FIE Madrid Congress - preliminary report

[gladius]

For those who cannot wait to hear it from Roch, here is a sneak preview as reported on the FIS web site

http://www.federscherma.it/news.asp?i=51097&s=7

FIE CONGRESS - DECISIONS BY 128 MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION IN MADRID

11/26/11/2007 - 17:48

Rome - Saturday, November 24 and Sunday, November 25 the FIE Congress took place at the Spanish Olympic Committee offices in Madrid.

Hereunder the main decisions by the Congress of the 128 countries participating:

• Italian proposal to make the bib of the foil mask conductive: approved and will be enforced from January 1, 2009
• as of January 1, 2009, per decision by the FIE medical commissions, "cramps" will be considered like an injury, so athletes will have the right of 10 minutes break
• as of January 1, 2008, for men's foil the use of the visor mak will become mandatory from the tableau of 32 (Italy voted against)
• motion by Belarus to limit the age of candidates for the presidency of the FIE was withdrawn
• motion by Honduras to limit to three the number of mandates for the presidency of the FIE was rejected
• approved the motion by Italy to restrict the candidacy to the FIE Arbitrage Commission to those who in the past have at least had the role of international referee
• approved, after a lengthy debate some stricter norms related to the candidacy for the FIE Arbitrage Commission (Italy and some other European federations voted against)
• the decision where to have the senior world championships in 2009 to be tabled for the FIE Congress which will take place in Acireale, Italy, during the Cadet and Junior Championships in April 2008: candidates are Copenhagen, Doha, and Luxemburg..
• 2010 senior world championships to take place in Paris
• 2009 junior world championships to take place in Belfast
• 2009 junior championships city to be decided at the FIE Congress in Acireale in 2008 during the cadet and junior world championships: candidates Turkey and Portugal
• 2008 veteran championships will take place in Limoges, France
• the place for the 2009 FIE Congress to be decided in Acireale in April 2008 during the cadet and junior world championships: candidates: Palermo, Italy, Amman, Jordan, and Istanbul, Turkey
• The following new federations were admitted: Namibia, Botswana, and Bangladesh
• a number of procedural norms were approved.

[mrbiggs]

[*]Italian proposal to make the bib of the foil mask conductive: approved and will be enforced from January 1, 2009

I'm not familiar with the bureaucratic processes of the FIE; is this really going to happen in 13 months?

What will be the effect on US foilists?

[fencerbill]

I'm not familiar with the bureaucratic processes of the FIE; is this really going to happen in 13 months?

What will be the effect on US foilists?

Their backs may not hurt as much with less bending over.

This change applies to FIE events. But if the US does not follow, our foilists will be at a disadvantage.

Fortunate are the LP mask users who just have to buy a new bib. Three weapon mask, rather, three bib mask.

[FoilyDeath]

[*]as of January 1, 2009, per decision by the FIE medical commissions, "cramps" will be considered like an injury, so athletes will have the right of 10 minutes break

Holy Christ, the FIE made a half decent decision! God forbid!

[gladius]

...[*]2009 junior world championships to take place in Belfast[*]2009 junior championships city to be decided at the FIE Congress in Acireale in 2008 during the cadet and junior world championships: candidates Turkey and Portugal
...

Obviously a typo here: the site for the 2010 junior world championships is still to be decided, not the 2009. My apologies.

[KD5MDK]

I'm not familiar with the bureaucratic processes of the FIE; is this really going to happen in 13 months?

What will be the effect on US foilists?

I don't suppose anyone might have started a thread on that topic in the past.

[oiuyt]

[*]as of January 1, 2009, per decision by the FIE medical commissions, "cramps" will be considered like an injury, so athletes will have the right of 10 minutes break

Why the delay in implementing this one? Doesn't require new equipment, it isn't even a new rule, merely a changed interpretation (that cramps are now an injury).

I suppose to remove complaints of a change mid-Olympic year.

-B

[KD5MDK]

I found that a highly curious, not to mention suspect, change as well.

[Tomas N]

Fortunate are the LP mask users who just have to buy a new bib. Three weapon mask, rather, three bib mask.

Unfortunate are those clubs that have thousands of dollars tied up in masks that will shortly be of no use.

Tomas

[erooMynohtnA]

So how long before someone comes out with the fencing gorget? And the follow up all-black maestro edition?

Like fencing doesn't have enough Little Lords Fauntleroy running around already.

[erooMynohtnA]

Unfortunate are those clubs that have thousands of dollars tied up in masks that will shortly be of no use.*/**

Tomas

*Except as practice masks for all three weapons or for epee.

**Until those masks are renovated by armorers already experienced at replacing saber bibs.

[Purple Fencer]

As a vendor I don;t mind teh bib change...means more business for me.

As a fencer, I hate it...there;s no reason...only an undue burden on everyone.

as for the three new federations....let me correct this:

[quote]The following new votes for Roche were bought: Namibia, Botswana, and Bangladesh[.quote]

[KD5MDK]

I wonder how many FIE members those federations will have.

[Purple Fencer]

I wonder how many FIE members those federations will have.

Just enough to give Roach his votes.....

[teacup]

[*]2009 junior world championships to take place in Belfast

Is this confirming that the 2008 Cadet Worlds will be the last?

[erik_blank]

Quick, Overly Reactionary Conservative Man! To the AFL! At least THERE our equipment will still be of value!

But Really, Who invited These guys to the FIE conference? I mean Bib for Target? WHY!?!?!? It makes no sense to me. Sure the bib has gotten slightly bigger in the past few years, and as a result, the sport has gotten safer. But the target that was removed by the increased bib size was really not all that much, and could easily be compensated for by those of use that are old enough to remember the smaller bibs. As for the younger crowd, it was never part of their game, so again, WHY BOTHER? Has it REALLY been that much of a bone of contention over the years? URGHHHH!!!!!!

Now where is that Sail Makers Palm and the Type "B" thread???

[Grasshopper]

Oh, no! How will Vezzali, Joppich and Gruchala block their target area now!!!???

[Grasshopper]

motion by Chuck Norris to allow round-house kicks in foil was rejected

[fencerbill]

I wonder how many FIE members those federations will have.

Probably all of the members will get their way paid to the Congress.

[fencerbill]

[*]approved the motion by Italy to restrict the candidacy to the FIE Arbitrage Commission to those who in the past have at least had the role of international referee

Wish there was a similar requirement that SEMI Commission members know how to test equipment.