Written in advance. Without the slightest rival for the position, the Spaniard José Perurena (photo above) was re-elected, Wednesday May 3 in Madrid, as president of the International World Games Association (IWGA). The former president of the International Canoe-Kayak Federation (ICF) is thus extending a lease started in 2014 (he succeeded the American Ron Froehlich). But his new mandate, obtained with the score of 93% of the votes, will be reduced to just three years, the health crisis having extended the previous one by an entire year. The battle looked more indecisive for the post of vice-president, left vacant by the Briton Max Bishop, in place for 17 years. Two men had submitted an application: the Swiss Tom Dielen, secretary general of the International Archery Federation (World Archery), and the German Jörn Verleger, president of the International Fistball Federation. But the two-legged match turned into a plebiscite for Tom Dielen, with his German rival withdrawing his candidacy before voting began. The elections to the IWGA executive committee were also marked by a new mandate for a Russian leader, Anna Arzhanova, the president of the International Underwater Confederation. She was authorized to appear, despite the exclusion of Russian athletes from the last World Games, organized last year in Birmingham, Alabama. During the same general assembly of the IWGA, it was decided that sambo would join the program of the World Games from the next edition, scheduled for Chengdu (China) in 2025.
