General Congress VII Highlights
The International Jump Rope Union (IJRU) extends its sincere appreciation to all presenters, Board of Directors members, and National Governing Bodies for their leadership and engagement during the 7th IJRU General Congress, held on Saturday, December 13. With 28 countries represented, the Congress reflected the strength, diversity, and shared commitment of the global jump rope community.
Held under the theme “It Takes All of Us,” IJRU President, Shaun Hamilton emphasized the importance of collective leadership at this pivotal moment for the sport. He highlighted the impactful work of the current committees, the need to actively fill remaining committees, and issued a call for the formation of new Jump Rope Alumni and Coaches Certification Commissions. In addition, IJRU outlined a professionalization plan focused on properly staffing the organization to increase capacity, strengthen governance, and propel the sport to the next level of international development.
Key Congress Highlights
IJRU Board of Directors: Confirmation of Catarina Damien Silva Guimarães (Portugal) as a new IJRU Board Member and Madiagomang Keolebogile “Keo” Mokolopo-Meyer (South Africa) as Vice President, further strengthening global leadership representation.
Membership Growth: IJRU welcomed Kenya as new Full Members; Mexico Israel, Pakistan, and Mali as Provisional Members; and Norway as a new Observer nation, marking continued global expansion.
Governance & Olympic Pathway: A special presentation by Davide Delfini, Head of Governance and Legal at SportAccord, provided important guidance on the AIMS application process, followed by an IJRU announcement of a financial incentive plan to support successful completion of this milestone.
Events, Technology, & Athlete Pathways: Updates on the Event Approval Process, with 29 events approved, along with significant advancements in AI integration and the IJRU Athlete Ranking System, reinforcing transparency and athlete-centered development.
Sustainability & Social Impact: A RopePeace presentation highlighted initiatives supporting IJRU’s sustainability and social impact objectives.
World Championships & Strategic Partnerships: A presentation by Mr. Jun Haratake (JJRU) outlined preparations for the 2025 World Jump Rope Championships in Kawasaki, Japan, alongside updates on the expanding ISF partnership and continued progress of the Coaches Certification movement with SPKN.
Professionalization of IJRU: Additional emphasis was placed on IJRU’s professionalization plan, including the strategic staffing of the organization to build operational capacity, strengthen governance, and propel jump rope to the next level of global sport development. As well as the opportunity to host a first camp conference for athlete and professional development.
The 7th IJRU General Congress reaffirmed that the organization’s strength lies in collaboration, shared responsibility, and global cooperation. IJRU thanks all National Governing Bodies for their continued leadership and commitment as the federation advances together toward a more professional, inclusive, and internationally recognized future for jump rope.