By Paul Osborne

Brian Cookson and Sébastien Foucan have been announced as speakers at the 2014 SportAccord International Convention ©Getty ImagesJanuary 16 - International Cycling Union (UCI) President Brian Cookson and Sébastien Foucan, the pioneer behind freerunning, will be among the speakers at the 2014 SportAccord International Convention, it was announced today.


The Convention will be the first attended by Cookson since his dramatic election last September, where he replaced former President Pat Mcquaid, and will see the Briton deliver a keynote speech in a new-look Conference Programme.

Foucan, considered to be one of the early developers of the urban youth discipline Parkour, will expound his views on the importance of self-expression in sport and demonstrate his eye-popping skills in conjunction with The Youth Club, an imaginative session on the sporting tastes, habits and aspirations of young audiences.

This year's SportAccord International Convention, which will be based around the theme "Sport's New Frontiers", is scheduled to take place between April 6 and 11 in Belek, Turkey with delegates able to hear top speakers and enjoy interactive sessions in new formats outside of the main auditorium, as well as inside the event at Belek's Susesi Convention Centre.

Sébastien Foucan, the pioneer behind freerunning, is set to give a demonstration of his skills alongide The Youth Club at this year's SportAccord International Convention ©UIG/Getty ImagesSébastien Foucan, the pioneer behind freerunning, is set to give a demonstration of his skills alongide The Youth Club at this year's SportAccord International Convention
©UIG/Getty Images



A panel session on "Rule-Breakers and Game-Changers" will see Desmond Burke Kennedy, chairman of marketing and media at the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF), Adrian Christy, chief executive of Badminton England, and Brett Hasell, marketing coordinator of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), joined by members of the audience as they debate the provocative question: if you could change the rules of one sport, what would you do?

Canadian Olympic medallist Charmaine Crooks, President of NGU Consultants, will moderate a session entitled "A Woman's World - The Journey Towards Sporting Equality," a frank discussion of how to create better sporting equality - on the field of play and in the media, business and governing bodies.

Lisa Lazarus, chief of business development and strategy at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), is set to be one of a number of guests debating the subject.

The 2014 SportAccord International Convention, the 12th edition of the annual world sports summit, will be held in Turkey for the first time since its inauguration in 2003 and will provide a unique opportunity for international sporting leaders to engage with business, and features a dynamic exhibition as well as the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport.

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