The International World Games Association -IWGA- approved constitutional amendments on October 4 that restructure its Executive Committee and introduce three vice-presidential positions. The decision was taken during its Extraordinary General Meeting at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, on the eve of the SportAccord International Federations Forum. The association links the new model to leadership continuity and succession planning.
The transitional arrangements provide for Jan Fransoo, previously Vice-President, to become First Vice-President, while John Liljelund assumes a vice-presidential position and relinquishes the Treasurer title. Thomas Konietzko completes the structure following his election to the third position. Nearly 70 representatives of International Federations attended the meeting, with 34 voting members. The constitutional amendments and transitional arrangements were approved by a majority.
Leadership continuity and succession planning
The reform had been announced ahead of the meeting. In July, the IWGA presented the candidates for an additional vice-presidential position, with the election conditional on members approving the constitutional amendments. The organisation explained that the process sought to improve its governance structure, support leadership continuity and facilitate succession planning. Approval of the amendments enabled the election to proceed and the revised allocation of positions to take effect during the current term.
IWGA President Anna Arzhanova highlighted the changes’ role in supporting institutional continuity: “They will help us ensure continuity, strengthen our leadership structure.” She also congratulated Konietzko, thanked both candidates for their willingness to serve the association and acknowledged the Member Federations’ participation in the reform process. The additional Vice-President will serve until 2030, when the current Executive Committee’s term ends.
Konietzko joins the leadership as Vice-President
Konietzko, from Germany, received 30 votes against four for Great Britain’s Pete Dyer, with no abstentions. The German official comes from canoeing and paddlesport and is President of Paddle Worldwide, the new name of the International Canoe Federation -ICF-, under which he was presented in this election. Dyer has a longstanding administrative background within the Tug of War International Federation -TWIF-, where he was re-elected Senior Vice-President in 2025. His candidacy highlighted his experience in regulatory affairs, anti-doping and organising international championships.
Konietzko’s election follows an earlier bid to join the IWGA leadership. In April 2026, he initially stood for the vice-presidential position but withdrew his candidacy before the vote. As a result, no election for the position took place. The introduction of the three-vice-president structure now allows Konietzko to join the Executive Committee for the remainder of the 2026–2030 term. In his new candidature statement, he said: “I aim to strengthen the collective voice of member federations,” offering his experience in leading a multidisciplinary federation and supporting non-Olympic sports.
Restructuring after the presidential transition
The changes come five months after Arzhanova’s election as President on April 25, also at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. She received 29 votes and succeeded José Perurena, who had led the association since 2014. That General Meeting elected the Executive Committee for the 2026–2030 term, with Fransoo as Vice-President and Liljelund as Treasurer. October’s Extraordinary General Meeting changes that allocation of responsibilities through the constitutional reform and the election of an additional Vice-President.
The meeting also recognised Tom Dielen’s service by naming him an Honorary Life Member of the Executive Committee. Dielen served on the committee from 2006 to 2018 and as Vice-President from 2023 to 2026. The IWGA awarded the distinction in recognition of his longstanding commitment and contributions to the association.
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