes would be allowed towear either IF logos or national federationlogos on their sleeves. This issue is a “politicalhot potato,” according to Ryan.

ASOIF and the IOC plan to carry out a fullreview of the Singapore Youth OlympicGames and the Youth Olympic Games ingeneral after the first edition this year.

On the anti-doping front, ASOIF is digest-ing the data from a study of costs and “in theprocess of coming up with conclusions andrecommendations to make it more efficient,”Ryan said. ■

FINA’s Gunnar Werner (left) talks to Göran Petersson of the ISAF.