Lapasset: Japan Signed All Venue Agreements -- Federations Focus

(ATR) World Rugby chief Bernard Lapasset tells Around the Rings his recent trip to Japan gave him confidence in the hosts of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

"We went to Japan to sign with Prime Minister Abe the confirmation of support of the government for Japan 2019, and it was totally achieved," he said in an interview withATRat the IF Forum in Lausanne.

"We have really good support of the Japanese people now."

Lapasset says he arrived in Lausanne immediately after a two-day visit to the future host of World Rugby’s premier tournament. The purpose of the visit was to get assurances on the venue plan for the tournament.

In September, plans for the new national stadium in Tokyo were scrapped after cost projections ballooned to over $2 billion. The stadium was slated to host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the open and final matches of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

In order to remedy the situation, Japan devised a plan to hold the opening ceremony and match at Tokyo Stadium while the finale of the tournament will take place at Yokohama Stadium. Lapasset says World Rugby has approved the new venue plan.

"We signed an agreement for all venues and with the regions so the legal process has been achieved."

This resolution puts an end to the stadium debacle that led to the resignation of Japan’s sports minister Hakubun Shimomura in September. Shimomura was replaced by Hiroshi Hase; a man Lapasset says is a fan of rugby although he competed in wrestling at the 1984 Olympics.

"To have the minister of sport for Olympics and world cup was with us and he is a rugby man, so he’s very supportive of the process," says Lapasset.

The staging of the world cup in Japan is part of an ongoing effort by both World Rugby and Japan’s sports ministry to increase youth sport participation

Lapasset noted how the results of these efforts can begin to be felt, particularly with Japan’s victory over two-time champion South Africa in this year’s world cup.

"Rugby is part of the sport now in Japan and it will be a fantastic world cup in Japan in 2019."

Modern Pentathlon Focuses on Expansion

Leaders of the modern pentathlon federation (UIPM) gathered in China Nov. 7-8 for the federation’s 67th annual congress.

The two-day congress featured a series of changes to the governance of the organization, including: a comprehensive review and update of the structure of the organization, changes to the UIPM biathle and triathle competition rules and a simplification of election rules.

Six national federations were also approved for membership within UIPM during the congress, with Bermuda, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Benin, Madagascar and Colombia joining teh federation.

"With a strong vision, with a clear understanding that change is a certainty, and with a total commitment by all the family, modern pentathlon can and will be successful in retaining and gaining on its position after the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo," said UIPM Secretary General Shiny Fang.

UIPM was also the first federation to express its support for the Declaration of Support for the Olympic Charter during the congress.

FISU Elects New Executive Board

Former first vice president of the organizationOleg Matytsin is the new president of FISU, the International University Sport Federation.

FISU members converged in Lausanne for the 34th FISU general assembly on Nov. 7-8.

Leonz Eder was elected to replace Matytsin as the new first vice president.

The members of FISU elected a new executive board for the next four years during the assembly, setting the leadership for 2015-2019.

"I’m very proud to be elected as the new FISU President, I’m fully aware it is a great responsibility for me and my team," said Matysin.

"We need to establish first our tradition, but at the same time we have to continue to be very modern."

Written by KevinNutley

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