2017 SportAccord Convention is hosted by the city of Aarhus, Denmark, which is the second largest Denmark’s city. This year IFMA is represented with as always, a big delegation led by the President Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan.

IFMA is represented this year at the various meetings and workshops by the President, IFMA Vice President Rafal Szlachta and IFMA Sport Director Charissa Tynan.
A special workshop organised by AIMS President and IFMA General Secretary Stephan Fox a day ahead of the official meetings brought together the AIMS council members as well as the newest ARISF members over the past five years including the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), the International American Football Federation (IFAF), International Cheer Union (ICU) and of course IFMA. The objective of the workshop was to share ideas and knowledge on how the recently recognised IFs could contribute towards assisting those AIMS IFs at the various different stages of applying for IOC recognition.

The next day kicked off day one of official meetings which for IFMA included the General Assembly of the International World Games Association (IWGA) and for the first time, the General Assembly of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sport Federations (ARISF).

The IWGA General Assembly opened with special addresses by honoured guests such as SportAccord President Patrick Baumann, SportAccord Convention President Francesco Ricci Bitti and WADA President Sir Craig Reedie. Jennifer Mann of the IOC Sport Department was also on hand to deliver a presentation on IOC-IWGA collaboration. Other topics on the agenda included the World Games 2017 in Wroclaw, and World Games 2021 in Birmingham, IWGA membership, Athlete of the Year, and among other important agenda points which were brought to discussion to IWGA members.

The lunch break was a great opportunity to freshen up and share ideas with participants of the Convention, before heading back into the conference room for the ARISF General Assembly.

It was an honour for IFMA to participate in its first General Assembly as an ARISF member, and it was a proud moment when the ARISF members gave a warm round of applause to welcome IFMA and ICU as its newest members.

Mrs. Tynan was representing IFMA at the Assembly and carried out her first duty as an ARISF member to cast IFMA’s vote for the election of the ARISF Council Members. It was a historical moment when the new ARISF council was emerged, and ARISF President Rafael Chiulli proudly announced that ARISF may now boast to be the first umbrella sport organisation to have true gender equity on its executive council.

Meanwhile during the various meetings, the IFMA team worked hard on setting up IFMA booth’s for the Exhibition which starts the following day, assisted by members of the Danish Muaythai Federation Thomas Bossen and former President Julie Witt.