Gianni Merlo wins 76.85% of the vote at the 88th AIPS Congress to extend his presidency for a sixth and final term.
LAUSANNE | By Sayer Zaland
Gianni Merlo has been re-elected as President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), securing a decisive victory at the 88th AIPS Congress held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
The Italian official received 83 out of 108 valid votes, representing 76.85 percent, comfortably defeating Hungary’s Zsuzsa Csisztu, who collected 25 votes. The result extends Merlo’s leadership for another four-year cycle, marking his sixth and final term in office.
The election reaffirmed institutional continuity within AIPS, with Merlo emphasizing a forward-looking agenda focused on adapting to evolving media landscapes and strengthening opportunities for younger generations in sports journalism.
In other key results, Kenya’s Evelyn Watta was elected First Vice President with a commanding 99 votes, while Manuel Queiroz of Portugal assumed the role of Treasurer by acclamation. The Vice President positions were filled by Gao Chao (China), Ernesto Ortiz Gomez (Uruguay), Michal Dusik (Czechia), and Maarja Värv (Estonia).
A total of 12 members were also elected to the Executive Committee from a competitive field of 24 candidates, reflecting a geographically diverse leadership structure.
The Congress also approved significant governance reforms, including the introduction of a presidential term limit of 12 years, which will take effect from the next cycle, and an age cap of 75 for Executive Committee members at the time of election.
As AIPS navigates a rapidly changing global media environment, the re-election of Merlo signals a preference among members for continuity alongside gradual reform. The emphasis on structural adaptation, digital transformation, and generational transition highlights broader challenges facing sports journalism worldwide, where traditional institutions are under pressure to evolve in response to technological and professional shifts.