On
the last and decisive day of the 58th ISU Congress, the assembly
elected with a total of 77 votes Mr. Jae Youl Kim (KOR), who becomes the 12th
President and the first from outside Europe to take the helm of the
International Skating Union. He succeeds Mr. Jan Dijkema (NED), who has been
leading the federation over the past six years.
On June 10, in front of the
Delegates of the ISU Congress, Mr. Jae Youl Kim from Korea presented his Manifesto for the position of ISU
President and obtained the largest election score of 77 votes – well beyond the
required majority of 60 votes. The three other candidates running for the
position were: Ms. Patricia St. Peter from the USA (24 votes),
Ms. Susanna Rahkamo from Finland (13 votes)
and Mr. Slobodan Delic from Serbia (5 votes).
Mr. Kim starts his four-year
mandate with the mission “Together, we can go further” and five priority areas
of focus: Growth, Opportunity, Innovation, Safeguarding and Unity. His vision
and program bring together these objectives into a clear goal: growing all ice
skating sports with a forward-looking approach by reaching new fans, markets
and young generations while safeguarding athletes and unity among ISU Members.
To support the new ISU
President in the accomplishment of this strategic plan, the ISU Congress voted
for the other key ISU Office Holders roles (full list of candidates here). Mr. Tron
Espeli from Norway became the first Vice President Speed Skating while Mr.
Benoit Lavoie from Canada was elected Vice President Figure Skating with a
total of 55 votes. For each of these Branches, a team of five Council Members
was also newly elected or re-elected, as detailed in the list of results here.
In addition, and for the first time in the history of the ISU, a
Representative of the Athletes Commission joins the ISU Council. Mr. Eric
Radford (CAN), Chair of the Athletes Commission, obtained 74 votes and
therefore fills this new position on the Council.
Finally, the ISU Congress ended this election process by voting on the
Chair and Members of the Disciplinary Commission as well as for the Technical
Committees across all ice skating disciplines. The detailed results are listed here.
Honorary President Mr. Jan Dijkema closed the
58th ISU Congress in Phuket with a heartfelt and emotional speech.
Earlier in the day, the ISU
Congress started with the Proposals regarding the General Regulations that were
sent to the Branch Sessions for discussion but had to be voted by the full
Congress session. The Delegates voted in favor of Proposals 16, 31, 36, 38. Proposals 17 and 18 were
discussed during the Speed Skating Branch Session and presented to the full
Congress. Both Proposals were accepted.
For further information on the ISU Congress, please visit our dedicated page which includes a summary of the most important
proposals, the agenda, information on where to watch the Congress, a list of
candidates for the different positions including for ISU President and more.