Issue 102 - September 1997

FISA Congress decisions

Sydney Olympics' ten per cent

The FISA Congress agreed to the Council's recommendation of an overall ten per cent reduction in the numbers of each of the 14 boat classes at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney in order to meet the International Olympic Committee's new quota of 'approximately' 550 rowers (reduced from 606 in Atlanta).

Lucerne wins 2001

Lucerne, Switzerland won the race to stage the 2001 World Rowing Championships. Plans for improved facilities won strong support from the FISA Council and the Athletes Commission.

New advertising rules

The FISA Congress ratified the new rules relating to advertising enabling FISA to offer new opportunities from commercial sponsorship of the World Championships and the Rowing World Cup.

The amateur is dead

The concept of 'amateurism' was eliminated from the rules and regulations of FISA in line with other international Olympic sports, including the IOC.

FISA elections

Denis Oswald, IOC member, was elected president of FISA for a third term. In the other elections, fellow IOC member Anita DeFrantz (USA) was re-elected vice president and Mike Williams (GB) as treasurer, Mike Sweeney (GB), Borge Kaas-Andersen (Denmark) and Thor Nilsen (Norway) were elected to the executive committee. Tricia Smith (Canada) becomes chairperson of the women's commission and Mark Top (Netherlands) was elected chairperson of the media and marketing commission. Five long-serving FISA office holders retired. Vice-presidents Roland Weill (France) and Leonid Drachevsky (Russia) stood down from the executive committee. Three commission chairpersons also retired: Paul Kölliker (Switzerland) and Paula Oyer (USA) from the media and marketing commission and Magdalena Sarbachovŕ (Czech Republic) from the women's commission.

© Copyright Regatta Magazine, 1997.