I am pleased to inform you of the latest good news for our sport. I attended the SportAccord Convention, in Sochi, with Mr Gerhard SCHMITT, Secretary General of FISav. Currently, SportAccord is working for recognition of the importance of international federations, such as FISav, within the international sports movement. SportAccord wishes to develop sporting events of world importance, allowing more international federations participate, and gain much-needed media coverage.
The next World Combat Games will be in LIMA in Peru at the beginning of 2018. Savate will be represented there with, I hope, more participants. My aim is to show all facets of Savate in LIMA, and to perhaps include competitions for women in Canne and Savate Combat, as well as Savate Assaut for men, and events for persons with disabilities. Equity and access to sport for all is a strong demand of SportAccord, and also of the global Olympic movement.
The president of the Olympic Committee of Peru has invited FISav to develop Savate in his country. The President hopes that a strong Peruvian Savate team will be present at the WCG in LIMA. FISav will be the coordinator of all actions for the development of Savate in this country.
I was also invited to contribute to a LawAccord conference session to present, to participants of the convention, the challenges faced by 'small international federations' with regard to legal issues.
The candidature of Paris, the birthplace of Savate, will be an important promotional vehicle for our sport. I know that the French federation, with its president Joël DHUMEZ, is already working to propose Savate as a demonstration sport if Paris is chosen as the city of the 2024 Olympics.
Another very good piece of new is the inscription, in April of this year, of Savate in the cultural heritage of France. This recognition gives strength to our sport for PARIS 2024. I can only give great thanks to Ms Marlène CIESLIK and Mr Virgile RENAUDIE, of the French Federation, for their work towards this recognition, of great benefit to Savate.
During the convention, I also spoke with sports officials of several countries, to consider development of Savate in their country. I consider that an increase in the number of national sports federations as members of FISav is a current and strong priority.
I feel very positive about the progress of Savate in the coming months. I look forward to meeting you at the next international competitions, and to hearing your views on all of these exciting topics.
