Newsletter EUBC by President Franco Falcinelli – December 2020

UMAR KREMLEV New AIBA President

Finally a European President “To Make AIBA Great again!!”

AIBA President, Umar Kremlev

By Franco Falcinelli

Dear boxing friends,

After Nikiforov Denisov (1978), again a Russian, Umar Kremlev, will have a difficult and historic task to bring our glorious International Federation back into Olympic movement of which it has been an integral part since its birth.

World boxing family should give credit to Mohamed Moustansane’s AIBA Interim Presidency for his best performance in keeping AIBA name high in times of IOC suspension, without financial means under terrible threat of Covid-19, which has severely hit Olympic sport worldwide.

Even in this dramatic period, AIBA continues to be the reference point for all members of the National Federations with dignity and efficiency.

The courage to hold an Ordinary Congress in online form, which many did not give much confidence, turned out to be a valid and democratically correct formula.

Honour to the other two European Candidates, Suleyman Mikayilov and Boris van der Vorst, for their fascinating electoral programs.

Heartfelt recognition must be given to the President of the Electoral Commission, a brilliant lawyer Bernhard Welten, for two fundamental merits:

1.  assured the electors on the right eligibility of 7 candidates
2.  conducted the Congress perfectly and guaranteeing ample power to deliver all reports of the Candidates as well as performing electoral debates.

Sincere thanks also to AIBA lawyer Claude Ramoni and Garry Moore for presenting the “Voting Guidelines” and “New Constitution”.

My compliment also on choosing LUMI Voting System, which allowed clear and immediate presentation of the electoral results.

With President Umar Kremlev the era of reforms begins.

“AIBA Reform Commission”, chaired by President WU Di and composed of Mohamed Mousthasane, Anas Al Otaiba, Umar Kremlev, Osvaldo Bisbal, Ted Tanner, Ray Silvas, Franco Falcinelli as well as of lawyers Claude Ramoni, Garry Moore and Alessandro Oliverio, provided indispensable legal support; the valuable contribution of National Federations by giving useful pieces of advice and amendment proposals allowed the approval of New Constitution, adopted with 84 votes in favour, 25 against and 21 abstentions.

The new Constitution is mainly based on a more democratic and modern “Governance”, but also on a clear desire for transparency, respect of ethical principles in accordance with the recommendations of IOC.

I would like to stress that Articles 46.2 and 46.3 are to protect the integrity of the technical results of bouts. Once again, I thank the Reform Commission for having unanimously accepted my proposal, which is the result of my and other colleagues professional experience gained over many years of international boxing activity.

Those officials empowered by political and organizational role of AIBA will no longer be able to influence or put any pressure on decisions of Referees & Judges.

“No director may chair or be Member of any AIBA Commissions”

“No Director may be a Competition Official”

These means are the most effective antidote to fight manipulation of verdicts, guarantee justice to our boxers as well as recover boxing integrity.

From now on, Referees & Judges will be chosen by a neutral body and they can only make mistakes due to lack of technical skills and qualities.

But in this regard, Umar Kremlev’s program already poses an immediate remedy. The establishment of “Boxing Academies” on a continental level which will have to ensure the training, constant updating, monitoring and qualification of the fundamental technical figures of our sport: Coaches, Reerees & Judges, Managers, Promoters, Administrators, Ringside Doctors, Cutmen at National and International level.

This project become possible due to reasonable amendment presented by the Spanish Federation (Art. 14.2) to authorize the Continental Confederations to be able to program “Training Courses” at all levels.

The newly adopted Constitution provides the reduction of Executive Committee members from 32 to 22 making the decisions process more efficient.

The amendment of Art. 30.4, presented by the England and USA Federations, which limits the number of “executive mandates” to two, taking into account those already carried out, means that at the end of the Olympic four-year period (2022) we will assist to a radical renewal of the Executive Committee of AIBA and Continental Confederations.

It will give more power and autonomy to National Federations and Continental Confederations, which will elect the President and the Executive Committee directly on the Continental Congress.

The EUBC Constitution will soon have to receive this new culture and principles of good governance adopted in the new AIBA Constitution and will be amended in 2021.

Great attention will be given to gender equality, assuring presence of at least six female representatives. The presence of athletes will be also guaranteed. Umar Kremlev’s program also provides the establishment of a “Veterans Council”, reserved to great champions.

Obviously, the financial control mechanisms will be carefully selected and implemented not only for the principle of management transparency, but it will immediately block any financial operation that could jeopardize correctness and credibility of new AIBA.

The message that comes from Umar Kremlev and the Assembly of Delegates is clear: change and discontinuity for better with respect to the past to proudly re-join the Olympic family to which we belong since the ancient Athens Games. 

EUBC Championships 2020

Returning to the sporting and organizational part of the activity of our Confederation, with great pleasure I would like to highlight the immense work carried out by the Federations of Montenegro and Bulgaria organizing European Youth and Junior Championships respectively.

I would like once again to thank the Presidents of the Federation and the LOC of Montenegro, Blazo Saranovic and Alexandr Klemenko and the Federation and the LOC of Bulgaria, Krasimir Ininski and Emilia Grueva as well as their staff for an exemplary work done.

Despite the enormous difficulties of this pandemic period, the EUBC Executive Committee had courage to confirm holding of these two European Championships and the managerial bodies of two Federations preformed their best.

Willpower, courage, knowledge and desire not to stop plus mandatory application of all strict anti-Covid regulations have distinguished these two events for our young athletes.

Unfortunately, we were unable to have the presence of many European nations, but despite this the participation was on high level. The Youth Championships saw the presence of 22 countries and 183 athletes (120 males and 63 females) and 20 nations took part in the Junior Championships with 207 athletes (144 boys and 63 girls).

These numbers prove the desire of National Federations to return to competitive activity and I am happy that even in this difficult period many boys and girls were able to demonstrate their boxing qualities and brought important medals to their countries.

I would like to conclude this newsletter by wishing you and your dear families Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And all the best in the upcoming 2021.

Sincerely Yours,
Franco Falcinelli