Exclusive - Ricci Bitti Set to Replace Oswald as ASOIF President

(ATR) International Tennis Federation president Francesco Ricci Bitti tells Around the Rings he has the backing of "more than enough" summer Olympic international federations to be confident of being elected as new head of ASOIF at SportAccord next month.

"Yes, it looks like I have a lot of support," he told ATR of the race to succeed Denis Oswald, president of the International Rowing Federation . Oswald quit the ASOIF presidency in January to pave the way for the election of his successor at the association's general assembly in Quebec on May 22.

"In fact, I was asked by many people and I said yes for a transition time to prepare for somebody else to provide my long experience after the long presidency of Denis. I said ok for one term," Ricci Bitti said.

Of the 28 Olympic sports represented on ASOIF, the Italian claims to have "many, many" members supporting him. "More than enough to be confident," he said.

Under ASOIF rules, nominations from presidential candidates are due no later than May 7 - 15 days before the election.

So far, Ricci Bitti is the only candidate for the ASOIF presidency, the organization's director Andrew Ryan told ATR Thursday.

Asked if he expected to be unopposed in the election, Ricci Bitti said: "I think it would be better because I don't think it's an easy job and not so many people look for that. I made myself available after many requests."

An IOC member since 2006, the ITF chief said he doesn't know of any other candidates who might come forward to challenge him: "Not for the moment I don't know."

International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid was thought to be a possible candidate but Ricci Bitti appeared to suggest this was unlikely to happen. "I have very good relations with Pat McQuaid," he said.

Ricci Bitti's comments to ATR came in an interview on the sidelines of the Association of National Olympic Committees in Moscow this week.

ATR spoke to several leaders of summer Olympic federations, who backed the tennis chief to replace Oswald. Ricci Bitti held meetings with a number of them in Moscow, solidifying support for his election campaign.

Hassan Moustafa, president of the International Handball federation, told ATR: "Francescois a very good person and a very good president to replace Denis for the next four years.

"He has very good relations with all international federations, also the IOC and national Olympic committees. He is the man who can lead ASOIF.

"I will support him. I think that all of us will support him."

Marius Vizer, head of the International Judo Federation, told ATR he totally supported Ricci Bitti "because he is the best candidate to be ASOIF leader".

He added: "He is a person who leads a strong sport successfully with dedication and we need a leader who dedicates their life to sport. I think he can give power, unity, professionalism to ASOIF."

Oswald's resignation, which comes into effect on Dec. 31, is aimed at ensuring ASOIF keeps a presence on the IOC Executive Board when the Swiss finishes his term this summer.

With the IOC's age limits preventing 70-year-old Ricci Bitti from becoming ASOIF's representative on the IOC Executive Board, ATR understands that CK Wu is the overwhelming favorite to be nominated for this position.

The International Boxing Association president is said to have cut a deal with Ricci Bitti to smooth the ASOIF presidency succession process.

Ricci Bitti denies this. "Not at all. This matter is really to be developed. I am not in a hurry. It will be decided by others," he said.

However, CK Wu told ATR in Moscow that he had been approached by ASOIF members to represent its interests at the IOC's top table.

Asked what Ricci Bitti hoped to achieve if he is elected to serve a four-year term at the ASOIF assembly in Quebec, he said: "ASOIF is in a difficult time. I think the role of the international federations have to be clarified within the Olympic Movement and I will try to give my contributions and my business experience."

"There are a lot of challenges... based on a really good cooperation between IFs and NOCs."

President of the ITF since 1999, Ricci Bitti was re-elected for a fourth term at the 2011 ITF Annual General Meeting in Bangkok last September. His current mandate expires at the end of 2015.

The ASOIF Council will make a proposal for its nomination to the IOC EB at its May 20 meeting in Quebec. This will then be discussed at the general assembly two days later.

The IOC Session meeting in London in July will be asked to approve the ASOIF representative to sit on the EB. Oswald's successor would become only the third leader of ASOIF since it was formed in 1983.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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