Freediving in the olympics - surprising development

[cebaztian]

Freediving will be an olympic category 2016

This is what I have heard from a contact on the Aidaboard. CMAS have evidently been having secret negotiations with the Olympic committe ever since 2001 and it seems like the OC has shown intrest in accepting freediving as a category in 2016 years olympics. But they are intrested in dynamic and depth, not the jump blue.

CMAS has been forced to talk Aida since most depth champions in the world are loyal to Aida. Many long talks in Laussane and Milano between representatives between each board has lead to a preliminary agreement. (The aidoaboard not bothering to ask the assembly - but that is not surprising).

The idea is, and this is mostly hearsay, no definite details yet: CMAS/AIDA will organize a joint competition in CWT in the 2016
olympics. CMAS will do the DYN by themselves. But in order to let Aidainto the deal, CMAS have been granted the exclusive rights to organize all future DYN world championships starting already 2009. A sacrifice
the aida representatives seem ready to accept.

Of some strange reason the OC and CMAS have been sketching on a bifins only competition. Why this is I dont know, maybe an idea that it will limit the depth.

This seems totally stupid to me. CMAS will through controlling the WC dyn move into Aida domain and by 2016 they will cut loose from Aida and do the CWT themselves, as CMAS by then most probably will be
accepted by the athletes by then.

I guess this will be official any day soon.

Sebastian

EDIT: Yes, this was an aprils fool joke. If we want to make this sport grow it is all in our own hands, or rather the Aidacommunity and the selected board.

[fcallagy]

Its hard to believe this could happen with relations as they are at present or at least as I percieve them to be but for sure the Olympics would bring a lot of publicity and therefore money to the sport for those at the higher level in competitons. Would it see a lot more dangerous diving knowing that the paycheque/bpnus is dependant on your performance or is this the case now anyway with sponsership etc?

[trux]

Thanks for the info, Sebastian! Very interesting, though I agree it may mean the beginning of the end of AIDA, and the start of monopoly of CMAS - a move that I am not so sure that is good for the sport.

[kelp princess]

Originally Posted by trux

Thanks for the info, Sebastian! Very interesting, though I agree it may mean the beginning of the end of AIDA, and the start of monopoly of CMAS - a move that I am not so sure that is good for the sport.

not that i expected to find anything but just for kicks i did a search on the AIDA website for olympics and it yielded nothing.

but aren't all olympic atheletes considered "amateur", that is they train without sponsorship? in otherwords they can't compete in olympics if they are getting paid by a big corporation?

kp

[trux]

The amateur principle was abandoned by the IAAF in 1982. Read more about it here: iaaf.org - History - Introduction
The IOC consequently released the rules too. Anyway, it never really worked. Both commercial and state sponsoring was always present in some way.

[ericvrp]

LOL

Is it the first of april again already? ... how time flies!

[cebaztian]

Originally Posted by ericvrp

LOL

Is it the first op april again already? ... how time flies!

This is unfortunately 100% true. It seems like there will be a total ban on monofins in all freediving competitions from 1 jan 2010. Every athlete in the top ten ranking will get a 100.000 dollar sponsorship from ESPN. And also in the agreement are some unclear decisions like the italians are guaranteed a medal in every championship. Bill will be vice president of CMAS. I think everything will be clear in Aidas pressrelease later today.

Sebastian

[ericvrp]

You make it sound more real by the minute

I will not be selling my monofin

Eric

[osusim]

As far as I know Bill was kidnapped by organization "Journalists without brain" as protest again coming first freediving presentation at the Beijing Olympics 2008. So, we will vote for you Sebastian as vice president of CMAS.

[cebaztian]

Originally Posted by osusim

As far as I know Bill was kidnapped by organization "Journalists without brain" as protest again coming first freediving presentation at the Beijing Olympics 2008. So, we will vote for you Sebastian as vice president of CMAS.

I accept. My first declaration will be to allow jump blue to the depth of 23 meters. I will also start immediate negotiations for Bills release, half my inspiration comes from Mr.Stromberg.

Sebastian

have a nice evening (in europe)

[fcallagy]

Originally Posted by cebaztian

I will also start immediate negotiations for Bills release, half my inspiration comes from Mr.Stromberg.

Then where does your expiration come from ?