The Current State of Sport For All around the World: Five Perspectives

FISpT is organizing a 90-minute online panel discussion bringing together leaders of five FISpT national members to present their national “Sport for All” programs, share practical experiences, and highlight opportunities and challenges in delivering Sport for All initiatives in different national contexts.

The program will open with a brief welcome message from FISpT CEO Marco Tomasini, followed immediately by the moderated panel discussion. After short introductions of each speaker, the discussion will focus on a common set of themes so that participants and audience members can compare experiences across countries. Discussion topics are:

(1)   How would you characterize the current state of Sport for All in your country (current status, the challenges and opportunities)?

(2)   What is your federation’s relationship with, and support from, the National Olympic Committee and/or Ministry of Sport or other public authorities?

(3)   What are the principal programs and initiatives currently being delivered by your Federation and what are the biggest successes achieved?

It finishes with a brief Q&A session.

The purpose of the event is to strengthen connections among FISpT members, showcase good practice, and create a practical exchange of ideas that can benefit other national members.

INTRODUCİNG SPEAKER

Marco Tomasini, FISpT CEO and Secretary General

Mr. Tomasini is an international sports governance specialist and Sport for All advocate from Italy. He serves as Chief Executive Officer and General Secretary of the International Federation Sport for All (FISpT), where he leads the federation's global operations and strategic development. He is currently the Director of NOC Relations for the World Flying Disc Federation. He was formerly the CEO of the International Dart Federation and a board member of TAFISA. Recognized for his contributions to sport, Tomasini was awarded the Bronze Star for Sporting Merit by the Italian National Association of Stars, Palms and Golden Collars of Merit of the Italian National Olympic and Paralympic Committee in 2024, and he is a member of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee. Mr. Tomasini received his bachelors and masters degrees in economics from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.

MODERATOR

Robert “Nob” Rauch, FISpT Board Member

Mr. Rauch is the long-time president of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) and serves as a member of the boards of the International World Games Association (IWGA), the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), and the International Sport for All Federation (FISpT). He was an active Ultimate player from 1976 to 1994, winning six US National Championships and five World Championships, and was elected to the Ultimate Hall of Fame in 2006. Rauch retired in 2023 from a 43-year career in finance and investment banking specializing in global emerging markets and is currently pursuing a PhD in Olympic Studies from the Deutsche Sport Hochschule Köln in Germany, where he recently completed a Masters of Science in Sportmanagement. He previously received his bachelor’s degree in political economy from Williams College and master’s degree in finance and international business from the Kellogg School of Northwestern University.

PANELISTS

La Fédération Française Sports pour Tous

Alban Moutier, National Treasurer

Alban Moutier has served as Treasurer of the French Federation Sports for All since 2018. He is also President of the Île-de-France Sports for All Regional Committee and a member of the Île-de-France Regional Sports Conference. Committed to the Sports for All movement since 2002, he has held a variety of leadership and governance roles at both local and national levels, contributing to the development of sport and physical activity for all audiences. His commitment is driven by the belief that physical activity is a powerful tool for health, well-being, social inclusion, and personal development. With more than twenty years of experience in sports governance and the non-profit sector, he works to strengthen the federation’s model, support regional and local organizations, and promote initiatives that make sport and physical activity accessible to the widest possible audience. His work focuses on sustainable organizational development, sound financial management, and fostering opportunities for lifelong participation in physical activity.

Georgian National Federation "Sport for All"

Mancho Shapakidze, Secretary General

Ms. Shapakidze is Secretary General of the Georgian National Federation "Sport for All" and is project manager of the one of the biggest grassroots events, the "TbilisiMarathon," along with organizing other large scale sport and elite sport national and international events in Georgia. She previously contributed to public sector administration through roles at the Ministry of Education and Science as a Chief Specialist, and at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia. Earlier in her career, she served as a Marketing Coordinator at the Georgian National Olympic Committee, demonstrating capabilities in marketing and event coordination. Ms. Shapakidze was a former Georgian professional tennis player, who in her career won three singles and three doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. She is currently a Project Manager at Hunnewell Cement Georgia, bringing expertise in overseeing project lifecycles within the building materials sector and holds a both a master's and bachelor’s degree from Ilia State University. 

General Association of World Sports Federations (GAWSF)

Kuong Hon Che, Chairman of the Executive Committee

Professor Che is a multidisciplinary professional and international sports administrator, born and raised in Macau. He currently serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the General Association of World Sports Federations and President of the World Sports University, and holds leadership roles in various regional and international sports organizations. He is multilingual and holds doctoral degrees in Management and Law. Since the age of ten, Professor Che has trained in judo, karate, and other martial arts. He served as an instructor in Judo and Arresting Techniques for the Macau Security Forces for three decades and has been involved in the organization of major international sporting events, including the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and multiple editions of the Asian Games. Throughout his life, he has been dedicated to advancing international sports exchange and education. Professor Che has been awarded the Professional Merit Medal by the Governor of Macau and the Sports Merit Medal by the Macau SAR Government.

Turkish Sport for All Federation

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet İrfan Kurudirek, PhD, General Coordinator

Prof. Kurukirek is an Associate Professor in the field of sport sciences and currently serves as the General Coordinator of the Turkish Sport for All Federation. He is also the President of the European Sport for All Union (UESpT), where he works to strengthen international cooperation, promote inclusive physical activity, and support the development of Sport for All policies across Europe. Dr. Kurudirek has extensive experience in the planning, coordination, and implementation of national and international sport projects, particularly in the fields of Sport for All, youth development, physical activity promotion, healthy lifestyles, volunteering, inclusion, and international cooperation. Within the Turkish Sport for All Federation, he contributes to the development and coordination of nationwide initiatives aimed at encouraging active participation in sport and physical activity among all segments of society. He has also been involved in various international cooperation processes, including Erasmus+ and youth-related projects, institutional partnerships, leadership development activities, and capacity-building programs. He received his master’s degree in sports and exercise from Gazi University and his PhD in physical education and sport from Ataturk University.

State Institution Agency for School, Student, and Mass Sports of Ukraine

Andrii Rebryna, PhD, Director

Mr. Rebryna is a Ukrainian sport administrator, educator, and Sport for All advocate. He serves as Director of the State Institution Agency for School, Student, and Mass Sports of Ukraine under the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and is also Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. Under his leadership, the Agency has expanded local sports-club networks, adaptive sport programs, and international cooperation, including partnerships with FISpT and other Sport for All stakeholders. Beginning his government career within the Ministry's Department of Priority Non-Olympic Sports, he later assumed leadership of Ukraine's national Sport for All system and became one of the country's leading voices on physical activity, community sport, and adaptive sport development. Mr. Rebryna received his PhD in physical education and a master’s degree in human resource management and labor economics from the Khmelnytskyi National University, and a master’s degree in physical education from National Pedagogical Dragomanov University. He was awarded the honorary title “Ambassador of Peace” in 2023.