Failed again. The French sports movement has once again failed in its efforts to better occupy the international Olympic scene. Didier Gailhaguet, 62, president of the French Ice Sports Federation (FFSG), candidate for the first time in his long career as a leader for the presidency of the ISU (International skating union), was defeated on Friday June 10 in Dubrovnik. He will not succeed the Italian Ottavio Cinquanta, the strong man of world skating for 22 years. The members of the ISU Congress preferred a Dutchman, Jan Dijkema (our photo), 71 years old, already very present in the house since he sat as vice-president of the organization for speed skating.
The election lasted a short time for Didier Gailhaguet. In the first round of voting, the Frenchman obtained 25 votes, against 45 for Jan Dijkema, 43 for the Hungarian György Sallak and only 2 for the British Chris Buchanan. With such a gap, mass was said. The Frenchman and the Briton gave up their arms and gave up continuing the race. In the second round, Jan Dijkema beat György Sallak (63 votes to 52). He became the third Dutchman to lead the ISU, after Pim Mulier (1893 to 1895) and Gerrit W. A. van Laer (1937 to 1945). Above all, Jan Dijkema has been since Friday June 10 the first Dutch sports leader to preside over an international federation since the departure of his compatriot Els van Breda Vriesman from the International Field Hockey Federation in 2008.
For Didier Gailhaguet, the blow is tough. The Frenchman was the first to declare himself. His campaign was long, patient and methodical. Ten days before the vote, he explained to FrancsJeux having visited around sixty countries and covered 600.000 km. The former skater turned successful coach had requested the services of Vero Communications, the public relations agency headed by Englishman Mike Lee, also recruited by the Paris bid team for the 2024 Games.
The failure of Didier Gailhaguet reminds us of another. Last spring, Frenchman Jean Gracia was defeated for the presidency of the European Athletics Association (EAA). He was beaten by the Norwegian Svein Arne Hansen. Like Didier Gailhaguet, Jean Gracia started first in the race. He had traveled extensively and crisscrossed Europe, visiting all the AEA member countries one by one. Defeated in the second round, the Frenchman today occupies the dual role of executive director and interim secretary general of the IAAF.
Consequence for French sport: an increasingly discreet presence in the international sports movement. Michel Platini has been sidelined, removed from his office as UEFA president for at least 4 years. Bernard Lapasset, long-time president of World Rugby (formerly IRB), did not seek a new mandate, preferring to devote himself to Paris's candidacy for the 2024 Games. He left his place to the Englishman Bill Beaumont. Pierre Durand, the former rider, Olympic show jumping champion in 1988, was running for president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). He was defeated at the end of 2014 by the Belgian Ingmar de Vos (98 votes to 21).
Notable exception: Jean-Christophe Rolland. The Olympic champion in the coxless pair in 2000 in Sydney won the presidency of the International Rowing Federation (FISA) in September 2013. On his first try. While facing him were two strong rivals, the Canadian Tricia Smith, future member of the IOC, and the Australian John Boultbee, one of the most experienced leaders in world rowing. The Frenchman was supported by the former president, the Swiss Denis Oswald. His victory was clear and clear. Very strong.
Another Frenchman, Laurent Petrynka, chairs the International School Sports Federation (ISF). Joining the executive committee in 2010, he was elected president in June 2014. Unanimously.
French sport can still hope to see one of its own win. Georges Guelzec, the current president of the European Gymnastics Union (UEG), is running for president of the International Federation (FIG). The election is scheduled to take place in October 2016 in Tokyo. Facing him, only one rival, the Japanese Morinari Watanabe. To be continued.
