TAFISA Joins the 27th IAKS Congress

The 27th IAKS Congress was staged in a hybrid format for the first time in Cologne, from 26 to 29 October 2021.

Held under the theme "Developing Sustainable and Healthy Communities", the Congress featured keynotes, panel discussions, and lectures with interventions from over 40 renowned speakers from the International Olympic Committee, United Nations, Lee Valley Park Authorities, GAME and more. The Congress was attended by over 500 participants from 40 different countries. It focused on how governments and societies worldwide can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and also shape sustainable long-term developmental strategies to tackle climate change and to address interlinked social, ecological and economical requirements.

The Congress officially kicked off with warm welcomes words of Dr. Stefan Kannewischer, IAKS President, which was then followed by three keynote speakers:

• Daniela Bas, UN Director of Division for Inclusive Social Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, USA
  "The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)"
   
• Marie Sallois-Dembreville, Director Corporate and Sustainable development, IOC, Switzerland
  "The IOC’s sustainability achievements and future goals"
   
• Wolfgang Baumann, Secretary General, TAFISA, Germany
  "TAFISA Mission 2030 and its Significance for Active Cities"

During the presentation, TAFISA Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann highlighted one of the key themes of TAFISA Mission 2030 - Active Cities, exploring its role and responsibility in promoting Sport for All and physical activity. Active Cities targets all places where people live, work, learn and play, with the goal to enhance opportunities for all population groups to participate in Sport for All and physical activity.

The second day of the Congress, moderated by Tom Jones, IAKS Vice President, was packed with speakers and presentations, all providing insights from the field. Jean Francois Laurent, TAFISA Junior Director, kicked off with a presentation on "Promoting Active Cities Throughout Europe: The Matrix for Change", where he presented the matrix as an interactive tool to guide local authorities to become Active Cities.

TAFISA would like to once again thank IAKS for the invitation and opportunity to collaborate and wishes the very best with the rest of the Congress.