Thailand’s capital Bangkok has been awarded the hosting rights to the 2018 SportAccord Convention, it was announced during the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 edition here this evening.

It had been exclusively revealed by insidethegames yesterday that Bangkok was the leading candidate from the five different locations to have formally expressed interest in hosting the event.

Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and SportAccord Convention, confirmed the decision in his welcome speech.

The event will take place from April 15 to 20 of next year.

The 2018 edition will mark the first to take place in Asia since the 2010 event in Dubai and the first outside Europe since the 2012 event in Quebec City.

Bangkok also played host to the 2014 Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Tanansak Patimapragorn is leading a 19-strong delegation from the Sports Authority of Thailand during this year’s Convention.