ARISF General Assembly 2025
The ARISF General Assembly 2025 marked an important milestone for the Association, bringing together International Federations, distinguished guests, and key stakeholders of the Olympic Movement.
The ARISF President was re-elected, and a new Executive Board was appointed, setting the course for the organisation’s future. The Assembly was also attended by several distinguished guests, including Dr. Ugur Erdener, President of SportAccord; Mr. Sébastien Gillot, Director of the European Office and Sport Movement Relations at WADA; and Mr. Benjamin Cohen, Director General of the International Testing Agency (ITA).
The Assembly was also honoured by the presence of Mrs. Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who made a special appearance and addressed the delegates, sharing words of encouragement and appreciation for the ongoing progress of the Association under the leadership of Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, ARISF President.
Additionally, the General Assembly welcomed an insightful presentation from Mr. Kit McConnell, Chief Sport Officer of Brisbane 2032, and Mr. Brendan Keane, Director of Sport. Their presentation offered an overview of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, followed by a detailed update on the development of its sports programme. These updates were particularly appreciated by ARISF Members, many of whom aspire to join the Olympic Games in 2032.
Admission of World Boxing as Full Member
One of the highlights of the Assembly was the unanimous admission of World Boxing as a full ARISF Member. Mr. Boris van der Vorst, President of World Boxing, expressed his gratitude to the General Assembly for the warm welcome and highlighted the remarkable growth of World Boxing over the past year, which was met with great applause. With this new addition, ARISF now officially comprises 40 International Federations.
Honouring the Memory of Volker Bernardi
The Assembly also took a moment to honour the memory of Mr. Volker Bernardi, Secretary General of the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF).
President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli paid tribute to his remarkable contribution, stating:
“His passing represents a profound loss, not only for the World Flying Disc Federation and its community, but for the entire sporting family.”
A commemorative plaque was presented to Mr. Robert ‘Nob’ Rauch, President of WFDF, in loving memory of Mr. Bernardi.
Reports and Strategic Plan Implementation
The General Assembly continued with the presentation of the President’s Report and an update on the implementation of the ARISF Strategic Plan, highlighting key initiatives and collaborations across several areas:
- Good Governance: I Trust Sport presented the outcomes of a governance survey conducted among ARISF Members.
- Communication and Media: Mr. Gabi Kool, President of the International Korfball Federation, introduced the Loyalty Programme, outlining its objectives, opportunities, and benefits, as well as valuable feedback from participating Federations.
- Safeguarding: An update on the ongoing collaboration between ARISF and the United Against Online Abuse campaign (UAOA) was shared, with plans for 2026 including participation in the Barometer of Online Abuse in Sport and the creation of dedicated webinars for ARISF Members.
- Anti-Doping: Updates were provided on the educational initiatives carried out in partnership with the ITA, including the ICSE Programme and the IF Series.
- Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions: ARISF reaffirmed its close cooperation with the Olympic Movement Unit on PMC. Mr. Marco Ienna, Executive Advisor to the ARISF Board, represent the Association on the PMC Advisory Board, with new educational opportunities planned for 2026.
- Sustainability: ARISF officially launched the AI Academy Engagement Platform, developed in collaboration with the Green Future Project, to provide Members with practical guidance and best practices in sustainability.
Statutory Amendments
The Assembly also approved amendments to the ARISF Statutes, including an important addition to Article 4.1, which reinforces the obligation of ARISF and its Members to comply with both the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Code PMC).
This amendment reflects ARISF’s continued commitment to the principles of the Olympic Charter, as well as the objectives set out in the ARISF Strategic Plan and the ARISF Map of Services.
The 2025 ARISF General Assembly reaffirmed the Association’s strong unity, shared vision, and continued commitment to supporting its Members in advancing good governance, integrity, and sustainability across all sports. With the election of the new Executive Board, the admission of a new Member Federation, and constructive exchanges on strategic priorities, ARISF continues to strengthen its role within the Olympic Movement as a key platform for collaboration, progress, and innovation.
