August 16th 1986 — Nottingham 81st ordinary FISA congress Peter Coni, the inimitable chairman of the Henley Royal Regatta Committee and of the World Championships Or ganising Committee, was too ill to attend the congress. He was, however, able to be present to watch a few of the races. Nevertheless all went smoothly and, thanks to his team and the hard work which had been put in, the championships were to be a great success. The delegates from the 45 federations who were present were very much aware of this. The Council’s declaration of principles regarding the de velopment of the sport, which had been revised in accor dance with the amendments proposed by various nation al federations, was unanimously adopted. FISA’s position with regard to the development of interna tional sport Many FISA-affiliated federations made known their reactions con cerning FISA’s basic stance, first propounded on August 15th, 1985. The vast majority approved of it. All concurred on the neces sity of keeping abreast with developments taking place within sport, especially the ever-increasing influence of commercialisation. But they also stressed the need to respect ethical values. 1. The role of rowing is above all an educative one. FISA supports any measure which turns young people into in dependent and responsible beings, able to apply to everyday life the benefits which they have derived from rowing, and to commu nicate these to others. 2. Rowing is a part of world sport. Hence, FISA intends to collaborate with other international fed erations and world sports organizations. A founder member of .» the Olympic Movement and of the General Association of Inter national Sports Federations, FISA supports all measures aimed at promoting sport, contributing towards its development and providing support for the Olympic Games and for international championships. 3. Rowing is a means of communication and cooperation on an in ternational scale. FISA considers its regattas, championships, congresses and meetings as opportunities for communication between the na tions, transcending frontiers and political systems. It is organized along the lines of a sort of world family, imbued with the ideals of peace, friendship, loyalty and mutual aid. 4. Rowing is traditionally an amateur sport. Those who practise it may not accept any direct or indirect finan cial reward from rowing, in accordance with rule 26 of the Olym pic Charter (1984 edition). 5. Rowing must remain free and independent. FISA is opposed to the subjection of the sport to political or commercial pressures. It will strive on all levels for the preservation of the independence of international sport. 6. In rowing, the interest of sport takes precedence over all other considerations. FISA is opposed to any attempt to subject sport to personal or un acceptable outside influences. Its work focuses especially on young and active athletes. The latter always have the opportunity to express their opinions about FISA’s activities in the course of regularly held discussions. 222 7. FISA is founded on the equality of opportunity. It has adopted very strict rules against doping and all forms of manipulation. Its aim is to introduce doping tests throughout the year at international level, and it fully supports all such measures applied on a national basis. It also tries to discourage the build ing of certain types of boat or other equipment which might give considerable advantage to their users. 8. Rowing is an ideal life-long sport. FISA’s aim is to preserve the fitness of its devotees and to enable them to continue rowing well on into life. It advises its affiliated federations to encourage competitive row ing as a general sport for all ages, involving the greatest possible number of participants. 9. Rowing must be developed. It is the duty of FISA to enlist the help of publicity and public re lations, in order to recruit new members and to maintain a high profile in world sport, especially at the Olympic Games. “All last year’s doping tests have proved negative,” an nounced Dr. Hans Howald, the chairman of the medical commission. After some fierce discussion, it was decided that the name of sponsors on competitors’ clothing would be authorised from 1987 onwards, even during world championships. Once again, the USSR’s proposal to ban the South Afri can federation was rejected by 69 votes to 28, with 4 ab stentions, after a secret ballot. At the opening of the con gress, Thomas Keller, the president of FISA, had stated, “Since 1968, we have often discussed the exclusion of the South African federation. During these 18 years, all the pros and cons have been fully aired. I am convinced that we are unanimous in wanting apartheid to be abolished. We are only in disagreement about the means of achieving this. Apartheid is an extreme form of dis crimination, which is why we added to our Statutes dur ing the 1985 congress in Rome article 3, which stipu lates: ’’FISA will allow no political, religious or racial dis crimination". I am one hundred per cent opposed to apartheid, as I am one hundred per cent against all dis crimination. I should therefore like to remind you that in the world of today discrimination in various disguises is extremely widespread and even tacitiy tolerated. To make a political decision now would be to create a prece dent which would force us in all conscience to continue down that path, and to exclude all rowers from any coun try practising any form of discrimination. For FISA to do so would be tantamount to suicide. In the light of this fundamental principle, I propose to maintain the present policy of excluding South African oarsmen and women from our main events. And yet it behoves us above all to help them to carry on their fight against apartheid in their country, and not to exclude them from our federa tion.” The introduction of a FISA Cup for a 500 metre sprint was under consideration. Its aim would be to popularize rowing, and to facilitate and improve its presentation by the mass media. Work on the standardization of boats and equipment was continuing.
