On April 23 at the Associate Members meeting, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of FIDE and IMSA, has been elected as their member of the SportAccord Council. President Ilyumzhinov in his speech spoke about the main directions of his activities. He also answered questions. The other two other candidates, having withdrawn their candidacies, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was elected unanimously as the Associate Members SportAccord Council member.

Official SportAccord website:
http://www.sportaccord.com/media/news/international-convention/fide-president-in-sportaccord-council/

"Mr. Illyumzhinov replaces Mr. Jose Perurena in the SportAccord Council. He also presented the award for the Sport Hero at the inaugural SportAccord EuronewsAwards ceremony organized in Sochi on Thursday evening. SportAccord welcomes Mr. Illyumzhinov into the Council and awaits his guidance and leadership."

Today the FIDE President will present the Sport Hero Award at SportAccord Euronews Awards and Gala Event at Expocentre Gala Event Auditorium. The ceremony will be broadcasted live on Euronews at 19:00.

The Olympic champion (gymnast) Andrea Raducan, the President of the Olympic Fund of Romania (new Associate Member of SportAccord)

The FIDE President met with the Deputy Minister of Sports, Vice President and General Secretary of the DPRK (North Korea) NOC Son Kwang Ho. The issues to establish cooperation between FIDE and DPRK were discussed, in particular, a formation of a National Chess Federation. Mr. Ilyumzhinov noted that the representatives of the Korean nation have some great achievements and potential in mind sports and therefore he is sure that in DPRK chess can get a positive start. The FIDE President in detail explained the possibilities of assistance which the International Federation might render so that DPRK might be represented in the largest chess forums in the nearest future.

FIDE President announcing the Sport Hero

Tedy Rinner, French judoka, is the Sport Hero

Another Sport Hero is Alex Zanardi, Italian professional racing driver and paracyclist.


With the SportAccord World Sport Ambassador, the footbal legend Lothar Matthaus at the SportAccord Euronews Awards and Gala Event

With FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke

With Teddy Rinner, French judoka, who got the Sport Hero Award at the SportAccord Euronews Awards and Gala Event.

With Marius Vizer, President of SportAccord