After the EU issued its potentially groundbreaking opinion on the anti-competitive nature of certain sporting rules last month we knew there’d be a shakeup, and the first shots have just been fired across ISAF World Sailing’s bows. The International Federation of Kitesports Organizations sent this letter to World Sailing, putting them on notice that their attempted monopolization of kiteboarding shouldn’t stand. With World Sailing’s AGM coming up next week and the all-important election to see if current President Carlo Croce will be allowed to continue his reign, this bombshell puts even more pressure on the MNA members to get with the times and elect someone who understands the ‘good ol’ boys’ days are over. Here’s the letter:
This Warning Letter is to inform WS that if it does not refrain from taking any decisions or voting concerning the Sport Kitesurfing/Kiteboarding on water at the next WS AGM in November/Barcelona and act in order to maintain the Kiteboarding status quo, we will unfortunately have to apply for a court order to ensure and preserve the IFKO governance rights on Kitesurfing/Kiteboarding on water sport.
This written warning is issued because, at first sight, WS has no legitimacy to govern the Sport of Kiteboarding on water (commonly known as Kitesurfing) demonstrated in the following evidences: a) WS by Constitution, denomination and aims is the governing body of the sport Sailing; b) IFKO is the only international federation in the world with the denomination, nature, object and objectives by constitution as governing body of all Kitesports; c) WS recognises “IKA” as the “class association” however there is no evidence or transparent proof of the existence of the legal registration of this entity as an “association” with this denomination since 2008.
Your failure to refrain from taking any decisions or voting concerning the Sport Kitesurfing/Kiteboarding on water at next WS AGM in November/Barcelona negatively impacts IFKO work and authority as governing body of the sport Kitesurfing. It demonstrates the intention of duplication of governance already taken by IFKO, disrespects the legal object and objectives of IFKO and directly damages the proper world organisation of the Kitesurfing sport.
This WS intention of usurpation of IFKO governance rights on Kitesurfing sport problem is not the first time. You have been informed and warned on four other occasions (by letter: 07/01/2016, 10/02/2016, 18/03/2016, 14/10/2016) to respect the IFKO existence, nature, object and objectives.
IFKO, as it is under SportAccord Membership application procedure, asked SportAccord and AIMS to set up and mediate a meeting between IFKO and WS Delegations which had a positive answer. We hope you will promptly accept the meeting request in a good will to achieve understanding in this “rivalry issue” on the Kitesurfing governance in good faith and reasonable grounds.
