IJF Meets ASOIF Target on Further Review -- Federation Focus

(ATR) A re-evaluation by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) means the International Judo Federation has now met the governance target score that had previously eluded it.

The IJF requested a re-evaluation after it was ranked in Category C, the lowest level, when the third edition of the governance review was released in June.

The second evaluation took place in October.

"The results received from the ASOIF Governance Task Force confirm that the IJF exceeded the target score of 120 that was set for full members of ASOIF," the federation said in a statement this week.

The other five federations scoring below the target in June were the International Swimming Federation (FINA), International Surfing Association (ISA), International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and World Skate.

FEI Names New Directors

The global governing body for equestrian sports appoints two new directors.

Marco Fuste of Spain, one of the best known figures on the international Jumping circuit, was named the new Jumping Director for the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) on Dec. 22.

His appointment came less than a week after Christina Abu-Dayyeh of Jordan was chosen Endurance Director on Dec. 16.

Fuste has been Director of Jumping at the Spanish Equestrian Federation and chef d’equipe of the Spanish Jumping team since 2006. He will take up the new role at the FEI on February 1, 2021. The FEI says his first task will be a full revision of the FEI Jumping Rules. He replaces interim Jumping Director Deborah Riplinger, who will remain at FEI headquarters in Lausanne until the end of June next year to ensure an optimal handover.

"To be appointed as FEI Jumping Director is absolutely my dream job," Fuste said in a statement. "Horses and equestrian sport, particularly Jumping, have been a part of my life for so long and I see this new role as the pinnacle of my career. Jumping is already the FEI’s largest discipline and, while I know the challenges involved, I also see great opportunity for further expansion, particularly in South America, so that we can develop the sport more broadly. I can’t wait to get started."

Abu-Dayyeh joins FEI as Endurance Director from the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation, where she has been secretary general since 2017.

She will start in her new role at the FEI on April 1, 2021.

"The discipline of Endurance needs strong governance and we are confident that Christina is the right person to deliver the right mix of firmness and tact. She comes to us with a wealth of experience, not just in equestrian sport, but also in marketing and communications, skill sets that she will need for this post," FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

"Her knowledge of our sport in the Middle East, where Endurance is such a key part of the local culture, has given her a crucial insight and a vision that will undoubtedly benefit both the FEI and the discipline itself."

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the search for a new Endurance Director, which had begun in March after the FEI announced that the Endurance & Driving Department was to be restructured to allow for a special focus on a discipline that requires strict oversight.

Abu-Dayyeh will replace Manuel Bandeira De Mello, who joined the FEI in 2014 as Endurance Director. He will stay on in the role until she arrives in Switzerland and will remain at the federation with the new title of Director Driving, Para Driving & Special Projects, allowing for a smooth handover.

Skateboard England and Skateboard GB Merge

Skateboard England and Skateboard GB are restructuring to form a single national governing body for skateboarding, under the name ‘Skateboard GB’.

The merger, which is effective immediately, means the new organization will have responsibility for supporting and growing grassrootsskateboarding in England as well as leading the development of the Olympic program for the entireUK.

Until now, Skateboard England, which was formed in 2015, has supported the growth of grassroots skateboarding inEngland and Wales through various initiatives while Skateboard GB, which was created in 2017, has been key in supporting skaters for Olympic qualifying competitions.

The merger means there will now be no duplications in governance, resources and staff and that a more cohesive direction for the sport can be created.

"As skateboarding makes its debut at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year, this is a great time to structure the two organisations to enable even more growth of the sport in the UK," James Hope-Gill CEO of Skateboard GB said in a statement.

"The re-structure is really important with the recent announcement of funding from UK Sport to help us develop talented skateboarders towards Olympic success as it creates a co-ordinated approach across the UK between all the home nations".

Skateboard Scotland and Skateboard:NI (Northern Ireland) will remain separate to support and grow skateboarding withintheir own countries, and it is anticipated that a new skateboarding governing body will be established in Wales.

Skateboard GB will work closely with and support those governing bodies, who will continue to be represented on its Board of Directors.

Written by Gerard Farek

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