The meeting, scheduled for November 11 at the Hotel Royal Savoy in the Swiss city shortly before an International Federations (IF) Forum there, has been billed as a key "clearing the air" summit to be attended by representatives from all member federations following a tumultuous year for the body.

In a letter sent out today, signed by SportAccord interim President Gian-Franco Kasper and obtained by insidethegames, the taking of "steps to accomplish the merger" of the two bodies heads a three-point agenda.

A review of draft statutes has also been proposed by the International Federations' Union, along with discussion about the 2016 edition of the annual Convention, the location of which is expected to be unveiled later this month, with Dubai having already been mooted as a potential contender.

Each member federation is permitted three delegates at the meeting, expected to consist of the President, secretary general and vice-president.

No other business will be on the agenda, "unless all members are present and vote unanimously in favour of it".

This presumably means that no election for a new President of the body will be held, with this vote expected to take place instead during an annual General Assembly held during next April's Convention.

Problems within SportAccord came to a head in April after former President Marius Vizer launched a stinging attack on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its President Thomas Bach during this year's General Assembly in Sochi.

This swiftly prompted 22 Olympic and seven non-Olympic sports to withdraw or suspend their SportAccord membership.

The IOC, International Paralympic Committee, Commonwealth Games Federation and bodies recognising Summer Olympic, Winter Olympic and IOC Recognised sports all "disaffiliated their association", throwing the entire future of the body into doubt, while Russia also withdrew from hosting up to the next five editions of the annual Convention.

Following Vizer's resignation in May, there has been a desire to resurrect the Convention, billed as a premier annual networking opportunity for the Olympic Movement to come together.

But the future of SportAccord itself has been less certain, with many claiming that much of its work essentially duplicates projects also undertaken by other bodies, such as the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).

A body far smaller in scope is therefore being proposed, of which the Convention will be the primary focus.

When speaking to insidethegames in June, ASOIF director general Andrew Ryan speculated how the new body could still play other limited roles, including some sort of anti-doping responsibility or commitment to organise an event like the World Mind Games. 

As the President of the International Judo Federation, Vizer could in theory be present at the meeting, although in reality he appears unlikely to attend.

Related stories
September 2015: Dubai heading race for 2016 SportAccord Convention seeking a return to its roots
July 2015: Exclusive: Saving SportAccord Convention vital, claims International Triathlon Union President Casado
June 2015: Ricci Bitti elected President of SportAccord Convention as 2016 host city sought
June 2015: Kasper confirms interim chairmanship of SportAccord as Marinescu resigns as general director
June 2015: New "entity" planned to replace SportAccord as hunt begins for 2016 Convention host