The SportAccord 2018 kicked off yesterday with the world's leading sports officials taking part in the six-day summit at Centara Grand hotel at CentralWorld.
Olympic Council of Asia president Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah touched down in Bangkok yesterday and met Thai Olympic secretary-general Charouck Arirachakaran while Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, is scheduled to arrive this morning.
He will interact with Thai national athletes, including players from the volleyball, futsal and taekwondo teams, who are currently training at the Sport Authority of Thailand, Hua Mark, and visit the sports science centre in the afternoon.
The IOC chief will attend the morning session of the summit tomorrow before meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House in the afternoon.
In one of the biggest sport conventions ever held in the country, nearly 1,500 sportspersons from organisations and sports-related industries are taking part in the summit. "Hosting the SportAccord 2018 is a great opportunity for Thailand to showcase our potential when it comes to hosting international sport events and meetings," said Weerasak Kowsurat, Minister of Tourism and Sports.
Patrick Baumann, president of the Global Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF), said that it would be an important week for sports, with over 90 federations coming together to lead the change and develop the sporting landscape.
IOC member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul said Baumann praised the hospitality and effort of the local officials. She added the GAISF boss was also excited about the three-day sport festival, which will begin tomorrow.
Baumann believes the sport festival is a great event as it will help promote sports in Thailand and also boost the interest among young people," she added.
