The much-heralded Atlantis resort, the focal point of the man-made Palm Jumeirah Island, has been selected as the host venue for this gathering of over 1,500 leading representatives of international sport.

The host in Dubai and the delivery partner is the Dubai Sports Council under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, himself an accomplished international sportsman.

“The SportAccord Convention is the world’s most important gathering of the international sport movement.” said Mattar Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council. “Sport is of special importance in Dubai and we are delighted to have this unique opportunity to welcome our existing sporting partners as well as to showcase, to new audiences, our advantages as a sporting community and host location.”

Other local host partners are the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce.

“We are extremely pleased to be holding our 2010 event in Dubai,” said Hein Verbruggen, Chairman of the SportAccord Convention. “Being in Dubai, at the crossroads of continents, will give us a special opportunity to express the global role of our unique gathering for the decision-makers of world sport.”

Every year SportAccord Week - which will last one day longer in Dubai in 2010 - features a dynamic exhibition, numerous networking receptions and top-level conference sessions, including the City Forum, as well as the annual general meetings of the Sports Governing Bodies.

The SportAccord Convention is the new name of the annual event in order to differentiate it from SportAccord, the new name of the General Association of International Sports Federations. The organisations are managed separately.