Organisers have moved the annual event at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco from its traditional October slot to February.

The convention, which had been due to take place from October 26 to 28, has been rescheduled for February 22 to 24.

The SPORTEL Awards, traditionally staged during the convention, are still set to be held across the same October dates.

"Giving up is not in my vocabulary," said SPORTEL chief executive Laurent Puons. 

"But given the travel restrictions, it is impossible to keep our event in October.

"The easiest solution would have been to simply cancel the event, but the sports business economy cannot afford to put itself on hold for too long. 

"Convinced that this economy will fully recover in the coming months, we must be there when the time comes."

Puons said holding the event remotely, which other convention and meeting organisers are doing in response to the COVID-19 crisis, had not been considered.

"We must preserve our DNA," he added. 

"A 100 per cent digital or hybrid concept is not adapted to our event, which above all promotes exchanges and networking. 

"SPORTEL is the largest meeting platform for the key actors in international sports business."

SPORTELMonaco gathers top level executives from a wide range of firms, including broadcasters, television networks, International Federations, marketing agencies, production companies, rights owners and satellite providers.