Gold Coast to host 2019 SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit

The Gold Coast has secured the rights to host the 2019 SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit, which will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5th to 10th May.

Bringing together representatives from more than 100 International Sports Federations for the world’s premier annual sport management event, SportAccord’s move to the Gold Coast follows its successful 2018 Summit held in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

A six-day event attended by leaders of the global sports community, the SportAccord Summit engages international sports federations, athletes, industry, rights holders, organising committees, cities, government, agencies, media, technology, legal teams, medical professionals, inventors, and subject matter experts - represented at the highest levels.

Highlighting the role of the event as “the most productive meeting place for stakeholders in world sport”, Patrick Baumann, President of SportAccord and the Global Organisation of international Sport Federations (GAISF), stated “it is a pleasure to bring the SportAccord to the Gold Coast of Australia and I would like to thank the Government of Queensland for hosting SportAccord 2019.

“The 17th edition of SportAccord will be a special one, as it will help mark the one-year anniversary of the delivery of a successful Commonwealth Games and will provide the chance for our delegates to embrace all the qualities and opportunities the Gold Coast and Queensland has to offer.”

Announcing the hosting of the event, Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones, who spoke at SportAccord in Bangkok, advised “this event will bring 1500 representatives from up to 100 countries, representing 500 different international sports federations, rights holders, organising committees, businesses and other sporting organisations to the Gold Coast.

“This is the most significant meeting of international sport representatives held every year and securing it for the Gold Coast shows the world that we have one of the foremost major events destinations on the planet.

“Hosting SportAccord gives us unprecedented access to key decision makers and provides the opportunity to showcase our capabilities first hand.

“The success of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games proved we have everything required to host large-scale, international sporting events. As a result of the Games we have a range of newly-built and upgraded world-class sporting venues.

“Hosting SportAccord is the next step in securing major international events for the city and our state which will bring benefits to Queensland for years to come.”

Looking forward to SportAccord 2019 Summit, Baumann added “it is a unique opportunity for the whole Oceania sports community to meet, interact and mingle with all international sports leaders in a SportAccord is the only global sports business event attended by all the international sports federations and their stakeholders, who host their Annual General Assemblies during SportAccord.

These stakeholders include: GAISF, ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations), and 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.

SportAccord receives the full support of the International Olympic Committee.

The Gold Coast has secured the rights to host the SportAccord Summit with help from the Boosting Business Events Bid Fund Program.

Click here for information on the 2019 SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Images: The Gold Coast's Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre (top) and Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones speaking earlier this year at SportAccord in Bangkok (below).