BEYOND SPORT TO ADDRESS CORRUPTION IN SPORT WITH NEW EVENT AT 2015 GLOBAL SUMMIT

Following recent high-profile investigation into the workings behind one of the world’s most popular and played sports, Beyond Sport will be tackling corruption in sport with its new event, ‘Beyond the Field of Play' taking place in London on Wednesday 19^th October 2015 in association with Mishcon de Reya.

The invitation-only event will shape the first day of the annual Beyond Sport Summit and Awards, taking place across multiple London venues from 19^th-21^st October, and will feature expert guests who will share their knowledge and understanding of the industry. Confirmed speakers for Beyond the Field of Play include: former International Equestrian Federation President, HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, David Grevemberg, President of the International Tennis Federation, Francesco Ricci Bitti and former NBA star, organisational consultant and psychologist, John Amaechi. The unique day will be hosted by René Carayol,Chief Executive, Inspired Leaders Network.

In a time where the spotlight shines brighter than ever on the world’s sport governing bodies, Beyond the Field of Play will bring together 50 expert guests from across the sport industry to address current issues from within the sporting world, specifically around ethics and governance. The key aim of the event will be to educate and replicate some of the current best practices of governing bodies as well as producing tangible outcomes and recommendations on how the sport sector can move forward under a more responsible and clean reputation. 

The day-long session will go beyond conventional summit formats, combining influential speakers from all corners of the sport industry to deliver adept talks and breakout sessions on their areas of professional expertise.

Commenting ahead of Beyond the Field of Play, HRH Princess Haya al Hussein, said: “As such a powerful tool in influencing and empowering people, fair and ethical governance in sport is crucial.

“The sport governance landscape has never been under so much scrutiny, which is why there is a great need for events such as Beyond the Field of Play to hone in on best practices and draw conclusions on how to set the right example for sport fans throughout the world.”

Nick Keller, Founder, Beyond Sport, added: “The past week has demonstrated how the world’s most loved sport has been substantially rocked as a result of poor governance. Whilst sport has the ability to deliver positive social change, recent events have also demonstrated its aptitude to inflict negative change.

“As the world’s media and public alike add mounting pressure to FIFA’s key decision makers, we learn that role models in sport go far beyond the athletes on the field of play.

“Sport is such a precious commodity which is why Beyond the Field of play will offer a new platform that will address what’s needed to deliver the authentic, responsible leaders that sport needs and deserves by learning from the most experienced experts from both inside and outside of our industry.”

The seventh annual Beyond Sport Summit and Awards will return to London from Monday 19^th October to Wednesday 21^st October 2015 with a powerful and timely theme: Beyond the Divide, which will bring together influential leaders to address how sport can be used to reduce ignorance, discrimination and exclusion.

Held across multiple venues in the city, the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards will bring together the likes of rugby legends Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood, UNICEF UK President Lord Ashdown and Katrien Meire, CEO of Charlton Athletic FC, amongst many others.  

The Beyond Sport Awards will also return to this year’s Summit where some of the world’s most inspirational sport and social change organisations will be celebrated and awarded funding.

The Beyond Sport Summit and Awards is supported by its global partners, Barclays, TIME and UNICEF.

For more information and to book your place visit http://www.beyondsport.org/events/event-tickets/?eventId=28468

Further details on the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards will be announced in due course.

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For more information please contact:

Charlotte Harwood, Marketing and Communications Manager, Beyond Sport:

E: [email protected]

T: 020 7240 7700

Notes to Editors:

Beyond Sport is a global organisation that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. We do this primarily through…

Beyond Sport Awards
The Beyond Sport Awards programme provides support worth $3 million annually to projects across the world that use sport to address issues within their communities.

Beyond Sport Events
Beyond Sport holds multiple gatherings and events throughout the year in different cities across the world focusing on various issues, sectors, and stakeholders, addressing how sport can be used to create positive social and business outcomes. Beyond Sport’s flagship and largest event is the annual Summit & Awards, which brings together the best sport-led social innovators with influential, global leaders to address sport's role in driving positive social change. The Beyond Sport Summit 2015 will be held in London from 19^th–21^st October.  Other events Beyond Sport holds regularly are:

• Beyond Sport United – held in New York and backed by the US major leagues – MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL and WNBA – which brings teams and leagues from around the world together to discussion how they can benefit from better engaging with communities and philanthropy
• Beyond Soccer – powered by streetfootballworld and backed by MLS, it convenes leaders in the football industry around how the world’s most popular sport can serve more as an engine for societal change
• Beyond Sport Leadership Series – supported by Mishcon De Reya, this event looks at the current challenges, issues and developments around leadership and ethics in sport
• Multiple events take place throughout the year, held jointly with Beyond Sport partners and stakeholders.

Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm with offices in London and New York. As well as supporting the Beyond Sport Leadership Series, Mishcon de Reya is the exclusive legal partner of the Beyond Sport organisation.

Visit www.beyondsport.org for more information.

@BeyondSport