Appearances can be deceiving. Officially, the 15rd IOC World Conference on Sport for All, currently taking place in Lima (April 24-27), addresses the benefits of physical activity, the importance of having sports facilities and the role that sport in society. “A priority,” assured FrancsJeux the South African Sam Ramsamy, president of the Sport for All commission within the Olympic institution. Certainly.
But, as is often the case, the real debates take place behind the scenes. A little over a month before the next SportAccord, and less than twenty weeks before the IOC General Assembly, this vast gathering of sports leaders, experts and personalities is akin to a campaign summit. The capital of Peru brings together more candidates, for one election or another, than a NATO meeting.
Some hide it. Bernard Lapasset puts his cards on the table. The French president of the IRB, declared candidate for the presidency of SportAccord, made the trip to Lima with this objective: “Meet a lot of people, because I want my approach to be as transparent as possible. » His rival, the Romanian Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, goes about it differently. He explained daily Le Monde that he wanted to “coordinate the actions of sport for all, sport for children and social projects. » Another way to seize the opportunity of the IOC Conference in Peru to make your voice heard.
Another battle, even more fierce: the race for the 2020 Games. Madrid, Tokyo and Istanbul are present, more or less visible, in Lima. With, rolled up under his arm, a beautiful speech extolling the virtues of sport for all and their strengths in the field. The Turks display their figures with the air of top of the class: “The country has 31 million young people,” explained Hasan Arat, the head of the bid committee. Organizing the 2020 Games in Istanbul would have a considerable impact on these young people, on their interest in sport and on their desire to practice physical activity. »
Finally, the IOC World Conference also proves to be a perfect playground and influence for candidates, declared or not, to succeed Jacques Rogge at the head of the institution. Only one, the Swiss Denis Oswald, president of the International Rowing Federation, is among the speakers at the event. His speech this Thursday afternoon focuses on the role of sports federations in society. She will be very listened to...
– Photo credit: IJF
