KUALA LUMPUR, 2 May 2006 — Princess Haya of Jordan, daughter of the late King Abdullah, was elected president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) yesterday with a promise to haul it “into the 21st century”.
In a right royal battle, the elegant princess — who is married to Dubai Crown Prince Mohammed ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum — edged aside Denmark’s Princess Benedikte and FEI vice-president Freddy Serpieri in a vote in the Malaysian capital.
She takes over from Spain’s Infanta Dona Pilar de Borbon, who served 12 years in the post, and will oversee complex preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which will see the equestrian events held in Hong Kong.
Princess Haya acknowledged that the hard-fought leadership campaign — the first in the organization’s 85-year history — had created “fractures” which she urged members to overcome.
“I hope they all come together and realize we have to face the future as one,” she said at a press conference.
“The future of the organization — firstly to bring it into the 21st century. We have a wonderful sport encompassed in the FEI by many different disciplines,” she said.
“Horses are such a part of history and they’re full of grace and beauty and that’s something we have to keep, but in order to protect it we need to modernize the FEI itself.”
The princess said she would focus on improving the organization’s communications, financing, governance standards, the development of fledgling national federations, and protecting its role in the Olympic body.
