Page 119 - BOOK OF THE YEAR 23-24

MEET & GREET

SANTA SUSANA AND IFBB HOSTED THE CENTENARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL

SPORT PRESS ASSOCIATION AND ITS ANNUAL CONGRESS

l IFBB cohosted, in collaboration with
the Santa Susana City Council, the
International Sports Journalism
Congress (AIPS), the organization
governing all sports journalists
worldwide, with national associations
of sports press affiliated globally.
The event took place at Hotel
Atzavara in Santa Susana and during
these days we established and
reinforced close relationships with
most of the sport media and also I had
the opportunity to participate in a
round table discussion at the
Congress, with Mr. Gianni Merlo - AIPS
President, Mr. Juan Antonio
Samaranch - IOC Vicepresident, Mr.
Dobromir Karamarinov - European
Athletics President, Mr. Michael.R
Payne - former IOC Marketing
Director, and Mr. Leonz Eder -
President of FISU, the International
University Sports Federation, with
whom President Santonja developed a
close and nice friendship.
The President of FISU, Leonz Eder
attended our Europe championship,
and also join President Santonja for a
dinner with the Santa Susanna major,
Mr. Joan Campolier.
Additionally, President Santinja, pPresident
participated in the AIPS Media Santonja with Mr.
Awards, honouring the best journalists Gianni Merlo,
of the year and had the chance to President of AIPS
and the Major of
attend the subsequent dinner with Mr. Santa Susanna,
Juan Antonio Samaranch, Vice Mr Joan
President of the International Olympic Campolier.
Committee, and Mr. Alejandro Blanco,
President of the Spanish Olympic
Committee.
At the AIPS Congress, President
Santonja also gave a presentation
about IFBB and our sport,
emphasizing it as a lifestyle promoting
health. The Vice President of the
International Olympic Committee
kindly attended the presentation.
To conclude the week, the IFBB
European Championship following the
congress was a huge success, with
over 1200 athletes from 45 countries
participating. It’s an event that drives
our sport in Europe and is so well-
established that it practically runs
itself. European continent’s athletes
see it as a must-attend to enjoy our
sport under the sun in the wonderful
city of Santa Susana, the World Capital tMr. Juan
of Fitness. Antonio
Samaranch, IOC
Vicepresident.

118 2023/202 4 BOOK OF THE YEAR