With 27 Europe, Africa and Middle East countries represented in Belgrade, Serbia, at the annual EAME Congress today, the extensive agenda created a great deal of positive debate. These included proposals put forward by Des Burke-Kennedy IRL of the IWSF on the sponsorship and TV challenges facing the sport. This was also an election year and the results have just been announced. The key appointments are Alain Amade FRA, President, Sid Adriaensen BEL, Secretary General and Dominique Lakens Douwes NED Treasurer. Alan Goggin GBR chaired the Congress.
Dr Bruno Fekete, President of the Water Ski Assoc.of
Serbia, the host organisation, welcomed Aleksandar Sostar, Serbia's Vice
Minister of Sport. He was a very successful international Water Polo star some
years ago and invited all delegates to enjoy the generous hospitality of
Belgrade.
Members of the EAME Councils were also elected and the competition for Council
places was hard fought. Andy Harris GBR was elected Honorary EAME member on
his retirement from a long and successful Barefoot career. The newly elected
EAME Patrons were Bruno Rixen, Rixen Cable Ski systems, Olaf Boettcher, IWSF
Technical Development, Klaus Boesch, Boesch Boats, Peter Methven, CorrectCraft
Boats and Ian Birdsall, MasterCraft Boats. Minutes of the EAME Congress will
be posted shortly on the EAME Website.
The 2009 EAME Congress will be held in Zagreb, Croatia, on January 31st. next year.