Winter Feds Body Breaks Ties with SportAccord

(ATR) The Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) is the latest organization to suspend its membership with SportAccord.

In a letter addressed to SportAccord president Marius Vizer, dated Wednesday, May 27, AIOWF president Gian Franco Kasper advised of the immediate action by the alliance of seven Olympic winter sports federations.

"The winter sports group has informed the president of SportAccord, with great majority, that we have decided to suspend our collaboration with immediate effect,"Kasper told Around the Rings in a phone interview.

"What happened in Sochi was the main reason, and he has also continued his accusations in the media," said Kasper, a vice president of SportAccord, regarding Vizer and his scathing attack directed towards Bach and the IOC on April 20.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach was copied into the letter, along with the AIOWF members. Also included, was Francesco Ricci Bitti, president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Sports Federations (ASOIF) and Raffaele Chiulli, president of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF).

Vizer sent a proposal to Bach outlining 20 demands last week, including proposed prize money for Olympic athletes and a 50 percent ownership by the federations in the new Olympic Channel.

"He never discussed with this our federations with his own council or vice president, which is me," Kasper said. "We also don’t agree that those are our proposals or requests."

The mass exodus of SportAccord in the wake of president Vizer’s scathing diatribe directed towards Bach and the IOC in Sochi on April 20 includes 22 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports which have suspended memberships with the umbrella organization.

Bobsleigh and curling are the only individual winter sports federations to suspend memberships from SportAccord. Kasper, president of the International Ski Federation since 1998, advised that FIS would address the matter at a council meeting next week.

"We have our council meeting which is scheduled for next week (June 3-6) in Varna (Bulgaria)," Kasper noted. "I will inform my council what is going on."

"Of course, it is up to each individual federation to suspend its membership with SportAccord," he said.

Kasper also noted that AIOWF will meet in Lausanne on June 10 to further discuss the developing situation.

ASOIF, which represents the 28 summer Olympic federations, cut ties with SportAccord on April 21, just one day after Vizer’s attack on the IOC during his opening remarks.

Kasper, asked if Vizer has dug himself too deep a hole to salvage SportAccord’s future, said he is hopeful that the various stakeholders can still meet to assuage the volatile situation.

"It’s really difficult to say, but I have the hope that we can find some productive discussions with the different groups," Kasper said. "I think it is absolutely open."

Bach has informed Vizer that he will advise on the embattled SportAccord president’s request for a meeting between the IOC and SportAccord after he meets with his Executive Board in Lausanne on June 7-8.

Kasper was re-elected as president of AIOWF at SportAccord in Belek, Turkey in May 2014, replacing Ice Hockey Federation chief Rene Fasel. The ski federation chief also lead the group of seven sports between 2000-2002.

Kasper on FIFA Arrests: "Not an Every Day Procedure"

Kasper also opined on the early-morning police raid at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, resulting in the arrest of seven FIFA officials and indictments against others by the U.S. Justice Department on corruption and rackateering charges.

"I was surprised like everyone, but I was particularly surprised with the timing to do this just before the congress,"said the 71-year old Swiss sports leader. "It’s not an every day procedure for the Swiss authorities."

The raid was carried out as FIFA officials gathered ahead of this week's presidential election.

The U.S. will request extradition of the defendants with the assistance of the Swiss authorities as the investigation continues.

"This could take years now," Kasper said. "It’s not just the Swiss authorities. It’s the U.S. Justice (Departement).

"Those arrested have to decide if they will go to the U.S.,and if they say no, then the Swiss court must decide if they shall be sent to the U.S. or not. This could also take months."

Written by Mark Bisson

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