ZURICH, Switzerland, September 28. THE Ligue Europeenne de Natation (LEN) Congress, the League of European Swimming, gathered in Zurich for its 2008 Elective session.
Italy's Bartolo Consolo, LEN President since 1990, who decided to step down, received a standing ovation at the end of his speech where he listed LEN´s achievements during his presidency, most importantly, according to Consolo "the familiar relationships established between the members of LEN." Consolo was then acclaimed by the assembly and proclaimed Life Honorary President of LEN.
The presidential election results show former LEN Treasurer, Nory Kruchten (LUX) prevailing over Vice-President Gennady Aleshin (RUS) by 49 votes to 45.
The new Treasurer is Christa Thiel (GER), while Sven Folvik (NOR) has been confirmed as Secretary.
The LEN Congress has agreed to increase the number of Vice-Presidents from two to five and overall has elected the following Bureau, in office until 2013:
Nory KRUCHTEN (LUX) President
Sven FOLVIK (NOR) Secretary
Christa THIEL (GER) Treasurer
Gennady ALESHIN (RUS) Vice-President
Dimitri DIATHESOPOULOS (GRE) Vice-President
Tamas GYARFAS (HUN) Vice-President
Francis LUYCE (FRA) Vice-President
Erik Van HEIJNINGEN (NED) Vice-President
Jerzy KOWALSKI (POL) Bureau Member
Erich MEYER (SUI) Bureau Member
Andriy VLASKOV (UKR) Bureau Member
Robert EBEJER (MLT) Bureau Member
Paolo BARELLI (ITA) Bureau Member
David SPARKES (GBR) Bureau Member
Ivan VARVODIC (CRO) Bureau Member
Kurt MIKKOLA (FIN) Bureau Member
Juan KONINCKX BATALLER (ESP) Bureau Member
Kruchten, Barelli, Gyarfas and Diathesopoulos have been voted by the Congress as European representatives for the next FINA Bureau, while Thiel and Folvik will have to be elected from the "World at large" to enter the FINA Bureau at the next FINA Congress.
Special thanks to LEN for contributing this report.