Is South America ready for prime-time WMA world meet?

Every time a new IAAF newsletter come out (in PDF format), I download it to see if any masters athletes have been nailed for a doping offense. The April newsletter has no such bad news this time. But it does have an interesting section devoted to the workings of that mysterious entity known as the IAAF Masters Committee. Only a handful of privileged folks attend its meetings, usually at some big-time European track meet with meals served with the finest china, crystal goblets and vintage wine. Biggest news from the latest meeting: WMA hopes to plant a meet in South America.


Anyhoo, here’s what the latest IAAF newsletter has to say about the group’s doings:
The annual Masters’ Committee Meeting took place on 21 March 2006 on the occasion of the 2nd World Masters’ Association (WMA) Champs Indoors, Linz (AUT). It was the first official function for Pierre Weiss in his new role as acting IAAF General Secretary. Chairman Cesar Moreno Bravo opened the meeting with a minute of silence in memory of Istvan Gyulai and Torsten Carlius, both Secretary Generals of the IAAF and WMA respectively, and who had passed away since the last meeting.
Both men were praised for their devotion and service to Athletics. An excellent example was the 2nd Indoor Championships which attracted 3335 participants from 62 countries. With the endorsement of IAAF Rule 141, it also marked the first time that category M35 could officially participate in WMA competitions. The
next WMA Championships Indoors will be hosted by Clermont Ferrand (FRA) in 2008.
With the demise of Torsten Carlius who was a Member of the Committee, Cesar Moreno Bravo proposed an amendment for the 2007 IAAF Congress to stipulate that all future WMA Presidents automatically become “Ex-Officio Member” of the IAAF Masters’ Committee so that there is always a WMA Representative. He emphasized the importance of the annual IAAF/WMA Coordination Meetings held during the weekend of the IAF Gala which serve to cement the existing cooperation.
Exceptionally invited to attend the Meeting, the new WMA President, Cesare Beccalli (ITA), reiterated his staunch belief in consolidating relations between both organisations. Among his projects, is a “Masters’ Development Programme for Africa”, a continent that has produced numerous top athletes but afflicted by prevalent economic crisis, has remained “mediocre” on the Masters’ international scene. He also plans to bring Masters’ Championships to South America which is the only continent to boast 100% affiliation between the IAAF and WMA Member Federations.
In other developments, Members were informed that the EVAA General Assembly is to vote in July 2006 on whether to adopt the term “Masters” in place of “veterans” as has been recommended in the past by the IAAF.
The Association has also been active in the Anti-Doping Campaign with a forthcoming seminar to be held in Poznań (POL) on the occasion of the
European Veterans Athletics Championships, Stadia (19-30 July 2006) and it was reported that many athletes have already signed the Anti-Doping Declaration.
Me again:
If Prez Cesare is serious about finding a South American city to host a world championships (and not just a regional WMA meet), he may have to find a way of softening the WMA’s sanction fee (aka “rights fee”) of $150,000. That’s been a huge hurdle for cities interested in hosting the big meet.
The fee used to be $40,000. That’s reasonable. 150K sounds like gouging, and serves only to inhibit cities, not inspire them to go for the brass ring.
In my July 2005 interview with then-candidate Cesare, I asked him:
Some people argue that the $150,000 sanction fee for hosting world meets prevents many good cities from becoming candidates. Would you consider lowering the fee?
Cesare replied (via email):
“I’m very concerned about the rights fee; certainly its so-high level prevents not only cities but also entire areas of the world to become candidates. On the other hand, it would be improper now, by my side, to say that I promise to lower the fee or reinstitute the athletes’ fee because to decide on a matter of such basic nature much more information and details on the WMA financial situation are first needed. It will be one of the most important points to be studied in the new Council. For sure, should the sanction fee remain, we’ll have at least to consider exceptions to promote the organization in areas like South America, Asia or Africa, of course not without the necessary guarantees for our association.”
So that means Argentina, say, might get a waiver, but America wouldn’t?
Hmmmmm.

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April 26, 2006