The FIM received a warm welcome from Berlin State Secretary Bernd Krömer, speaking on behalf of the City Authorities, and Mr Hans-Robert Kreutz, Vice President of the German Motorcycling Federation (DMSB).
In his opening address to the FIM General Assembly, FIM President Vito Ippolito highlighted the need to continue to pursue excellence and unity through consultation and education in order to ensure that the FIM continued to progress in the short and medium term in accordance with its Strategic Plan. Further reflections on the role and functioning of the Continental Unions will be held with the aim of harmonising the various structures. Expertise and know-how are major assets and the FIM will ensure the quality of future FIM Commissions with the implementation of new criteria and training.
The FIM General Assembly approved the 2015 Financial Statements, discharged the Board of Directors and approved the reports of the Directors of the FIM Administration and the 2017 FIM Budget.
The FMSM (Fédération Mauritanienne des Sports Mécaniques) of Mauritania addressed the Assembly and was accepted by the General Assembly as a new FIM affiliated Federation from 1 January 2017.
The representatives of FIM National Federations & Continental Unions celebrating their 10th (Montenegro, Iceland, Palestine, Saudi Arabia), 20th (Paraguay, Puerto Rico, FIM Europe), 50th (Bolivia), 70th (Bosnia Herzegovina, Canada, Monaco), 80th (Mexico), 100th (New Zealand, Norway), 110th (Indonesia, Hungary) and 120th (Austria) anniversaries were called on stage to receive a commemorative plaque.
Two amendments to the FIM Statutes and the FIM By-laws were accepted by the General Assembly. The FIM General Assembly agreed to include in all FIM Codes and Regulations a clause indicating that references to male persons include female persons except where the context requires otherwise.
Also, the International Environment Commission has been renamed International Sustainability Commission in order to reflect its work more accurately.
A number of amendments to the FIM Sporting Code were also accepted by the FIM General Assembly. In particular, an amendment to the FIM Sporting Code put forward by the Philippines Federation (NAMSSA) and the FIM Motocross Commission was accepted to allow the staging of several FIM events, including an FIM 65cc Motocross Cup, open to young riders over the age of 10 years old. The decision was informed by an in-depth study conducted by a Working Group set up by FIM Europe. In-depth work on the FIM Sporting Code will continue in 2017.
Five candidates (Mssrs Josep Abad (Spain), Jorgen Bitsch (Denmark), Jos Driessen (Belgium), Stylianos Korelis (Greece), Jorge Viegas (Portugal) were up for election for the three vacant FIM Board of Directors Member positions. After a last minute withdrawal of the Spanish candidate, Mssrs, Jos Driessen (50 votes) Jorgen Bitsch (48 votes) and Jorge Viegas (38 votes) were elected to the FIM Board of Directors for a four-year term.
Mr Ernesto Russo was confirmed member of the FIM International Commission of Judges.
Honorary memberships were awarded to Mr Bambang Gunardi (Honorary CCR Member), Mr Wolfgang Srb (Honorary CMS Director), Mr Anders Minken (Honorary CTR Member), Mr Roy Otto (Honorary CCP President). A special recognition was given to Mr Dave Nicoll for his service to the CMS.
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