By Brian Oliver
Dr Astrit Hasani from Kosovo is the new President of the European Weightlifting Federation. In a head-to-head between two candidates, Dr Hasani polled 24 votes against 19 for the incumbent italian Antonio Conflitti from Moldova.
“I am deeply honoured and truly humbled by your confidence to elect me as the President of European Weightlifting Federation,” Dr Hasani told delegates at the EWF Electoral Congress in Chisinau, Moldova, host city for the senior European Championships which begin on Sunday.
“I will lead a team who will show genuine transparency. Europe will be truly united and we will choose the best people for the next IWF Congress.”
The topic of unity within European weightlifting was often raised during the Congress, including by the IWF President Mohammed Jalood.
At one point Jalood suggested that delegates might want to postpone or adjourn the elections, despite practical and Constitutional difficulties. Dr Hasani spoke strongly in favour of unity, and of Jalood’s global leadership, but he was against any delay in voting.
“According to the article 4.2.2 of the EWF Constitution we should have the elections today. We don’t want to postpone and tomorrow to be subject to any legal challenge. We do not want to spend money on legal fees – instead we should use this money for more European training camps and seminars in favour of coaches and athletes,” he said before the vote.
“Our Constitution says that during the year after the Olympic Games the EWF shall hold elections. I just want to be sure we follow our own Constitution. We need to be united. Whoever takes the majority today must be the leader.”
Milan Mihajlovic from Serbia will serve a second term as General Secretary after being re-elected by a wide margin. Tina Beiter was unopposed as First Vice-President, becoming the first woman to hold that role.
The three vice-presidents are Jesmond Caruana (Malta), Stian Grimseth (Norway), Nedim Masic (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Other EB elected member are Patrick Helgesson (SWE), Dusan Kovac (CZE), Tomas Chovanec (SVK), Ilva Alushaj (ALB), Triin Podersoo (EST), and Patrick Fassott (Germany).
Dr Hasani, the first Albanian ever to hold a leadership role at any continental sports federation, said he was keen for the EWF to align its Constitution more closely to the IWF’s. He takes the Presidency immediately.
