Two major events took place at the 56th Ordinary International Skating Union (ISU) Congress in June. A new president was elected and anonymous judging was abolished.
Jan Dijkema, who had served as a vicepresident for speed skating since 2010, succeeded outgoing president Ottavio Cinquanta.
Dijkema, 71, won the election, which took two rounds of voting for him to achieve the required majority of votes.
Two candidates, France’s Didier Gailhaguet and Christopher Buchanan from Great Britain, dropped out after the first round. In the second vote, Dijkema received 63 votes and Hungary’s György Sallak earned 52.
Dijkema’s election continues a 36- year tradition of speed skaters at the ISU helm.
A native of the Netherlands, Dijkema is married with two sons. He is fluent in English, Norwegian, German and French. Russia's…