‘Kirsty’s victory shows IOC consensus’

INTERNATIONAL Equestrian Federation (FEI) president, Ingmar De Vos, hailed Kirsty Coventry’s election as the new International Olympic Committee (IOC) president as a “clear message to the world” during a press conference on Tuesday following the two-day FEI Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry for winning the election in the first round, which I believe sends a very clear message to the outside that there is a kind of consensus in the IOC,” De Vos said.

Coventry, a Zimbabwean Olympian, became the IOC’s first female and African president after her election at the 144th IOC Session in Greece on March 20.

De Vos noted he held extensive discussions with Coventry ahead of the vote.

“We talked about the priorities that we see for the new president. She basically agreed that the focus should come back to the sport . . . The core business of the IOC is to organise the Olympic Games.

“And we believe that folks should go with more in that direction.”

The 2025 FEI Forum addressed key topics, including qualification systems for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, rule updates for jumping, eventing, driving, and para-driving, and a strategic dressage action plan.

The qualification period for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic team and individual events will begin with the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, and conclude on December 31, 2027.

“We have a clear consultation with our national (and regional) federations about this, and we will then submit the proposal for the qualification this year and for the rules next year to be endorsed by our national (and regional) federations at our General Assembly (in 2026),” said FEI secretary-general Sabrina Ibanez.

De Vos, serving his third and final term as FEI president until 2026, emphasised ensuring the organisation’s stability.

“I think for me, the most important piece is to leave the FEI in good hands. I think when I leave, the organisation will be in a much healthier financial situation than when I arrived,” said the 61-year-old Belgian.

De Vos was elected as the president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) at the 48th ASOIF General Assembly in April 2024, and officially started his four-year mandate on January 1, 2025.

“I want to improve the communication between the (ASOIF) members, with the IOC, and the interaction with the organising committees of the Games, as well as with WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), with International Testing Agency (ITA), with all other bodies that have an impact and are not involved in the sport,” he said when sharing his anticipation about the ASOIF.

Next year’s FEI Forum will focus on Olympic and Paralympic regulations, including competition formats, horse ownership policies, and accreditation processes. – Xinhua/Sports Reporter.