By Duncan Mackay

Jannie Hammershøi addressing audienceMay 18 - Former Danish goalball player Jannie Hammershøi is the first candidate to declare that she will stand to become the new President of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) after Michael Barredo, from the Philippines, announced that he would not seek a third term.


Hammershøi, who represented Denmark at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, is already chair of IBSA Europe.

She has held that post since 2010. 

The elections for the President and ISBA Executive Board are due to take place at the General Assembly in the Danish capital Copenhagen from August 29 to September 1. 

Denmark's National Paralympic Committee (DHIF) announced that it was nominating Hammershøi for the post, ahead of the deadline for candidates on June 1.

"Jannie sets herself high standards; she leads by example," said Karl Vilhelm Nielssen, President of the DHIF.

"As a proven team leader, we are confident that Jannie has the required skills, experience and dynamism to lead IBSA forward to meet the challenges faced by the organisation in a changing sporting environment."

Hammershøi was born on the Faroe Islands, but her family moved to Copenhagen when she was a child.

She married with three children and currently employed as counselling manager at the Danish Association of the Blind, where she leads a team of 45.

"I am delighted to have been nominated as a candidate for the post of IBSA President," said Hammershøi.

"I am very grateful to Karl-Vilhelm and the Board of DHIF who have shown such faith in me.

"For most of my life I have been involved in every aspect of sport: as an athlete, coach - and now, in sports governance.

"My heart beats with a passion for blind sports and blind athletes.

"I place a high value on being able to draw out the best in people - I know for sure that there are many competent people in IBSA who are capable of working together to meet the diverse needs of blind athletes in every region of the world.

"If we use a structured and strategic approach, there is no doubt that we can reach our full potential in IBSA.

"I look forward to working closely with my blind sports colleagues, if elected."

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