The IF Forum is scheduled for tomorrow and will be opened by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.

Ghebreyesus is due to follow with a keynote address on the theme of the conference - "How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger from a Global Crisis".

The majority of international sport was suspended due to the pandemic and is only slowly starting to return. 

There will also be an opening speech by SportAccord and Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) President Raffaele Chiulli and a member keynote address by International Federation of Sports Medicine President Fabio Pigozzi.

Oscar Tosato, Municipal Councillor of Sport and Social Cohesion at the City of Lausanne, will provide a host welcome, before Russia's Sverdlovsk Region Governor Evgeny Kuivashev delivers a SportAccord 2021 host address.

Next year's SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit is scheduled to take place in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in May.

The IF Forum, originally due to be held at the Hotel Royal Savoy in Lausanne, is taking place virtually due to restrictions on travel and in-person gatherings as a result of the ongoing global health crisis. 

All sessions will be streamed for the 200 participants from more than 125 International Federations. 

Topics up for discussion include crisis management, scenario planning, how to limit risk from a legal and financial perspective, law-related commercial considerations for IFs, and how to stay connected to athletes, fans and stakeholders in times of adversity.

The packed conference programme will also feature contributions from IOC representatives, as well as those from the International Ski Federation, World Taekwondo, World Archery, World Baseball Softball Confederation and World Rugby.

"In these unusual and challenging times it is more important than ever for International Sport Federations to come together, and we have an outstanding line-up of influential speakers who will provide essential insights during this first fully virtual IF Forum," Chiulli said. 

"I am delighted with the SportAccord team’s efforts in preparing for this year’s event in this exciting format that will connect our community from across the globe."