LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Industry experts and influential decision-makers from the global sports movement will deliver essential insights into the sector’s innovative strategies, technologies and trends at the IF (International Federation) Forum 2023 next month.
Under the ‘Sport (R)evolution’ theme, the IF Forum this year is designed to cover issues that are transforming the environment in which IFs work.
The three-day event will be opened by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and feature presentations, panel discussions and networking at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne from 13 to 15 November 2023.
Subjects ranging from the untapped commercial potential of IFs to sustainability and the growth of women’s sports are on the agenda, along with harnessing the latest technology to drive growth, getting creative, adapting to change, and navigating economic headwinds such as inflation, dealing with supply side squeezes, cyber security and wider challenges including audience retention and digital transformation.
Keynote speaker Robert van den Heuvel, Executive Creative Director at Publicis, will share his insights on how most IFs are sitting on significant untapped brand and commercial opportunities. Giving a taste of his overall message he said: “Even if you’re sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig“.
Dr Christian Mueller, a leading sportstech expert who will be demystifying new technology for the IF Forum delegates explained: “Technology is transforming sports at an unprecedented pace, and those who embrace it effectively will thrive. From data-driven performance enhancements, to improve fan experiences, I look forward to sharing my experience of the technologies that have the transformative power to revolutionise sport.”
Panellists who will examine the growth of women’s sport include Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, and Marzena Bogdanovic, Head of Marketing and Commercial for Women’s Football at the English Football Association. “I am looking forward to sharing our experience of the strategies that worked in generating the huge development of women’s football from elite to grassroots over the last years,” Marzena said.
Paris 2024 Organising Committee Director General Étienne Thobois and Sports Director Aurélie Merle will look ahead to next year’s highly anticipated Olympic and Paralympic Games; and representatives from Birmingham and the West Midlands will give a preview of what to expect at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit being held in Birmingham from 7 to 11 April 2024.
Other speakers will include IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell, World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin, International Orienteering Vice President Tom Hollowell, International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation Secretary General Heike Grösswang, and International Basketball Federation Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
Ivo Ferriani, President of SportAccord said: “We are looking forward to once again welcoming our friends and colleagues to the IF Forum 2023.
“This year we are focussing on the technologies, the strategies and the external forces that are shaping the environment in which IFs are operating. The IF Forum is a unique event which provides an outstanding opportunity for colleagues from IFs, the Olympic Movement and the wider sports industry to share best practice and discuss how to tackle sport’s challenges and opportunities.”
The IF Forum 2023 will gather over 300 leaders from more than 125 IFs, with delegates, speakers, and partners meeting face-to-face in a relaxed setting to enable first-class networking.
Marsh, OnePlan, Sport Event Denmark and the International Sports Travel Agencies Association (i.s.t.a.a) are Official Partners of the IF Forum 2023, with Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud as Host City Partners.
