The ITTF joined the call of sports leaders at the IF Forum 2022 to be proactive in ensuring safe sport and sustainability are integrated into all their activities.

Led by its President Petra Sörling, the ITTF delegation attended the annual gathering of the Olympic and International Sports Federations held in Lausanne on 28-29 November.

Participants were welcomed by Ivo Ferriani, the President of SportAccord and GAISF, before witnessing strong and powerful keynotes on human rights and sustainability delivered by David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships Officer of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, and Dale Vince, Chairman of EFL League One football team Forest Green Rovers.

“This was the first time since 2019 that we could meet in person for the IF Forum. It was a very inspiring gathering, with many engaging discussions, which reminded us that – like our athletes do – sports organisations should always aim to be better,” President Sörling said.

“When I was elected to lead the ITTF, I pledged to make sustainability a key part of my mandate. This year, the ITTF signed the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, and I will ensure we continue to lead the way in being stewards for managing our footprint to drive change in the world. Moreover, the ITTF is also committed to protecting athletes and providing them with a safe and supportive environment, an objective at the heart of our recent work on athletes’ entourage.”

Scene setters, Q&As, case studies and panel sessions delving into topics ranging from ‘Human Rights in Practice’ to ‘Safe Sport – Think Globally, Act Locally’, and ‘How to Implement Easy Changes Within Your Sustainability Strategy’, as well as a focus on the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals and their connection to sport, were also part of the agenda.