European federations agree to hold new Championships

Monday 29th May 2006

European Championships Agreed with FISA

Denis Oswald, president of the International Rowing Federation (FISA), brandished a piece of paper at the end of a meeting of European members on May 27 which announced the routing of the new European rowing confederation and the capture of its main weapon, European Championships. Whether the confederation will march onwards from its bunker in Plovdiv remains to be seen, but the victory looks overwhelmingly Oswald's.

The background is that early this year, the confederation was set up when a dozen countries, most of them formerly states of the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia, met and announced a European championship. FISA's reaction was swift and harsh. A memo to its member federations on March 27, signed by Oswald and the executive director, Matt Smith, accused the group of 'claiming the authority to organise a European championship' and having 'the audacity to elect themselves all as officers of this organisation'. They were advised that FISA started European championships (now the world championships) back in 1893.

In fact FISA was formed mainly to simplify rules and types of boats so that European championships could be started. FISA sees the confederation as a threat to the progress of 'universality' which has been the main plank in Oswald's steer of rowing into the 21st century.

So FISA surveyed its European members and called a meeting at the Munich World Cup. What emerged was strong support for Euro champs, in many cases because a fresh funding stream would open in many countries - particularly the central and eastern ones.

Oswald led a discussion from the floor by skilfully grasping at perceived consensus points and assuming agreement by silence from the floor. After a free-for-all on possible events and dates, what emerged was a European championship to take place towards the end of September (beginning in 2007), to include Olympic boats over 2000 metres and to be run by a board made up of three elected by European feds and three Europeans from FISA's council ‹ all from different countries ‹ under an independent chairman. Oswald helped to clinch his vote by offering former FISA executive member and chairman of Henley, Mike Sweeney, as management board chairman. Sweeney, who happened to be present, was reluctant, embarrassed and possibly indignant, and reserved his position.

In secret ballots delegates voted by 24 to 4 for championships, and then by 21 to 6 for FISA to organise them instead of the new confederation, which was dubbed unrepresentative and irrelevant. Ironically, Bulgaria, whose former president is at the heart of the confederation, was denied a vote because it is unclear whether the outgoing or incoming executive currently holds power there.

Britain's contribution to the debate was made by David Tanner, who asked the assembly to be mindful of damaging the World Cup and the television coverage which existing FISA events enjoy. Britain was in a small minority of countries who said they would not participate in the championships, the others being Austria, Finland, Norway and Switzerland. But many countries expressed interest in hosting them, among them Germany, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Greece.

The GB reasoning is that taking part would cost money, not raise income. So you can bet your bottom euro that when the first British crew appears in a European championship, David Tanner will have found a new funding stream.