Diack, who has been at the helm of the IAAF for 16 years, is set to be recognised at the Convention, which begins on Wednesday (March 11) and runs through to Saturday (March 15) in the Rwandan capital.

The 81-year old will step down from a position he has held since 1999 in August, with Britain's Sebastian Coe, who successfully oversaw London's 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and former Ukranian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka in the running to replace the Senagalese.

Under Diack's leadership, the sport of athletics has continued to grow, although it has recently been embroiled in several doping scandals, particularly centred on athletes from Russia.

Diack, who took over from fourth IAAF President Primo Nebiolo of Italy after his death in 1999, leads a stellar cast of speakers at the ninth edition of CISA.

He will divulge his vast sporting knowledge to the attendees here, with the likes of honourary International Swimming Federation President Mustapha Larfaoui and Fekrou Kidane, a former International Olympic Committee chief of staff now working as a senior adviser for the African Football Confederation, also scheduled to speak at the Convention.

Diack will leave his position as President of the IAAF in August following 16 years at the helm of athletics' world governing body ©Getty Images



CISA announced in February that this year's edition of the eagerly-anticipated event will be based on three main themes - celebrating African sports leading figures, the development of African sport and what the future holds for the African Games - and will be attended by top African sporting officials, politicians and journalists.

As well as vital debates surrounding integral subjects as African sport continues to enhance its development, the Convention will also include CISA Kids Project, a record-breaking sports journalists' seminar and a Sports Ministers seminar.

The event here will be supported by the International Francophone Organisation after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with CISA, while JAPPO Sports & Entertainment are the main organisers of the Convention.

CISA will bring together more than 400 sporting leaders, decision-makers, practitioners and athletes from across Africa and the rest of the world.

insidethegames is an official media partner of CISA.

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February 2015: CISA reveals main themes for Convention in Rwanda