Jacques Rogge

President of the International Olympic Committee

Promoting Sport for All and its benefits for everyone has always been one of the core missions of the Olympic and Sports Movement.

This lay behind the declaration adopted last year in Jyväskylä, Finland, urging the sports movement to take a leadership role in implementing direct action to address declining and inadequate levels of physical activity in communities.

In September 2011 in Beijing, the 14th World Conference on Sport for All will offer us the chance to assess the practical impact of the Jyväskylä declaration. It will also be the opportunity to share best practices on Sport for All programmes and the roles of the various stakeholders through workshops, panel discussions and plenary and parallel sessions.

The location of this Conference in the Beijing Olympic Park is highly appropriate. The Olympic Games left a fantastic sporting legacy, with a number of iconic venues and a major increase in sports participation, especially amongst the younger generations.

I wish here to thank all those involved in organising this Conference: the Beijing Olympic City Development Association, the Beijing Municipal Government, the Chinese Olympic Committee, the members of the IOC Sport for All Commission and our partner, SportAccord.

Let us continue to do our utmost to get people moving. See you in Beijing in September 2011!

Distinguished friends,At the IOC Executive Board meeting held in Dubai this April, Beijing was granted the right to host the 14th World Conference on Sport for All in 2011.

This is not only an honor of Beijing, but also an honor of China.

Beijing successfully hosted the 2008 Olympic Games with the support of the international community two years ago. With a more modern look and open posture after the Games, Beijing is integrating itself into the international community by making new friends and developing new cooperation.

Sport for All is an integral part of the Olympic Movement. The World Conference on Sport for All provides an ideal platform for exchanging and promoting Sport for All’s undertakings across the world. The 14th World Conference on Sport for All will continue the efforts made to disseminate the Olympic spirit and promote the development of mankind.

On behalf of the citizens of Beijing, I hereby would like to extend my warm invitations to you to attend the 14th World Conference on Sport for All in 2011.

I firmly believe that with the support of the Beijing municipal government and the citizens of Beijing, we will create the best environment and conditions for you to have a better understanding of Beijing and China for another chance and fully exchange the development and practices of Sport for All’s undertakings in different countries so that new vitality will be added to the sport for all movement for its better development.

We look forward to meeting you again in Beijing in 2011!