Baku 2015 chief executive latest speaker added to SportAccord International Convention

By Paul Osborne

February 17 - Speakers for the SportAccord International Convention continues to grow as Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sport and chief executive of the first-ever European Games in Baku in 2015, and Helena Alterby Nordstrom, chairman of the Ladies European Tour, become the latest names to be added.

Rahimov will present his vision of the huge potential of sport to contribute to Azerbaijan's economic, social and political development in a speech during the City Forum at the Susesi Convention Centre.

Azerbaijan is set to host the inaugural European Games in 2015, with around 5,000 athletes expected to travel to the capital city of Baku to compete in the event.

Joining Rahimov at the annual City Forum will Rick Traer, chief executive of the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, and Olivier Pascal, founder of the International Extreme Sports Festival (FISE) World Series.

Nordstrom, who competed on the Ladies European Tour from 2000 until 2012, will join the panel for the session on "The New Face of Leadership".

Antalya/Belek plays a big role in the Ladies European Tour with the Turkish Airlines Ladies Golf Open set to return to the National Golf Club from May 8 until 11 2014 for its fifth year.

Nordstrom will be joined at the session by Brazilian Andrew Parsons, recently elected vice-President of the International Paralympic Committe (IPC), as he looks ahead to Rio 2016.

Former NBA star John Amaechi will join the debate on cheating and sports-related criminality ©NBAEGetty Images

The session entitled "The Integrity Issue", is set to hold a debate on cheating and sports-related criminality, including doping and match-fixing and will now include former National Basketball Association (NBA) star John Amaechi and Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Gianni Merlo, President of the International Sports Press Association.