Rafael Gallo at National Geographic Society
San José, Costa Rica – The Congress of the International Rafting Federation re-elected Rafael Gallo President for a second term when it met May 18th in Bosnia & Herzegovina at the World Rafting Championships.
“I am honored to lead the IRF. This international group of whitewater rafting industry leaders and experts sets international safety and operating standards and promotes rafting and protection of rivers worldwide.” Says Rafael Gallo, co-founder of Rios Tropicales.
Mr. Gallo is the co-founder and President of Rios Tropicales, a Costa Rican rafting and adventure company that has achieved international renown in the rafting world. Mr. Gallo also sits on the boards of Costa Rican Nature Reserves Network (Red de Reservas), America Outdoors, the US-based International Trade Association of Outfitters, Tour Companies, and Suppliers, and Rios Tropicales Foundation, a non-profit river conservation organization. An expert paddler himself, Mr. Gallo, has long been at the forefront of efforts to promote rafting, protection of rivers, and international sustainable adventure development through international competition and best practices collaboration.
The International Rafting Federation has a 10-member board of directors, and 50 countries are represented in the federation. The IRF was established in 1997, and Mr. Gallo was one of the nine founding members. The IRF supports rafting as a sport and recreational pursuit that is accessible to the general public through commercial tourism operators, sport and recreation clubs. The IRF promotes that rafting is a low environmental impact activity that creates awareness of conservation and environmental appreciation while showcasing the skill elements involved in the sport. At the 2009 IRF Congress in Banja Luka the IRF discussed working to make rafting a future Olympic sport.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
