Se muta in Kuwait, desi majoritatea boardului IBF a protestat vehement, inclusiv Presedintele EBF Addie Ophelders.
Practic federatia mondiala a fost falimentata si confiscata de catre Presedintele Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah.
Existenta Federatiei internationale si toate competitiile organizate de ea sunt acum sub semnul intrebarii, hotararile Adunării Generale fiind încălcate brutal.
Desi am fost suspicios de la inceput cu toata povestea asta cu IBF, nu m-am gandit o secunda ca se va ajunge aci. Si cam nimeni altcineva.
Acesta este articolul de pe 11thframe.com (engl):
International Bowling Federation in turmoil as board factions fight for control, over 'illegal' move of office to Kuwait, email shows
JEFF RICHGELS | Posted: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 12:00 pm
JEFF RICHGELS | Posted: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 12:00 pm
The International Bowling Federation is in turmoil as board factions fight for control of bowling’s international governing body, according to an email obtained by 11thFrame.com.
The email by Martin Faba, IBF first vice president and president of Pan Am Bowling, was sent to 11thfFrame.com by two different sources and I have confirmed that it is authentic.
According to the email, the IBF office in Lausanne, Switzerland is being closed at the end of the month and relocated to Kuwait, though a faction of the board opposes the move, which it calls illegal. IBF President Sheikh Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah is from Kuwait.
All IBF staff, including CEO Andrew Oram, are losing their jobs, according to the email.
Such turmoil probably won’t help bowling’s efforts to get into the Olympics, not to mention that the International Olympic Committee also is based in Lausanne.
I was sent documents in French from a Swiss court or government office that when translated to English via Google seemed to indicate that the IBF went into bankruptcy last year.
Here is the most recent story I did on the IBF and here is the extensive Q&A I did with Oram that published just before the World Championships in November.
This obviously is a developing story and I will update it as I can make contact with sources and learn more information.
Here is Faba's email:
Dear IBF Committee Members
As per email from our CEO from March 24th, 2022 we have been “informed“ that all IBF business in Lausanne, Switzerland will be closed on March 31st, 2022.
Please read an extract (in italics by 11thFrame.com) of such message which you have in your inboxes:
… On March 23rd 2022 all financial affairs in Lausanne, Switzerland have been closed/shut/ceased.
All invoices prepared from today will have to be detailed with Kuwait Bank account information for IBF. Money will no longer be able to be received in Lausanne from 00:01 March 24th 2022 CET.
Resignation of the IBF Head Office at Maison du Sport International, Avenue de Rhodanie 54, 1006 Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland has been processed. Offices will be vacated on March 31st 2022. All paperwork will be shipped to Kuwait for storage. The digitized files of all emails and documents related back to 2011 will be kept on file with legal counsel in Lausanne.
Communication will be prepared to notify the following stakeholders that IBF will relocate all business affairs to Kuwait commencing from April 1st 2022:
IOC
IWGA
GAISF
ARISF
WADA
ITA
IPC
Sportaccord
ISPO
The employment contracts of IBF staff who are residents in Canton du Vaud, Switzerland will terminate on March 31st 2022. We will support them as best as possible to receive the benefits of unemployment here in Switzerland.
CEO employment terminates on March 31st 2022.
Legal counsel arrangement for the purposes of operating under Swiss law terminates on March 31st.
New email addresses for correspondence for administrative affairs will be prepared.
This week, the majority of IBF partners and sponsors have been in Lausanne for a weeklong workshop. The information shared above will be conveyed to them today and amendments to any contracts will be made where necessary.
I have in copy formal protests from different members in the following received order:
Martin Faba - IBF 1st Vice President and Pan Am Zone President
Addie Ophelders - ETBF President
Valgeir Gudbjartsson - ETBF Vice President
Guy Igliori - Pan Am Zone representative
Jorge Franco - Pan Am Zone Vice President
Clara Guerrero - Athletes representative
All protests mention that such decision to move out of Lausanne to Kuwait is illegal and the President nor the board has the right to make such decision.
I want to remind you a couple of decisions taken at the Congress held in Abu Dhabi on December 15th, 2015 (in italics by 11thFrame.com):
12.1 Statutes
A proposal to merge the two organizations FIQ and WTBA into one organization, World Bowling, had been distributed in advance. The document sent out points out the paragraphs in WTBA Statutes that have to be changed. Since the document was distributed FIQ and WTBA Executive Boards have made some adjustments mainly in the new rule 1.5.10. These changes had been proposed by World Ninepin. FIQ Congress had before this WTBA Congress adopted the proposed merge of FIQ and WTBA. The amended proposal was motioned to be approved by Australia. Seconded by Costa Rica. With the voting result 77 votes in favour, 0 (zero) votes against, the Congress - adopted to merge FIQ and WTBA into one organization, World Bowling - adopted the proposed changes of the Statutes (see Appendix 2) - All references to “FIQ” and “WTBA” in Statutes and Playing Rules shall be deleted, and “World Bowling” shall be inserted where appropriate
13.1 Resolution World Bowling main office
A resolution was presented as follows
“Be it resolved that the main office of World Bowling shall be established in Lausanne, Switzerland.”
The resolution was approved by 45 votes in favour and 23 against.
As of December 15 2015 and executed further on November 8th 2018 World Bowling was located in one jurisdiction operating under the laws of Switzerland in the Canton du Vaud registered at Maison du Sport International, Avenue de Rhodanie 54, 1007, Lausanne.
On November 2nd 2020 an extra ordinary congress was called to change the articles of association and name of the organization from World Bowling to International Bowling Federation.
Last February 23rd, 2022 a Committee meeting held virtually, ratified the congress decision to remain in Lausanne, Switzerland and in the minutes should be written that no single board member objected that, in other words it was an unanimous decision.
So, changing such decisions is illegal and against our own statutes.
Last March 17th, 2022 some of us have presented (same as protesters mentioned above, plus Mike Seymour from Oceania and Marios Nicolaidis IBF 2nd VP) a letter to the president with some requests.
Instead of providing us an answer, which is the president’s duty and the board’s right, we received the information that our business will be over in Lausanne and moved to Kuwait.
This will cause a huge damage to our Federation as the IOC recognition is in danger, our sponsors support is in danger, our events are in danger. This could be the end of IBF as an international sports federation.
I really don’t know what else to do if the president plus other board members stay in silence and do nothing nor do they express support to the moving decision, it is time that every single federation member is informed about what is going on.
Dear board members, I will not be blamed for whatever is happening from now on, it is time for every one of you to stand or just hold your responsibility. Thank you
Martin Faba
Presidente
PAN AM BOWLING
Urmarea
Ramane sediul in Lausanne si va fi un Congres extraordinar in mai.
Situatia e in continuare extrem de ciudata, aceasta adresa nesemnata fiind intitulata "Declaratie emisa in numele Seicului Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah".
Asta e o formulare folosita mai ales de avocati si/sau institutii, este foarte rar sa se emita declaratii in numele unei persoane.
In subteran apare dorinta de a schimba boardul, (care e clar ca ii este ostil, si pe buna dreptate): "Change starts with the practices and governance of the Executive Board").
Eu as zice ca altcineva trebuie schimbat.
