Meeting with the IOC

I had the pleasure to represent the IBSF at a meeting held at my initiative as the WCBS President with the IOC in their headquarters in Lausanne.

All Cues Sport disciplines were represented: Carom (UMB), Pool (WPA) and Snooker with the IBSF and a delegation of the WPBSA. The purpose of this meeting was to establish a direct contact with the IOC and to know a little more of their opinion on the overall sport that we represent.

Of course the future was the main focus of our discussions, but it was especially important to understand if the WCBS in its current form was the correct way to proceed, or if we had got to a point where it was up to each division to separately prepare for Olympic recognition.

The IOC's response is clear and unambiguous.

WCBS is the only International Federation recognized by the IOC and if a division wishes to leave, it automatically loses its recognition with all that it implies. The Olympic recognition was renewed last June for 4 years. This IOC's position implies that now the IBSF must quickly comply with IOC requirements, including adopting a genuine anti doping policy in line with the WADA code.

I will have the opportunity to develop all the consequences that this implies at the IBSF Board meeting in Wels and to discuss this important information obtained for the future of both the IBSF and the WCBS during the next General Assembly on November 6th.

02 November 2008 - Lausanne