Rowing President Influences World Sport

FISA President Denis Oswald has been voted the fifth most influential sports personality in the world by Sport Intern magazine up from seventh place last year. The results of the 42-person jury were revealed in the first issue of 2002 of the “International Inside Sports Newsletter”.

Tied for first place are Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA (the international football federation) and Jacques Rogge International Olympic Committee (IOC) president.

Oswald who is also an IOC Executive Board member as well as president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations also took on an important role this year when named to head the Coordination Commission for Athens 2004. The three time Olympic rower will be a key figure in the lead up to the next summer Olympic Games.

A bronze medallist in the coxed fours at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico city, Oswald has been president of the international rowing federation since 1989.