ILS AT SPORTACCORD 2012

Dr. Harald Vervaecke PhD, ILS Secretary General and Ian Fullagar, ILS Legal Advisor, attended and represented ILS at Sportaccord 2012 which took place in Quebec – Canada from 19 to 25 May 2012. This annual gathering of over 1.850 representatives from the World of Sport is an opportunity for promotion, relationship building and learning. The meetings included the Annual General Assemblies of the International Association (IWGA), the Association of IOC Recognised Sports Federations (ARISF), the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), the Association of Summer Olympic Sports Federations (ASOIF), the joint meeting between ASOIF and IOC, the Sportaccord General Assembly and many others. Hereunder a brief report is given.

GENERAL MEETINGS

International World Games Association (IWGA)

The association counts 33 International Sports Federations. At the Assembly a progress report was provided by the host of the , which will take place in - Columbia. The IWGA was happy with the progress and the reports. The Cali Organising Committee signed a TV production agreement with the national TV channel. The IWGA announced at the meeting the signing of the agreement with the city of Wroclaw for the . pool competitions are included in both the 2013 and 2017 World Games. ILS is a full and voting member of the IWGA. Web site: http://www.theworldgames.org

Association of IOC Recognised Sports Federations (ARISF)

The association counts 32 International Sports Federations, all recognised by the IOC. ARISF includes, amongst others, Lifesaving, Air sport, Baseball, Billiards, Cricket, Dance Sport, , Climbing, Motorcycle sport, Powerboating, Netball, Polo, Roller Sports, Water ski, , , Automobile sport, etc… Eight of the sports of ARISF are included in the shortlist to enter the Olympic programme. The shortlisted sports include Baseball, Karate, Roller Sports, Softball, Sport Climbing, Squash, Wakeboard and Wushu. WADA was happy to announce that all ARISF member organisations were Code compliant.ILS is a full and voting member of ARISF.

The IOC President stated: The 32 International Federation Members of ARISF are a part of the Olympic Movement. In these fast-changing times where the interests of young people are rapidly evolving, the Olympic Programme for the Summer and Winter Games is constantly under review to ensure it remains relevant to young generations. When the IOC Programme Commission looks at the programme of the Games, it does not only consider ways of enhancing the sports that are already on the programme, but also looks at the IOC-recognised sports to evaluate their potential contribution to the future Games. Web site: http://www.arisf.org

World Masters Games Association (IMGA)

ILS was successful in its application for associate membership of the Association in 2011 and was present in the 2012 meeting. At the IMGA General Assembly it was announced that the 2017 Masters Games will be held in Auckland – New Zealand in May. New Zealand is interested to include Lifesaving in the programme and contacts were made with the host city representatives. Lifesaving is an optional sport in the Masters Games. The America’s Masters Games will be held in Vancouver (Canada) from 22 to 31 August 2014. ILS should undertake the necessary steps to include Lifesaving competitions in these Games. The European Masters Games will be held in Nice () from 10 to 20 September 2015. ILS should undertake the necessary steps to also include Lifesaving competitions in these Games. Web site: http://www.imga.ch

Association of Summer Olympic Sports Federations (ASOIF)

The General Assemblies of ASOIF are open to the ARISF Member Federations. The Secretary General and Legal Advisor attended the meetings. ASOIF purchased a full floor in the House of Sport in and have increased their reserves to cover four years of operation. The ASOIF Member Federations will receive some 375 million Euro as their common share from the revenue. ASOIF approved the ISIS (International Sport Information System) as the common system for Sport and Athletes information. The President of was elected the new President of ASOIF. Web site: http://www.asoif.com

ASOIF-IOC Annual Meeting

The Secretary General attended the meeting. Attendees were briefed on the progress of the London Olympic Games and the IOC-ASOIF relations. Web site: http://www.olympic.org

Sportaccord General Assembly

At the Sportaccord meeting, the President Hein Verbruggen announced his departure in 2013. The Assembly voted on the new statutes but without changing two articles which involve membership criteria. Reports were given on the Sportaccord Mind Games, the Sportaccord Combat Games but no news was issued on the proposed Sportaccord Beach Games, if any. Web site: http://www.sportaccord.com

Water Safety Meeting

In its role as the standard setting agency for aquatic drowning prevention ILS is willing to lead and collaborate with International Aquatic Sport Federations to come up with guidelines for safety and risk management of aquatic sport events. In this context ILS has set up a meeting during Sportaccord to meet with Aquatic Sport IF's to see if there is a need and appetite to collaborate on Safety and Risk Guidelines for Aquatic Sport Events, to discuss the value of collecting and reviewing data from Aquatic Sport IF's awareness of sport related mortality and injury severity, types and causes, to discuss individual cases of concern that might create reflective learning and to determine the will, need and next steps if any. The meeting was guided by the ILS Secretary General and Legal Advisor. It was resolved that broad guidelines would be useful for all Federations.

PRIVATE MEETINGS

IOC Sports Department

The Secretary General met with Christian Wassmer and Damien Mollard, both in charge of the recognised sports federations. This is a sharing opportunity that allows the IOC Sports Department to be updated on the status and progress within Lifesaving Sport. Discussions took place on three working fields which could be developed together: water safety programmes, lifesaving sport expansion and entourage management. An exchange of ideas meeting is planned in Lausanne. Both persons are interested to join ILS at the coming World Championships (Rescue 2012) which will take place in Adelaide.

2013 World Games: Cali Organising Committee

The ILS Secretary General met with the members of the 2013 World Games Organising Committee Cali, Columbia and with the IWGA Secretary General/CEO. The lifesaving programme at the Games was revised and refined. Lifesaving is planned at the beginning of the Games giving the opportunity to the competitors to be present at the Opening Ceremony. The Deputy Sports Director (Jorge Soto) of the Cali Games will be present at Rescue 2012 where the selection of the countries participating at the World Games will be made.

WADA

The new period of evaluation of Code Compliance will start this year after WADA has issued the new Code.

Other Meetings

Other private meetings were held with:  Interfuse on the result handling system. Interfuse has made an outstanding impression at Sportaccord.  JLT related to the ILS liability insurance.  International Military Sports Council (CISM). The Secretary General had lengthy discussions with the CISM Secretary General on promoting lifesaving in the military environment.  Host countries and cities such as The Netherlands, Australia, Macau, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Denmark, …  The Secretary General met with the Federation CEO with the view to advance the position of Lifesaving within future Commonwealth Games.  Discussions took place with relevant federations to include lifesaving in more multi-sports Games such as University Games, Indoor , Beach Games, etc…  Interesting meetings with unknown federations revealed that there was an International Federation for ethnic sports, that there was an International Federation organising the Homeless Football World Cup and many others.

In addition, there were many meeting and informal contact and chat opportunities with IOC Members, and IF leaders from international sport and sport related activities. The Secretary General had constructive discussions with Mr Phil Coles, a former IOC Member from Australia and Knight in the Order of Lifesaving. Mr Coles continues to be a strong supporter for Lifesaving, being himself a former surf ski competitor.

Many thanks are due to Ian Fullagar, our ILS Legal Advisor, for his dedication to lifesaving and ILS and to our ILS WADA Administrator, Karin Obus for her work to maintain a clean WADA standing.

Dr. Harald Vervaecke PhD Secretary General International Life Saving Federation