The third and final session of tomorrow’s programme will address the question - "Sports Events and Revenues: A new business model for the post COVID-19 world?"

And the opening morning session on Wednesday is entitled "Sport During a Pandemic" and encompasses barriers to sport and the fine-tuning of leadership skills.

"Because we believe that sport has an important role to play on many fronts in a post-COVID-19 society, we have done our utmost to maintain the dates for the summit," said Mélanie Duparc, the director of Smart Cities & Sport.

"This year's programme has been designed to directly address the current challenges of cities and societies with sport being a true catalyst for positive change.

"We very much look forward to this special edition."

Established in 2014, Smart Cities & Sport is an initiative which originates from a group of former and future Olympic host cities.

It has since expanded to any cities interested in using sport as a platform for growth and development.

"For its seventh edition, the Summit will focus on how smart and forward-thinking cities can leverage inclusive sport, physical activity and sporting events to advance our common roadmap for transforming our communities and contributing to the UN 2030 Agenda," the Lausanne-based organisers said.

"The Summit will focus on the many ways in which cities can leverage sport in order to address their urban, economic, environmental, and social challenges while doing so through the lens of the SDG [sustainable development goals] framework.

"Cities, international organisations, and international sports federations from around the world will be present to share their inspiring initiatives and best practices in building partnerships for the goals."

Involvement is free, and all sessions will be streamed via a dedicated online platform, available live and on demand, while forums will be open for attendees to exchange their questions and input.

Those who will take part include representatives from cities interested in using sport as a tool for urban development, sports event organisers, corporate partners and representatives from the international sport world including the International Olympic Committee and International Federations.

The last Summit was held in Tokyo, where the postponed 2020 Olympics and Paralympics are due to take place next summer.

Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, took part in interactive sessions during the 2018 Summit in Lausanne.

On October 20 it was announced that two sessions had been added to the programme, both of which will take place on the second day.

The first discussion is entitled "Gender equality: Is gender equality in sport a new development in the sport policies of cities?"

"The COVID-19 crisis has the potential to foster a paradigm shift in women's sport," the preview for the session states.

"While some believe that women's participation in sport will decline due to a potential drop in private financial support, others believe the opposite is true, as the crisis could lead to a shift in more equal investment in sport.

"What are the possible levers for action to ensure that women's sport becomes part of the solution to the current crisis?”

Sally Kneeshaw of the European Union Regional Development Fund and Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee secretary general Annette Knott are confirmed speakers.

Also confirmed is the following session called "Event hosting: how to leverage sport events for the development of 'active' tourism?"

Speakers will include David Legg, a professor of health and physical education at Mount Royal University in Canada, and Jane Marie Jegind, the head of business, culture and tourism for the Municipality of Langeland in Denmark.