By Tom Degun at the Lenexpo Exhibition Complex in St Petersburg

Raffaele ChiulliMay 27  - Raffaele Chiulli has been elected as the new President of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) after crushing sole rival Carlos Freitag of Spain by 26 votes to seven at the organisation's General Assembly here today.


The General Assembly, staged as part of SportAccord Convention, saw all 33 ARISF federations in attendance as International Powerboating Union (UIM) President Chiulli comfortably saw off the challenge of World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) President Freitag.

Chiulli will now replace Jan Fransoo in the role after the International Korfball Federation (IKF) President decided to step down from the top ARISF position following eight years.

Chiulli will also take over Fransoo's SportAccord Council seat where he will serve as one of two ARISF representatives, alongside World Karate Federation (WKF) President Antonio Espinos.

Following his victory, Chiulli vowed to make ARISF a more prominent organisation.

"I thank you for your support in me," Chiulli told delegates.

"I cannot remember a time in my long tenure at the ARISF when we have been faced with so many challenges that touch the very soul of our institution.

"The ARISF is at a crossroads and the choices we make will determine the future of our Association and of our Sports.

"It is crucial that we get this right.

"By working together openly and in a collective spirit of good faith we can and will succeed.

"I will now work diligently to making the ARISF relevant to all its stakeholders – International Federations, SportAccord, IOC and others - so that our chosen direction carries with it the weight and force of all our members."
 
ARISF General AssemblyRaffaele Chiulli was elected as the new ARISF President at the organisation’s General Assembly in St Petersburg

Chilli also outlined three key principles that will define his four-year term as the new ARISF President.

"My detailed work programme is reinforced by three principles," he said.

"To ensure that ARISF will be playing a key role in helping its Member Federations in their quest for inclusion in the Olympic events; protect ARISF members as worldwide sport representatives via participation to the SportAccord Council and establish an ARISF Convention."

"An ARISF Convention will to breed a new value proposition, renew the corporate image and allow ARISF to work closely with the IF's for the revitalisation of our sports."

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