Sven Holmberg Announces Campaign Ticket
14 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Sven Holmberg Announces Campaign Ticket
Sven Holmberg of Sweden has selected Catherine Weber de Rize of Guatemala to be his 1st vice president if he is elected as president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) where he now serves as 1st vice president. He named New Zealand’s Chris Hodson to be second vice president.
Henk Rottinghuis of the Netherlands recently announced his selections of David O’Connor of the United States and Chris Hodson as 1st and 2nd vice presidents, respectively, if he is chosen by the 133 member nations of the FEI to replace current president, Princess Haya of Jordan, who is seeking a second four-year term. The election will take place at the General Assembly next week in Taipei.
Holmberg said he made his selections after “extensive discussions” with national federations and the chairs of the FEI Groups that represent geographic regions as well as others in the equestrian community.
He said Catherine Weber de Rize had proved to be a “doer” by making things happen and he decided to select Catherine Weber de Rize as “my candidate” over David O’Connor and several others. She is the chair of Group V, one of nine FEI geographic groups, that includes Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
O´Connor, he said, was “very well known and highly respected” but he wanted to continue his activities as coach and team leader in Eventing–he coaches the Canadian team which won silver at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky–while also taking on a wider role in the FEI.
“Catherine Weber de Rize, coming from a Group with several smaller NF´s and where many countries are in the process of developing the sport intensely, can contribute with experience from that area and prove to be a valuable in expanding our sport,” Holmberg said.
Christopher Hodson was Sven Holmberg´s first choice as 2nd vice president based on his “great legal expertise and huge experience.”
A centerpiece of Holmberg’s campaign is the appointment of an executive board with representation from Asia, Africa, Europe and North America and an athlete.
