Wedstrijdklimmen wordt onderdeel van de World Games in 2005

Hieronder vind je het engelstalige persbericht van 25 november 2002 n.a.v. het feit dat wedstrijdklimmen is opgenomen als onderdeel van de World Games, die in 2005 in Duitsland gehouden zullen worden. Deelname aan de World Games wordt gezien als opmaat voor deelname aan de Olympische Spelen, maar zoals ook te lezen valt is dat nog een lange weg...

Competition climbing
is in 2005 World Games

International Federations vote in Colorado Springs

The International World Games Association (IWGA) meeting in Colorado Springs at the 36th congress and general assembly of the General Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF) voted to accept the UIAA into the IWGA which confirms the inclusion of competition climbing in the 2005 World Games in Duisburg Germany. UIAA President Ian McNaught-Davis represents the UIAA at GAISF but also attending for this important and historic IWGA vote was Reindert Lenselink the General Secretary of the UIAA’s International Council for Competition Climbing (ICC). Reindert Lenselink said:

"The result of the vote was expected, but it is fantastic for it now to be confirmed that competition climbing is part of the definitive programme for the 2005 World Games in Germany which has been an important country for the development of competition climbing because of the work of the German Alpine Club. The World Games is an excellent opportunity for competition climbing to feature as part of a large and important multi sports event, which is essential experience for working towards the ultimate goal of being included in the Olympic Games programme which may take at least 10 years."

The theme of this year’s GAISF meeting was Modernization of International Sports Federation Management, but a subject in the minds of some GAISF members is the possibility they might be dropped from the Olympic Games programme as an outcome of an IOC review. Also, in addition to the possibility of being dropped from the Games, sports such as athletics and rowing face the possibility of cuts in the number of events in the Olympic programme. The IOC will soon be reporting on the outcome of its review into the size and cost of hosting the Olympic Games. Olympic hopefuls such as bowling, golf and rugby will hoping for an indication if there is a place for them in the Olympic Games programme.