Ferriani succeeds fellow Italian Raffaele Chiulli following the conclusion of his term.

"I am very honoured to have been elected as President of GAISF," Chiulli said.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has truly demonstrated how sport is a force for good. 

"I am therefore proud to have this opportunity to work with the global sports community to promote the power of sport and to achieve our common goal of a better world through sport. 

"I am very much looking forward to bringing my sporting experience to serve all GAISF’s Members, Associate Members and Observers, and to support them over the next two years."

The GAISF Presidency is rotational, with each of the organisation's stakeholders leading the body on two-year mandates.

Ferriani takes on the role of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) representative.

He will be succeed by a representative from the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport in 2023.

An Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) will then take on the role, before reverting back to the Association of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF).

GAISF said Ferriani has a wealth of experience in sports administration, having served as AIOWF President since 2020 and International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation President since 2010. 

Ferriani has been an IOC Executive Board member since 2018.

Ferriani reportedly pledged to bring the global sports community closer together for the benefit of sport prior to his election, as well as supporting efforts around sustainability in sport.

The Italian vowed to use his positions as a member of the IOC Women in Sport and Athletes' Entourage Commissions to promote equal opportunities for women and initiatives to support athletes.

Chiulli had led GAISF since 2018.

He was elevated to the Presidency after the death of Patrick Baumann at the Buenos Aires 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games.

Chiulli had been first vice-president of the organisation at the time.

Chiulli was elected for a two-year term at the GAISF General Assembly at SportAccord Summit in Gold Coast during 2019.

"My heartfelt congratulations go to Ivo Ferriani on his election as the new President of GAISF," said Chiulli.

"I have no doubt he will continue to serve GAISF’s Members and all of sport to a high-level, and I can think of no better representative from the AIOWF family to lead GAISF for the next two years.

"As the President of ARISF, and the representative of ARISF on the GAISF Council, I will have the pleasure of continuing to work closely with GAISF and its new President in the years ahead."

GAISF said the General Assembly also saw the approval of the organisation's 2021 budget and 2020 accounts.

The International Practical Shooting Confederation was approved as a full member of GAISF.

The Association of Pan American Sports Confederations and World Martial Arts Masterships Committee were granted associate membership at the General Assembly.