A global organisation consisting of umpires, independent of genre, the International Federation for Sports Officials (IFSO), was formed in the Peace Palace, the Hague. Hungarian Olympic Committee (HOC), represented at the meeting by President Krisztián Kulcsár and Secretary-General Bálint Vékássy, is also among the 20 founders.
HOC's Board of Directors decided on its 6 March meeting to become a founding member for IFSO. The newly founded organisation aspires to be acknowledged by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
"HOC was invited around half a year ago to help create the new organisation. As there are no financial burdens to bear as founding member, it did not cost HOC any money," announced Bálint Vékássy.
The Secretary-General said that there are 5 National Olympic Committees (one being the Hungarian Olympic Committee) among the 20 founding members. Other founders include sports organisations, such as the International Rafting Federation or the International Cycling Union. "The Dutch Olympic Committee and the Hague each gave €20,000 initial capital to the federation. The 71-year-old French fencer Patrick Vajda was chosen as President of the 12-member Board of Directors," said Vékássy who believes the Hague serves as a symbolic place to found an international organisation bringing together this family of referees and umpires.
The HOC Secretary-General also explained that the organisation puts great emphasis on the inclusion of young referees and umpires, invigorating the recruitment process, while aspiring for gender equality which shows in the composition of the Board of Directors. "IFSO should not be imagined as a professional organisation for referees, rather its main aim is to convey knowledge and to educate."
The management includes the French President, Patrick Vajda (fencing), the Belgian Gwenda Stevens (rowing), the Latvian Martins Dambergs (bobsled/luge), the English Vice President, Janie Frampton (football), the French Secretary-General, Charlotte Girard (ice hockey) and the Dutch Treasurer, Jan Vlasblom.
A predecessor to IFSO was founded in France 33 years ago with the inclusion of 12 sports. Today every national sporting federation and referees' association is a member of that organisation. Patrick Vajda, who outlined his ideas to IOC, has been president for 8 years. The French thought about elevating the association to a world-wide level after more than three decades of successful operation. In the United States there is also a sports officials association comprising 6 sports, operating on a voluntary basis.
Hungary, represented by Ferenc Kemény, was also there when the International Olympic Committee was founded 125 years ago.
(HOC, fotó: IFSO)