In questo periodo una profonda discussione sta proponendosi all’interno delle “alte sfere” della CMAS, nello specifico nel BoD. Sembra infatti che vi sia la volontà da parte degli alti dirigenti della CMAS di rivoluzionare completamente questa specialità, ma non una rivoluzione fruttifera, quando di una rivoluzione che sa di cancellazione di questo sport, come oramai abbiamo visto per quanto riguarda la velosub e il fondo nel nuoto pinnato.
Totalmente contrari a quello che è il movimento, un movimento che comunque ha portato agli ultimi Campionati del Mondo quasi cento atleti in rapprersentaza di tredici nazioni, e alle valutazioni di tutti i componeneti la Commissione Sportiva CMAS, questi “burocrati” (in questo momento non potremmo usare termini diversi per definirli) vogliono non solo riportare questa specialità indietro di 40 anni, ma praticamente cancellarla. Come? Semplicemente dicendoci di buttare a mare tutte le nostre attrezzature per sostituirle con tutta l’attrezzatura tradizionale usata nella immersione subacquea. In pratica dovremo metterci la bombola sulle spalle, usare le pinne normali, le bussole comperate in negozio e magari anche la muta stagna, la maschera ottica, il doppio erogatore o l’octopus, il jacket e chissà cosa altro.
Noi dinosauri innovatori di questo sport, ricercatori di nuovi strumenti e tecniche, in grado di trovare senza errore un palo da 30 centimetri di diametro a più di duecento metri di distanza grazie al nostro impegno, al nostro sacrificio, alla nostra preparazione dovremmo concorrere in una categoria “vintage”.
Mi spiace ma noi con questa gente e questo pensiero non abbiamo nulla a che fare! L’intera Commissione Sportiva dell’Orientamento è contraria a questa proposta del BoD della CMAS che invece di ascoltare i propri “tecnici” cosa fa? Decide di testa sua. Mi chiedo, quanti di questi “sapientoni” hanno mai visto una gara di Orientamento? Sono d’accordo che dobbiamo trovare anche delle formule di “entry level” a questa specialità, per tanti motivi. Questa categoria dei “divers” può essere una proposta, ma deve affiancarci, non cancellarci. Ottime poi le proposte tedesche, ucraine, italiane, sulla semplificazione delle competizioni, magari accorciandole o trovando delle novità che permettano ai neofiti di prendervi parte più facilmente, sulle gare dimostrative in piscina dove si sviluppano i primi elementi di uso delle attrezzature e per superare la stagione invernale. A proposito, il 20 Dicembre durante la Christmas Cup a Lignano assisteremo in Italia alla prima gara “slalom” di Orientamento in piscina.
Questa è la situazione. Non ci resta che condividere interamente due brevi messaggi, il primo pubblicato da Jan Zeggel della Federazione Tedesca ed il secondo divulgato dal Presidente della Commissione CMAS, l’italiano Remo Giusti.
1 –
Open letter of German Diving Federation:
Future development of underwater orienteering
Every kind of sport lives on the commitment of those who practice, on the supporters and on the interest of those who watch the competitions. These factors are not static, but are affected by social developments. In this connection it is important that all kind of sports must be adapted and further developed.
From our perspective there is an urgent need to take action for the underwater orienteering.
1. Development of more entertainment during competitions
Competitions must be more interesting for the public and must capture the spirit of times. In this context events and realization of competitions must be reconsidered. Goals are to create special highlights within a competition.
Scores need to be simplified, so the audience can quickly identify winners and losers.
Media preparation, support and post processing of competitions need to be extremely improved.
2. Finding ways to open sport to a broader basis
At the moment the base of underwater orienteering is focused on finswimming. Through the introduction of disciplines with classic equipment the recruiting of new athletes by Diving Associations on a wider base is possible.
3. Connecting interests for industry and sport – Brand development
The athlete needs to be developed as a brand. This is only possible with an intensive media preparation and post processing after competition successes. The introduction of classic equipment disciplines can combine the interests of sport and industry easier. In this way the industry can be won a supporter of sports in its own interest.
Among competitional sports within the CMAS the underwater orienteering is the sport which comes closest to scuba diving. Underwater orienteering combines all elements of the classic scuba diving. As part of the commercialization of sport, underwater orienteering offers the best chances to build a bridge between the diving industries.
The special equipment developed until today, supports the process, following the spirit of time, to create a faster, more entertaining and interesting sport. It is not a contradiction that this equipment is not available to a wider base or is not used by it. In many kind of sports, special equipment is only used by top-class athletes. The introduction of classic equipment in the top-class sport of underwater orienteering is a supplement of possibilities.
An abolition of special equipment will destroy this sport immediately. Existing training structures for active athletes and competition organization cannot be replaced.
The VDST is bidding to host the European Championship 2016 in Germany.
We would like to show at this competition, that underwater orienteering can be developed further. Therefore we will:
• Develop a new marketing concept
• Involve the industry
• Create new competition highlights
• Introduce classic disciplines
• Simplify scoring
• Create more entertainment within the competition
We want like to show, that underwater orienteering can be developed as a modern sport with a lot of potential in the future.
World- und European Championships are necessary highlights of the year, so that athletes and commercial partners receive an target orientation.
We want to expand possibilities and chances. This expansion is part of our new policy for 2015. Classic equipment is approved along with special equipment for its own disciplines.
From our perspective, there is no need to change the competition policy regarding the competition equipment. This has already been done by the sport commission. We must now apply.
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Mail / Report
Remo Giusti
CMAS commission orienteering
Hello friends,
I am trying to explain the results of our meeting in Rome of last week.
In the beginning I have told Anna that should be better to speak about U.O. with me and the members of our Commission, before than BoD members and others.
I have told her that is a fake that the Presidents of National Federations involved in U.O. have asked her to shut the door, because I have evidences that all the Presidents haven’t said anything.
The great idea of Anna is in the beginning to cut U.O., and after speak with me is to manage the two parallel lines (Elite and Divers), but she wants to stop the use of our compasses, buoys and front handled bottles; in her idea we must use only equipments with free sell in shops (and what about monofins?).
This means bottle on our shoulders, wrist watch compasses and no meter counters; normal scuba divers buoys. She said that al last we can compete with actual instruments in “vintage” competitions.
I told her (strongly) that this is a gigantic step back of 40 years; the same as in Formula 1 we must compete with old Auto Unions and Maserati, and we call “vintage” the competitions with actual Mercedes and Ferrari.
She told me too that we will not call our competitions “World Cup” because only one Country (KAZ) is out of Europe, and in CIO rules for a World Cup is needed al last teams from 3 Continents and at last 20 Teams.
IMHO (In My Honest Opinion) she hasn’t spoken with Nat. Fed. Presidents involved in U.O., but she is managing the BoD that is, as known, a Political board, and not a sport one.
Please note that in the BoD are a lot of members coming from former UdSSR; we must strongly speak to them and press the BoD members of Nations involved in U.O., and members of friendly Nations, to vote against her proposition.
Otherwise she can win and destroy our sport; I have thought, in the beginning, that the whole Commission gave resing, but after I’ve thought that is better to stay and fight.
I kindly ask you to comment on our position, and suggest ideas; at the same time I ask you to give maximum publicity to this letter in your Countries and to your Athlets.
Finally I ask you to inform members of BoD how to vote at the next BoD meeting.
Thank you.
Remo GIUSTI
In campo internazionale quindi, nei campionati vari e nelle varie prove di Coppa del Mondo, tutti gli atleti dovranno scendere in gara indossando il boccaglio, sia nello stile Nuoto Pinnato che nello stile pinne.