At the LEN Extraordinary Congress held in Frankfurt, Antonio da Silva (POR) was elected the new LEN President with a 96 percent majority among the 47 federations present and three additional attending online. Former Dutch artistic swimmer Andida Bouma became the first woman to be elected as LEN General Secretary. In his closing remarks, FINA President Husain al-Musallam said it was time “to work together as one family.”
The LEN Extraordinary Congress voted 92 to 8 to dismiss the previous Bureau. The Congress then elected a new Bureau – for the first time in the history of European Aquatics, LEN has a female General Secretary, Andida Bouma of the Netherlands. Tomas Kucinskas of Lithuania is the new LEN Treasurer, while Kyriakos Giannopoulos (GRE), Christer Magnusson (SWE), Gilles Sezionale (FRA), Marco Troll (GER) and Josip Varvodic (CRO) are the new LEN Vice-Presidents.
FINA President Husain Al-Musallam joined the event via remote connection to address the LEN Congress.
I would like to congratulate the LEN Family for the successful conclusion of this important Congress – it is important for the future of LEN and all the aquatics around the world” the FINA President said. “I believe it’s time to work as one family. Our goal should be to support the aquatic movement and our athlete with every single step we take. Everybody may have a different opinion, but we should be united to support the development of aquatics. Europe is very important for the world – and the world needs the help of Europe. With the new president and his team, FINA count on Europe in supporting the development of aquatic sports.”
In his first speech as LEN President, da Silva said, “We had the courage to stand up and fight for a better future for all federations and all the aquatic disciplines. We stood up and fought for the principles of unity, for openness and transparency for the sacred principles of democracy. We spoke out and demanded that LEN work with FINA for the good of the sport worldwide. We can no longer exist in isolation; together we are stronger.”
The new LEN Bureau
- President: Antonio da Silva (POR)
- General Secretary: Andida Bouma (NED)
- Treasurer: Tomas Kucinskas (LTU)
- Vice-Presidents:
Kyriakos Giannopoulos (GRE), Christer Magnusson (SWE), Gilles Sezionale (FRA), Marco Troll (GER), Josip Varvodic (CRO)
- Members:
Jack Buckner (GBR), Ewen A Cameron (SUI), Fernando Carpena (ESP), Rokur i Jakupsstovu (FAR), Pia Johansen (DEN), Milos Mracevic (MNE), Petr Ryska (CZE), Erkan Yalcin (TUR), Noam Zwi (ISR)
- FINA Bureau Members:
Kyriakos Giannopoulos (GRE), Otylia Jedzrejczak (POL), Josip Varvodic (CRO), Sami Wahlman (FIN) – to be ratified by the FINA Bureau