Melbourne to host IAKS Southern Hemisphere Congress in 2024

July 5, 2022

The organisers of the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention (NSC) have advised that, together with support from the Melbourne Convention Bureau, it has secure the rights to host the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) Southern Hemisphere Congress in 2024.

The Congress will be the first time the Association has held a Congress scale event outside of Europe.

The leading international non-profit organisation for the design and operation of aquatic, recreation and sport facilities, for nearly six decades IAKS has enabled international networking for the exchange of planning, design and operational management for over 120 countries and across all continents of the world.

With the Germany-based body operating in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and other international non-profit bodies such as The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA) and global sport federations.

With a growing commitment to Australia and New Zealand, in 2020, IAKS appointed Yvette Audet as its ANZ Ambassador, as well as IAKS Vice President, with the Association’s membership and presence in Australasian growing accordingly.

The collaboration between the NSC, IAKS and the Victorian Government through the Melbourne Convention Bureau, allows for global peak bodies and thought leaders to join ANZ leaders, peaks and practitioners to explore the future of sport and leisure facilities

The National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC) is Australia/New Zealand’s largest and most prominent community sport and recreation convention and expo attracting pre-covid over 1,500 people annually.

The IAKS Congress will be co-located with the NSC on 27th and 28th June 2024 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Commenting on the coming of the Southern Hemisphere Congress, Audet stated “we are excited to work with the Victorian Government, MCB and the NSC to bring the inaugural IAKS Southern Hemisphere Congress to Melbourne in June 2024 and this great recognition of the work over the past 18 months sharing global thinking with the ANZ members and the broader industry.

“We are expecting global leaders to join the amazing thinkers, advocates and peak bodies that we have in Australia to host one of the best sport and leisure facility conferences in Australia.”

NSC Chief Executive, Martin Sheppard added “the NSC is excited to build upon the collaboration we have nurtured with IAKS over the past five years and is reflected in this year’s NSC program with IAKS key thought leaders from Japan, Switzerland and Europe all sharing insights.

“This IAKS Congress is very exciting for Australia, and we can’t wait to host an expected 4600 delegates to Melbourne in a little over two years’ time.”

Melbourne Convention Bureau Chief Executive Julia Swanson also commented “we are thrilled to welcome the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) Congress to Melbourne - the first southern hemisphere forum in the IAKS Congress 50-year history.”

“There is strong demand from our local industry and combining the two events will provide Melbourne with a unique and valuable opportunity to showcase both Victorian and Australian expertise, infrastructure, investments and our knowledge in the multidimensional sports industry.”

The National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC) has grown since 2016 to offer a program with international and Australian experts, providing the most comprehensive program on community sport recreation and sports facilities in Australia, post-covid, and with the continued support of the Victorian Government.

This year’s NSC will is being held from 11th to 13th July 2022 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

This year’s NSC Expo will see IAKS host a networking night for IAKS members - on Tuesday 12th July from 5.15-6.15pm on stand 190.

Images: The recent signing of an MoU between IAKS Secretary General Klaus Meinel, IAKS President Dr Stefan Kannewischer and NSC’s Martin Sheppard (top) and the NSC Expo in 2019 (below).

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