17–21 October 2027 · Gaborone, Botswana
Sport for All comes to Africa for only the second time. Delegates from more than 170 countries will gather in Gaborone for five days of congress sessions and networking.
About the congress
TAFISA (The Association For International Sport for All) is a global network for the Sport for All movement, with more than 380 member organisations across over 170 countries. Guided by Mission 2030: For a Better World through Sport for All, TAFISA promotes physical activity as a tool for health, inclusion and social change. Its work is organised around 13 themes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Each World Congress brings administrators, researchers, policymakers and grassroots leaders together in person to compare notes on what's working and what's next.
Welcome
Reserved for formal welcome messages, the same way past World Congress sites open with a word from TAFISA and from the host.
TAFISA Leadership
Reserved for a welcome message from TAFISA's global leadership, introducing the Congress and what it means for the wider Sport for All movement.
Copy pending from TAFISA HQLocal Organising Committee, Botswana
Reserved for a welcome message from the Local Organising Committee, introducing Botswana as host and the vision for the 30th Congress.
Copy pending from the LOCWhy Botswana
This is only the second time in the Congress's history that it comes to Africa, following South Africa's turn as host. Botswana arrives with a track record to match the honour. At the 29th World Congress in Prague, the country's Sport as a Gateway to Health programme, delivered through Special Olympics Botswana, was recognised with a TAFISA Mission 2030 Award for using sport to widen access to healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities.
Congress theme
TAFISA's work is organised around 13 themes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Gaborone congress will focus these into a single theme and set of sub-themes. The pillars below are placeholders pending confirmation by the Local Organising Committee.
This block is wired to a single CMS entry. Drop in the confirmed theme, strapline and call-for-abstracts details once released, and it publishes without any further layout work.
Physical activity as preventative healthcare and public health strategy.
Widening access for women, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
Local programmes and everyday movement as the foundation of the wider system.
Government, NGO and private-sector collaboration behind lasting Sport for All systems.
Key dates
Programme
A draft structure to show shape and pacing, including TAFISA's long-running Scientia Movens research track. The published programme will replace this once sessions are confirmed.
Draft running order for illustration. The confirmed programme will be published by the Local Organising Committee.
Speakers
Confirmed speakers will appear here as they're announced. Roles below show the shape of the line-up.
TAFISA Leadership
To be announcedResearch Conference
To be announcedGovernment & NGO Leaders
To be announcedCommunity Practitioners
To be announcedBotswana National Sport Commission
To be announcedTAFISA Leadership
To be announcedVenue
Hosted at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC), part of The Grand Palm Hotel, Casino & Convention Resort. It's a 5,000 m² venue built for large-scale international events, minutes from Gaborone's city centre.
Resources
Downloadable guides will go live here as they're finalised, the same way previous Congress sites share them.
Registration
Fees below are placeholders. Final pricing and inclusions will be confirmed by the Local Organising Committee ahead of Call for Abstracts opening.
Partners
Placeholder tiers are shown below. Real partner marks slot in as agreements are signed.
Interested in partnering with the 30th World Congress? Sponsorship packages and hospitality options are available for national and international brands.
Become a partnerNews & media
TAFISA senior consultants visited Botswana to work through venue, logistics and programme planning with the Local Organising Committee ahead of 2027.
Read more →At the 29th World Congress, Botswana's Sport as a Gateway to Health programme was recognised for widening access to healthcare through sport.
Read more →Botswana secured hosting rights for 2027, marking only the second time the World Congress comes to the African continent.
Read more →Good to know
Botswana's currency is the Pula (BWP). Card payments are widely accepted in Gaborone hotels and at the venue; smaller vendors may prefer cash.
Requirements vary by nationality. Check with your nearest Botswana diplomatic mission or the Department of Immigration well ahead of travel. A formal invitation letter will be available to registered delegates who need one.
English, Botswana's official language, will be used throughout. Setswana is also widely spoken locally.
On-site accommodation is available at The Grand Palm Hotel. A full list of partner hotels with delegate rates will be published on the Accommodation page.
Contact
Botswana National Sport Commission, on behalf of the Local Organising Committee