Yesterday delegates of the FISA Congress confirmed the attribution of the 2013 World Rowing Championships to the City of Chungju, Korea and Korean Rowing Association and the 2014 World Rowing Championships to the City of Amsterdam, The Netherlands and the Dutch Rowing Association. Denis Oswald was re-elected President of FISA, Anita DeFrantz was re-elected Vice President and Michael Williams was re-elected as Treasurer. Along with Oswald, DeFrantz and Williams, Tricia Smith of Canada, John Boultbee of Australia and Jean-Christophe Rolland of France were also re-elected to the Executive Committee.
The City of Chungju, Korea was confirmed as the venue for the 2013 World Rowing Championships. The FISA Council had decided that Chungju was the appropriate site based on the excellent sport conditions, the outstanding support for the bid from all levels of the Korean government and to attain the goal of universality by moving the top event in the sport around the world. Korean Rowing Association President Young Joon Han and Mayor Ho Buk Kim of Chungju were present to sign the Event Agreement and Mr Woo Taik Chung governor of Chungcheonbuk-Do province thanked the delegates for their support.
The City of Amsterdam was also confirmed as the site for the 2014 World Rowing Championships. The Council had proposed, in an exceptional move, to award two championships at the same congress in recognition of the complete re-construction of the Bosbaan International Regatta Course over the past ten years as well as the strong support of the Amsterdam municipality. Many events take place on this course each year and the Dutch Rowing Federation, Presided by Eric Niehe, is one of the most successful members of FISA.
Three time rowing Olympian and IOC Executive Board member Denis Oswald was re-elected to his sixth mandate as president of FISA. Oswald was elected by acclamation and received a long standing ovation for his 20 years presiding over FISA. Oswald successfully Chaired the IOC's Coordination Commission for the Athens Olympic Games and currently Chairs the London 2012 Coordination Commission. Two time US Olympic Rowing Team member and former IOC Vice President Anita DeFrantz was re-elected to her fifth term as Vice President of FISA. DeFrantz is the Chair of the IOC Women's Commission which has made tremendous progress in advancing the equality of treatment of women in the sport movement. Michael Williams, former Cambridge Boat Race Coxswain and recognized expert in international finance, was also re-elected to his fifth term on the FISA Executive Committee.
Three time Olympian in rowing and Canadian National Olympic Committee Senior Vice President Tricia Smith was re-elected to the FISA Executive Committee on which she has served since 1997. Smith is a successful lawyer from Vancouver and is also a member of the International Board of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. John Boultbee of Australia was also re-elected to the FISA Executive Committee for a further four year term. Boultbee, former Secretary General of FISA, is Head of National Teams for the Australian Football Federation. Olympic gold medalist from Sydney and Chair of the FISA Athletes Commission Jean-Christophe Rolland was also re-elected to his second term on the FISA Executive Committee.
The Congress also elected Trakai, Lithuania to host the 2013 World Rowing Under 23 Championships. The venues for the 2011 Rowing World Cup were confirmed as Munich, Germany, followed by Hamburg, Germany and finishing in Lucerne, Switzerland. It will be the first time for the Rowing World Cup in Hamburg on the new eight lane international regatta course an arm of the Elbe River. The FISA Council announced that Duisburg, Germany will be host of the 2012 World Rowing Masters Regatta.
Finally, the Congress gave a five minute standing ovation to 77 year old Thor Nilsen, FISA's Development Director, in recognition of his having been named to receive the Olympic Order in recognition of his work as a leading international coach and head of FISA's Development Programme since 1985. The technical quality of the sport of rowing has never been higher and rowers from around the world have, for generations, been touched by Norwegian Nilsen who continues coaching and developing rowing to this day on a full time basis.