8 + : 1. USA 2. GBR 3. NOR The British took an early lead, but at 750 metres the crews were level. The U.S. crew then steadily drew away. August 24th 1949 — Amsterdam 45th ordinary FISA congress Present: 35 delegates from 18 federations, including Manfred von Mautner-Markhof, the Austrian IOC mem ber from 1947 to 1969. Two federations, until then extraordinary members, be came ordinary members of FISA: Great Britain, which had organised the Olympic regatta the previous year, and Denmarkvwho were to organise the 1953 European championships. In order to ensure a uniform interpretation of the rules and to improve the competence of officials, FISA in troduced seminars for umpires and members of juries, at which the requisite international licences would be awarded. The subscription for non-European countries which did not take part in the European championships was reduced to 200 Swiss francs. For the other countries, it remained 350 francs. The federation organising the European championships would in future be responsible for providing the prizes and medals. The ban on coaching, that is to say, giving instructions to competitors or steering them, was reinforced. The com petitors were not to receive adviqe either from the bank or from a boat. The Dutch federation recommended the re-examination of the question of women’s rowing and the drawing-up of a set of rules for international regattas for women. A report would be prepared for the next congress. In future, an international calendar would be drawn up by FISA. The national federations would submit then- regatta dates each year, by January 31st at the latest. The council would then try to reach agreement with adjacent federations, so that a regatta in one country would not adversely affect another in the neighbouring one. It would then send out the definitive calendar to all affiliat ed federations by March 1st at the latest. A delegation from FISA would go to Finland to study the matter of the 1952 Olympic rowing course. After 23 years at the head of FISA, Rico Fioroni ten dered his resignation, recommending as his successor his life-long associate, the vice-president and secretary- treasurer, Gaston Miillegg. Maurice Mahut, who for the previous twenty years had been the president of the French federation, proposed, with unanimous approval, that the outgoing president be made an honorary presi dent. He stated, “Our beloved FISA will continue to thrive, as the successor he has chosen is, next to himself, the most exacting yet the nicest of men.” 98 Gaston Miillegg (SUI), vice-president (1926-1928), secretary- treasurer (1928-1949), then president of FISA until his death in an accident in 1958. Born on August 24th 1890, at Moral (SUI). A talented speaker of several languages, he was fluent in French, English, German and Italian. After studying commerce, he lived in London, where he rowed for Vesta Rowing Club at Putney. On his return he settled in Montreux, which was to remain the town closest to his heart. In spite of an occasional infidelity, he was to row most often for the “Club Nautique de Montreux”. In 1913, he was runner-up in the Swiss championships. He was president of the Swiss federation from 1926-1927, and became an influential member of the Swiss Olym pic Committee. In 1956 he resigned when that committee refused, for political reasons, to take part in the XVIth Olympiad. He died on August 3rd 1958, in Lausanne, in an accident to the plane he was piloting. Henri Montandon (SUI), secretary-treasurer of FISA from 1949 until his death in 1952. A long serving secretary of Gaston Miillegg’s “Club Nautique de Montreux”, he was a natural successor to the latter as secretary- treasurer of FISA, when Miillegg became president. He was also president of the Swiss federation from 1949 to 1950. Gaston Miillegg Thus, Gaston Miillegg, on his birthday, became presi dent of FISA. Henri Montandon, the president of the Swiss federation, a friend and colleague of the new FISA president for more than twenty years, took on the respon sibilities of secretary-treasurer. The FISA headquarters were then transferred as from January 1st 1950 to Mon- treux, the city where the two newly elected officers lived.
