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SportAccord 2009 will take place from March 23-27, 2009 in Denver, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains of the United States.The seventh edition of SportAccord, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Centre, will build on the highly praised innovations this year, including the new City Forum and SportAccord TV.

“Denver is honored to be chosen as the first North American city to host SportAccord,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. “Colorado has gained an international reputation for world-class skiing and mountain sports venues, as well as boasting eight major-league sports teams. We look forward to sharing our energy and sports enthusiasm with the international community in 2009. Arriving in Denver seven months after we host the 2008 Democratic National Convention, SportAccord is another exciting example of Denver’s growing profile as an international event destination.”

The outstanding conference programme of SportAccord 2008 in Athens June 2-6, 2008 is all available for viewing at www.sportaccord.com, in keeping with the SportAccord organisers’ aim of providing an information resource that extends beyond the event. Likewise, SportAccord TV, a broadband service delivered in collaboration with WCSN, produced more than 20 interviews with sport industry leaders in Athens, which can be viewed in full on www.sportaccordtv.com.

One of the highlights of SportAccord 2008 was the announcement by the International Olympic Committee of the official candidate cities to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The seventh SportAccord in Denver will bring delegations together with representatives from the sporting movement ahead of the announcement of the host city in October 2009.

“Denver will be an exciting venue for SportAccord 2009,” said Anna Hellmann, general manager of SportAccord. “When I visited Denver, I was very impressed by the centralized location and quality of all venues. I am sure our delegates will be very pleased with the city.”

“Hosting this event will offer the community the opportunity to improve and enhance our reputation for developing and working with the world’s elite athletes and sport organizations,” said MDSC Executive Chairman and Founder Rob Cohen. “We’ve worked to elevate sport to a higher level in Denver, and we look forward to welcoming these leaders of the sports movement, to share and learn from their knowledge and experience. SportAccord 2009 is a great win for our community.”

The MDSC, which was established in 2001 to create a legacy of economic and social vitality through sports, has worked with SportAccord over the past year to win this opportunity. By continuing to attract major sporting events and elite athletes from around the globe, hosting SportAccord 2009 will help further build Denver’s reputation as a premier destination for sports, both nationally and internationally.

For more information, visit www.sportaccord.com.

SportAccord annually brings representatives from the 100 international sports federations affiliated to GAISF (General Association of International Sports Federations), ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) and AIOWF (Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), as well as the International Olympic Committee Executive Board, together with sponsors, bidding and host cities, architects, sports lawyers, broadcasters, games organising committees, rights holders and other specialists to discuss the key issues facing the sports industry.

Owned by GAISF, ASOIF and AIOWF, SportAccord encompasses the annual Congress and General Assembly of each association, while offering the sports community a powerful opportunity to come together in an exclusive and authoritative networking environment to build relationships, exchange knowledge and develop ideas.