Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has been a leading figure in the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, will deliver a Keynote Address on the theme of the conference – ‘Lessons We Are Learning from a Global Crisis and How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger’.

The address will follow welcome remarks by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and an opening address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations).

Having been elected to serve a five-year term at the helm by WHO Member States in 2017, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is recognised worldwide as a leading health scholar, researcher and diplomat with first-hand experience in research, operations and leadership in emergency responses to epidemics.

“We are excited that Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who delivered an excellent address at the IF Forum 2020, will return as a Keynote Speaker at the fully virtual IF Forum 2021,” Dr. Raffaele Chiulli said. “Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will provide a timely perspective on the role sport can play in improving health and welfare across society now and in the future.”

The 15th edition of the IF Forum will adopt a fully virtual format with expert speakers from across the global sports movement, including representatives of the IOC, umbrella sports associations and individual IFs, as well as sports industry executives.

Presentations, updates, case studies and panel sessions will be provided on several topics, including ‘Moving Forward, Pivoting and the Lessons We Are Learning’, ‘A Return to Competition and Lessons from the Bubble’, ‘Athlete Mental Health’, ‘Commercial Approaches for IFs in the New Normal’ and ‘The Virtual Experience and its Home within IFs’.

The invitation-only IF Forum 2021, which will be staged virtually via the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, will bring together more than 300 leaders from over 125 IFs, plus other virtual delegates and speakers. For further information, click here or download the brochure here.

Immediately after the closing remarks of the IF Forum, a #SA2021 Virtual Launch Celebration will take place via the same platform for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021, less than six months before the event in Ekaterinburg, Russia, from 7-12 November.