The SJA has today announced that it will be staging an Olympic-themed Sporting Question Time on Tuesday April 5, to coincide with the SportAccord Convention taking place in London.
Up to 200 of Britain’s leading sports writers and editors, plus invited guests from international federations, national governing bodies and other agencies, will be able to put topical Olympic questions to the expert international panel at the event, which is to be staged in the impressive debating chamber of at the old County Hall on the South Bank.
Panellists, who will be confirmed nearer the date, will include representatives from London 2012 organisers LOCOG, plus the International Olympic Committee, British sporting agencies, and the international media, with a top British broadcaster to act as chairman.
Lively debate is expected on a range of subjects ahead of the Games, with topics expected to be raised including ticket prices, Britain’s post-Olympic sporting legacy, Olympian budgets and drug testing.
“We are delighted to be able to stage our event alongside SportAccord as the convention is held in London for the first time,” Barry Newcombe, chairman of the SJA, said.
“Last year we staged a similar event with the sports spokesmen of the UK’s three leading political parties ahead of the General Election, and generated headlines for the rest of the week. We are sure that our Olympic Question Time will be just as newsworthy,” Newcombe said.
The all-ticket SJA event will be free-to-enter, with priority given to media accredited to attend SportAccord.
The SportAccord Convention is held in a different city each year and features top-level conference sessions and a dynamic exhibition, as well as the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport. The Convention attracts more than 1,500 leading representatives of international sport.
This year marks the first time London has hosted SportAccord and it is a milestone in delivering the UK capital’s long-term aim to position itself as the world’s leading city in the business of sport.
“We are gratified that the SJA is using the special occasion of the SportAccord Convention being in London to organise this initiative bringing together sport and the media,” said Anna Hellman, executive director of SportAccord Convention.
The ticket application process for the Sporting Question Time will open in mid-March, when further details of the panel make-up will be announced. Ticketing and information on the event will be published on the SJA website.
Media accreditation for SportAccord can be completed here.
Who will be this year’s SJA British Sports Journalism Awards winners?
Atherton? Collins? Copley? Heavey? Stelling? Samuel?
Book your tickets for sports journalism’s Big Night Out – the British Sports Journalism Awards on Monday March 7 – click here for a booking form
Notes for editors
The 2011 SportAccord Convention is being staged at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel from April 3-8.
The SportAccord Convention annually brings representatives from more than 100 international sports federations and organisations affiliated to SportAccord (General Association of International Sports Federations), ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) and AIOWF (Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), as well as the International Olympic Committee Executive Board, together with sponsors, bidding and host cities, architects, sports lawyers, broadcasters, games organising committees, rights holders and other specialists to discuss the key issues facing the sports industry.
For more information, visit the SportAccord Convention website.
UPCOMING SJA DATES
Mon Mar 7: 2010 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, at The Brewery. Click here to book your tickets
Tue Apr 5: The SJA Olympic Question Time. Ticket booking to be launched in March.
Wed Apr 13: SJA 2011 Annual Meeting, at offices of UK Sport, Russell Square. Strictly SJA members only.
All details subject to alteration. Keep checking sportsjournalists.co.uk for updates