New ASOIF President Ingmar De Vos chairs first Council meeting
The Council of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) convened today in Lausanne, which was led for the first time by its new President, Ingmar De Vos. De Vos underscored his commitment to an open dialogue with the member federations, as he presented his plans to conduct a membership survey to capture members’ insights, which will directly inform ASOIF’s Strategic Plan for the future. He also reiterated the importance of maintaining close and constructive relations with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Council discussed outcomes of the LA28 Transition Seminar, organised by the IOC earlier in the week to address key topics related to Games planning. Looking back on two days of fruitful exchange, Ingmar De Vos said: “We encourage LA28 to take advantage of the International Federations’ deep knowledge in organising major competitions for their respective sports. Through our Olympic and Multi-Sports Games Consultative Group, we are ready to help drive progress, tackle issues and provide innovative yet pragmatic solutions.”
The President and the other Council members also expressed their deepest sympathy and solidarity with LA28 and everyone affected by the devastating fires that have recently struck the Los Angeles area. “Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been impacted and displaced, as well as the brave firefighters, emergency workers and volunteers working tirelessly to protect lives, bring the fires under control and support the affected communities”, said Ingmar De Vos.
He added: “Los Angeles has always been a city of resilience and strength, as exemplified in its enduring Olympic legacy from 1932 and 1984 and commitment to hosting the Olympic Games in 2028. We have no doubt that the spirit of unity and determination that defines Los Angeles will guide the community through this challenging time.”
During its first meeting of the new year, the ASOIF Council appointed Snežana Samardžić-Marković as new Chair of ASOIF’s Governance Task Force, previously led by former President Francesco Ricci Bitti. Samardžić-Marković, formerly Minister of Youth and Sports in Serbia and subsequently Director General of Democracy at the Council of Europe, has been a GTF member since 2021.
Stephen Bock, Head of Legal and General Counsel at the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) was appointed new Chair of ASOIF’s Legal Consultative Group.
ASOIF’s focus will now shift to the preparations for Dakar 2026, LA28, and further ahead, Brisbane 2032.