By Paul Osborne at at the Susesi Convention Center in Belek

SportAccord has unveiled the sports programme for the inaugural World Urban Games ©ITGApril 11 - SportAccord has unveiled the 17 International Sports Federations which will make up the programme for the inaugural World Urban Games, expected to take place in 2016 following the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Vlad Marinescu, director general of SportAccord, gave a brief outline of plans for the Games during here.

"In regards to the Urban Games, there are currently 17 International Federations participating and we expect a couple more to join after the presentation in the General Assembly," he said.

"We have given to all the members the books that detail and outline all sports and all disciplines and heard their technical requirements in order to participate."

The first ever World Urban Games will see a mixture of professional sport and urban culture with a unique blend of old and new disciplines being put forward for the roster.

The likes of athletics, basketball, cycling and hockey are all due to feature on the sports programme.

However, each has been adapted to fit with the young, modern and urban culture of this new sporting competition.

Other sports such as parkour, climbing, orienteering and air sports will make an appearance at the Games as SportAccord looks to appeal to a younger generation of athlete.

With this unique set of sports, which sees 3x3 basketball, street dance, skateboarding, urban fistball and many other adapted sports amongst its field, SportAccord will be looking to modernise sport and reverse the trend that has seen the average age of spectators, for the likes of the Olympic Games, rise.

The full list of International Federations that will have disciplines within the Urban Games are: cycling, roller, dance, floorball, baseball/softball, basketball, lacrosse, hockey, netball, fistball, pentathlon, parkour, orienteering, climbing, athletics, air sports and automobile.

The sports are expected to be spread across four themed city parks at the heart of the yet-to-be-established host city.

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