President

Dr. Hamid Ansarifar serves as the President of the International Federation of Elite Sports (FIESSA), where he has exercised a decisive and sustained influence on the organization’s contemporary institutional framework. FIESSA was originally constituted in 1981 as an independent association. Pursuant to informal consultations held during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the organization underwent a structural transformation into an international federation.

The initial proposal to elevate FIESSA to global federation status was introduced by Dr. Jacques Rogge during the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games; however, the proposal did not receive approval from then-IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch. The matter was revisited in 2008 during unofficial discussions among international members and national representatives at the Beijing Olympic Games, where it received majority endorsement. Following this process, Dr. Ansarifar was duly elected as President.

Dr. Ansarifar, a former karate champion, previously held the positions of Executive Vice President of FIESSA and Secretary of the UNESCO Sports Committee. Under his leadership, FIESSA has broadened its global programs, advanced principles of sports ethics, enhanced international cooperation, and strengthened support mechanisms for elite athletes worldwide. His strategic vision emphasizes athlete empowerment and the advancement of excellence through education, scientific development, and international collaboration.