Oswald, who has held the position since 1989, announced earlier this year at FISA's Extraordinary Congress that he would seek re-election but only for a transitional period of six to eight months.

The FISA ruling Council decided to stage the election - which will follow the conclusion of the World Championships in South Korea on Sunday (September 1) - of Oswald's successor at the same Congress in order to assist the newly elected "President-elect" in the transfer of knowledge and introductions to the international sports world.

Oswald is an influential member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who is among the six candidates standing next month to replace Jacques Rogge as its President. 

The candidates are led by Rolland, a former Olympic and world champion and a leading executive with EDF, one of the world's leading electric utility companies, who managed their sponsorship of London 2012. 

The 44-year-old won an Olympic gold medal in the coxless pairs at Sydney 2000, having claimed a bronze in Atlanta four years earlier, and also won five medals at the World Championships, including gold in 1993 and 1997.

Rolland was ppointed to FISA's Athletes Commission in 1994, serving as the chair from 2002 to 2011 and on the world governing body's Executive Committee from 2004 to 2011, at which time the FISA Council appointed him as a coopted member.

Canada's Tricia Smith (left) and her partner Betty Craig celebrate their Olympic silver medal at Los Angeles 1984

He is joined by Smith, winner of a silver medal in the coxless pairs at Los Angeles in 1984, along with seven World Championships medals and a Commonwealth Games title. 

The 57-year-old from Vancouver practised law for seven years before joining Barnes, Craig and Associates in 1992 where she is now one of four partners and deputy managing director.

Smith has been a member of the FISA Women's Commission, then its chair, and also a member of the FISA Executive Committee since 1999.

Smith, who is also a vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Committee, and was a key member of the international team of the successful Vancouver 2010 Bid Committee.

Boultbee, 63, was a barrister until 1989 when he became FISA's general secretary, a position he held until 1995 when he left to take over as director of the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

He oversaw Olympic Athlete Programme, which was largely responsible for Australia winning 58 medals and finishing fourth overall at Sydney 2000, although he was replaced a year later by Michael Scott.

In 2004, he was appointed by the Football Federation of Australia to establish a high performance unit, which led to the Socceroos qualifying for both the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany and South Africa respectively.

But Boultbee's longest involvement in sport has always been in rowing, having started competing when he was a schoolboy, and retaining close links with the sport as currently a Board member of the International Rowing Federation and Rowing Australia and Steward of the Henley Royal Regatta.

Former FISA general secretary John Boultbee is among the three candidates seeking to replace Denis Oswald as President of FISA

In the event of failing to win the top job, Smith is also standing for the vice-president's role where she will be standing against America's Anita DeFrantz, the prominent IOC member who has held the position since 1993.

FISA's current treasurer, Britain's Mike Williams is also standing for re-election and is the only candidate for this position.

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