LAUSANNE, July 2, 2020 - We are proud to celebrate the World Sports Journalists Day and the 96th anniversary of the International Sports Press Association. Today, July 2, AIPS launches its first AIPS e-Conference, titled “Has Covid-19 affected journalists’ independence and future?” In a moment of extreme uncertainty in the world of sport, AIPS aims at unifying the global sport media industry to celebrate its origins and values: culture and independence.
RECORD PARTICIPATION: First of its kind, the e-Conference will bring together over 800 journalists from 142 countries, according to the number of accreditation forms that AIPS received so far.
HISTORY AIPS was founded in Paris on July 2nd, just before the Opening Ceremony of the 1924 Olympic Games. This was the occasion where the idea of connecting and unifying sports journalists became a reality through the creation of an international association committed to defending their ethical interests and working conditions. Even the father of the modern Olympic Games Baron Pierre De Coubertin, who was writing for several newspapers at that time, became a member of the association.
“We believe that gathering to face an unprecedented moment of our history will be a turning point for our profession: discussing problems and solutions with the major sport press representatives from five continents could inspire each of us to protect our profession and independence and to improve our working conditions,” said AIPS President Gianni Merlo. “We invite all the AIPS National Associations and all the professionals in the sport media industry to participate in this very special occasion.”
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
1,30 PM CET Join Zoom meeting
2,00 PM CET Official AIPS e-Conference opening
Welcome speech - Gianni Merlo, Italy - AIPS President
Message from Thomas Bach, Germany - IOC President
Racism in sport - Evelyn Watta, Kenya - AIPS Vice President
Moderator - Jura Ozmec, Croatia - AIPS Secretary General
PANELISTS
AFRICA
Badreddine Drissi Lahsini, Morocco - Editor in Chief Almountakhab
Kwabena Yeboah, Ghana - Editor in Chief Africa Sports
AMERICA
Christine Brennan, USA - Sports Columnist USA Today
Carlos Ponce, Mexico - Editor in Chief Récord
ASIA
Sandeep Dwivedi, India - National Sports Editor The Indian Express
Shinsuke Kobayashi, Japan - Deputy Managing Director of Olympic and Paralympic News Office Kyodo News
EUROPE
Stefano Barigelli, Italy - Editor in Chief La Gazzetta dello Sport
Jérôme Cazadieu, France - Editor in Chief L’Équipe
Juan Ignacio Gallardo, Spain - Editor in Chief Marca
OCEANIA
Tracey Holmes, Australia - Senior Reporter ABC News
3,00 PM CET Break
3,10 PM CET Open discussion
ABOUT AIPS The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) is the peak professional body representing the international sports media, with more than 9,500 members worldwide. The aim of AIPS is to enhance the cooperation between its member associations in defending sport and the professional interest of members, to strengthen the friendship, solidarity and common interests between sports journalists of all nations and to assure the best possible working conditions for members.
*The event will be broadcast live on AIPS Media 1924 Facebook Page and AIPS Media Youtube Channel.
