The Taiwanese defated defeating Ireland's International Cycling Union (UCI) President Pat McQuaid by 20 votes to eight.

As revealed earlier this month, International Tennis Federation (ITF) President Francesco Ricci Bitti was the only candidate to put his name forward to become the ASOIF President after Switzerland's Denis Oswald announced he would step down at the end of the year.

Ordinarily the ASOIF President would also become the IOC Executive Board representative but due to the fact that Ricci Bitti will cease to be a member at the end of the year because he has turned 70, an election was required to nominate another IOC member to the position.


After Ricci Bitti (pictured) was unanimously voted to be the new ASOIF President by the 28 International Federations, Wu and McQuaid were the only two candidates to come forward by raising their hands.

But, after a secret ballot, it was revealed that Wu had won by a 12 votes.

The 65-year-old English-educated architect will now be nominated to the IOC Executive Board as the ASOIF representative, with the move set to be rubberstamped at the next IOC Session in London on the eve of the 2012 Olympic Games.

"It is a huge honour for me to be elected to this position by you and I thank you all for your support," Wu said.

"I will now work my hardest to represent ASOIF on the IOC Executive Board and my door will be open to all of you."

The elections were a slight anti-climax after several of the other potential contenders for the position, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) President Marisol Casado of Spain and International Basketball Association (FIBA) secretary general Patrick Baumann, decided not to put themselves forward for the role.

It left just a two horse race and Wu's victory will no doubt be a major boost to Ricci Bitti as the two are known to be close friends.

Ricci Bitti also made a point of thanking the ASOIF members after he was confirmed as Oswald's successor.

"It is a great honour to be elected as the President of this organisation," said the Italian.

"I would like to thank all of you for the great support I have received.

"I want to recognise my predecessor Denis, and I want to thank him for his contribution.

"Moving forward, I think we need to be united and work together for the good of the Olympic Movement.

"We have many challenges ahead and we must work together."

Both Ricci Bitti and Wu will take up their respective positions in January 2013, when Oswald, the President of the International Rowing Federation, will officially give up his ASOIF Presidency and role on the IOC Executive Board.

The election marked the conclusion of the General Assembly which saw several rows caused predominantly by Hassan Moustafa, President of the International Handball Federation (IHF).

The Egyptian, who is an ASOIF Council member, confronted Oswald on several issues, including a plan of his to have the President automatically added to the IOC Executive Board – even though his proposal came after the deadline.

Moustafa also appeared to take personal offence when Oswald suggested that certain individuals had tried to influence that IOC Executive Board election, saying the such suggestions were "ridiculous and inappropriate" for Oswald to make.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]

Pictures by Aleksandra Sersniova


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