IFHA To Hold Virtual Conference

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities will hold its 54th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities in virtual format this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference typically takes place in Paris the day after the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but this year the format will take the shape of a series of videos released during the first two weeks of October.

The focus of the conference will be the pandemic, and will feature pre-recorded Zoom discussions with prominent racing executives, participants, and stakeholders who have been conducting business during the pandemic as well as insights from other leading sports figures.

The key note address will be delivered by Pete Giorgio and Alan Switzer from Deloitte. Giorgio is the co-author of Deloitte's 2020 report 'Games without fans: How sports organizations can thrive now, and in the long term,' as well as the co-author of the April 2020 report 'Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on telecommunications, media, and entertainment organizations: Sports subsector.' Switzer is a director in the Sports Business Group and has worked extensively in horse racing for 15 years.

IFHA Chairman Louis Romanet said, “While we will certainly miss having everyone in Paris this year, it was clear that the safest course of action was to host our annual conference virtually as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has affected every aspect of life, and we felt it was important to focus on it as the key topic for the conference in this unique year. We hope to return to our traditional format in 2021.”