Board bolsters Olympic ambitions with addition of global entertainment expert for Touch’s international expansion

The Federation of International Touch (FIT) is excited to announce the appointment of UK-based Ian Syder as a director.

Ian, an accomplished production professional with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, has been named an “Appointed Director” by FIT, the international governing body for the sport of Touch. 

Ian's appointment received enthusiastic endorsement at the latest FIT Board meeting in April. This decision underscores FIT’s commitment to leveraging specialised skills to enhance the composition of its Board, as outlined in its constitution, which allows for the appointment of up to four directors with unique expertise.

Notably, FIT is preparing to host the 2024 Touch World Cup in Nottingham from 15 July to 21 July at the esteemed University of Nottingham. The sports pinnacle event is attracting the game’s elite players from 39 countries, a significant increase from the 26 nations that participated in the previous Touch World Cup held in 2019 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. 

Ian’s marketing and production expertise, honed through collaborations with globally renowned brands such as Netflix, NatGeo/Disney, BBC, ITV, Apple, Nutopia, and Atlantic Productions, among others, positions him as a valuable addition to the FIT Board. 

The latest addition to the FIT Board boasts an impressive resume as a well-credentialled international referee, having officiated matches at several European Touch Championships, including Swansea, Wales (2014), Jersey, Channel Islands (2016), and Nottingham, England (2018). Additionally, he took on the role of a referee coach during the Nottingham event. Ian’s officiating experience extends to South Africa, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, and Scotland tournaments. Moreover, he has held significant positions such as the England Touch Association National Director of Referees and served as the European Federation of Touch Secretary General and Sports Development Director.

Peter Topp, Director - Sport Development FIT, expressed, “Ian’s established history of crafting and overseeing engaging content resonates seamlessly with FIT’s mission to propel the Touch sport globally, particularly our rapidly expanding sports ambitions for inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games in Australia.”

“Ian is an inspired choice to take the promotion of the sport forward. His skills and knowledge will be an enormous asset to FIT.”