A centre designed to strengthen ties and create efficiencies between the 50+ sporting institutions in Lausanne has launched.

ThinkSport – which is being dubbed a “centre of excellence” – has been established by founding members, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the City of Lausanne, the Swiss Confederation and the Canton de Vaud.

Its aims include encouraging partnerships between organisations based in the Swiss city to create efficiencies and to “highlight the knowledge, expertise and diverse sporting initiatives” found in the region to the rest of the world.

“ThinkSport aims to unite all actors impacted by the politics, the promotion and the business of international sport in the Canton de Vaud and wider region,” said Canton de Vaud head of economy and sport Philippe Leuba. “It is a platform which intends to strengthen ties and create a network between the international federations, polytechnics, businesses, actors in tourism and congresses, research institutes and other partners.”

Leuba added that the organisation could “facilitate synergies” and “increase the added value of the 55 sport federations” located in Canton de Vaud in Lausanne.

Organisations based in the region include the IOC, SportAccord, the International Baseball Federation, the European Union of Gymnastics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the International University Sports Federation, among others.

“ThinkSports’s initiative will allow us to take advantage of this local centre of excellence,” said IOC director general Christophe De Kepper. “The concentration of creative know-how can be shared to help build on best practice and to continually improve the operational effectiveness of all sports organisations in the Olympic capital.”