South African hosts sign World Conference agreement

Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the City of Johannesburg put the finishing touches to their joint hosting of the 2013 World Conference on Doping in Sport by signing a memorandum of agreement at a ceremony attended by SRSA Minister Fikile Mbalula.

The agreement, signed by SRSA Director General Alec Moemi and City Manager Trevor Fowler, outlined the hosting responsibilities of each party for WADA’s fourth World Conference. 

It was signed at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton in the presence of Executive Mayor Parks Tau, the member of the mayoral committee for community development Chris Vondo, Deputy Minister Gert Oosthuizen, and WADA Regional Director for Africa Rodney Swigelaar.

During the ceremony Mr. Swigelaar gave an overview of the 2013 Conference – to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from November 13-15 - while a presentation was made highlighting Johannesburg’s credentials as a first-class sporting venue.

“We are humbled by the confidence WADA has in South Africa’s ability to host this prestigious event, which brings together leaders from various sectors of society, including the anti-doping, government, world sports administrators, business leaders, academics, athletes and others,” said Minister Mbalula.

“The decision for South Africa to bid for the Conference was based not only on the country’s ability to host the event but was premised on its total commitment to drug-free sport and anti-doping initiatives.

“We have complete confidence that together with the City we will leave a lasting impression on the delegates that attend the conference.”

WADA’s first World Conference was held in Lausanne, Switzerland in early 1999 and led to the creation of WADA later that year.

In 2003, representatives from across the world attended the second Conference in Copenhagen, during which the World Anti-Doping Code was approved.

Madrid hosted a third Conference in November 2007 and this culminated in the adoption of a revised version of the Code.

The Code is again under review and at the end of the two-year process an updated version will be adopted at the 2013 Conference.