The International Federation Icestocksport held its 63rd Ordinary Congress in Winklarn in Austria ©IFI

Manfred Schäfer has been unanimously re-elected as President of the International Federation Icestocksport (IFI) at the governing body’s 63rd Ordinary Congress in Winklarn in Austria.

The composition of the IFI Executive Board was also determined at the Congress with Volker Bernardi serving as vice-president for legal affairs and Olympic relations.

Among the other vice-presidents are Baldur Brandt, Victor M. Garcia-Barrios and Emil Reumer, for international relations, special affairs and finance respectively.

Karl Rosenberger is the vice-president for sport, while Andrea Spiess is the vice-president for women’s affairs.

Ex-officio members of the Executive Committee are Eberhardt Anke, chair of the Medical Commission, and Marion Huber, chair of the Athletes' Commission.

For the first time in the IFI’s history, the representatives of the Athletes Commission have been elected by their peers.

Seventy-seven per cent of the athletes cast votes.

The five elected members are Brazil’s Samuel Böhm, Austria’s Michael Brantner, Italy’s Marion Huber, Germany’s Matthias Peischer and Belarus' Irina Tsishuk.

"I am happy that five young athletes have been elected, one even from Brazil - a fact that is certainly surprising in a winter sport," Schäfer said.

Icestocksport is a target orientated discipline which bears some similarities with curling ©IFI
Icestocksport is a target orientated discipline which bears some similarities with curling ©IFI

In its inaugural meeting, the IFI Athletes' Commission elected Huber as its chair.

She has joined the IFI Executive Board with immediate effect.

Huber was very successful as a junior and helped showcase icestocksport during the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in Austria.

She helped Italy to team competition gold at the 2016 World Championships and claimed a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships.

"I am very surprised that I have been elected as the chair of the IFI Athletes' Commission," Huber said.

"I hope that in the coming years I will contribute towards the best interest of the athletes and support positive change." 

The Congress also accepted the application of four member federations; China, Gabon, Iran and Spain.

This brings the total membership to 46 nations across five continents.

Additionally, it was decided that the 2019 European Championships will be held in Lithuanian city Kaunas.

Icestocksport, a target orientated discipline which bears some similarities with curling, was one of five demonstration sports at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer in Norway.