New Chair for FISA's Adaptive Rowing Commission

Lausanne, 30 September 2005 

Ho Kim Fay new Chair of the Adaptive Rowing Commission

The International Rowing Federation (FISA) has named Ho Kim Fai, known as Fay Ho, as the interim Chair of its Adaptive Rowing Commission starting 1st January 2006. She will succeed José Nunes of Portugal who recently announced to the FISA Council his wish to step down as Chair at the end of the year after serving in FISA for adaptive rowing over the past eight years.

Ho has been a member of FISA’s Adaptive Rowing Commission since its creation in 2001. She currently lives in Hong Kong and is the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Mentally Handicapped and the national director for Special Olympics Hong Kong.

An accomplished athlete, Ho has been recognised for her sporting achievements as the first athlete to represent Hong Kong in two sports at the Olympic Games (canoeing, Los Angeles 1984 and rowing, Barcelona 1992). She has also competed at eight World Rowing Championships and is a qualified rowing coach. Ho was awarded Badge of Honour for services to Hong Kong sport in the Queen’s birthday honours list 1996. She is fluent in English, Cantonese and Putonghua.

As chair of the Adaptive Rowing Commission Ho will be responsible for overseeing the work of the commission in all areas of adaptive rowing as well as serving as the voice within FISA for all adaptive rowers.

Earlier this year adaptive rowing was added for the first time to the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. The Adaptive Rowing Commission, under the guidance of Nunes, was instrumental in bringing adaptive rowing to the forefront of international rowing competition. It has been an integrated part of the World Rowing Championships since 2002 and has been growing and developing since.

Adaptive rowing is rowing or sculling for people with disabilities as well as for those with special needs. Adaptive implies that the equipment is ?adapted? to the user to practice the sport, rather than the sport being ?adapted? to the user.

For more information contact Marion Gallimore on +41 21 612 0226 or +41 79 706 7255 or E-mail: marion.gallimore@fisa.org