The IBSF Congress 2022 was held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 14th to 15th of July 2022. More than 150 participants from 40 countries came to the city of Lausanne, also called the Olympic capital, to join the Pre-Congress and Congress discussions.
The Pre-Congress-day had each Vice President as well as the Secretary General present the respective annual report, followed by a Q&A session after each presentation. Mark Pearce, Vice President Business Development and Strategic Partnerships of IMG gave the IBSF members an insight into the IMG world, the services and capacities to be provided to the IBSF by its new Marketing & Media agency.
The Organizing Committees of the IBSF Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Championships St.Moritz/Celerina 2023 and Winterberg 2024 gave an update of the current planning for those events, followed by a presentation by the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, integrated by an update on the sliding track project in Cortina d´Ampezzo presented by the representatives of the Regione Veneto.
The Congress-day started with late additions to the business which had been discussed during the Pre-Congress, followed by the report by the IBSF President Ivo Ferriani.
KPMG gave a report on the Full Audit of the IBSF finances as of March 31st, 2022 conducted by them, followed by the report by the IBSF Audit Committee. The IBSF financial statements have been fully audited for a full Olympic cycle. The Congress confirmed the statement of accounts and the budget plan for 2022/23 and released the Executive Committee subsequently.
The IBSF Congress also elected the Executive Committee for the next Olympic cycle with Ivo Ferriani re-elected as President. His fellow Executive Committee Members are the following:
- Vice President of Financial and Corporate Affairs: Andreas Trautvetter (GER)
- Vice President of Marketing and Events: David Tomatis (MON)
- Vice President of Legal Affairs: Martins Dambergs (LAT)
- Vice President of International Affairs Stefaan Freeling (BEL, 24 votes)
- Opposing candidate Anthony Deane (AUS, 14 votes)
- Vice President of Sport Ander Mirambell (ESP, 22 votes)
- Opposing candidate Darrin Steele (USA – 16 votes)
- Vice President of Communication Chanmin Chyun (KOR, 21 votes)
- Opposing candidate Bradley Chalupski (ISR, 5 votes)
- Opposing candidate Christian N. Stokes (JAM, 12 votes)
The Athletes´representative Christina Hengster (AUT) remains in office until the Athletes Advisory Committee elections will take place later in the year by the athletes at the IBSF events.
The election was followed by the presentation of proposals by the Executive Committee and National Federations. Points of major interest were a clause on unforeseen circumstances/force majeure to be added to the IBSF Statutes which was adopted by a 2/3 majority of the Congress delegates. A proposal to suspend Russian athletes from participating in IBSF events has been accepted by the majority of the delegates as well.
Moreover, the Congress agreed to add one more athletes´representative to the Executive Committee; thus, two athletes´representatives will be part of the Executive Committee from now on.
Anders Huuse, Norway, who had been named Honorary Member of the IBSF during last year´s online Congress was handed over the Honorary Member certificate. Furthermore, Josef Fendt (GER), Honorary President of the FIL, was awarded the Honorary Membership of the IBSF in consideration of his great contributions to the sliding sports in general during his 24 years as FIL President.
“The Congress 2022 has been a great success for our sliding family. We had long, open and extensive discussions during the two Congress days. It is important to give the Members the possibility to express their opinion and thoughts. The IBSF Executive Committee is there to answer and explain. My thank you goes to all participants for their engagement, their passion and valuable contributions. Most importantly, at the end of the two-day Congress the sliding family is stronger together than ever before!” states Ivo Ferriani, IBSF President.
“We have to thank the City of Lausanne and their team at ‘Lausanne tourisme’ for their great support in organizing the Congress. The possibility to stay at the Hotel Mövenpick, which is in a walking distance from the Olympic Museum, was great and very much appreciated by all participants after two long Congress days. The Olympic Museum team was incredible with their know-how in hosting major events, whether it was technical or on the food and beverage side.
Last but not least, the “Brasserie de Paudex” which hosted the IBSF dinner, was incredibly flexible and served excellent food which allowed the participants to exchange ideas in a cozy and very much welcoming environment before heading into the next Congress-day!”, says IBSF Secretary General Heike Groesswang.
For more pictures: IBSF Congress 2022 | Flickr
