New FISA president Jean-Christophe Rolland takes office

For immediate release
Lucerne, 13 July 2014

Jean-Christophe Rolland has taken over as the President of FISA. Rolland received the symbolic key to the FISA headquarters from Denis Oswald at a gala dinner held during the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland on Saturday night.

The evening was a celebration of Oswalds’ time with FISA and the Olympic movement as well as a welcome to Rolland’s presidency in the presence of guests from the wider sporting world including honorary President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge, International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven, IOC Vice President John Coates and past president of Sportaccord Hein Verbruggen. Also in attendance were National Olympic Committee presidents from around the world, several IOC members and sport dignitaries.

Rolland addressed Oswald’s remarkable career and the contribution he made to the development of rowing. “I would like to say that we are very lucky in FISA.” said Rolland. “If we do have debates and discussions, it is never linked with any personal interests, manipulations or financial embezzlements, but always for the good of rowing and the rowers. You always put the interests of the athletes first and at the heart of discussions.”

Olympic Champion in 2000 for France, Rolland is in his 21st year as part of FISA. He became involved as an athlete when he joined the FISA Athletes’ Commission in 1994. He was then elected chair of the Athletes’ Commission in 2002 and thus became part of the FISA Council. In 2004 Rolland was elected to the Executive Committee.

Rolland holds a master’s degree in electrical, electronics and communications engineering. He has worked for EDF, one of the world’s leading electric utility companies, since 1993. Recently, Rolland managed EDF’s sponsorship programme with the London 2012 Olympic Games Organising Committee. Since moving to Lausanne, Switzerland as part of his role  with EDF, Rolland is able to work voluntarily as FISA President.

Elected as FISA President-Elect in September 2013 at the FISA Congress, Rolland has spent the last nine months working with Oswald in transferring knowledge of the presidential role.

For photos contact: Jillian O’Mara, jillian.omara@fisa.org

For more information links:
http://www.worldrowing.com/news/oswald-hands-over-fisa-presidency
http://www.worldrowing.com/news/president-denis-oswald-looks-back