INTERNATIONAL LIFE SAVING FEDERATION Gemeenteplein 26 - 3010 Leuven - Belgium Tel: +32/(0)16 89 60 60 – Fax: +32/(0)16 89 70 70 E-mail:
[email protected] - Web: http://www.ilsf.org To the ICF Board of Directors To the ILS Board of Directors To the Member Federations affiliated to the ICF To the Member Federations affiliated to ILS To the IOC President and Sports Directorate To the Sportaccord President and Board of Directors To the ARISF and ASOIF Presidents and Board of Directors Leuven, 20 June 2010 Dear friends, It came to our attention that the International Canoe Federation (ICF) is claiming the ownership of the surf-ski races (which they sometimes call ocean kayak but they also use surf-ski races which is an ILS protected name) and are organising events that are similar to those events our federation has done for over 80 years. They are using the ILS protected name and similar boats. In the past the ICF acknowledged the ownership of surf-ski to be an ILS event and equipment. The new leadership in the ICF is now claiming that all paddle sports belong to the ICF. The ICF is offering surf-ski championships. This is in competition to the long standing ILS and ILS member federation’s surf-ski championships. In the past we had appropriate collaboration with the International Canoe Federation and above all respect of each other’s events. We exchanged information and worked well together. Much to our disappointment this has recently changed. We attempted to meet with the ICF President at Sportaccord 2010 but were unable to achieve any progress in our effort to regain a collaborative relationship.