Program
of presidential candidate for
European Fencing
Confederation
Alisher Usmanov
TIME OF NEW OPPORTUNUTIES AND REFORMATION
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
Dear Presidents of Fencing Federations of
Dear Friends, colleagues!
INTRODUCTION
Suffice it to say that our part of
the world is represented by 24 Federations ranking among 32 strongest world
Federations, while only 8 of those represent
European fencers win over 90% of
medals of World Cups, Championships, and Olympic games.
Today, Europeans are the main
generators and exponents of ideas in development of the World Fencing. Such is
indeed the case that European trainers help to promote the development of
fencing on other continents and all over the World through development of
fencing
The contribution of Europeans to
development of the World fencing is stupendous. This is fact no one can deny.
Nevertheless, while helping the development of fencing, we should not forget
about ourselves. Under apparent well-being, we still have a variety of problems
and drawbacks. At the top of all is our dissociation! It has shown in full
measure during the latest IFF/FIE Congress in
Another crucial point! European Confederation has lost any contacts with
IFF/FIE. These relations have to be restored, so that professional knowledge,
experience of the Europeans would, as they used to, serve the development of
World fencing and
And, at last, thirdly!
Unfortunately, not all of the European Federations have the opportunity for
dynamic development at present. Approximately 10-15 nations either do not participate at all or frequently can
not afford participating European Championships. Our primary task is to assist them in developing fencing sport.
Dear friends!
The world is swiftly changing, and nothing can be achieved without serious organizational
and financial efforts. In order to realize various programs aimed to
development, popularization and enhancing the prestige of fencing as one of
Olympic sports, funds are needed, as well as European and World television.
Global Fencing marketing is needed to be organized.
In order to intensively develop
contemporary fencing we need, first of all, to assign funds for the work of Confederation. National
federations of minor fencing nations
are those, who particularly need real methodical, material, organizational and
financial support. It is necessary that we create an ad hoc commission that will be concerned exclusively with the
issues of assistance to these minor nations.
We also have to open additional Fencing
Academies in the centre of
Another important task is
representation of our sport in Olympic G
I do have the opportunity to resolve
this problem, and I am ready to do this!
I am convinced that we won’t be able
to successfully develop fencing in
Dear colleagues! In case I meet Your understanding and support, I will establish
Presidential Fund of European Confederation. This fund will accumulate 3 000
000 of USD, in addition to the budget of already
existing International Foundation “For Future of Fencing”.
My primary goal is to significantly enhance the popularity and authority of
fencing in all the parts of
2. PROPOSALS ON IMPROVEMENT AND
DEMOCRATIZATION OF EFC ADMINISTRATION
The ideas of reorganization of EFC
work are evident and unavoidable. I suggest that we modify the structure of EFC
administration.
First, engage into its work the best
representatives of European national federations. Executive Committee is that
one governing body which is to become the real administrating body of EFC.
I also propose to create several
additional commissions consisting of 5-7 persons. Under such organization of
EFC work, practically each national
federation of
I want to afford the best European
specialists an opportunity to independently define the destiny and ways of
development of European fencing.
The work of Executive Committee and Commissions will be financed by the
Presidential Fund, which I will create attached to EFC. In that way we will
resolve the problem of sending the members of Executive Committee and
Commissions on assignments. Thus they will not depend on the availability of
money in national federations to be represented.
In order to fulfill these plans, I
propose, in case of my election, after 3-4 months, to convene an extraordinary Congress (at the expense of the Fund). This time will be enough to collect
the ideas and proposals of national federations.
I suppose that among the main tasks and functions of the President are
to organize and provide financing, promotion of fencing in
Of 44 states belonging to European
Confederation, only 26-30 participate in European competitions. Our mission is
to make all the rest states, without exception, to dynamically develop fencing
and participate in the competitions – not only European, but World as well.
3. FINANCING OF EFC/CEE WORK
Financial assistance for the
national federations
As a presidential contender, first
of all, I consider it to be exclusively important to provide financing of
Confederation’s activity, activity of Executive Committee, Commissions and
programs designed to contribute to resolve the problems put by. Thereupon, in
case of election as the President of EFC, I guarantee the following:
-
abolish annual dues to EFC from national federations, as well as
engagements for athletes on European championships;
-
finance the work of Commission on forecasting and improvement of
competitions activity models in kinds of fencing (weapons);
-
finance the Commission on providing national federations with
video-manuals, methodical editions;
-
broaden the contingent of international category arbiters, particularly
from minor European fencing nations; finance their attendance at the
competitions and professional development;
-
create centers for training of athletes and finance the work on
professional improvement of trainers and arbiters from national European
federations;
-
finance the work of an ad hoc Commission on rendering assistance to
development of fencing in minor European fencing nations;
-
create the prize-fund for winners and medalists of European
championships;
-
create Commission consisting of the leading
European athletes and trainers in order to elaborate collective view on the
ways of modernization and improvement of fencing development. Finance it’s
activity;
-
create a Commission on development of
invalid fencing, in compliance with the program of Paralympic
Games. Finance it’s activity;
-
create and finance a new magazine –
“European Fencing” – which must become a really democratic edition, become a
platform for European federations, best trainers, athletes, arbiters and
fencing specialists.
Our magazine should become a field
for discussions, free exchange of various views and positions. It must really
depict those great transformations that, I am sure of it, will take place!
Our magazine must become a powerful
mouthpiece of new approaches and ideas, must serve the main thing – progress of
European and World fencing.
4. CALENDAR AND SYSTEM OF
COMPETITIONS,
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT
As You
understand, competitions are one of the main forms of training of the athletes.
This is why I want to cardinally change the system of how they are being
arranged and held.
As I have already stated before, due
to economical and other reasons, certain European states do not participate in
European championships. One of the main causes of that is poor level of sporting
skills of fencers in these countries. Thus, they are unable to compete with and
win among the athletes of the strongest European states.
In order to develop fencing in minor
nations and rouse their interest, I propose to hold our competitions in two
categories:
-
major league – all the strongest teams;
-
minor league – athletes and teams of
minor federations.
In either group medals and awards
will be raffled, ranks of European championship winners and medalists will be
conferred.
There will be team rotation between
the leagues: three strongest, by results of the competitions, teams (by
weapons) of minor league, move to the major league. And three teams (by
weapons) of major league that have taken the last places in major league – move
to the minor league.
Having created such system, we will
afford opportunity, equal conditions and interest to the minor fencing nations
for participating in competitions of European level, having thereby encouraged
them to actively develop fencing in their countries. These proposals have to be
worked over and discussed in details.
It is a common knowledge that
competitions should popularize our sport in the best way. This is why we have
to think of annual arrangement and conducting of show-tournaments, for
participation in which, stars of European and World fencing will be invited.
Broad advertising will be organized; prize fund will be formed; television and
other mass media will be involved. These tournaments must become the real fests
of our sport. They must be thoroughly and professionally prepared and shown on
television. Besides, the issue of television should become one of the most
important for us. We must invite specialists, create a special program and
learn to show fencing in such a way as to make it eye-catching, comprehensible
for general audience.
I am deeply convinced that fencing
can be promoted, popularized, as it has happened in due time with tennis.
All the transformations proposed
will be submitted for approval of Executive Committee and extraordinary Congress
to be convened in 3-4 months.
5. AUTHORITY OF THE EFC PRESIDENT
In order to increase the level of
professionalism and efficiency of administration of the EFC work, I propose to
part managing from administrative functions of the Presidential post. As the
President of EFC, I see the range of my duties, primarily, in consolidating the
status of fencing in European sporting community. My mission on the post of the
President will be:
- enhancement of EFC
authority;
- consolidation of EFC
and national federations’ resource base;
- aggressive lobbying, first
of all in IOC;
- organization and
coordination of fencing global marketing;
and others.
For the purpose of managing the
administrative work of the EFC, I propose to create the post of Executive
Director and deputy directors from amongst experienced fencing specialists. Paralympic Commission and Veterans Commission must be
created under the President.
6. EFC CONGRESS
For the sake of democratic
functioning of EFC, I propose to conduct the EFC Congresses annually. Confederation
will reimburse the Presidents of national federations their traveling and
accommodation expenses connected with the Congress.
7. CONCLUSION
Dear friends,
colleagues!
The necessity of reformation does
not mean denial of previous experience. I account and will entirely rely on the
rich experience of my predecessors and all those who have honestly,
professionally and in good faith served, and is ready to serve our common cause
– European fencing – today.
I account on Your
support, trust, and then, together we will be able to enhance the prestige of European
Confederation, will be able to really help fencing to follow the right path of
development.
Yours sincerely,
Alisher Usmanov