31 July 2018: Following a decision taken by the Executive Board of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) to appoint a replacement president internally, ignoring calls for an Extraordinary Congress, ICSD members and leading athletes today criticised the board’s behaviour as unacceptable and asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to intervene.
With former president Valery RUKHLEDEV (RUS) still under house arrest in Russia, facing corruption charges, 46 ICSD member countries have called for an Extraordinary Congress to be held this year, with presidential elections at the top of the agenda. Instead, according to its latest statement, the ICSD board has appointed board member Rebecca ADAM (AUS) president.
"The Deaf sports movement is at a critical juncture. We remain hopeful of resolving issues like financial and anti-doping irregularities, the absence of hosts for the Deaflympics and the continued lack of support for Deaf athletes in many countries, but for this to happen the ICSD has to show partners that it can be trusted to follow the rules. For the ICSD board to continue to overlook the demands of its members, the needs of its athletes, the trust of its partners and the clear message of the IOC is simply unacceptable," saidFrouke VAN WINSUM (NED), President of the Netherlands Deaf Sport Federation (KoninklijkeNederlandseDoven Sport Bond), a working lawyer and former seasoned elite athlete (represented Netherlands for Futsal at World Championships sanctioned by ICSD and European Championships). "Far more countries than are required by the ICSD Constitution have already called for an Extraordinary Congress. I have no doubt we will prevail because those are the rules of our organisation. It is deeply unfortunate that it seemsthe ICSD’s Executive Board deny its commitments to these rules in anattempt to hold on to power, and for us to have to ask the IOC to intervene."
On behalf of the members calling for an Extraordinary Congress, the KNDSB has today written to the IOC administration and the IOC Ethics Commission for support in enforcing the ICSD’s own constitution. The IOC had previously suspended funding for the ICSD, afterRukhledev was placed under house arrest. An ICSD delegation had been expected to meet with the IOC on 12 September, and the IOC Executive Board had been expected to reconsider its support for the ICSD during its meeting of 3 and 4 October.
"What we need is an ICSD that focuses on delivering great services and great competitions for athletes. But what we have is a disgraceful Executive Board that is focused instead on clinging to power, offering only a palace coup where democracy is expected," said ICSD Athletes Commission chair Dean Barton-Smith (AUS), Olympian, double Commonwealth Games athlete and multiple Deaflympian. "We are best to start afresh, with the right people, with the right governance skills and the right experience to reboot and restore Deaf sport globally. This has to start with an Extraordinary Congress, as has been legitimately called for. The current ICSD Board has had every opportunity to address and respond to the calls, but they have chosen to act in bad faith. Members have spoken, and it is now time for a major reform."
Hosting agreements have yet to be signed for the 2019 Winter Deaflympics, 2021 Summer Deaflympics and various upcoming Deaf World Championships.
"Deaf athletes have been faced with a consistent disregard for their sporting futures, on the part of the ICSD board. By their actions, the Executive Board members have made it clear they care only about themselves," said Susana LOURENCO (POR), President of the Portugal Deaf Sport Federation (Liga Portuguesa deDesportos paraSurdos) and a Deaflympian (2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013). "Looking ahead, we have no certainty on the future of the Deaflympics, with events originally due to be staged as soon as seven months from now. Our centenary, meanwhile, is due in 1924 where the Olympic Games will also be returning after one hundred years. We should be acting in such a way as to bring Deaf athletes closer to the rest of the Olympic Movement, not pushing partners away with shows of bad faith."
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