On January 1, 2025, Ingmar De Vos began his four-year term as president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Sports Federations (ASOIF), after being elected at the 48th General Assembly in April 2024. He succeeds Francesco Ricci Bitti, who led the organization for 12 years.
De Vos, also president of the International Equestrian Federation since 2014 and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2017, stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen the dialogue with the International Federations (IFs). “Maintaining and strengthening open and constructive dialogue will be a key priority,” he said.
THE LEGACY OF FRANCESCO RICCI BITTI
In his speech, De Vos paid tribute to his predecessor, Ricci Bitti, for his achievements in governance and collaboration among the FIs. “His leadership has driven significant advances, leaving a lasting legacy for which we are deeply grateful.”
Under Ricci Bitti’s presidency, ASOIF consolidated advisory groups and strengthened cohesion among its members, a legacy that De Vos pledges to continue as ASOIF faces new challenges in the Olympic Movement landscape.
NEW MEMBERS FOR ASOIF IN 2025
ASOIF welcomes four new associate members: the International Cricket Council (ICC), the International Federation of American Football, World Lacrosse and World Squash. These organizations will join in the preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and future competitions. With these new members, ASOIF strengthens its representation on key bodies such as the World Anti-Doping Agency, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and various IOC commissions.
De Vos assumes the presidency at a time of significant change, with recent elections at the IFs and the upcoming election of the new IOC President in March 2025. ASOIF will focus its efforts on the Dakar 2026, LA28 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. In addition, the body will continue to address shared challenges through its Governance Task Force and Advisory Groups, which will remain key platforms for dialogue and action.
The first major event under De Vos’ leadership will be the ASOIF Board meeting on January 22, followed by the 49th General Assembly during the SportAccord 2025 Convention. This year will be crucial in defining the organization’s strategy for the next Olympic cycle, with governance and inclusion as key pillars.
