World Sailing President and Board Elected
by World Sailing 9 Nov 06:33 PST
World Sailing President Quanhai Li addresses World Sailing’s 2023 Annual Conference in Málaga © World Sailing
During the 2024 World Sailing General Assembly, the concluding session of the 2024 Annual Conference, representatives from World Sailing Member National Authorities cast their votes in the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections.
Incumbent President Quanhai Li (CHN) was re-elected for another four-year term.
Quanhai Li garnered 55 votes, Rodion Luka (UKR) received two votes, and Philippe Rogge (BEL) obtained 29 votes in the sole round of voting.
Özlem Akdurak (TUR), Daniel Belcher (AUS), Tomasz Chamera (POL), Beatriz González Luna (MEX), Line Markert (DEN), Josep Pla Maronda (AND), and Cory Sertl (USA) were elected as Vice Presidents to join the World Sailing Board.
Each Board member will serve a four-year term, after which another election will occur.
With the new World Sailing Governance structure, voting delegates had to select an equal number of male and female candidates, ensuring gender parity on the World Sailing Board. The final Board member will be the new Chair of the Athletes’ Committee, elected by the Committee in the New Year.
In his first address to the MNAs and stakeholders in Singapore after the elections, President Quanhai Li expressed gratitude to the delegates and pledged to work for the sport’s benefit over the next four years.
World Sailing concludes final phase of Governance Reform and endorses new strategy.
The 2024 World Sailing Annual Conference concluded with the last Council meeting and General Assembly under the previous Board, where the final phase of Governance reform proposals was unanimously approved by the Council.
Approved without dissent, the new Governance structure will take immediate effect, introducing a more efficient decision-making process, focused committees, a new Code of Ethics, and an improved disciplinary process.
These changes will enhance the federation’s efficiency and improve transparency, aligning with the expectations of a contemporary global sporting organization.
The World Sailing Council also unanimously endorsed the new five-year plan, “Ready for the Future,” which will guide the sport through 2029. This strategy emphasizes four priorities: Commercial and Events, Growth, Governance, and Impact.
The Republic of Tajikistan was welcomed as the latest member of World Sailing and will be assigned to Group H.
