Page 172 - BOOK OF THE YEAR 22-23

MEET & GREET

SANTA SUSANA AND IFBB, HOSTS OF

THE CENTENARY AND 2024 CONGRESS OF THE

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS PRESS ASSOCIATION

l The City Council of Santa Susana, the World Fitness Capital, in cooperation
with the IFBB, hosted the 2023 Executive Council meeting of the International
Sports Press Association, the peak professional body representing the
international sports media, with more than 9,500 members worldwide.
Four days of intense work in which the president of the AIPS, Mr. Gianni
Merlo and the rest of the members joined by the President of the IFBB,
Rafael Santonja and the Major of Santa Susana Mr. Joan Campolier have met
in the well-known World Fitness Capital
An event that has strengthened the already excellent relation between
AIPS, the IFBB and the city of Santa Susana. From left to right; Mr Rafael Santonja with Mr. Gianni Merlo,
As a result of the AIPS Executive Council Meeting, Santa Susana was President of AIPS, Mr. Benet Ferrer, CEO of Aqua Hotel Group
and the Major of Santa Susana Mr Joan Campolier during the
proposed to host, with IFBB’s support and cooperation, the 2024 Congress, meeting of the executive committee of the International
to be held in conjunction with the Centenary of the Press Association, which Sports Press Association hold in Santa Susana the past
was ratified later by the Congress at its 2023 edition in Seoul. February.

Dr, Rafael
Santonja with IFBB PRESIDENT MEETS THE
the President of
the Iran’s
National IRAN’S NATIONAL OLYMPIC
Olympic
Committee COMMITTEE PRESIDENT
(NOC), Mr.
Mahmoud
Khosravi Vafa. l During his trip to Iran on the occasion of the IFBB Mr.
Universe Iran; IFBB President, Dr. Rafael Santonja was most
pleased to visit the President of the Iran’s National Olympic
Committee (NOC), Mr. Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa, updating him
on the dynamic progression of the sports of Fitness and
Bodybuilding in Iran, and the excellent implementation of the
Speed Fit modality in the country, which has became one of
IFBB Iranian Female athletes the most popular disciplines among the new generations and,
competing in IFBB Fitness very significant, has opened the doors for the Iranian female
Challenge/Speed Fit event. athletes to participate at competitive sport level.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN

FITNESS AND BODYBUILDING FEDERATION

EFBB Executive members and some recognized officials attended to the Meeting.

lThe European Fitness and Bodybuilding calendar that was scheduled for the 2023 Sports Festival Europe and all the
Federation, chaired by Dr. Rafael year. With special attention to the editions of the IFBB Mr. Universe, a
Santonja, also President of the European Championships celebrated in mythical event that was back with the
international federation, held its annual May, in Santa Susana, as well host city of occasion of the IFBB 75th Anniversary,
executive council meeting in Madrid, the IFBB Men’s and Women’s World celebrated in 2021, and that during this
evaluating and finalizing preparations for Championships that took part in year has been organized in over 20
the intense European competition November, to the well-known Arnold countries!

170 2022/2023 BOOK OF THE YEAR