Archive for the
‘INTERNATIONAL’

OHNE KOMMENTAR:

Dear IBF Committee Members
As per email from our CEO from March 24th, 2022 we have been “informed“ that all IBF business in Lausanne, Switzerland will be closed on March 31st, 2022.
Please read an extract in blue color (I have changed the color to show the original text) of such message which you have in your inboxes:
“… On March 23^rd 2022 all financial affairs in Lausanne, Switzerland have been closed/shut/ceased. All invoices prepared from today will have to be detailed with Kuwait Bank account information for IBF.  Money will no longer be able to be received in Lausanne from 00:01 March 24^th 2022 CET.
Resignation of the IBF Head Office at Maison du Sport International, Avenue de Rhodanie 54, 1006 Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland has been processed.  Offices will be vacated on March 31^st 2022.  All paperwork will be shipped to Kuwait for storage.  The digitized files of all emails and documents related back to 2011 will be kept on file with legal counsel in Lausanne. Communication will be prepared to notify the following stakeholders that IBF will relocate all business affairs to Kuwait commencing from April 1^st 2022:
IOC   IWGA   GAISF   ARISF   WADA   ITA   IPC   Sportaccord   ISPO
The employment contracts of IBF staff who are residents in Canton du Vaud, Switzerland will terminate on March 31^st 2022.  We will support them as best as possible to receive the benefits of unemployment here in Switzerland.
CEO employment terminates on March 31^st 2022.
Legal counsel arrangement for the purposes of operating under Swiss law terminates on March 31^st.
New email addresses for correspondence for administrative affairs will be prepared.
This week, the majority of IBF partners and sponsors have been in Lausanne for a weeklong workshop.  The information shared above will be conveyed to them today and amendments to any contracts will be made where necessary.
“I have in copy formal protests from different members in the following received order:
Martin Faba – IBF 1st Vice President and Pan Am Zone President
Addie Ophelders – ETBF President
Valgeir Gudbjartsson – ETBF Vice President
Guy Igliori – Pan Am Zone representative
Jorge Franco – Pan Am Zone Vice President
Clara Guerrero – Athletes representative
All protests mention that such decision to move out of Lausanne to Kuwait is illegal and the President nor the board has the right to make such decision.I want to remind you a couple of decisions taken at the Congress held in Abu Dhabi on December 15th, 2015:
“12.1 Statutes
A proposal to merge the two organizations FIQ and WTBA into one organization, World Bowling, had been distributed in advance. The document sent out points out the paragraphs in WTBA Statutes that have to be changed. Since the document was distributed FIQ and WTBA Executive Boards have made some adjustments mainly in the new rule 1.5.10. These changes had been proposed by World Ninepin. FIQ Congress had before this WTBA Congress adopted the proposed merge of FIQ and WTBA. The amended proposal was motioned to be approved by Australia. Seconded by Costa Rica. With the voting result 77 votes in favour, 0 (zero) votes against, the Congress – adopted to merge FIQ and WTBA into one organization, World Bowling – adopted the proposed changes of the Statutes (see Appendix 2) – All references to “FIQ” and “WTBA” in Statutes and Playing Rules shall be deleted, and “World Bowling” shall be inserted where appropriate
13.1 Resolution World Bowling main office
A resolution was presented as follows
“Be it resolved that the main office of World Bowling shall be established in Lausanne, Switzerland.”
The resolution was approved by 45 votes in favour and 23 against.“
As of December 15 2015 and executed further on November 8^th 2018  World Bowling was located in one jurisdiction operating under the laws of Switzerland in the Canton du Vaud registered at Maison du Sport International, Avenue de Rhodanie 54, 1007, Lausanne.
On November 2^nd 2020 an extra ordinary congress was called to change the articles of association and name of the organization from World Bowling to International Bowling Federation.
Last February 23rd, 2022 a Committee meeting held virtually, ratified the congress decision to remain in Lausanne, Switzerland and in the minutes should be written that no single board member objected that, in other words it was an unanimous decision.
So, changing such decisions is illegal and against our own statutes.
Last March 17th, 2022 some of us have presented (same as protesters mentioned above, plus Mike Seymour from Oceania and Marios Nicolaidis IBF 2nd VP) a letter to the president with some requests.
Instead of providing us an answer, which is the president’s duty and the board’s right, we received the information that our business will be over in Lausanne and moved to Kuwait.
This will cause a huge damage to our Federation as the IOC recognition is in danger, our sponsors support is in danger, our events are in danger. This could be the end of IBF as an international sports federation.
I really don’t know what else to do if the president plus other board members stay in silence and do nothing nor do they express support to the moving decision, it is time that every single federation member is informed about what is going on.
Dear board members, I will not be blamed for whatever is happening from now on, it is time for every one of you to stand or just hold your responsibility.  Thank you

Martin Faba Presidente PAN AM BOWLING +506 8314 0603  martinfaba@me.com