Frits Vrijlandt will be replaced as President this year ©UIAA

The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) has called for candidates to succeed outgoing President Frits Vrijlandt.

A replacement for the Dutchman is due to be elected at the UIAA General Assembly in Antalya in Turkey on October 24.

Vrijlandt is vacating the role as he will have reached his maximum limit of two four-year terms.

The UIAA set-up a Temporary Nomination Committee (TNC) in November to search and propose candidates for the new President.

Guidelines and procedures for the process have been released, with the TNC asking federations for formal nominations of candidates that have been recommended and proposed only.

However, federations do retain the right to propose other people.

Only selected and nominated candidates will be officially announced.

The new UIAA President is due to be elected in October ©Getty Images
The new UIAA President is due to be elected in October ©Getty Images

A deadline of April 15 has been set for candidates to come forward and they do not need permission or a nomination from their federation at this stage.

"Please do not hesitate to enter the process," a UIAA statement to potential candidates said. 

"Leading the 'global mountain network' as UIAA President is a privilege and an honour." 

Vrijlandt, who became the first Dutch climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 2000, was first elected as UIAA President in Amsterdam in 2012.

He was re-elected for another four years in Brixen-Bressanone in Italy in 2016.