Princess Haya Al Hussein to step down as FEI president

Sport360 staff 16:14 13/08/2014
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  • New ambitions: Princess Haya Al Hussein (c) walks with her husband Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (l) at Royal Ascot.

    Princess Haya Al Hussein of Jordan announced Wednesday that she will not run for a third term as president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

    Princess Haya is the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, who is one of the dominant personalities on the thoroughbred racing circuit. 

    Sheikh Mohammed owns the Godolphin stables based in Dubai, the UK and – more recently– Australia.

    The Princess took office in 2006 but said she would not seek a third term in charge, instead choosing to focus on raising her children and United Nations humanitarian causes, such as those in Gaza.

    In April the FEI voted overwhelmingly to change their statutes to allow her to run for a third term as president.

    However, Princess Haya, whose first act in office was to introduce a motion limiting presidents to two four-year terms, said her initial commitment to a term-limit had also factored into the decision.

    "The situation in my region is turbulent and desperate at the moment. You will understand that these are also my people and my family, so recently much of the work that I have balanced with my FEI Presidency in the past has begun to make itself a first priority," Princess Haya said in a statement.

    "In the last weeks, I have needed to put aside some of my work for the FEI to concentrate on humanitarian relief to Gaza and other work in that sector. And I feel that this is just the beginning.

    "To fulfill my commitments to humanitarian work and to raise my children with the time to love them seems truly overwhelming; it is clear to me that I cannot in good faith promise to give my all in each of these areas while also continuing to be the hands-on President that the FEI needs and deserves," she added.

    Princess Haya will complete her term in office in December, after which a new FEI president will be elected at the General Assembly in Baku, Azerbaijan on December 14. 

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