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Participant Information

1.      AIM OF THE SYMPOSIUM

As has been the case for well over a decade, WADA’s 2017 Annual Symposium will assemble athletes, International Sport Federations, National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations, Major Event Organizers, WADA-accredited laboratories and other key stakeholders that are integral to the clean sport movement.

For the first time, further to popular demand, government representatives that are involved in anti-doping matters are also invited to join. This is an enhancement that we are able to accommodate this year due to a larger Symposium venue than past years.

Under the theme ‘Tackling our Challenges and Strengthening the Future of Clean Sport’, the Symposium will include three days of presentations, panel discussions and practical workshops. The Agenda will cover topical subjects such as the future of the fight against doping in sport; World Anti-Doping Code compliance monitoring; the protection of whistleblowers; and, the integrity of anti-doping processes.

2.      SYMPOSIUM FORMAT

Program

We have shaped the Agenda of this thirteenth edition, per participant feedback that we received following 2016’s successful Symposium. Accordingly, we will replicate those features that were particularly appreciated; and, add new components such as:

• continuing to hold the Symposium over three days and including a mix of plenary sessions, interviews and practical workshops; 
• opening Day 1 again to the media ¾ a day that will be launched by WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie and Director General, Olivier Niggli ¾ and integrating them within the program;
• opening the Symposium for the first time to representatives from government and intergovernmental organizations involved in anti-doping;
• benefitting   from the presence of WADA-accredited laboratories and members of WADA’s Laboratory Expert Group for the duration of the Symposium;
• gaining from a sustained presence of athletes; and, in particular, WADA’s Athlete Committee, via roundtables and interviews;
• inviting WADA’s Ethics Panel for a dedicated session on ethical issues in the fight for clean sport; and
• hosting a number of renowned and highly respected external speakers and contributors from outside the anti-doping community.

As always, the Symposium will include a mix of formats – such as plenary sessions, interviews and practical workshops – in order to stimulate interaction among participants, focus on fruitful exchange of ideas, and cater to the varying level of knowledge and experience.

The agenda is available here.

Please note that WADA will film some of the plenary sessions. Recordings will be made available following the Symposium.

Language

All sessions will be conducted in English or French. Simultaneous interpretation in English and French will be available throughout the Symposium.

When registering online, participants will be asked to select their preferred language for Symposium participation (sessions, workshops) and for the materials.

Presentations

Following the Symposium, participants will have access to the PowerPoint presentations and documents via this website, which will remain open three months after the event.

3.      PARTICIPATION AND REGISTRATION

Participation

The Symposium is open to representatives of Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) as defined in the World Anti-Doping Code. This includes the following categories: 

• International Federations (IFs)
• National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs)
• National Olympic Committees (NOCs) – only from countries where there is no NADO or where the NOC is actively involved in anti-doping
• Regional Anti-Doping Organizations (RADOs)
• Major Event Organizations (MEOs) 

In addition, the following organizations and bodies are invited to participate: 

• Athletes
• Sample collection agencies and related anti-doping service providers
• Media – on Day 1 only
• WADA-accredited laboratories and WADA Laboratory Expert Group
• Government representatives involved in anti-doping matters

Number of Participants per Organization

A maximum of two participants per organization can register for free.

If an organization wishes to register more than two participants, a fee of CHF 100.- will be requested via the online registration process.

Registration

Applications for registration must be completed online on this website.

The registration deadline is 20 February 2017. 

For registrations received after the deadline, participation cannot be guaranteed. A fee of CHF 100.- will be requested for any post-deadline registration.

It should be noted that WADA reserves the right to refuse admission to future Symposia to persons who register for the 2017 Symposium but do not show up. We therefore kindly ask that, should plans change prior to the Symposium, the contact below be notified.

Please note that an electronic photo in .jpeg format is required for registration. The photos are intended to facilitate identification of participants by other attendees through the Networking Tool, thus, stimulating networking before and during the event (see below).

In case of any difficulties with registration, please contact:

Ms. Claudia FURNARI
Lausanne Tourisme
E-mail:  furnari@lausanne-tourisme.ch

Cost

The Symposium is free for two participants per organization.

As indicated above, if an organization wishes to register more than two participants, a fee of CHF 100.- per person will be requested via the online registration process.

Participants must cover their own travel, ground transfers, hotel accommodation and miscellaneous expenses.

Online Networking Tool & List of Participants

WADA will make a Networking Tool available to participants. This Tool will include detailed information on the organizations and people attending the Symposium.

The Networking Tool, accessible from the Symposium website, will require participants to complete a personal profile page and enable them to:

• search/identify individuals and/or organizations attending the Symposium in ‘real time’ during and following the registration period;
• extract updated lists of participants; and 
• get in touch with one another to organize meetings in advance of the Symposium, which can then be included in a personalized agenda within the Networking Tool. 

WADA encourages participants to make the most of this Networking Tool in order to maximize communications and networking opportunities around the event.

The Tool can be accessed by logging in through the individual password and username provided to registered participants, or via the direct link provided when participants receive their registration confirmation.

4.      SYMPOSIUM VENUE, GROUND TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATIONS AND VISAS

Venue

The Symposium will be held at a new venue:

SwissTech Convention Center
EPFL- STCC
Station 21
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland

Accommodations

The Lausanne Tourisme & Convention Bureau has pre-booked blocks of rooms for Symposium participants. Accordingly, participants can book a hotel room while registering online for the Symposium on this website. Kindly note that hotel bookings will be made through a separate booking platform, the same one used for the 2016 edition, which offers better conditions and rates, as provided on a daily basis.

The deadline for securing rooms at one of the Symposium hotels is 10 March 2017.

While hotel reservations are being arranged through Lausanne Tourisme, Lausanne Tourisme does not process payments. Lausanne Tourisme will only forward credit card details to the hotel to guarantee rooms. If at a later stage you wish to cancel or change the dates of your reservation, please follow the instructions on the website and contact Ms. Claudia Furnari at Lausanne Tourisme (furnari@lausanne-tourisme.ch).

Successful registration for the Symposium does not guarantee your hotel booking, and vice versa. Registration for the Symposium and registration for hotel rooms are two distinct processes. WADA and Lausanne Tourisme cannot be held responsible for incomplete Symposium or hotel reservations.

It should be noted also that WADA and Lausanne Tourisme are not responsible for hotel reservations relating to meetings other than the Symposium.

Ground Transportation

Participants flying into Switzerland are recommended to fly to Geneva Airport and take the train to Lausanne. Travel time from Geneva to Lausanne is about 50 minutes and the cost is approximately CHF 50.- for a return ticket in 2nd class and approximately CHF 90.- for a return ticket in 1st class.

Participants can also fly to Zurich Airport and take the train to Lausanne. Travel time from Zurich to Lausanne is about 150 minutes and the cost is approximately CHF 150.- for a return ticket in 2nd class and approximately CHF 260.- for a return ticket in 1st class.

Lausanne’s public transportation network will be free of charge for registered participants staying at the Symposium-designated hotels. Upon arrival at your hotel, please ask for the free Lausanne Transport Card.

Information regarding transportation options from Symposium-designated hotels to the SwissTech Convention Center can be found on this website.

Visas

Nationals from some countries may require a visa to enter Switzerland. It is the participant’s responsibility to obtain this visa. For the list of nationalities requiring a visa, please consult the Swiss Federal Office for Migration website at the following link.

Should individuals require more information than the ‘Invitation to the Symposium’ and this ‘Participant Information’ document in order to fulfill visa requirements, please contact Ms. Claudia Furnari at Lausanne Tourisme (furnari@lausanne-tourisme.ch).

5.      MEALS AND WELCOME COCKTAIL

Meals

Every day of the Symposium, WADA will offer registered participants coffee/tea breaks and a light lunch.

Welcome Cocktail

Immediately following the end of Day 1, on 13 March, a cocktail buffet will be held at the Symposium venue for all registered participants. As always, this is a great networking opportunity.

6.      SYMPOSIUM MANAGEMENT / ADMINISTRATION

For general queries relating to registration, accommodation and visas, please contact:

Ms. Claudia Furnari
Event Coordinator Assistant
Lausanne Tourisme
Av. de Rhodanie 2
CP 975
1001 Lausanne
Switzerland
Tel.:      +41 (0)21 613 73 13
Fax:      +41 (0)21 616 86 47
E-mail: furnari@lausanne-tourisme.ch
 

For queries relating to the content of the Symposium, please contact:

Ms. Laetitia Zumbrunnen
Manager, International Federation Relations
World Anti-Doping Agency
Maison du Sport International
Av. de Rhodanie 54
1007 Lausanne
Switzerland
Tel.:         +41 (0)21 343 43 44
Fax:         +41 (0)21 343 43 41
E-mail:    laetitia.zumbrunnen@wada-ama.org

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