98th UIM General Assembly Underway In Shanghai This Week

The 98th UIM General Assembly is underway in Shanghai this week, marking the federation’s return to China six years after the 2019 Qingdao gathering, with delegates in Baoshan District through 12th October for the sport’s most significant institutional event of the year.

UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli confirmed the assembly precedes a milestone year for the federation, with MotoSurf becoming the first motorsport discipline included in The World Games programme during August’s Chengdu event, attracting over 5,000 athletes and officials to the sustainable-powered competition.

F1H2O Preceded Assembly

The second round of the 2025 UIM F1H2O World Championship took place on Saturday 4th October at Baoshan, three days before the assembly’s official opening. Chiulli invited all delegates and guests travelling to Shanghai to attend the race staged in proximity to the assembly hotel.

The timing provided delegates an immediate demonstration of powerboat racing’s premier category ahead of institutional discussions spanning five days of commission meetings, committee sessions and tomorrow’s formal council vote on Friday 10th October.

Assembly Schedule

Tuesday’s opening day featured the Pleasure Navigation Commission, F1 Committee and five-hour COMINSPORT session addressing circuit rule changes. Wednesday saw offshore rule changes reviewed by COMINOFF alongside the Formulae Committee, Equality Committee and Youth Development Committee meetings.

Today’s schedule centres on COMINSAFE and COMINTECH sessions followed by the Powertrain Committee, whilst tomorrow’s council meeting will approve rule change proposals ahead of Saturday’s General Assembly plenary session. A gala dinner takes place Friday evening, with Sunday’s post-assembly meetings concluding the week.

Statutory Elections

Saturday’s General Assembly will elect the UIM President for the 2025-2029 term, with current president Dr. Raffaele Chiulli’s candidature for re-election submitted by the Italian Federation. The four-year presidency position follows Article 5.2.1/5.2.2 of the UIM By-Laws.

Up to two Administrator seats require assignment for the 2025-2029 period, with current terms ending for Denise Preece of New Zealand and Vahur Joala of Estonia. Additionally, one COMINOFF seat remains vacant for the remaining year of the 2022-2026 period, replacing Jamie Stickler of Great Britain.

Host City Framework

Baoshan District successfully hosted last year’s F1H2O World Championship and Shanghai Cruise Port International Sailing Regatta, attracting 1.2 million visitors. The Baoshan Government, China Water Ski, Underwater & Powerboat Federation and Tianrong Sports and Cultural Management provide organisational support for the assembly.

The 300-square-kilometre district at the confluence of the Yangtze, Huangpu and East Wusong rivers accommodates 2.15 million residents. Seven metro lines currently serve Baoshan, with three more planned and high-speed rail connections to the Yangtze River Delta scheduled for 2027.

MotoSurf Milestone

Chiulli highlighted 2025 as pivotal for UIM’s second-youngest discipline, with MotoSurf’s World Games inclusion marking historic progression for powerboat sports. The discipline becomes the first motorsport featuring in the major international event, acknowledging the UIM MotoSurf World Championship promoter’s efforts achieving this goal through exclusive sustainable energy source usage.

The Chengdu World Games appearance in August preceded the Shanghai assembly by two months, providing momentum for institutional discussions regarding discipline development and championship structures across UIM’s expanding portfolio.

The 98th UIM General Assembly represents the federation’s most important institutional event annually, gathering delegates from national authorities alongside council, commission and committee members for discussions shaping powerboat racing’s regulatory framework and strategic direction through 2026. Tomorrow’s council vote will determine the fate of dozens of rule proposals across circuit racing, Formula 2 and other disciplines.