The Denmark SportAccord Convention 2017 was hailed a great success by all delegates. The last day saw the General Assembly with important decisions on the agenda, shaping the future of SportAccord. The changes in statutes put forward by SportAccord President Patrick Baumann will have a significant beneficial impact. The General Assembly unanimously approved the name change from SportAccord back to the old acronym of GAISF, but now standing for Global Association of International Sport Federations, the organization was founded as GAISF, 50 years ago. It will give a clearer, more logical and focused identity and it will also distinguish it from SportAccord Convention and any other future commercial activities, services and games organized under SportAccord.
Along with the name change, was approved the Observer Status for international federations that want to join SportAccord/ GAISF; and the Rotating Presidency starting 2020, in combination with a two year term limit. This means it will now alternate between the Olympic and non-Olympic umbrella federations. The new slogan is “ One Voice For All Sport” and what has been achieved is the direction of the organization for many years to come.
You could feel the unity throughout the entire Convention and the respect for one another on the main table, chaired by President Baummann and council members, Vice Presidents Raffaele Chiulli, and Stephan Fox, Treasurer, Marisol Casado, and members, Riccardo Fraccari, Jose Perurena,  and IOC Executive Board Member, Gian Franco Kasper. The table was also given the respect by the IOC, when the IOC Sport Director addressed the floor.
Now the Convention is looking forward to move to Bangkok in 2018 and SportAccord/ GAISF has become stronger than ever.