I was reading the Sao Paulo Declaration at
http://www.wamo.info
and the FINA response also linked to on that site.
What exactly is the justification for FINA GR 4, which prohibits participation by individuals and/or organizations in non-FINA-affliated organizations or events? The rule seems unreasonably broad in not limiting in any way what organizations one can not be affiliated with!
On the idealistic side, I find it somewhat offensive to have my rights of association so limited by a body like FINA. On the pragmatic side, FINA seems to have stacked the cards so much in its favor that it is hard to imagine fighting it.
Rob;
Passionate…?
Up until the conclusion of our International Hall of Fame ’99 championship, yes.
My first Masters swim meet was back in ’76-’77 with USMS and my “first contact” was June Krauser. A half dozen of us who would participate mostly in Florida and Nationals, including Mission Viejo, Dearborn, Brown University, etc.
Masters in Latin America? No such animal.
So, that was my education-USMS-: the State Department’s ‘dream’ of making the USA system available for dissection, analysis, conclusions… “copy and paste” !
The gravy train came to a halt in early ’83 as currency limitations came into place and traveling became onerous.
In ’84 I became Board member of the North American Association, now Venezuelan American Friendship Association http://www.avaa.org where a group of us try to open USA positive influence to nationals here in Venezuela.
As chairperson of the then Sports Committee, we organized, introduced and implemented USMS copied Masters swimming program to Venezuela.
And so was the Triple Crown Masters Friendship Swimming Foundation born: thanks to USMS and the AVAA. Please notice “AMISTAD” in both names.
The “Triple” as it’s commonly known today, is alive and well and runs Masters in Venezuela in perfect symbiosis with our Federation. http://www.triplecorona.org
As President of the Triple, I oversaw LATyCAR’s inception in ’90 in order to ‘export’ the system to other LatyCar countries as Masters was practically non-existent. It would also give us opportunities to mingle with others.
Success…
Yes, passionate until after the culmination of our 5th event in ’99 at the International Hall of Fame! (Yes USMS extended its recognition).
In 2000 I had my first international gladiator confrontation in swimming politics !
LATyCAR then approached FINA/ASUA/UANA’s American President Jerry Olson for a strategic alliance. We were close to an agreement when he died.
Then came Puertorican President Orban Mendoza, and my passion quickly turned into righteous indignation and perseverance.
That’s another story, perhaps tomorrow.
Mr. President;
USMS is undoubtedly –and LATyCAR has license to assert this- the benchmark of all Masters bodies… -but please- be assured that neither USAS nor FINA had anything to do with USMS’s origins and thus present situation: it has been entirely your MASTERS constituency doing it, obviously recruiting from your available resources.
For the second time in Masters history, USMS is being looked on for international guidance and leadership relative to FINA.
Q’s for you AND others to ponder/share, here are two:
1.) Did USMS investigate Mendoza’s written acusations independently?
2.) USMS, being a benchmark governing Masters body in the world, shouldn’t it establish a precedent and example by requesting FINA to explain itself?
LATyCAR invites USMS to investigate Mendoza’s allegations independently in order to seek fairness and transparency and report it to all of its members.
"Fair trial"... then you report an independent judgement.
We urge you, as President of the most important MGB in the world and host of the 2006 Worlds, to seek the truth and make it public.
Masters athletes deserve to know who was guilty of deceit: LATyCAR or FINA's representative Mendoza. Simple.
Eric:
This is a discussion we had last year regarding the issues with LATyCAR, ASUA/UANA, FINA, and USMS. This may provide background as to what happened.
Let me add that I find THIS discussion thread so much more enlightening and constructive that an other thread (where I have oh...shall we say gone after the thread originator).
I now have a much better appreciation of both sides' positions, thanks to the factual and measured conversation here. Thanks to all participants.
Matt S
Just to keep this LATyCAR issue current and contemporary, here is an edited version of history:
LATyCAR
October 2007 synopsis
> 1989 and 1990 The “Latin-American & Caribbean Masters Swimming Championship” conceived between Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Mexican Masters attending at the Woodlands LC Nationals. Announced in Venezuela a year later with the sole purpose of introducing MSI/FINA rule Masters south of the Rio Grande.
> 1991 Championship hosted by the Triple Crown Masters Foundation in Venezuela. Fully sanctioned by the FINA member federation. Meet Director later became President of the federation. Event inaugurated by the President of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee President. All officials
belonged to the federation. 375 participants from 9 countries.
> 1993 Championship hosted by the Puerto Rico Masters League, fully sanctioned by the FINA member federation. Meet Director Jose de Jesus (Jr.) and meet Referee Jose de Jesus Sr. Inaugurated by the President of the PR Olympic Committee. All officials belonged to the federation. 479 participants from 11 countries.
> 1995 Championship hosted by the Casuarina Masters Club and fully sanctioned and supported by the Barbados Swim –FINA member- Association and inaugurated by its President. All officials belonged to the federation. Open waters was innovated to the event. 630+ participants from 13 countries. FINA announces the event in their newsletter.
> 1997 Championship hosted by the Nelson Vargas swim clubs, fully supported and sanctioned by the Mexican FINA member federation and inaugurated by their President. All officials belonged to the federation. Open waters in a river. 1,249 participants from 15 countries. FINA promotes meet in their newsletter.
> 1999 Championship hosted by the recently incorporated non-for-profit association, Latin-American & Caribbean Masters Swimming Championship “LATyCAR”, having obtained recognition # from USMS. The meet was officiated by USAS officials. Ocean open waters run by Randy Nutt, assisted by Stu Marvin. 1,100 participants from 19 countries. FINA promotes LATyCAR in their newsletter.
> 2001 LATyCAR and Jerry Olson representing ASUA-UANA engage in lengthy communications and meet to reach an agreement for unification of a Masters program in the Americas.
> 2001 Championship hosted (and sanctioned) by the FINA member Costa Rican Swimming Federation, the meet Director was their VP and acting President. The meet Referee was the same USAS official for 1999 plus her stateside team of people, assisted by federation officials. Open waters, Water Polo and Diving were included. All relays on the same day were innovated. Over 700 participants. Announced in FINA newsletter. Mr. Olson passes away .
> 2003 Championship hosted (and sanctioned) by the Barbados FINA member association. LATyCAR Council experiments with a “no intervention” format to see results. 375 participants from 16 countries. FINA promotes the Championship in FINA newsletter.
> 2004 LATyCAR Council members hand carry the Venezuelan FINA member federation’s letterhead recommendation to Riccione and deliver Spanish and English signed versions to FINA Masters Committee and to ASUA’s Orban Mendoza through Jose de Jesus.
> 2005 Championship hosted and sanctioned by the Sao Paulo Masters Federation fully supported and sanctioned by the Sao Paulo Swimming Federation as well as sanctioned by the Brazilian Masters Association “ABMN” the officially recognized Masters ruling body in Brazil. Named “ALL AMERICAS – LATyCAR” it was open to all countries of the continent. All sports, swimming, polo, diving, open waters, synchro and postal events. Over 800 participants (not withstanding the “situation”) from 21 countries. FINA communiqué wrongfully issued just prior to the meet after all had been set up, plane tickets bought, hotels paid for, officials organized, and claiming LATyCAR: 1.) Being a for-profit company; 2.) Not having sanctions and, 3.) Running the meet. Within 12 hours all allegations were proven incorrect with documents in hand. As all was ignored, The Sao Paulo Declaration was published and WAMO.info site created.
> 2007 Championship unlikely as LATyCAR rules stipulate a FINA member sanction is necessary. Panama, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico and Canada express interest in hosting however all were denied sanctions due to the 2005 FINA communiqué banning LATyCAR.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke.
