In May he had beaten Bernard Lapasset, chairman of the International Rugby Board, to be elected new head of SportAccord, the umbrella organisation for all Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations as well as organisers of multi-sports games and sport-related international associations.

Vizer has already started restructuring SportAccord but promised that he will be able to combine that role with this one at the IJF. 

"I have the energy and the time to share for the benefit of both organisations," he told insidethegames.

Certainly, the 123 delegates present at this IJF Congress, held on the eve of the World Championships which are due to begin here on Monday (August 26), appeared to have little doubt that Vizer could continue to lead them as successfully over the next four years as he has since 2007 when he was elected to replace the South Korean Y.S. Park.

Marius Vizer addressing delegates at the International Judo Federation in Rio de Janeiro where he promised to build on his successes of the past six years 
Vizer, the only candidate, was re-elected by acclamation after he was proposed by Lassana Palenfo, the Ivorian who is head of the African Judo Union and an influential International Olympic Committee (IOC) member. 

"The reaction of the people was emotional because I still enjoy the same trust and support that I did six years ago," said Vizer.

His goals over the next four years are to continue to establish the World Judo Tour and consolidate the sport's place on the Olympic programme.

"We will continue to develop the same strategy with judo tour but will looking more for quality, the universality of the development of the sport and give a chance to the regions of the world which are interested in developing judo."

Delegates at the International Judo Federation Congress backed Marius Vizer by re-electing him President by acclamation

The main change was that Haruki Uemura stepped down from the IJF Executive Committee following his resignation as chairman of the All Japan Judo Federation (AJJF) earlier this month after allegations of abuse against members of the country's female Olympic team and financial mismanagement.

He was replaced by Arkady Rottenberg, President of St Petersburg Judo Club and a childhood friend and training partner of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will also take up the role of the IJF's development manager.

In another change, Jose Humberto Rodriguez, the USA Judo chief executive who was instrumental in the highly-successful Miami Grand Prix and Cadet World Championships this year,also joined the Executive Committee as IJF development director.

He replaced Libya's Hedi Dhouib, who is stepping out of the Exectutive Committee after several years and is taking up a new role as the IJF director of international affairs.

The decision of Uemura - although inevitable following events in Japan over the past few months - was clearly a blow to Vizer.

"He was a very, very good colleague," he said.

"In my heart I regret very much but at the same time he was very strongly attacked in the Japanese media.

"If he had continued in the IJF all these attacks orientated against him would have continued.

"It was a major decision and I regret he had to step down."

Among those who praised Vizer after his re-election was Pat Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees and a member of the IOC Executive Board, who is here as he is due to be inducted in the IJF Hall of Fame at a special gala dinner on Sunday (August 25).

IOC Executive Board member Pat Hickey (third from right) praised Marius Vizer and backed him to successfully combine his role with the International Judo Federation with SportAccord

Hickey backed him to combine his role with the IJF with helping rejuvenate SportAccord.

"SportAccord is a huge organisation and you can be very proud of your President," said Hickey, the former President of the Irish Judo Association. 

"During the [SportAccord] election campaign there were strange forces at work against him but he overcame them.

"In my opinion SportAccord had become stagnant but I'm sure your President will shake it up.

"He will bring a breath of fresh air."

Photos©IJF Media

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