The memories of a fantastic Forum on Elite Sport in Helsinki are still vivid. For me, those days were particularly special because I was given the opportunity to take on a new role within the ASPC. It is a true privilege to serve as the next President of our Association, and an honour to work within such an inspiring international community of elite sport.
Since its founding, the ASPC has built a strong framework for cooperation among its members. Many people have contributed to the dynamic development of our Association. On behalf of us all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our former Presidents— Jukka Lahtinen, Mike English, Dale Henwood, Debbie Low, and Tapio Korjus— for their dedicated leadership and lasting contributions.
We will continue to develop and strengthen this framework, even though it is often challenging to find the resources for additional work within the ASPC. Our task will be to identify and support projects that are of broad interest to our members and that align closely with our mission as training centres for elite sport.
Since 2009, I have often experienced the open, cooperative spirit of the ASPC— a community always ready to support one another and to engage actively in joint projects.
We do not meet only at large conferences. Over the years, we have created a new strategic plan, developed digital exchange formats( with special thanks to INSEP, Babak, and Sean for running the European webinars), held bilateral meetings between training centres, and launched the Mike English Exchange Program, among many other examples of our growing network.
This collaboration— characterised by excellence and respect— has always been a great source of inspiration and motivation for me.
My time on the ASPC Board of Directors since 2019 was a key factor in my decision to take on this new role. I have seen how every member of the Board contributes with commitment and passion. I am deeply grateful to Tapio, Debbie, Fiona, Josep, Ken, Steven, Takeshi, and Andrew for this shared experience— and not to forget Silvia and now Iván, without whom the work of the Secretariat would not be possible.
I mention these names because our Board’ s work is truly a team effort. That spirit of teamwork is very important to me, and I hope it continues to guide us in the years ahead.
Through my involvement in the German elite sport system and in the ASPC, I am aware of the unique settings and frameworks within which each training centre operates. Our Association thrives on the active participation of its members, each working under distinct national conditions. Taking different perspectives into account to promote mutual progress must remain a guiding principle of our communication.
Diversity is our strength— and I am committed to ensuring that we continue to harness this diversity for the development and growth of our organisation in the future. Beyond our organisation, we are witnessing many political conflicts that also affect the world of sport. While we at the ASPC cannot solve these issues, we can demonstrate— through collaboration grounded in our shared values— that cooperation for mutual benefit is possible, even where others emphasise division.
As your next President, I see my most important task as fostering collaboration in the interests of all our members. In doing so, I rely on the joint efforts of the Board and the entire ASPC community, just as it has always been in the past.