Conference of the International Mas-Wrestling Federation
V Congress of the International Mas-Wrestling Federation
Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic
September 4, 2016
Report of the IMWF President Alexander K. Akimov
Dear colleagues, dear attendees of the Congress!
On behalf of the Management of the International Mas-Wrestling Federation I welcome you and thank you for assistance in development of Mas-Wrestling around the world!
First of all, I want to thank the President of Mas-Wrestling Asian Continental Federation Mr. Bolsunbek Kazakov and heads of Mas-Wrestling Federations of Kyrgyzstan – the President Alymbekov Iskender and the General Secretary Arstanbek Ilebayev for huge contribution to preparation and organizing the II Mas-Wrestling World Championship in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Also we thank the President of the Public Fund “World Nomad Games”, the member of the Executive Committee of the IMWF Mr. Askhat Akibayev for possibility of holding the Mas-Wrestling World Championship during the II World Nomad Games! We thank the Organizing Committee and the Secretariat of the World Nomad Games for warm welcome and hospitality! We thank for magnificent holiday of culture and sport which is organized now in Kyrgyzstan and which participants we became! All world community of mas wrestlers believes that consolidation of people through sport and culture can make the world kinder, lighter and better!
Dear colleagues!
Let me inform you of the International Mas-Wrestling Federation and the IMWF Executive Committee activities of in this year.
This year was full of big events and interesting, each National Federations have made the contribution in development of Mas-Wrestling in the countries and in the world. Along with many of national and regional competitions this year is celebrated by holding three large international sport events. Everything began with Mas-Wrestling World Absolute Championship which took place on March 3-6 in Columbus (Ohio, USA) at the largest sports festival “Arnold Classic”. On July 21-25 in Batumi (Georgia) was held Mas-Wrestling European Championship. And the II Mas-Wrestling World Championship which has come to the end today in Cholpon-Ata became final event of this sports year.
Today we were glad to see and welcome athletes from all continents on the platform of the II Mas-Wrestling World Championship. Participation of 191 athletes from 32 countries of the world demonstrates of Mas-Wrestling growth of popularity in the world. There were first time participation of athletes from the African countries – Benin and Madagascar. Traditionally the high quality bouts were shown by the American athletes. The Ukrainian Mas-Wrestling team pleases with tactical and technical growth. Hungarian Mas-Wrestling team earns respect and admiration which brought the TV reporters to Kyrgyzstan. The Georgian team will take away three medals, two of them the highest ones. The athlete from Georgia, the strongest mas-wrestler of the world in super heavy weight category won a sensational victory. Let me congratulate national Mas-Wrestling Federations of Russia, Georgia, USA, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Norway, Iran, Hungary, Lithuania, Uzbekistan and Poland on a successful participation of their athletes in the Championship. The fact that medals of the II World Championship will go to 14 countries of the world, says that sports skill and competition of participants increased among them. It proves that the work in the countries is actively and productively carried.
Over 250 athletes competed in Mas-Wrestling competitions in this year, organized by the IMWF in total! There are appeared new leaders, new bright names. Let's thank once again Mas-Wrestling Federations of the USA, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, personally heads of Federations Odd Haugen, Valery Gulbani, Bolsunbek Kazakov, Iskender Alymbekov, Arstanbek Ilebaev for the dialogue and the possibility of holding the international sport events, that are very important for all of us!
One more important event of year is the 6th International Sports Games “Children of Asia” which conducted in Yakutsk in July. Mas-Wrestling was adequately presented in the program of this largest forum of children's sport with participation of 38 countries. Undoubtedly, it is a contribution on the future, in preparation of sports reserves, new generation of mas-wrestlers.
Dear colleagues! In our work we always rely on support of the National Federations in the countries. Any decision of a management of the IMWF cannot be made without your consent, no one international event organized concerning promotion of Mas-Wrestling in the world. Together with a management of the National Federations we managed to make a lot of work for rather short period. In each country a lot of work on Mas-Wrestling promoting is carried out, organized and conducted tournaments of different levels. I would like to note a huge work which is carried out by continental leaders – Vice-Presidents of the IMWF Odd Haugen in North America and Vilmar Oliveira in South America. Mr. Haugen is world authority on the world of strength sport. On his initiative Mas-Wrestling has been included in the official program of the “Arnold Classic”. He conducts big propaganda activities in many states of America. And Mr. Vilmar Oliveira has expanded Mas-Wrestling borders on the continent and not only in Brazil, but also in Uruguay, Argentina and Venezuela now engaged in Mas-Wrestling. On the IV Congress of the IMWF in Moscow Bolsunbek Kazakov has been elected as the head of Asian Mas-Wrestling Federation whose work we completely approve. We have several projects concerning development of Mas-Wrestling on the Asian Continent. For this purpose at first we have to gain recognition of the Olympic Council of Asia. On October 23-25 in Vietnam the General Assembly of the OCA to be held and we have prepared the corresponding letter. Most likely, it will be considered at the subsequent Assembly. We would like to inclusion of Mas-Wrestling in all big sports events held in Asia and we hope for the Olympic Council of Asia support.
There is a question of the choice of the European Mas-Wrestling organization leader. It is an important issue in activity of our organization as the absolute majority of the IMWF members make European countries. We know that active work is carried on promotion of Mas-Wrestling on the European Continent, especially in its central part. We hope that in the nearest future heads of the European National Mas-Wrestling Federations after carrying out the international consultations will propose the candidate for the President of the European Mas-Wrestling Federation. It would help to include in the work systemacity and possibility of development of the Mas-Wrestling strategic plan of development in this territory. Perhaps, it will be promoted by carrying out one of the World Cup stages next year in one of the European countries. Also it is desirable in the center of Europe, that all European countries had an opportunity to arrive to competitions and also to make the relevant decision at the Conference.
Today the Congress will consider applications about inclusion in the International Mas-Wrestling Federation of the Greek Club of Powerlifting, the Slovak Association of Mas-Wrestling, Mas-wrestling Federation of Iceland, Argentina and Uruguay. The family of Mas-Wrestling becomes harder and stronger!
Meanwhile, activity of the International Mas-Wrestling Federation in this year has revealed a number of the problematic issues connected with internal activity of some National Federations. The enthusiasts applied to the IMWF from the countries which are already members of the IMWF. We have obtained information that heads of the National Mas-Wrestling Federations of a number of the countries don't keep Mas-Wrestling development up to standard. While there are other people expressing readiness to provide the best conditions for Mas-Wrestling development and promotion.
The International Mas-Wrestling Federation reports on this matter that the IMWF has no right and won't interfere with internal affairs of the National Federations. But at the same time the issue of Mas-Wrestling development in the countries remains fundamental and priority for the Federation. According to the Charter only one organization can be member of the IMWF from one country. All this puts difficult issues which require acceptance of the delicate, weighed and right decisions in front of the International Federation.
Due to the aforesaid, I consider necessary to give an assignment to the Executive Committee of the IMWF to develop and submit criteria and standards for the National Mas-Wrestling Federations for discussion. It is necessary for definite answer on the question: what is the National Mas-Wrestling Federation as it has to conduct the activity to what criteria has to approach. Having developed standards, we will be able to be guided by them in issues of membership of the National Mas-Wrestling Federations in the IMWF. And for communication with the National Federations we initiate carrying out videoconferences, the Regulations has to be approved today.
The tasks set on the previous Congresses are completed. Registration of the IMWF in Latvia is closed. Besides, the Federation has own independent account, not connected with the Russian Mas-Wrestling Federation now. The non-commercial organization – “Fund of Mas-Wrestling development “Sila Severa” was created and registered. The Fund is created for the purpose of accumulation of a finances of the Federation, transparency of their expenditure, monitoring of ways of cash receipt.
Dear colleagues, at this stage of the development we have come by the time of when it is necessary to regulate our financial policy. The Federation needs to adopt the Regulations promoting regulation of the issues connected with membership fees. Legalization of this document will order, make stronger and systematical of our organization. It is one more step in development of Mas-Wrestling, the employee of a common purpose – inclusions of Mas-Wrestling in the Olympic program.
Work in this direction was begun when last year in Moscow we approved by the decision of the IV IMWF Congress the Management on marketing allowing the Federation to dispose of the advertising rights and work with sponsors. Based on this document the International Mas-Wrestling Federation carried out negotiations to the issue of possible sponsorship with more than 50 various organizations. As a result of negotiations 21 organizations decided to become sponsors of sport events. Besides, the invaluable contribution to support of the International Federation is made by the Government and the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The International Mas-Wrestling Federation gives to the members an example of effectiveness of the Management on marketing. I hope that you, colleagues, will adopt this document for attraction of third-party, sponsors', advertisement means.
Also we are intended to deal with legal issues of Mas-Wrestling promotion in the world, protection issues of the rights of the athletes` interests.
Last month in Rio De Janeiro the largest holiday of sport – the 31st Summer Olympic Games has come to the end. One more sports era has come to the end, and another has at the same time begun. The results of the past have been summed up and opened new doors. At these Games there were essential changes: there were awarded the record number of medals, the staff of participating countries has extended, and also for the first time in the program of the Olympic Games have been held rugby and golf competitions.
The sport doesn't stand still, it continuously develops. It gives us confidence that in the future Mas-Wrestling can and will be included in the Olympic program! For this purpose we have to continue further development and promotion of Mas-Wrestling in the world, to admit to staff of the International Federation of new members, to hold more events at the high level!
Finishing the speech, once again I express the respect and I thank all of you for the work you have done! Only thanks to our general persistent continuous work we will be able to achieve our set purposes!
