SportAccord has confirmed that the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2020 will not take place in Beijing due to the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China.
According to the original plan, the 18th SportAccord will be held in Beijing from April 19th to 24th this year, where it is expected to brings nearly 2,000 delegates together worldwide. In addition to that, a significant number of participating countries, organizations, companies and institutions to put on exhibitions during the event.
Raffaele Chiulli, President SportAccord, said: “In the past few weeks, we have been following the development of the epidemic closely. The Chinese Government has taken effective efforts, unprecedented measures and all possible resources to combat the epidemic. We do believe that the Chinese Government and people in China have the capabilities to have the final win of the war against the virus.”
“SportAccord has developed a mutual and respectful working relationship with the Local Organizing Committee. We had no doubt that our hosts would deliver an exceptional SportAccord and we are grateful to Beijing for the support and all the efforts it has made for preparing SportAccord 2020.” Considering the epidemic in China and around the world and taking into account the various factors of such force majeure situation, we have reached a difficult decision that SportAccord 2020 will not take place in Beijing. We apologize for any inconvenience thus caused.” SportAccord is now exploring contingency options for relocating the World Sport & Business Summit 2020 so that it can still take place from 19-24 April 2020.
SportAccord is an annual event of the international sports community organised by the GAISF in cooperation with International Sports Federations of the Summer and the Winter Olympics. A perfect mix of conferencing, exhibition, cultural activities and networking where all international sport federations meet; networking with cities/ regions, rights holders, service providers, press and media, organising committees and many key players from the sports industry. In 2007, Beijing hosted the 5th SportAccord.
