SportAccord has announced its eighth annual convention will be held at the Atlantis resort in Dubai from April 25 to 30 2010.

It is the first time the event will be held in the Middle East in its history. The Atlantis resort is the focal point of the man-made Palm Jumeirah Island.

The Dubai Sports Council will be the host and delivery partner under the chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai.

“The SportAccord Convention is the world’s most important gathering of the international sport movement,” said Mattar Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.

“Sport is of special importance in Dubai and we are delighted to have this unique opportunity to welcome our existing sporting partners as well as to showcase, to new audiences, our advantages as a sporting community and host location.”

Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the SportAccord Convention, added: “Being in Dubai, at the crossroads of continents, will give us a special opportunity to express the global role of our unique gathering for the decision-makers of world sport.”

The SportAccord Convention annually brings representatives from the 100 international sports federations affiliated to SportAccord and attracts over 1,500 leading representatives.