Foreword by Mr. Hein Verbruggen

SportAccord is moving a step forward and embracing today’s sports challenges. In our will to unite, support and promote our Member International Sports Federations and Organisations, SportAccord is developing multi-sports games.

In this perspective, we are proud to announce the launching of the SportAccord Combat Games. I am grateful to the IOC for recognising this initiative and for granting its patronage to the SportAccord Combat Games.

Established and promoted by SportAccord, the SportAccord Combat Games is a new world-wide sporting event that brings together the best athletes from 13 Martial Arts and Combat Sports recognised by SportAccord. It aims at creating synergies between the participating sports, enhancing global promotion of these sports, and providing first-class experience to the event participants as well as to the communities around the event. Alongside high-performance competitions, SportAccord Combat Games will feature a Cultural Programme. It will highlight the cultural/social values of Martial Arts and Combat Sports and enable a deeper look into this unique family in the world of sports.

The year 2010 will then be historical with the inaugural event of SportAccord Combat Games to be held in Beijing, China from 27 August to 4 September.

The remarkable success of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 has presented China’s exceptional ability to stage high-level international sports events. Beijing’s Olympic legacy is undoubtedly an asset, as we feel fortunate to organise our event in former Olympic venues. We value the popularity and influence that Martial Arts enjoy in China. Therefore, we are confident of the success of the first ever SportAccord Combat Games in Beijing in 2010.

Taking the opportunity, I wish to thank sincerely the Beijing Municipal Government and the Chinese Sports Authorities for all the efforts they have made for the preparation of the 2010 SportAccord Combat Games. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to the 13 Member International Sports Federations participating in this event. Without their support and contribution, the SportAccord Combat Games would have never become such a close and promising reality. 

On behalf of SportAccord, I wish great success and a brilliant future to the SportAccord Combat Games.

Hein Verbruggen,
SportAccord President