Francesco Ricci Bitti will serve a third term as ASOIF President ©Getty Images

Francesco Ricci Bitti is set to be re-elected for a third and final term as Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) President after being confirmed as the sole candidate for the position.

The ASOIF General Assembly is scheduled to take place virtually on November 9 following the postponement of the event, which had been due to be held as part of the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit.

The election is the main item on the agenda for the meeting.

ASOIF has confirmed Ricci Bitti is the sole candidate for the position, with no other nominations having been received prior to yesterday’s deadline.

Ricci Bitti has been ASOIF President since 2012 and was re-elected for a second term in 2016.

"It has been an honour and pleasure alike to serve ASOIF and its member federations in the past years," said Ricci Bitti, ASOIF President and Honorary Life President of the International Tennis Federation.

"I am ready and committed to provide continuity through what is proving to be very challenging times for sport and to prepare the future of ASOIF."

The General Assembly will decide on certain amendments to the ASOIF Statutes to ensure gender neutral language, as well as allowing the umbrella body to hold its General Assembly virtually and voting by electronic means in the future.

ASOIF’s revised 2020 budget and draft for 2021 will be assessed at the meeting.

The agenda for the meeting will include updates from the International Olympic Committee on matters related to International Federations and the Olympic Games.

ASOIF will hold its General Assembly virtually, with the meeting typically held during SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit ©Getty Images
ASOIF will hold its General Assembly virtually, with the meeting typically held during SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit ©Getty Images

A report will be delivered by Tokyo 2020 on their preparations for the rescheduled Olympic Games, which have been pushed back to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8 next year.

Reports will also be delivered by Paris 2024 and the World Anti-Doping Agency at the meeting, which is set to be livestreamed on YouTube.

The ASOIF Council meeting today saw the body appoint International Equestrian Federation secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez as chair of the ASOIF Diversity and Gender Equality Consultative Group.

World Archery secretary general Tom Dielen will serve as chair of the ASOIF Parasport Consultative Group.

The Council also approved the reappointment of the current chairs of ASOIF’s other six consultative groups.

This includes Margo Mountjoy chairing the Medical and Science Consultative Group, World Triathlon secretary general Antonio Arimany leading the Legal Consultative Group, and United World Wrestling development director Deqa Niamkey heading up the Sports Development and Education Group.

International Tennis Federation chief operating officer Kelly Fairweather remains chair of the Olympic and Multi-Sports Games Consultative Group.

International Golf Federation executive director Antony Scanlon and International Basketball Federation head of digital Nicolas Chapart remain chairs of the Commercial Advisory Group and Technology and Innovation Consultative Group, respectively.