International Rowing Federation President Denis Oswald Plans to Exit Post

International Rowing Federation president Denis Oswald has revealed he will remain in charge of the organisation only for a temporary basis.

At a 2013 FISA Extraordinary Congress staged over the weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Swiss IOC member revealed he would seek re-election Sept. 2 at the FISA Ordinary Congress – but only for a “transitional period” of six to eight months.

“The Council had agreed to stage the election of his successor at the same Congress in order to assist the newly elected ‘president-elect’ in the transfer of knowledge and introductions around in the international sports world after having held the position 24 years,” explains FISA.

Oswald, who handed over the reins of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations last month, was first elected FISA president in 1989. 

National federations are asked to declare possible candidates for his successor to FISA by June 2.

Also at the congress a proposal to add women’s lightweight single sculls to the Olympics has failed to gain approval from rowing’s governing body.

Rowing federation FISA says the Canadian proposal was withdrawn over the weekend at the federation’s congress in Copenhagen .

There are currently six women’s events on the Olympic program, with eight for men.

Meanwhile, the congress approved the reintroduction of the women’s four event for the world championships. The event had been removed after the 2011 worlds.

The congress also rejected a proposal to eliminate the men’s coxed pair event.