The International Surfing Association has held its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM)where a host of key governance decisions were made by the sport’s world governing authority.
A leading agenda item at the AGM was the election of two open positions for ISA Vice Presidents and one position for Regular Executive Committee Member.
Following 3 rounds of voting, Sally Fitzgibbons [AUS] and Karin Sierralta [PER] were elected as ISA Vice Presidents. Kimifumi Imoto [JPN] was elected as a Regular Executive Committee Member, reaffirming the value of these respected international leaders to the ISA over many years.
4-time ISA World Surfing Games Gold Medalist and Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Sally Fitzgibbons replaces Kirsty Coventry, Africa’s most successful Olympian and current IOC Executive Board Member. The ISA Executive Committee announced at the AGM that Coventry has been named Life Member and Member Emeritus following her years of service to the ISA. Pan American Surfing Association President, Karin Sierralta, was re-elected as Vice President and Kimifumi Imoto, who was Surfing Sport Manager at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, was re-elected as Regular Member.
The ISA AGM additionally approved the membership of British Virgin Islands (IVB) as the latest National Surfing Federation. The British Virgin Islands Surfing Federation is the 117th ISA Member worldwide – highlighting the expansion of the sport and the power of surfing to reach new territories and communities.
A series of amendments to the ISA Constitution were also passed. This included adding human rights and diversity as governance objectives the ISA will prioritize and promote. In addition, going forward, full Members of the ISA shall be from countries or territories with representation of a National Olympic Committee (NOC) in accordance with those NOCs recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Further highlights of the ISA AGM included:
· A report by ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, on the ISA’s Olympic activities, including surfing’s successful second Olympic appearance at Paris 2024, which was held on the magical waves of Tahiti, French Polynesia;
· Updates relating the LA 2028 Olympic Games in terms of event location, qualification and athlete seeding;
· Long-term Olympic inclusion looking ahead to Brisbane 2032
· Reports on the ISA Organization, Athlete Development, the ISA Medical Commission, Gender Equality Updates, ISA Membership and Development Updates, Anti-Doping, Sustainability and Development, including Para Surfing
Fernando Aguerre, President of the ISA, said:
“Following another incredible year for surfing and the ISA with our immensely successful Olympic event at Paris 2024 in Tahiti, this is a significant AGM as we accelerate our sport’s growth and make a positive impact on communities across the world.
“I wish to congratulate our newly elected ISA Vice Presidents, Sally Fitzgibbons and Karin Sierralta, and re-elected Executive Committee Member, Kimifumi Imoto. Their global sports expertise and leadership are a valuable resource for the ISA, and I am eager to keep collaborating to advance and grow surfing on a global scale.”
“The reforms we’ve introduced in recent years, along with today’s governance updates, reflect the ISA’s advancement as an International Federation fit for purpose for its role within the Olympic Movement. As we continue to evolve and modernize, we take pride in our dedication to growing surfing worldwide, expanding the sport into new regions, and ensuring we are open, inclusive, and uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency.”
The ISA was also pleased to receive a video message from the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach.
Thomas Bach, IOC President, said:
“My dear friend, Fernando Aguerre, dear Olympic friends… As you gather for your Annual General Meeting, let me express my heartfelt congratulations to all the surfers that took part in the sensational Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“The performance of your athletes celebrated your sport and the surfing community at its best, amazing the fans in one of the most beautiful settings that these Olympic Games had to offer – the stunning waves of Teahupo’o…
“With the great success of the Olympic surfing competitions, everyone of the International Surfing Association played an essential part in writing this new chapter of Olympic history. For this, you can rightly be very proud and totally stoked forever!
“…I would like to thank the ISA for being such a reliable partner in spreading the Olympic spirit around the world. Under the great leadership of your president, Fernando Aguerre, you keep riding the waves of progress, modernizing your federation and developing your sport…
“At your Annual General Meeting, you have every opportunity to set the course for a bright future – on the road to LA28, to Brisbane 2032 and beyond. …Let me reiterate that you can always count on the IOC as a partner by your side to promote our shared Olympic values of peace and solidarity.”
