Who will succeed Denis Oswald, the all-powerful president of the International Rowing Federation? Right now, no one. Or rather, sorry, himself. The Swiss leader voted for a unique and unprecedented resolution at the recent FISA congress, held in Copenhagen: the next General Assembly of the institution, scheduled for September 2, 2013 in South Korea, will vote at the same time for the re-election of Denis Oswald… and for the choice of his successor. The current president of FISA, aged 65, in office since 1989, wishes to commit to a new mandate, but reduced to six to eight months, knowing the identity of his future replacement.
Since then, two names have emerged: Jean-Christophe Rolland and John Boultbee. A Frenchman facing an Australian. A former Olympic champion, crowned in the coxless two at the Sydney Games, against a key leader of world rowing, current president of the FISA competitions commission, influential member of its executive committee.
Jean-Christophe Rolland, long presented as Denis Oswald's "colt", applied for candidacy last fall. John Boultbee spoke out more recently. Other names may perhaps be added to this short list. Those, for example, of the Canadian Tricia Smith or the American Anita DeFrantz, also elected to the executive committee (where Jean-Christophe Rolland no longer sits, contenting himself for the moment with a place on the Council).
Up his sleeve, Jean-Christophe Rolland has some great cards. He will have the support of Denis Oswald and the voices of Europe, where the national federations feel in a minority position in the upper echelons of FISA. The Frenchman, only 45 years old, represents the future. Employed by EDF in its British branch, he lives in London, where until last year he was in charge of the French company's partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. He is perfectly bilingual French-English. And he would have already obtained from his employer the availability necessary for the presidential function.
Opposite, John Boultbee admits to being 63 years old. Former director of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, this lawyer has sat on the Court of Arbitration for Sport for almost 20 years. Also polyglot, very influential at FISA, he can highlight the diverse and often decisive functions he has held since the 80s. He was its secretary general between 1989 and 1995.
Between the two men, the battle for the presidency of world rowing presents itself as a match of extremes. And, implicitly, a new standoff between the Anglo-Saxon world and the French-speaking sphere.
