The first edition of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona will see hundreds of delegates meet in Barcelona to explore and exchange ideas on the differing roles sport has to play in modern society.
The forum, which is backed by media partner, Eurosport, will deal with sport in all its forms and components, and place sport within the context of the major global problems of our time. The conference will use plenary sessions and round-table discussions based around three real and prevailing issues: ‘Sport and the radically changing economic situation’, ‘Sport as a catalyst for social progress’and ‘Sport, a global player’ will provide the starting points.
Lucien Boyer, Organiser of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, said: “Within the current climate of severe economic and social crises, there has also been a knock-on effect on sport, which finds itself faced by a two-pronged issue: how to adapt, like every other sector, to the new realities of the economic downturn; as well as revealing itself to be a tremendous bellwether of the changes taking place, a creator of new opportunities and a standard-bearer for new forms of solidarity. The first edition of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona in 2009 intends to explore this double-edged trend and breathe life into the prevailing debate on the value and values of sport today.”
Confirmed speakers include:
- Juan Antonio Samaranch, Honorary President, International Olympic Committee (Spain),
- Eric Besson, Secretary of State in charge of the Prospective and Public policy evaluation (France),
- Donna de Varona, Founder of the Women’s Sports Foundation, member of the President’s Commission on Olympic Sports (Unites States),
- Jonah Lomu, Former international rugby player (New-Zealand),
- Hugh Montgomery, Director of the University College of London Institute for Human Health and Performance (United Kingdom),
- Inaki Urdangarin, Handball Olympic medallist (Spain),
- Bruno Wu, Co-founder and chairman of Sun Media Investment Holdings (China),
- Johan Koss, President and CEO of the Non Governmental Organisation “Right to Play” (Canada),
- Lawrence Roddick, Director of youth program, The Andy Roddick Foundation (United States), one of the first foundations to join Global Sports Forum Barcelona.
A full list of contributors as well as an up-to-date and detailed programme of events are available on the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, website: www.globalsportsforum.org. The forum takes place between 25-27 February 2009.
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