Kazan – SportAccord and GAISF President Raffaele Chiulli today addressed the Plenary Conference Session of the Russia – Country of Sports International Forum in Kazan on the importance of using the lessons learnt from the pandemic to ensure an even brighter future for both sport and the global wellbeing of humanity.
“We have seen the impact of closed doors and lockdowns on our ability to participate in sport and the subsequent impact on our physical and mental well-being. But we have also seen the creative solutions and implementation of digital technology to combat this new reality. We have seen the universality of sport; a unifier at times of great hardship. This is the power of sport.
“There can be no better time to take a closer look at the international sports landscape and its role in the world’s recovery. But sport has changed. Over the past two years, it has been forced to adapt like never before.
“As President of GAISF I have seen the rise of virtual competitions, esports, online webinars and social media challenges. Sport and the digital universe have connected us when our physical contact with friends and families has been restricted.
“These innovations showcased a bright future for sport, a world full of possibility. But we must work together to ensure that these innovations bring the best out of sport and encourage participation at all levels. It is the responsibility of all in sport to ensure that the lessons learned during the pandemic are studied, shared and built upon.”
President Chiulli is currently leading a delegation representing SportAccord and 125 International Sport Federations (IFs) under the GAISF umbrella at the influential Russian sports industry event taking place from 8 to 10 September in Kazan. The delegation will strengthen relationships with key industry stakeholders, including Regional Sports Ministers and Sports Administrators, ahead of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 from 15-20 May in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
A number of GAISF Members will also be present, including International Swimming Federation (FINA) President Husain Al-Musallam, International Handball Federation (IHF) President Hassan Moustafa and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel.
