The annual General Assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) today unanimously re-elected Francesco Ricci Bitti as its president for a further four-year term. The annual meeting of ASOIF’s membership was held virtually for the first time in its history due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The vote was conducted via the secure electronic voting platform "Lumi" and a public notary from Cheeswrights in London, UK, independently oversaw proceedings.
Following his re-election, Francesco Ricci Bitti said: "I am humbled and encouraged by the trust placed in me. We live in challenging times and our collective efforts are needed in preparing the return to a more normal sports environment and of course delivering the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year. The strength of the unity within ASOIF is impressive and bodes well for the future. I am ready and committed to providing continuity and ensuring ASOIF’s future during this, my final term."
Francesco Ricci Bitti has been leading the organisation since 2013 and is Honorary Life President of the International Tennis Federation (ITF). His third and final term as ASOIF President will officially commence on 1 January 2021. Learn more here.
During today’s meeting, the General Assembly also approved amendments to the ASOIF Statutes to establish gender neutral language and to promote the advancement of gender equality as well as the prevention of harassment, abuse and discrimination in its principal objectives. Other amendments to the statutes agreed upon today allow ASOIF to hold its General Assembly virtually and voting by electronic means in exceptional circumstances in the future.
The ASOIF members also received updates from the International Olympic Committee on matters related to the International Federations and the Olympic Games, reports from the Organising Committees of the Tokyo 2020 and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and from World Anti-Doping Agency.
The meeting was livestreamed on YouTube.
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