The FIM Board of Directors met in Mies, Switzerland on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 May.
From left to right: Steve AESCHLIMANN (FIM CEO), Stephan CARAPIET (FIM Asia President), Jorge VIEGAS (FIM Board Member), Pedro VENTURO (FIM Latin America President), Marilynn BASTEDO (FIM North America President), Glen WILLIAMS (FIM Oceania President), Jacques BOLLE (FIM Board Member), Vito IPPOLITO (FIM President), Marco COMANA (FIM Africa President), Andrzej WITKOWSKI (FIM Vice-President), Wolfgang SRB (FIM Europe President), Jos DRIESSEN (FIM Board Member), Jorgen BITSCH (FIM Board Member).
The Governance Committee (which met on 23 May) and the Board received an expert in sport governance who addressed several key governance-related themes (in particular the conflict of interest at board level, the needed split between governance and management sides of an organisation, the role of Board members in an International Sports Federation).
The FIM President, who is also chair of the FIM Governance Committee, stressed the need to ensure that the FIM keeps abreast of best practices in sports governance, as good governance is vital to both the reputation of the FIM and its operational success.
The FIM Awards and Recognition and Affiliation Board Committees as well as the CONU Presidents also met on 23 May.
The Affiliation Committee reported to the Board on several pending matters related to FMNs.
The Awards & Recognition Committee, chaired by FIM Vice President Andzrej Witkowski, reported to the Board on the status of the FIM’s recognition programmes and on the process for awarding FIM distinctions.
The CONU Presidents then presented their reports to the Board notably their road maps for 2018-2020. The Board requested FIM Asia to fix a permanent General Secretariat within two months.
The FIM CEO, Mr Steve Aeschlimann, presented his report followed by the Sports, Programme and Finance Directors.
The CEO presented an R&D project aimed at improving safety on motorcycling tracks, reported on the FIM attendance to the International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA) Spring Congress where the future of mobility (and its consequences for motorcyclists) was discussed. He also presented the initial results of the survey of FMNs, launched this spring for the first time following the amendment to the FIM By-Laws adopted by the General Assembly in 2017.
The Sports Director, Mr Fabio Muner, focused on Trial safety highlighting the decision of making back and knee protectors compulsory as from 2019 season, education (the first sports webinar, i.e. Motocross), and the future of electric bicycles in sport. He also reported on progress made in Endurance and Enduro.
The Programmes Director, Mr Damiano Zamana, presented an update on FIM subsidies schemes. He added that the “We the Riders” road safety campaign could be launched at the MotoGP round in Austria (in early August). He updated the Board on a number of initiatives developed by the Beyond Sport Commissions (Public Affairs, Women in Motorcycling, Sustainability and Touristic Gatherings). Finally, he presented the new online education platform that includes modules for basis learning and the interactive mock-up of the internal communication platform, knowledge sharing center for the entire FIM Family.
The Board approved the 2017 Audited Financial Statements and took note of the 2018 financial forecast.
The FIM Deputy CEO, Mr Richard Perret, presented his report on the Corporate Services: Legal, Commercial and Medical. In particular, he updated the Board on contractual and commercial matters such as the FIM 2018 Ice Speedway Gladiators, which ran very successfully with a new title sponsor, Lukoil.
In terms of medical and anti-doping activities, he highlighted the “Say No! to Doping” campaign, launched at the MotoGP round in Qatar in March of this year.
The FIM Communication Manager, Ms Isabelle Larivière, presented the report of the Communication Department. In particular, she presented the communication plan for the “Say No! to Doping” campaign and the FIM communication activity around the first round of the 2018 International Bridgestone Handy Race that took place in Le Mans ahead of the GP de France.
The Director for the CEO Office, Planning and Projects, Mrs Françoise Emery, presented an update on preparations for the 2018 FIM General Assembly and FIM Awards Ceremony that will take place in Andorra on the first weekend of December.
The Board ratified the appointments of the FIM Commission Directors for the four year term beginning on 1 January 2019. The following members have been appointed:
Sporting Commissions CCR – Mr Franck Vayssié – QMMF (Qatar) CMS – Mr Tony Skillington – MCUI (Ireland) CCP – Mr Armando Castagna – FMI (Italy) CTR – Mr Thierry Michaud – FFM (France) CRT – Mr Larbi Rida Sbai – FRMM (Morocco) CEN – Mr John Collins – ACU (Great Britain) CTI – Mr Fabio Fazi – FMI (Italy)
Beyond Sport Commissions CAP – Ms Francesca Marozza – FMI (Italy) CFM – Ms Nita Korhonen – SML (Finland) CTL – Mr Nuno Trêpa Leite – FMP (Portugal) CID – Mr Marius Matthee – MSA (South Africa)
Medical and Judges Commissions CMI – Dr David McManus – MCUI (Ireland) CJI – Mr Anand Sashidharan – FMSCI (India)