U.S. Snowboarder Charges Forward with IOC Lawsuit

(ATR) Olympic snowboarder Justin Reiter is adamant that his rights were violated when the International Olympic Committee opted to drop snowboard parallel slalom from the 2018 PyeongChang Games.

Reiter, a 34-year-old Colorado snowboarder who competed at Sochi 2014, is aggressively pursuing a lawsuit against the IOC, challenging its decision to remove his event from the program. With he and his three attorneys present in a Swiss civil court in Lausanne on September 19, the presiding judge permitted the case to move forward.

"Realistically, I think we can win – I honestly do," Reiter told Around the Ringsduring an exclusive Skype interview from Colorado. "I know that the IOC is extremely powerful and has influence all over the world, but the simple fact of the matter is that we have an argument.

"You can’t remove a discipline inside of three years of the Games. You can’t break your own laws, and that’s why we’re fighting this in Switzerland. I believe the IOC violated its own rules, and it doesn’t embody the Olympic spirit."

While snowboard parallel slalom was officially dropped from the Olympic program in August, the IOC Executive Board granted approval for three new International Ski Federation (FIS) events to join for 2018 – men’s and women’s snowboard big air and the alpine nations team event.

"I feel very strongly that snowboarding has kept the Olympics relevant for the youth," Reiter said. "I believe strongly that there needs to be more snowboarding, not less snowboarding."

Reiter also places blame on the FIS, skiing and snowboarding’s governing body.

"There’s a big move from FIS to remove snowboard racing overall because they see it as the juice isn’t worth the squeeze – they have to pay out of pocket (for the event) without a tour title sponsor," Reiter said, noting the priority of FIS now lies with boardercross, slopestyle, big air and halfpipe.

Attorney Michael Buckner of Florida-based Buckner Sports Law said that approval of Reiter’s case to move forward on September 19 was an "important first step," however achieving the desired result will be a daunting task.

"The lawsuit filed by Olympic snowboarder Justin Reiter against the International Olympic Committee seeks Swiss courts to apply federal law to an interesting set of facts," Buckner said.

"He will have a difficult, although not impossible argument to make that he and other athletes were injured if the IOC is successful in proving Swiss law was not violated because any deviations to its procedure was done with the approval and consultation of the sport’s governing body (FIS) and the IOC itself.

"Although the Olympic Charter permits the IOC to add new events no later than three years before the Games, the deadline can be bypassed if it obtains the approval of the respective IF and organizing committee of the Olympic Games."

Buckner noted that the IOC adding new events and sports past the three-year deadline is not without precedent, citing the acceptance of skeleton and women’s bobsleigh prior to the 2002 Games, a decision taken on October 2, 1999. However, other events were not compromised.

Reiter, a 2013 world championship silver medalist and currently the world’s #3 ranked snowboard racer, is being represented by U.S. attorney Filippo Marchino, along with Rocco Taminelli of Italy and Swiss based Andrea Ferranzzini.

The attorneys have estimated that fees and costs associated with this litigation will probably exceed $175,000. Thus far, less than $10,000 has been pledged toward his goal of that amount.

The Roots of Reiter’s Battle

The proposal to remove parallel slalom and add snowboard big air, the alpine nations team event, and new speed skating and curling events to the Olympic program, was initially submitted on June 7 in Lausanne.

"This was a punch in the gut to our community, at the same time we were all excited for big air to be included in the Olympics," Reiter said.

"We created a riders union, everybody rallied together, we created a petition on Change.org that garnered just under 16,000 signatures in little over two weeks, and we drafted a letter to the IOC," Reiter explained. "We lobbied to keep parallel slalom and also the added events."

Reiter said it was nearly impossible to make his case, on behalf of all snowboard racers, to the IOC.

"We intended to get this letter to them. However, the IOC is impenetrable," Reiter said. "You have people like Prince Albert. However, it’s not like you can look him up on LinkedIn and get his email address."

Regarding what seems to be an uphill legal battle with little, if any chance for success, Reiter is not deterred.

"I hope that this can bridge the gap from snowboarding to mainstream and athletes all over the world can recognize, support and share the fact that this is larger than snowboarding," the Colorado snowboarder said. "This is about athletes gaining rights rather than being disposable."

Reiter said he would relish the opportunity to engage in discussion with IOC decision makers regarding the matter.

"I feel like if we could get their ear, maybe they could see our point and realize that they’ve made a mistake.

"I still don’t know what is going to happen, but at least we’re swimming and not treading water."

The case is expected to proceed in Swiss civil court at a December date.

Written by Brian Pinelli

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