UCI Agrees to Road Cycling Reforms -- Federations Focus

(ATR) Races and teams wishing to join the International Cycling Union World Tour for men’s road cycling now have a framework to do so.

Starting in 2017 teams and races will be granted three-year licenses tocompete on the tour, with the first candidates to be assessed in 2016.The reforms are part of a two-year process set out by UCI hoping toincrease the credibility and stability of the tour.

The reforms were agreed upon on Dec. 9, following a two day meeting of UCI officials in Barcelona.

Current races on the tour will be used as a framework for the newcalendar, but the federation will form the Professional Calendar WorkingGroup to carry out changes to the tour, according to a release from thefederation.

The number of races starting in 2017 is to be decided, but 18 teams willreceive three year license, with each license being reviewed on anannual basis, "based on ethical, financial, administrative andorganizational criteria."

"Road cycling’s strengths lie in its variety, its season-long narrative,its accessibility to fans and its global nature," Brian Cookson, UCIPresident, said in a statement.

"The UCI World Tour needs to embrace these strengths and effectivelypromote them while celebrating the richness of the season and theperformances of its actors. These reforms respects existing rights,ensures stability for organizers and teams and encourages stakeholdersto work together, ultimately reinforcing the credibility and integrityof cycling."

Bulgaria On-Tap for Two Gymnastics Championships

Sofia, Bulgaria will host the 2017 Trampoline Gymnastics WorldChampionships as well as the 2018 Rhythmic Gymnastics WorldChampionships.

The city was chosen as the future host of the two events at theInternational Gymnastics Federation’s trimestral meeting in Lausanne,Switzerland on Wednesday, Dec. 8.

President of the FIG Bruno Grandi says Bulgaria’s "long and historicgymnastics tradition" will make for successful events. Bulgaria hostedthe 2013 Trampoline Worlds and has been a stop on the FIG RhythmicGymnastics World Cup circuit since 2011.

"With these two World Championships, Sofia really puts itself on the Gymnastics map for the next Olympic cycle," said Grandi.

The FIG executive board also awarded the 2018 Acrobatic Gymnastics WorldChampionships to Antwerp, Belgium, bringing the event back to the citythat first hosted it in 1903.

IWWF Appoints New Director General

The InternationalWaterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) announced Monday, Dec. 7 thatPaul Fong would be taking over as the organization’s director general.

Fongwill be given the reigns of the position on Mar. 1, 2016 when he willbegin working towards developing wakeboarding in hopes of futureinclusion in the Olympic Games.

The IWWF tells Around the Ringsit received applications from 14 countries for the sought afterposition, but it was Fong’s "extensive prior experience" in the sportthat won him the job.

"Paul’s extensive prior experience in somany aspects of our sport put him in a very strong position to play anactive role very quickly," the IWWF said.

Fong served as a memberof the IWWF Tournament Council from 2000 to 2008, a member of the WorldCup Committee and Wakeboard Council and he organized successful WorldCup Stops sponsored by HSBC in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

"Our focuson doing everything possible to bring Wakeboard to the Olympic Gameswill also continue to be a high priority and an important role for himin the times ahead," the IWWF tells ATR.

Sailing Fed Rebrands

The International Sailing Federation will now be known as World Sailing in an effort to rebrand the federation following the election of new leadership.

The new leadership team seeks to make several changes to the federation’s governance with four main areas selected for improvement: more transparency, better communication, stronger governance and greater accountability.

The rebrand comes complete with a new motto for the organization - ‘A Sport for Life’ – which the federation says reinforces the team’s dedication to "the whole world of sailing".

"We are really looking forward to a new era of sailing governance and myself and the team are determined to make World Sailing the best that it can be," said World Sailing chief marketing officer Malcolm Page.

Written by Aaron Bauer and KevinNutley

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