Perurena Continues for Third Term as ICF President

Baku, Nov 26, 2016: Perurena, Jose Perurena’s (ESP) leadership of the International Canoe Federation will continue for a third term following a vote of confidence at the XXXVI ICF Congress in Baku, Azerbijan.

The Spaniard, who stood unopposed, spoke passionately about his vision for the future of the sport and demonstrated his ability to deliver organisational change with his proposed new governance structure gaining the backing of his peers.

“I have been involved in canoeing for my whole life and it’s a great honour to be chosen to lead this sport through the next Olympic cycle as we move towards Tokyo 2020,” said Perurena.

“This Congress has shown that our sport is in good hands and that administration is open minded and keen to progress.

“I was pleased that at Thursday’s Extraordinary Congress we gained support for our new governance structure.

“This provides a clear message that, as a sport, we are ready for future and now [Continental Presidents added to the Executive Committee] have guaranteed global representations within our executive committee.

“As a Congress we have put forward several motions to increase gender equality both on and off the water, this point was underlined here in Azerbaijan with an exact 50:50 split of candidates for the three vice-president positions and under the new structure we are guaranteed that both genders will be represented.

The president continued, “I would also like to say a big thank you to the Azerbaijan Canoe Federation that have worked tirelessly to ensure a successful event.”

Three-time Olympic champion Tony Estanguet (FRA) was re-elected as a vice president, with German Canoe Federation President Thomas Konietzko and Pan American Canoe Federation chief Cécilia Farias of Argentina also securing vice presidents slots.

Luciano Buonfiglio retained his position as the ICF treasurer after being re-elected ahead of Australia’s Danielle Woodward and Denmark’s Christian Jakobsen.

Frank Garner remains the chair of the ICF Canoe Sprint Committee, with the Canadian being re-elected ahead of Miroslav Haviar of Slovakia, Hungary’s Istvan Vaskuti and Russia’s Nikolay Mordvin.

Croatia’s Tomislav Crnkovic was elected unopposed as chair of the Wildwater Committee, replacing Germany’s Jens Perlwitz in the post.

Andrea Donzelli was unseated as the Canoe Polo Committee chair, with Britain’s Greg Smale defeating the Italian.

France’s Jean-Michel Prono and Denmark’s Jorn Cronberg, the Canoe Slalom and Marathon Committee chairs, were unopposed for re-election in their positions.

Medical and Anti-Doping Committee chair Donald McKenzie of Canada and Freestyle Committee official Lluis Rabaneda i Caselles of Spain also retained their posts without challenge.

As did Ocean Racing Committee chair Mario Santos of Portugal and Paracanoe Committee chair John Edwards of Canada.

Rundown of elected positions at the XXXVI ICF Congress in Baku, Azerbijan.

President
Jose Perurena (ESP).

ICF Vice Presidents
Cécilia Farias (ARG)
Tony Estanguet (FRA)
Thomas Konietzko (GER)

Treasurer
Luciano Buonfiglio (ITA)

Canoe Sprint Chair
Frank Garner (CAN)

Canoe Slalom Chair
Jean-Michel Prono (FRA)

Canoe Polo Chair
Greg Smale

Wildwater Canoeing Chair
Tomislav Crnkovic (CRO)

Canoe Marathon Chair
Jorn Cronberg (DEN)

Paracanoe Chair
John Edwards

Canoe Freestyle Chair
Lluis Rabaneda i Caselles

Ocean Racing Chair
Mario Santos

Medical and Anti-doping Chair
Donald McKenzie. —- ICF