Tizzano had devoted the final years of his life to strengthening the role of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, to which he was linked for twelve consecutive years. He joined its Executive Committee in 2013 and was elected President in 2021, a period defined by his commitment to the founding values of the Mediterranean Games: peace, cooperation, the sporting ideal and unity among the peoples who share the Mediterranean.

Leadership rooted in values

The institution highlighted his commitment, sense of responsibility and integrity, qualities that guided his daily work and helped reinforce the prestige of the ICMG within the international sporting landscape. His leadership not only consolidated the organisation’s structure, but also projected its future with a vision centred on understanding between cultures through sport.

Before his time as a sports administrator, Davide Tizzano built a top-level athletic career. He was a two-time Olympic champion in rowing, winning gold in the men’s quadruple sculls at Seoul 1988 and repeating the achievement in the men’s double sculls at Atlanta 1996, where he competed alongside Agostino Abbagnale. At national level, he was crowned Italian champion on 17 occasions between 1984 and 2005, a record that reflects both his longevity and consistency at the elite level.

Beyond rowing

His international record was further enhanced by world titles in two different disciplines: rowing, in 1986, and sailing, in 1993, a versatility rarely seen in high-performance sport. He also took part in the prestigious America’s Cup in the 1992 and 2007 editions, confirming a lifelong connection with sport beyond a single discipline.

The combination of sporting excellence and institutional vocation made Davide Tizzano a widely respected figure within and beyond the Mediterranean sphere. His legacy endures both in the medals that defined an era and in the impetus he gave to an organisation that seeks, through sport, to build bridges between countries and generations.

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The strength of this recognition lies in its selection method. The ranking is decided through a secret ballot by the L’Équipe editorial staff, in which specialist journalists assign points based on the overall impact of each athlete’s season. Titles, consistency, competitive context and the historical dimension of achievements are all taken into account, with a transversal approach that places very different disciplines on equal footing, without hierarchies based on popularity or commercial interests.

Within that framework, McIntosh and Pogacar came out on top after a vote closed on 25 November, capping a year in which both had been at the centre of the sport’s biggest stages. For both athletes, it also represented a long-pursued reward after coming close in previous editions.

A dominant year for Summer McIntosh

In the women’s category, the Canadian swimmer rose to the top after narrowly missing out on the award the previous year. At just 19, McIntosh closed 2025 as one of the most dominant figures in international sport, maintaining her level across every major competitive stage of the season.

A triple Olympic champion in Paris 2024 before even turning 18, the Canadian further expanded her résumé at the World Championships in Singapore. There, she claimed four world titles in the 400 m freestyle, 200 m butterfly, 200 m individual medley and 400 m individual medley, and narrowly missed a clean sweep after finishing third in the 800 m. A record that ultimately tipped the vote in her favour.

Behind her, athletics played a central role in the women’s standings. American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone finished second after winning two world titles and posting the second-fastest 400 metres time in history (47.78), while Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completed the podium after dominating the sprint events with three gold medals at the World Championships in Tokyo.

Women’s World Champions ranking

1. Summer McIntosh (Canada), swimming, 628 points

2. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (United States), athletics, 516 points

3. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (United States), athletics, 425 points

4. Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt (France), cycling, 375 points

5. Katie Ledecky (United States), swimming, 331 points

6. Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus), tennis, 293 points

7. Federica Brignone (Italy), skiing, 151 points

8. Aitana Bonmatí (Spain), football, 140 points

9. Beatrice Chebet (Kenya), athletics, 85 points

10. Angelina Melnikova (Russia), gymnastics, 72 points

Pogacar, a dominance that decided the vote

In the men’s category, this time the victory went to Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian produced one of the most complete seasons in modern cycling by winning his fourth Tour de France and adding three more Monuments to his palmarès: the Tour of Flanders, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Giro di Lombardia. A blend of Grand Tours, Classics and consistency that ultimately made the difference in the final vote.

Athletics also carried significant weight, with Armand Duplantis finishing second. The Swede raised his pole vault world record to 6.30 metres during the season, but once again fell just short of the top spot, as had happened the year before.

The podium was completed by Carlos Alcaraz, winner of Roland-Garros — after a high-intensity final against Jannik Sinner — and the US Open, who also ended the year as world number one.

Men’s World Champions ranking

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia), cycling, 821 points

2. Armand Duplantis (Sweden), athletics, 799 points

3. Carlos Alcaraz (Spain), tennis, 252 points

4. Ousmane Dembélé (France), football, 226 points

5. Jannik Sinner (Italy), tennis, 169 points

6. Léon Marchand (France), swimming, 146 points

7. Marc Márquez (Spain), motorcycle racing, 134 points

8. Marco Odermatt (Switzerland), skiing, 104 points

9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), basketball, 103 points

10. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), golf, 75 points

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Uzbekistan, Iran, host nation Saudi Arabia and Egypt followed, forming a top five that brought together countries from three continents and confirmed the competitive breadth of the event. At the same time, the Riyadh 2025 edition strengthened its global reach, with bilingual content in English and Arabic generating more than 1.5 billion engagements across official platforms.

A ceremony to celebrate unity

The Games concluded with the Closing Ceremony at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, where athletes, delegations and media gathered for an event designed to highlight the cohesion of the Islamic sporting community. The ceremony included a parade of athletes in recognition of their contribution during more than two weeks of competition, and a parade of volunteers, honoured for their key role across the four major venue clusters that hosted the event.

Representing the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA), its President, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, expressed deep gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support and vision, which made the Games possible. “This edition was achieved through the joint efforts of ISSA, the Local Organising Committee, the participating countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,” he said. “We believe that sport is a bridge for connection, a platform for peace and a unifying force among our nations.”

A legacy for the next edition

The ceremony closed with the official announcement by HRH Prince Abdulaziz, declaring the Islamic Solidarity Games Riyadh 2025 closed and handing over the flag to Selangor, Malaysia, host of the seventh edition in 2029.

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The representatives of the three organisations maintain a close relationship with the international Olympic ecosystem, something that became evident when the two International Federation Presidents held separate meetings with IWF President Mohammed Jalood, as well as with Vice-Presidents Mohammed Al-Harbi, Yousef Al Mana and Khaled Mehalhel.

Intensity, focus and technical work

During their visit, Sörling and van der Vorst toured the warm-up area, where they observed firsthand the final moments of preparation of the lifters before stepping onto the competition platform. The visit offered a direct look at the intensity, focus and technical work that define the sport.

Dr Astrit Hasani highlighted the importance of having both leaders at the event: “It was undoubtedly a proud moment to showcase the spirit and dedication behind the sport. I believe it is important to express our appreciation to the ITTF and World Boxing Presidents for their presence at our event. It was a remarkable and truly unexpected honour. Their participation added significant value to the occasion and stands as a testament to the growing recognition and importance of our competitions.”

The institutional visit strengthened ties between federations and underscored the role of the Islamic Solidarity Games as an international meeting point for sports leaders and representatives of the Olympic movement.

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The meeting was marked by AIMS’ emphasis on integrity, inclusion and solidarity within the Olympic Movement. The opening featured addresses by President Stephan Fox and IOC President Kirsty Coventry, followed by discussions on governance, athlete welfare, anti-doping cooperation and the recognition of traditional and indigenous sports within the global sporting ecosystem.

“We will continue to strengthen our collaboration with the IOC”

The newly elected Council in Lausanne was composed as follows:

• President: Stephan Fox (GER), International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA)

• 1st Vice-President: Panagiotis Theodoropoulos (GRE), Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)

• 2nd Vice-President: Julie Gabriel (GBR), Fédération Internationale de Savate (FISav)

• Secretary General: Sabine Shanahan (GER), World Darts Federation (WDF)

• Treasurer: Wilko Vriesman (NED), International Aikido Federation (IAF)

• Director: Helen Lundberg (SWE), International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS)

• Director: Robert Keller (USA), International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)

• Director: Seong-kon Choi (KOR), International Soft Tennis Federation (ISTF)

• Director: Leif Meitilberg (DEN), World Minigolf Federation (WMF)

• Director: Claudio Schermi (ITA), International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF)

In his remarks, Stephan Fox stated: “Today’s General Assembly reflects the unity and shared mission of the AIMS family. Guided by the principles of good governance and inclusion, we will continue to strengthen our collaboration with the IOC and with our partners worldwide, ensuring that sport remains a global force for development, respect and opportunity.”

Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, newly elected as 1st Vice-President, added: “This election reaffirmed the trust and solidarity among our members. While some colleagues were not elected, we remain united as one team — one AIMS. Our collective responsibility is to serve all federations, support athletes, and uphold the values of fairness, equality and peace through sport.”

Anti-doping and traditional sports on the agenda

The Assembly also featured updates on cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Testing Agency (ITA), along with reports on the AIMS Good Governance Programme and proposals to strengthen the role of traditional and indigenous sports on the international stage.

The Council elected for the 2025–2029 term will guide AIMS’ strategic roadmap, with a focus on collaboration among federations, athlete welfare and sustainable sport development across all continents.

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For more than three decades, the Youth Charter has championed sport and culture as drivers of social change, empowering young people, transforming communities, and building bridges across social, racial, and economic divides. In a global context marked by conflict, inequality, and environmental challenges, the organization warns of the urgent need to rethink the role of sport in peacebuilding and sustainable development.

A universal language for peace

“The founding principles of the United Nations —peace, human rights, and social justice— must be realized through practical action at the community level,” said Professor Geoff Thompson MBE FRSA, founder and chair of the Youth Charter.

Thompson emphasized that “sport remains one of the most powerful global languages. It can unite where politics divides, inspire where hope is lost, and engage where traditional systems fail. On this United Nations Day, we call on governments, institutions, and youth movements to reaffirm their commitment to Sport for Development and Peace.”

Models of social impact

The work of the Youth Charter is aligned with the UN Youth 2030 strategy, UNESCO’s Fit for Life initiative, and the IOC’s Olympism 365 framework. One of its most significant proposals is the Community Campus Model, which demonstrates how local, national, and international collaboration can generate measurable social impact in education, health, employment, and citizenship through sport and creativity.

The organization stresses that this model brings together different sectors to maximize results and shows that sport not only encourages physical activity but also strengthens social cohesion and community participation.

“The next five years leading up to 2030 are critical. The United Nations and all its partners must ensure that no young person is left behind and that sport continues to be a universal platform for peace, purpose, and progress,” Thompson concluded.

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These 3,500 athletes from 57 countries will compete across an ambitious programme of 23 sports, consolidating the Saudi capital as one of the epicentres of international sport. Key venues include Boulevard, the Olympic Complex, Al Janadriyah and Malaz.

Although the opening ceremony will take place on November 7, competition will begin a few days earlier. The first sporting event is scheduled for Monday, November 3, with futsal at the Olympic Complex officially launching the programme.

Where will the 2029 Games be held?

While Riyadh finalises preparations, the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) is also looking ahead. The organisation recently concluded successful inspection visits to the three countries bidding to host the 2029 edition: Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Iran.

The delegation, led by Secretary General Nasser Majali and members of the ISSA Sport Commission, reviewed infrastructure, organisational plans and potential venues. “The level of interest, passion and preparation has been outstanding,” said Majali to ISSA’s own media, with his remarks shared through the organisation’s newsletter.

These evaluation visits mark a key step before the final decision on the 2029 host, which will be announced during the General Assembly on the sidelines of Riyadh 2025. The process began with six interested countries and has now narrowed down to the three official bids. This information, published by ‘SportsIn’ and originating from ISSA’s own bulletin, confirms that the organisation’s machinery does not stop on any front.

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The event, organized by the Government of Baoshan District and the China WaterSki, Underwater & Powerboat Federation, was preceded by the second consecutive edition of the F1H2O World Championship Grand Prix, staged in the waters of the modern Baoshan Cruise Terminal.

Chiulli receives renewed international support

During the Assembly, all member federations expressed unanimous support for Chiulli, who will continue leading the UIM until 2029. Alongside him, Vahur Joala (Estonia) was confirmed as Administrator and Karel Kramer (Czech Republic) secured the second available mandate.

“I am deeply honored by the confidence of the member federations who have overwhelmingly renewed their support for my leadership to further raise the quality and appeal of international powerboating,” said Chiulli after his re-election.

The UIM President underlined that his efforts will focus on strengthening safety, accessibility and inclusion, while keeping sustainability at the core. “Together we will continue advancing the quality, safety and global appeal of our sport, which combines passion, innovation and sustainability. Among our priorities are environmental responsibility, youth development and inclusivity,” he added.

New members and institutional strengthening

The General Assembly ratified the admission of Vietnam, Georgia, Morocco and Nepal as full members, while the China Macau MotoSurf Federation, the Croatian Powerboat Club and Austria’s Club RSC Regau were accepted as non-voting members. In addition, the financial report, which reflected a profit for the 2024 fiscal year, was approved.

Chiulli also expressed gratitude to the hosts: “My heartfelt thanks to the Government of China, the city of Shanghai and Baoshan District for their warm hospitality and excellent organization of this memorable event, as well as to UIM Honorary President Prince Albert of Monaco, represented at the Assembly by Ambassador Marie-Pascale Boisson.”

With the renewal of his leadership and the support of the federations, the UIM heads into the coming years with a strategy focused on sustainability, youth development and inclusion, reinforcing its status as a global benchmark in powerboating.

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A total of 53 practitioners from nine countries took part: Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan. The Japanese delegation was led by Grand Master Kenichi Osada, accompanied by former World Champion Ryota Shimizu and double Japanese Champion Yutaro Nakagami, a standout in the -250 category in 2025 and the Unlimited class in 2024.

Technical activities and referee training

The program featured specialized training in full-contact techniques, belt promotion exams, and referee seminars aimed at unifying judging standards in international competitions. A Branch Chiefs meeting was also held, focused on coordinating strategies and strengthening KIF’s organizational structure in the region.

The seminar welcomed high-profile guests from the mixed martial arts community. Vincent Ng, President of Singapore MMA and Vice-President of the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA), attended as an observer, alongside Randell Siow, Head of Coaching and Development at the Mixed Martial Arts Association of Singapore (MMAAS). This organization is aligned with AMMA and operates under the Olympic Council of Asia, reinforcing the prospects of future cooperation.

Nine days of activities in Singapore and Malaysia

Following the seminar, Grand Master Osada remained in the region for an additional nine days. During this time, he held one-on-one meetings with Branch Chiefs from each country, led sessions at two Singapore dojos, engaged in exchange meetings with leaders of full-contact martial arts schools, and carried out instructional visits at the Kudo Malaysia Branch Dojo.

This intensive schedule enabled direct knowledge transfer and strengthened ties between Japan and the local branches across Southeast Asia.

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The visit reinforced the idea that the Paraguayan capital has become a strategic partner for Panam Sports, following the success of the Junior Pan American Games in August. In addition, the political and institutional backing places Paraguay in the spotlight ahead of the election.

Panam Sports and Asunción

The continental organization sees Asunción as a strong option thanks to its recent experience and existing infrastructure. The Junior Pan American Games brought together more than 4,000 young athletes from 41 countries and served as a showcase of the country’s ability to host major competitions.

The President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and IOC Member, Camilo Pérez López Moreira, emphasized that the country is ready to take the next step: “Paraguay has shown that it can host world-class events that inspire athletes and ignite the passion of fans across the continent.”

The IOC’s role and international momentum

The support of Panam Sports is part of a broader strategy of international positioning for Paraguay. The President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, together with Camilo Pérez, recently met in New York with IOC President Kirsty Coventry during the United Nations General Assembly. On that occasion, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to the development of sport and to Olympic values, sending a clear message of alignment with the international Olympic movement.

This closer relationship with the IOC is seen as a reinforcement of Paraguay’s candidacy, which seeks to project not only organizational capacity but also institutional stability and long-term support.

The Paraguayan Government has introduced innovative measures to support the organization of major events, such as special legislation to facilitate free visas and the creation of a Permanent Organizing Committee for Major Events to ensure continuity in planning. In addition, work is underway to expand Asunción’s connectivity and increase airport capacity — key elements for hosting an event of the magnitude of the Pan American Games.

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