Martin Gibbs’ interim tenure is over. The Franco-British, former chief of staff and then director general of the International Cycling Union (UCI), has been confirmed as director general of SportAccord. He is therefore taking over the seat left vacant last October by Nils Hatt, who has been in place for a decade. His appointment, after a two-month interim period, comes as part of a reorganization of SportAccord following the decision last November to dissolve the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). With Martin Gibbs at the helm, SportAccord is currently working to reintegrate some of the activities, responsibilities and employees of GAISF, whose dissolution is being overseen by an outside firm, Ernst & Young. New bylaws are being drafted. Finally, a new membership commission is to oversee the application process for international federations to join the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sports (AIMS). As a reminder, the new organization of SportAccord, imposed by the dissolution of GAISF, foresees the granting of membership status to the Association of International Sports Federations recognized by the IOC (ARISF) and AIMS. They will join the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of International Winter Olympic Federations (AIOWF).
