Organisers had originally hoped to follow the model of London in 2011, when they held the biggest networking event in world sport in the Olympic host city the year before the event took place.

But, with Sochi facing a race against time to make sure that everything is ready in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, SportAccord organisers have decided that they should not interfere with the preparations and have decided to move the Convention to St Petersburg.

The event in St Petersburg, which was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great and is now Russia's second biggest city behind Moscow, is due to take place between May 26 and 31. 

"We could not be happier about the prospect of holding the Convention in the great city of Saint Petersburg next year," said SportAccord Convention chairman Hein Verbruggen.

"This decision has been under discussion with our Russian partners for a long time and we are pleased to be able to confirm St Petersburg as our 2013 host."

The tenth anniversary edition of SportAccord Convention is due to take place in Québec City in Canada from May 20 until 25.

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