LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Top executives from some of the world’s most important sports sponsors will address key issues and market trends in a strategic session during the SportAccord Convention in Dubai. Global companies adidas, Swiss Timing and Audi - all of them active across a range of big properties in many different sports - will join Emirates Airlines, the Middle East’s leading global sports sponsor, in a conference session on sponsorship strategy.

Confirmed speakers on Making The Sponsorship Relationship Work Long Term are:

• Christophe Berthaud, General Manager, Swiss Timing Ltd.
Boutros Boutros, Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Emirates Airlines
• Bernard Lapasset, Chairman, International Rugby Board
Erica Kerner, Global Olympic Games Director & Head of London 2012 Programme, adidas
Lothar Korn, Head of Worldwide Communications, Audi

The panel will be moderated by Michael R. Payne, International Sports Consultant, Special Advisor to Bernie Ecclestone F1, former IOC Marketing, Broadcast Rights Director 1984-2004.

“We are delighted to offer a platform for speakers of this amazing caliber on a subject of such crucial importance in today’s economic climate,” said Anna Hellman, executive director of SportAccord Convention. “These industry leaders will be able to give top-level insights on how sponsors and sport can work together to achieve effective partnerships that last for many years.”

Now in its eighth edition, SportAccord Convention has its own story to tell about long-running sponsorship relationships. All of the event’s gold sponsors in Dubai – IEC in Sports, GL Events, Macau Sport Development Board and Contemporary Group – have been on board as sponsorship partners for several years now. IEC in Sports has sponsored every edition of the Convention from the first one back in 2003.

The SportAccord Convention will take place in Dubai from April 25-30, 2010 at the Atlantis Palm Resort. It is the first edition of the SportAccord Convention to be held in the Middle East.

Every year SportAccord Week features a dynamic exhibition, numerous networking receptions and top-level conference sessions, including the City Forum, as well as the annual general meetings of the Sports Governing Bodies. The Convention attracts over 1,500 leading representatives of international sport.

About the SportAccord Convention
The SportAccord Convention annually brings representatives from the 100 international sports federations and organisations affiliated to SportAccord/GAISF (General Association of International Sports Federations), ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) and AIOWF (Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), as well as the International Olympic Committee Executive Board, together with sponsors, bidding and host cities, architects, sports lawyers, broadcasters, games organising committees, rights holders and other specialists to discuss the key issues facing the sports industry.

Owned by SportAccord/GAISF, ASOIF and AIOWF, the SportAccord Convention encompasses the annual Congress and General Assembly of each association, while offering the sports community a powerful opportunity to come together in an exclusive and authoritative networking environment to build relationships, exchange knowledge and develop ideas.