Changes to IF governance review presented at dedicated ASOIF workshop
During the ASOIF Governance Workshop, organised by ASOIF’s Governance Task Force (GTF) on 27 April in Lausanne, Switzerland, more than 50 representatives from the Summer and Winter Olympic International Federations (IFs) exchanged good practices, learnt from each other and discussed solutions to shared challenges. During the meeting, ASOIF also presented some important changes to the fifth review of IF governance which will kick off in October. The aim of the project is to promote and foster a culture of better governance within the IFs and help drive continuous progress.
After four rounds of assessments in six years, the GTF recognised it was time for some more substantial modifications which take into account the progress the IFs have achieved as well as latest evolutions in sport governance. Whereas almost all indicators from the 2021-22 edition will be retained, the next governance review will see the addition of ten new indicators, covering fields like human rights, athletes’ rights, diversity, gender equality, environmental impacts, anti-corruption and audit standards. During the revision process, the GTF also consulted with an expert group of IF representatives set up specifically for this purpose.
Francesco Ricci Bitti, ASOIF President and GTF Chair said during the meeting:
The update to the assessment is an important evolution, but on purpose not a revolution. The process is robust and allows to monitor the progress of IF governance over the years. It’s important to keep this successful system in place and ensure consistency, while remaining agile and relevant at the same time. That’s why the indicators will be adapted to the latest governance standards and societal trends.
During interactive panel discussions, the participants exchanged views and best practice on pressing topics of common interest like the governance of National and Continental Federations; internal decision-making at different levels; and managing IF elections.
The Workshop also featured a number of external speakers specialised in governance and integrity topics in sport. GTF member Snežana Samardžić-Marković, independent senior expert for human rights in sport and former Director General of Democracy at the Council of Europe, opened the Workshop by highlighting the importance of better governance and pragmatic approaches, as reflected in the IF governance review. Another GTF member, Pâquerette Girard Zappelli, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), outlined the IOC’s revised Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance and the IPACS Sport Governance Benchmark. Pierre Kilian, Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, shared his advice regarding financial control with the attending 30 IFs.