AIPS Centenary Congress, Santa Susanna 2024: Celebrating our rich history, confronting old and new challenges facing sports journalism

The 86th AIPS Congress will be special. It is set to take place in Santa Susanna, Spain, from April 28 to May 2, 2024, the year marking the centenary of the International Sports Press Association.

 

In those three days there will be the AIPS centenary celebration, the AIPS Sport Media Awards gala as well as intense discussions and debates on issues concerning sports and sports journalism, with a strong focus on building a better future. The Congress will take place at the Atzavara Hotel.

 

A little over a year after hosting a crucial AIPS Executive Committee Meeting in February 2023, Santa Susanna, positioned around 70km from Barcelona and 30km from Girona, is now ready to welcome hundreds of delegates from around the world.

CENTENARY CELEBRATION AIPS will be 100 years old on July 2, 2024 and this Congress, taking place two months before, will celebrate this significant milestone in a grand way, while offering ample time to reflect on the past and look to the future. AIPS was founded in a boxing ring in Paris in 1924.

 

AIPS SPORT MEDIA AWARDS 2023 CEREMONY On the sidelines of the most important gathering of sports journalists across the world, the winners of the AIPS Sport Media Awards 2023 will be announced on the night of April 29 during a colourful awards gala. The sixth edition of the most prestigious international prize for sports journalism received 1887 submissions in total from a record of 140 countries.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE During the day of April 29, there will be discussions on a variety of topical issues affecting sports and sports journalism, including the impact of Artificial Intelligence. Editors-in-chief, Presidents and top sports officials of international federations, and experts from organisations like UNESCO have confirmed their participation in the dialogue. The gender debate is also on the agenda.

 

THE FUTURE OF SPORTS JOURNALISM With the rise of content creators, influencers and YouTubers seemingly posing a huge challenge for professional journalists at major sports events across the world - as was observed at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest (Hungary), the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) and the Asian Cup in Doha (Qatar), there is no better time than at the Centenary Congress to discuss and try to find solutions.

 

PRESENTATIONS As we look forward to high-profile sports events like the Paris 2024 Olympics and the UEFA European Championship, the Congress will feature presentations from some of our partners including the IOC, FIFA, UEFA, Special Olympics, European Athletics, FISU, Erasmus, etc.

 

NETFLIX FILM Athletics legend Edwin Moses, the most dominant figure in the 400m hurdles for more than a decade, will also be in attendance to present his Netflix film.

AIPS MEETS PATRICE MOTSEPE An hour-long interactive session with the President of the Confederation of African Football Patrice Motsepe has been scheduled for April 29, and will touch on hot topics regarding African football and beyond.

 

TENTATIVE CONGRESS PROGRAMME In addition to the celebrations, panel discussions and presentations, the Congress will also feature Executive Committee and continental meetings.

Please find the provisional programme for the 86th AIPS Congress below:

Saturday, April 27, 2024
Arrival of AIPS Executive Committee Members
Arrival AIPS Sport Media Jury Members

Sunday, April 28, 2024
AIPS Executive Committee Meeting
Arrival of Delegates (all day)
Arrival of AIPS Awardees (all day)
Final evaluation by the AIPS Sport Media Awards Jury

Monday, April 29, 2024
Panel discussions and presentations
AIPS Sport Media Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Continental sections
Presentations
AIPS Congress
Departure - Jury Members and Awardees

Wednesday, May 1, 2024
AIPS Congress

Thursday, May 2, 2024
Departure – Delegates (all day)