Gianni Merlo, newly elected president of the AIPS with Olympic champion Felix Sanchez (© Getty Images)
The Chairman of the IAAF Press Commission, Gianni Merlo (ITA), a highly respected Olympic journalist with the Italian daily newspaper Gazetta dello Sport, was elected today as President of the Association of International Sporting Press, AIPS, during the organisation's annual congress in Marrakech.
IAAF General Secretary Istvan Gyulai, who is himself a former General Secretary of AIPS said: "We are delighted that Gianni, a highly experienced athletics specialist, will be heading the world sport press association, and we are confident that he will apply passion, charm and commitment in his new position. We look forward to co-operating closely with AIPS also in the future because we consider sports journalists our partners in conveying the real values of our sport to the public."
Gianni Merlo takes over as AIPS President from Togay Bayatli (TUR), who held the position since 1993.