ARISF Vote Becomes Marathon on SportAccord Sunday -- On the Scene

(ATR) A long vote at the ARISF general assembly was the highlight of an otherwise light day in Sochi.

Six rounds of voting were needed to go from five candidates to one in the election of a new director of the ARISF council. After narrowing the field to two, Anna Arzhanova of the World Underwater Federation (CMAS) and John Liljelund of the International Floorball Federation deadlocked twice before a majority was reached in favor of Arzhanova.

The two finalists embraced afterward and acknowledged it was difficult to compete against one another.

"To my friend John, I want to wish him good luck and I’m sorry it was so tough and difficult to vote for the people and they were a little bit tired," Arzhanova told Around the Rings.

The vote progressed smoothly through three rounds as Richard T. Caleel of polo, Claude Azema of boules sports and Anthony Goh of wushu were eliminated one at time.

At one point, it appeared the two finalists might need to draw lots to determine a result. A sixth vote was taken instead and Arzhanova prevailed, 19 votes to 15.

The council has three directors traditionally. Two spots are held by Keith Calkins of racquetball and Molly Rhone of netball. The remaining spot has been vacant for six months since the resignation of International Life Saving Federation secretary general Harold Vervaecke.

For Arzhanova, it was a win on home turf. She is Russian and works as president of CMAS from Moscow.

After her exhausting victory, Arzhanova recused herself from consideration from the following election to determine a second ARISF representative to join president Raffaele Chiulli on the SportAccord council.

With participants eager to adjourn for dinner, it took just a single round for Riccardo Fraccari of baseball/softball to defeat incumbent Antonio Espinos of karate.

Things get a little busier Monday at the SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit.

SportAccord will hold its general assembly meeting, one where Marius Vizer will stand unopposed for re-election, followed an International World Games Association council meeting and an IOC/ARISF workshop in the afternoon.

Monday concludes with the opening ceremony. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday look to be the busiest days of the convention.

Written by Nick Devlinin Sochi

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