#ICYMI: Sports Prioritize Governance; Stand Up Paddle Battle; South American Paralympics Cancelled

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Summer Sports Prioritize Governance at SportAccord

Governance issues among the summer Olympic international sports federations top the agenda at the ASOIF general assembly in Bangkok.

In the fallout from the mismanagement and corruption problems that have plagued IAAF, FIFA and AIBA in the past couple of years, improving IF governance remains the hot topic for ASOIF leaders in 2018.

At the meeting of ASOIF’s 33 member federations, results of the second IF governance review will be presented and discussed. All sports on the Tokyo 2020 program were required to submit a second questionnaire by mid-February.

The numbers have been crunched by the summer sports’ governance task force, which will outline the key findings and plot the next steps in the project. An update will also be provided about the creation of a governance monitoring unit.

Tokyo 2020 organizers will update the ASOIF conference, which includes among its number the presidents and secretaries general of the summer sports.

The delegation will be led by CEO Toshiro Muto and include deputy director general Yukihiko Nunomura, chief financial officer Hidemasa Nakamura, sports director Koji Murofushi and communications chief Masa Takaya.

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No Solution for Surfing and Canoe Federation Feud

No remedy is in sight as the surfing and canoe governing bodies appear headed to arbitration to decide who will ultimately govern the rapidly growing sport of Stand Up Paddling.

International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre tells Around the Rings that reaching a viable solution with the International Canoe Federation remains a struggle.

"It is still unresolved – (we) agreed on a process, friendly discussions, but those didn’t work," Aguerre tells ATR at SportAccord in Bangkok. "We haven’t been able to find any solution which we believe is fair."

Aguerre noted that the ISA incorporated SUP into its program in 2008 and although they stage annual world championships, the ICF remains unwilling to concede and the next step is likely arbitration at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"It’s been a little bit distracting to us," said the Argentine surfing leader, while advising that the IOC will not accept a sport embroiled in a governance dispute.

"Our hope is we find an agreement or go to arbitration which is what the IOC hope us to do."

Both the ISA and ICF have retained law firms in the longstanding dispute. Aguerre wants the feud resolved as soon as possible so surfing can proceed with Olympic ambitions.

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South American Paralympics Cancelled

Plans to hold a second edition of the South American Paralympics this October have collapsed.

Buenos Aires announced late last year it could not host the event after initially agreeing to take over from Cochabamba, Bolivia, where it would have been held along with the South American Games set for May. Such was the case four years ago when Santiago, Chile hosted the South American Games as well as the first edition of the South American Paralympics.

But the lack of a Paralympic committee in Bolivia made it impossible for Cochabamba to win approval for government support. Since then, no other city has stepped forward to take over.

The Paralympic Committee of the Americas said it tried to convince Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Chile but none could handle the financial obligation.

Interim APC president Eduardo Montenegro tells Around the Rings that the cancellation of the event is an "unpleasant surprise".

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