Dear SIOG Members,

The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically affected health care professionals and patients worldwide. This is a very unsettling time for everyone and everywhere. In light of the current circumstances, it is very unlikely that travel and attendance will return to normal by the time of the 2020 SIOG Annual Conference.

The SIOG Board of Directors has therefore decided to postpone the in-person SIOG 2020 in Geneva until 2021 and have a virtual meeting instead.

The following has been proposed:
1/ On 1st or the 3rd of October 2020: To host a remote 3-hour meeting. The exact scientific content will made available to registered delegates within the next month by the scientific committee. New registration fee will be communicated and amended for those that have already registered. The programme will comprise of:

• A short celebration of the 20th anniversary of SIOG;
• Presentations from the SIOG Working Group on COVID-19 including an ethical debate;
• 1 or 2 highlights in geriatric oncology;
• General Assembly (SIOG members only).

This may be organised either on Thursday, October 1st 2020 afternoon or Saturday, October 3rd 2020 afternoon. The possible time slots are 2-5 pm or 3-6 pm (CEST).

Given the international spread of SIOG members, you are requested to send us your preference for the day and the time of the meeting using the doodle poll to the SIOG secretariat by June 1st 2020.

Authors of already submitted abstracts for 10-2020 are free to withdraw their abstract, or keep it for consideration of either brief presentations at this virtual meeting or oral/poster presentations at the 3-day conference in 2021 in Geneva (revision allowed prior to the final submission deadline).

2/ First week of November 2021 (dates to be communicated): A three-day SIOG 2021 conference in Geneva, Switzerland building on the 2020 programme, which will include a full celebration of the 20th Anniversary.

3/ Autumn 2022: SIOG Annual Conference in Valencia, Spain.

4/ Autumn 2023: SIOG Annual Conference in Toronto, Canada.
  
Kind greetings,

Prof. Hans Wildiers
On behalf of the SIOG Board and SIOG 2020 Scientific Committee (lead by Prof KL Cheung and Dr Holly Holmes).