Muaythai is one of the 94 world-recognised sports which are members of SportAccord and St. Petersburg was the venue for the 2013 SportAccord Convention.

It is traditional that during the Convention many important meetings take place, such as the International World Games Association AGM, in which Muaythai was one of the hopefuls candidating for membership, the IOC Executive Board meeting which had so many decisions to make such as shortlisting sports and host cities for 2020, the SportAccord General Assembly with the election of a new president, and so many more. IFMA was once again one of the exhibitors at the Convention.

The Opening Ceremony was presided over by IOC President, the honourable Jacques Rogge, SportAccord President Hein Verbruggen and representing the President of the Russian Federation Mr Putin, Mr Yuri Trutnev.

The night’s entertainment featured Russia’s Olympic gold medallists skating a fable featuring the fate of the Russian princess Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Russia’s last Tsar.