Quote:
Originally posted by Cliff Etzel
If the governing AIDA body so chooses, they will make changes as they see fit.
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And in the meantime, one of the great nations (Italy), refrains from sending their best divers to AIDA competitions, due to AIDA's refusal to provide the justification on why Silvia Da Pon was repeatedly disqualified in static apnea.... The Italians stated (and rightfully so), that the 'criteria for disqualification must be made clear, and until they are made clear we will not participate in AIDA competitions.' They did not necessarily say that Silvia Da Pon should have been judged any differently from how she was; all they wanted was some sort of explanation on her three consecutive disqualifications. A judge should be able to say, 'this athlete was disqualified because he/she showed symptom X, which is against the rules.' However, it seems that it is so subjective that it is more like 'duh, I dunno, he didn't look good to me.'
There is a fine line between 'safety' and 'fairness.' I'm not the only one who thinks that. Why do you think the famous 'Dolphins Cup' apnea competition now is held yearly, without the approval of AIDA (even though it was traditionally an AIDA competition)? When the organizers of the Dolphin's Cup decided to stop involving AIDA, the highest members of the AIDA board recommend BOYCOTTING the Dolphin's Cup.
Eric Fattah
BC, Canada
