It will be the first time that the event, which is attended by leading figures from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), international sports federations, host and bidding cities and those involved in the business of sport, has been held in Canada.

The event is provisionally scheduled to be held between May 20 and 25.

Quebec City's Mayor Régis Labeaume had raised the possibility in February that the city would bid for the 2022 Olympics and appears to see SportAccord as an early opportunity to impress IOC members.

He said: "The campaign we have undertaken to bring international sports events to Quebec is bearing fruit.

"The SportAccord Convention is a unique opportunity to show the leaders of world sport the numerous attractions of our city."

Quebec City will follow London, which is scheduled to hold next year's SportAccord Convention between April 3 and 8.

This year's event took place in Dubai.

Anna Hellman, the executive director of the SportAccord Convention, said: "We will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of the SportAccord Convention in 2012 and we are delighted that the special occasion will be in Quebec.

"We are happy to be taking our event to Canada for the first time as we continue to hold it at a different location around the world each year."