International Sports Policy leaders to gather for World-First Summit

Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS.By Sports Reporter/DohaThe International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) is to host a high-level, pioneering summit on sports public policy and inter-regional co-operation in Lisbon.The Inter-Regional Sports Policy Summit, on 16-17 March, is the first of its kind to bring together key decision-makers from major linguistic blocks, Sports ministers and leading international institutions, to develop solutions to the challenges facing the integrity, good governance and sound development of sport.The inaugural event aims to promote a structured dialogue on sports policies, look at strategic reforms and consider solutions alongside major linguistic blocks, governments, international institutions and sporting bodies in order to effectively meet the challenges currently facing sport.Representatives from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), the Commonwealth, the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI) and the Organisation of French-Speaking Countries (Francophonie) will gather in Lisbon for the two-day summit.Also attending will be high-ranking government officials such as: Miguel Cardenal - Spain’s Secretary of State of Sport and the Secretary General of the Ibero-American Council of Sport, Emídio Guerreiro - Portugal’s Secretary of State of Sport and Youth, Rt Hon Lord Jonathan Marland - Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.Senior representatives from UNESCO, OECD, UNODC, the Council of Europe, the European Commission, as well as FIFA TMS, UEFA, the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Portuguese Olympic Committee will also be present.Participants will engage in high-level discussions on topics such as socio-economic development, sporting and financial integrity, good governance, youth development and child protection in and across sport.Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “The need for action, enhanced cooperation and global leadership in sport is greater than ever and we cannot afford to stand by and do nothing. The time has come for leaders in sport policy to come together and share insight and best practice so that collectively we may confront the very real threats to the integrity of sport.“We are looking forward to welcoming government ministers, sports leaders and other high-ranking officials from across the globe and thank the Portuguese Government and the City of Lisbon for supporting our event.”