A long sprint: the sports federations will go to the vote from September – after the Paris 2024 Games. There could be quite a few surprises this time. Meanwhile, the law has changed: the presidents cared a lot about it, but someone, with these rules, risks big. Having missed the limit on mandates (maximum three), you can now run again even if you have reached eight mandates, this is the case of Sabatino Aracu and Luciano Rossi, in office since 1993 (eight mandates).
They are the veterans of the presidents who also see Vincenzo Iaconianni, Paolo Barelli, Franco Chimenti, Angelo Binaghi, Ugo Claudio Matteoli and Mario Scarzella with six mandates each. However, to be re-elected – those who have reached three mandates – must reach two thirds of the vote this time, 66.6 percent. For some it could be an insurmountable obstacle. Furthermore, it is foreseen that the outgoing president, if he does not pass in the first vote, can no longer stand for re-election. Out forever.
A rule wanted by Minister Andrea Abodi which some managers don’t like, but everyone voted for it in the National Council, otherwise CONI would have been placed under commissionership. Now there are some senior executives who would like to go back to the old way: that is, to 50 percent plus one, which involves less risk. But it is not certain that Abodi can take steps backwards: initially the minister had even argued that three terms, 12 years, were more than enough. Then, there was the raid on Parliament and the decision of the Constitutional Court.
Going back is very complicated, given that the spirit of the law is to encourage renewal and avoid income positions. However, in September we start, among the first Federations to vote are Paolo Barelli’s Federnuoto and Maurizio Casasco’s Federmedici, two sports managers who are also deputies of Forza Italia and who have done very well in recent years. Both will have no problems being reconfirmed. Then, gradually, all the others.
Franco Chimenti, golf leader who brought the Ryder Cup to Italy, should have two rivals: Ivan Rota (65 years old, entrepreneur, regional councilor in Lombardy for Forza Italia) and another who could come out in April. It is possible that even at the Fise (Italian Equestrian Sports Federation) there are two challengers for the current n.1 Marco Di Paola, a very active manager in recent years. At the Fip, the Italian Basketball Federation, the Roman lawyer Guido Valori is ready to challenge Gianni Petrucci, a very long-standing manager (14 years at the helm of CONI). Petrucci has been president of basketball since 12 January 2013: he is therefore called upon, based on current rules, to reach 66.6 percent of the votes but Valori is confident in the support of the Regional Committees of Lombardy, Veneto and Lazio. It will be a great challenge.
Corrado Barazzutti has already run against president Angelo Binaghi, in office since 2000 and who has achieved exceptional results in tennis: there has also been an unconfirmed rumor of a candidacy by former champion Flavia Pennetta. But Binaghi remains the clear favourite.
In Fidal, Stefano Mei is aiming straight for his second mandate (and at least six medals at the Paris 2024 Games): Sabrina Fraccaroli and Giacomo Leoni will take to the field against him with the “L’athletics 2024” group. As far as the Fisr (Italian Roller Sports Federation) is concerned, Sabatino Aracu, after having brought skateboarding to the Olympics, could choose to remain at the helm only of World Skate. Just as Antonio Urso could decide to leave the national position and remain general secretary and treasurer of the international one, where he is doing an excellent job, also praised by Thomas Bach.
Among the presidents, Alberto Miglietta, former leader of badminton and CEO of Coni Servizi, could return to the top: a Milanese accountant with strong passion and expertise in the world of sport. Nothing is moving on the FIGC for now: Gabriele Gravina is under attack, but still very strong, he also demonstrated this in the last federal council. In other Federations there could be news, but the alignments will only move later.
And at Coni? The current law provides only three mandates for Giovanni Malagò. Coni, like Cip, Aci, Areoclub and Uits, is a public body, therefore subject to rules different from those of the sports federations. Malagò hopes to still have a mandate, but for now nothing is moving. If he does not succeed in his aim of convincing political friends (and enemies), Malagò will remain in office at Palazzo H only until May 2025. After that, who knows. Many could run for the Coni seat. But making predictions now is impossible.
#Federations #vote #change #law..
– 2024-04-04 04:43:07
