Trains arrive on time in the Olympic movement. In Birmingham, in the West Midlands, where SportAccord regains its place in the calendar this week, the general assembly of the Association of International Summer Olympic Sports Federations (ASOIF) unfolded with precise gestures a written scenario of advance.
Belgian Ingmar De Vos (photo above), president of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), has added a new piece to his collection of caps. He was unanimously elected, but by secret ballot, to the presidency of ASOIF. He will succeed on January 1, for a four-year lease, the Italian Francesco Ricci Bitti, who has reached the end of his third and final mandate. Ingmar De Vos presented himself before the voters without the slightest rival. A done deal.
Comment from Francesco Ricci Bitti on his future successor: “ Having had the pleasure of working with Ingmar, I know he has the experience, endurance and human qualities to lead our organization. I am also delighted to know that it has the full support of our members, which is the key to success. It is a good day for ASOIF and the Olympic movement. » Cool.
Also expected is the decision of ASOIF to make room at its table for four new members. The international federations of cricket (ICC), American football (IFAF), lacrosse (WL), and squash (WS), have been granted associate member status, as of January 1, 2025. They must do so their entry into the Olympic program at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, as additional sports.
Finally, the general assembly of ASOIF removed the IBA from its membership. This was also expected. The international boxing body had already been deprived of its full membership rights. The recent decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to reject his appeal against the IOC's withdrawal of his recognition has precipitated its downfall.
Forgotten, the IBA. But there is no question of ASOIF opening its doors to World Boxing, its rival for the governance of Olympic boxing. Francesco Ricci Bitti explained it bluntly: “ We are an association of existing international Olympic sports federations. It is not up to us to discuss with a still embryonic federation. »
No real surprise, then. At least in the texts and the procedure. The unexpected came later, at a press conference, at the moment chosen by Francesco Ricci Bitti to speak about additional sports and their selection process.
« The least we can say is that this process is not very stable, suggested the Italian, without trying to hold back his criticism of the IOC. Originally, for the Tokyo Games, additional sports were intended to help the organizing country enrich the program with disciplines popular among its public. The Japanese did this. Paris 2024 also more or less respected this principle. But for Los Angeles, the process was totally stretched. With the choice of the Americans (cricket, baseball/softball, lacrosse, flag football and squash), we will have 35 or 36 sports. We had 26 at the London Games in 2012. »
Francesco Ricci Bitti explained it: ASOIF is not involved in the selection of additional sports. It belongs to the organizing committee, for a final choice which falls to the IOC. “ But then we suffer the consequences”, insisted the Italian. It must in fact cut the cake of IOC subsidies into a number of parts which can change from one edition of the Games to another, according to the sole wishes of the Olympic body. Obviously, the ASOIF does not appreciate the exercise.
