GAISF and ANOC sign landmark partnership agreement on the future of World Beach Games
The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) have signed a landmark partnership agreement covering the organisation of the World Beach Games after 2019.
The deal recognises ANOC’s important efforts in launching the World Beach Games and GAISF’s critical role in multi-sport games. The agreement was signed today by GAISF President Patrick Baumann and ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah in the presence of International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach at SportAccord in Bangkok.
Under the terms of the agreement, ANOC and GAISF will form a 50-50 partnership to run the World Beach Games through a jointly held event company registered in Switzerland.
Respecting each other’s roles and responsibilities within the Olympic Movement, a board consisting of equal numbers of GAISF and ANOC representatives will run the company, with a presidency that will rotate between the two stakeholders. ANOC will lead the company during the first four-year term, and GAISF will propose the company’s Managing Director.
The World Beach Games will be held every two years following the edition being organised by ANOC in San Diego in 2019. The sports programme will be determined in agreement with the IOC, and in principle no Olympic events will be included in future Beach Games.
GAISF President Patrick Baumann said: “We are delighted to have reached this agreement to work in partnership with ANOC to ensure a bright future for the World Beach Games. Beach sports continue to grow in popularity and prominence, and the partnership will ensure that GAISF continues to fulfil its role of providing showcase events for our member Federations, promoting new disciplines and bringing the expertise from all International Federations to the table.”
ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah added: “We are delighted to sign this MoU with GAISF which will continue the constructive collaboration between the NOCs and IFs under the leadership of the IOC. We are very excited by the huge potential of the World Beach Games. Working with the NOCs and IFs we want to reach the next generation of sports fans by creating a sustainable event which will unite the Olympic family and excite young audiences all around the world.”