Winter Olympic Federations Elects Jae Youl Kim as New President

Jae Youl Kim, president of the International Skating Union, has been elected president of the Winter Olympic Federations, at the organization’s latest meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The South Korean succeeds Ivo Ferriani, who stepped down as president of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation on June 11 after a 16-year tenure. Ferriani officially became an IOC honorary member later that month.

Having been elected to the International Olympic Committee Executive Board earlier this year, Kim was nominated by the WOF and won a second term as ISU president in Tenerife, Spain, in June. He has held the position of IOC president since 2022.

Uniting the international sports federations that govern a winter sport in the Olympic program, WOF is a non-profit organization that recommends winter sports representatives for the commissions of the IOC and other international organizations. Previously known as the Association of the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations, it coordinates matters of common interest between the winter sports and submits proposals to the IOC regarding the distribution of Olympic revenue sharing.
Kim was elected because of his continued commitment to sports on snow and ice, as well as his pledge to strengthen collaboration between the international sports federations that are also WOF members.

“Sport on snow and ice has a very special character and I look forward to working with all Winter Olympic Federations members to boost its standing in the modern world,” said Kim. “It is an honor and a privilege to serve WOF as president, and I look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders for our mutual benefit.”

ISU Transformation

During his tenure as ISU president, Kim has overseen a period of transformation for the organization, including prioritizing governance and marketing reforms and developing skating and its formats in line with modern needs as part of its “athlete-first” approach. His election in 2022 was significant as he became the ISU’s first non-European president in its 130-year history.

Prior to that, he served as president of the Korea Skating Union and vice president of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, as well as holding a membership role on the ISU Council.