|
LIMA, Sept. 15-- The President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Ingmar De Vos, was elected on Friday a member of the International Olympic Committee. In an exclusive interview to Xinhua, De Vos commented on his election, where he received 70 out of 78 votes, and professional sports management and the role of international sports federations. "It is a big honor to me to be elected an IOC member. I believe it is also recognition for the work at the International Federation, especially in embracing Olympic Agenda 2020. I am elected as a representative of the international federations, so I believe that it is my role in the IOC membership to represent the interests of the International Federations in the best way possible," he said. De Vos has long experience in this field: he started his career in equestrian sports management in the Belgian Equestrian Federation, then migrated to the European Federation. He has been in FEI since 2011, first as secretary-general and later as president, an is the first non-royal president in 60 years. According to him, the international sports federations' management has become more professional in recent years. Equestrian sports are growing all over the world, and FEI has been working to keep up with the times. Both are moving into more professional management and connecting to the community and sports fans in a more ample manner. "We have also been much more active in fields in which we were less active in the past, like the digital media, the social media. I try to connect to the fanbase through all new channels, and I believe we are moving into a more professional leadership in International Federations. I think it is the right thing, because in the end we need to serve our community and sport in a professional way," De Vos said. | 
