The worldwide COVID19 pandemic is once again changing the international Fistball calendar. Following the cancellation of the 2021 World Tour, the previously planned 2021 World Tour Finals must now also be postponed to 2022. After it was already clear that the location would be moved from South America to Europe, the potentially most promising substitute host had to withdraw their support.
“We are very disappointed to be forced to postpone the World Tour Finals once again. We did everything possible to hold the event in compliance with all necessary safety measures. In the end, it was not possible to get all the necessary partners on board in the short time available,” says IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner.
As the Corona pandemic spread, the difficulties in hosting this event began. First, Birmingham (USA), the original host of the highest Fistball club competition, had to cancel and was also unable to host the event in 2021 due to scheduling problems. Then the replacement host from Porto Alegre (BRA) also had to withdraw their bid due to the notoriously difficult situation in Brazil.
Difficult search for alternative locations
As a result, IFA was in close contact with several possible replacement locations in Europe. On 1 March the 16 qualified teams were informed of the current status of the event in a video conference. At the same time, they were asked whether a bubble solution was desired as an emergency option. As this was confirmed by an overwhelming majority, IFA held further intensive talks with potential hosts.
“At the end of last week, we had to take note that the most promising host had to withdraw their pledges of support at short notice,” says Oberlehner. “Therefore, our only option is to postpone the World Tour Finals until next year, as the financial and organizational risks were too high.”
In addition, there are still so many uncertainties (e.g. travel restrictions) especially for the teams from Brazil, Chile and the USA.
“We really wanted to send a positive signal for international club Fistball with the organization of the Finals, but we must accept that club teams remain without an international competition this year. However, despite all the disappointment at the moment, we are already looking forward to 2022 with joy and want to offer a Fistball festival to the participating teams,” Winfried Kronsteiner, Chairman of the IFA Sports Commission, looks forward to next year’s event with confidence.
Participating teams are also qualified for 2022
The teams that have qualified via the World Tour and via the continental events are automatically qualified for the 2022 Finals. The host city and the exact event date will be announced as soon as all details have been agreed with the organizers. Planned event dates are the end of September in Europe or October in South America.
The Fistball event at the 7th TAFISA World Sport for All Games from the 18th to the 24th of June will be virtual as the event will be exclusively online.
More information to be published soon.
As the organisers informed us today the current situation the world is facing makes it necessary for the Organising Committee of the 7th TAFISA World Sport for All Games 2021 to restructure the event (rather than postponing again) – in alignment with the pandemic guidelines of the Portuguese Government that are in force and with the approval of the TAFISA Board of Directors.
The dates remain the same from the 18th to the 24th of June, but the event will be a virtual event, exclusively online in streaming and broadcast to the whole world.
While this brings us new challenges, the health and safety of all participants comes first. This new format will allow for broader virtual participation from all over the world and with no registered delegations/organisations to physically attend the World Games.
“We call for your collaboration and participation in this new online festival and innovative TAFISA event model, so that it is possible to show the world your countries, cultures and sports.” says TAFISA.
Today, 10 April the 2nd IFA Athletes Forum on the main topic “Women in Fistball” adopted after an interesting discussion the a resolution.
The IFA Athletes´ Commission under the leadership of chairwomen Katharina Lackinger prepared the 2nd IFA Athletes´ Forum. Main topic was “Women in Fistball”. The forum was covered on IFA Facebook page as well as MS Teams meeting.
The main question of this year´s forum was how we can make Fistball more attractive especially for girls/women. Several members of the IFA Athletes´ Commission made a point of statement during the forum.
IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner presented a short comparison between women’s and men’s world championships as a fact check. In addition, athletes Celina Traxler, Tanja Bognar, Eric Kindler, Karin Kempinger, Sabine Suffert or Nick Trinemeier, among others, gave a speech.
In case you missed forum we provide you the recording of the session. Thank you to all our speakers.
A welcome message was given by Diane Huffman, President of WomenSport International (WSI). The Canadian is senior advisor for the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports. Her focus is partnership, organizational and policy development particularly related to influencing safe participation of girls and women in sport.
Furthermore, IFA presented its first ever Gender Equity Toolkit, that provides information about gender equity, as well as ideas / strategies especially for Fistball event organizers for consideration in order to stage events that are more gender equitable.
“Gender equity is a global topic across all areas of our lives, including Fistball”, says IFA President Jörn Verleger. “Achieving gender equity in Fistball will take time and patience. Taking a step-by-step process from start thinking about what it means over starting a conversation to implementing a strategy to promote gender equity is a long journey but it is necessary and it is worth to start this journey.”
“We would like to specially thank the World Flying Disc Federation and its WFDF Women in Sport Commission for allowing us to adopted their developed Gender Equity Toolkit for Fistball”, he added.
In 2017 WFDF and IFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on many fields as Sustainability, Anti-Doping, Ethics and Good Governance or Para-Sport activities.
Today, IFA stands alongside the World Anti-Doping Agency on #PlayTrueDay 2021.
Our Anti Doping Officer Theresa Eidenhammer explains what clean sports means for her.
Say no to doping and listen to the message of U18 national team player Helena Schuh from Austria.
What does “Play True” mean to YOU?
Since 2014, in April of every year, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the anti-doping community worldwide have celebrated ‘Play True Day’ – a day that is dedicated to Clean Sport and is intended to raise awareness among athletes, the sporting public and others about the importance of protecting Clean Sport.
Get all news from the international fistball world directly to your mobile and sign up for the IFA-WhatsApp newsletter group. Send a WhatsApp with your name and the word DEUTSCH or ENGLISH to +43676 5648146 and you’re in.
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Don’t miss any news and be always informed about what’s happening in fistball!
To celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 6 April, the IFA joins the #WhiteCard campaign to highlight the power of sport to overcome challenges and positively impact our lives
Sport has the power to change the world; it is a fundamental right, a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and promote sustainable development and peace and well as solidarity, and respect. Through our unique individual skills and collective power, we can come together and share creative ways to improve our health and well-being through sport and physical activity.
This day is commemorated globally each year by international, regional, national sport and develop-ment organizations to honor the role that sport plays in society, whether by encouraging healthier life-styles, making sport more widely accessible or using it as a vehicle for development in areas made vulnerable by conflict, poverty and inequality.
Since 2014 the Peace and Sport Foundation developed the #WhiteCard Campaign as a sign of your commitment to peace efforts worldwide.
Join the global movement, share your story and send a message of unity and solidarity! #IDSDP #OnlyTogether @peaceandsport
The ongoing Covid19 pandemic forces the organizers of The Fistball World Tour season 2021 to cancel another full season. The central reasons must be seen in the many different existing national regulations regarding the staging of events and travel restrictions. The safety of all people involved cannot guaranteed world-wide.
“Our aim was to start a Fistball World Tour only under fair circumstances. Currently it is not possible to carry out a World Tour because of national restrictions which are different from country to country. Together with the cancellation of the Major events in South America and most likely also in Europe this spring, we decided to cancel this year’s World Tour season and restart the World Tour in 2022”, says Winfried Kronsteiner, Chairman of IFA Sports Commission. “In many countries Fistball clubs are closed and training is not permitted. So a World Tour under the same circumstances for all teams and hosts is not possible.”
“It’s our obligation to protect the health and safety of our Fistball family and the general public in the face of this global pandemic. We are looking forward to an even stronger World Tour in 2022,” said Winfried Kronsteiner explaining the cancellation of the 2021 season.
Current status of the World Tour Finals 2021
IFA is still working hard to organize the World Tour Finals in the end of September 2021. Currently the Finals organizing team is in negotiations with a host in Austria and partners to finance the event. A final decision if this event can be made possible will be made by 15 April.
The IFA Policy Forum, held for the first time on March 30, focused on the requirements for world sports federations after the COVID-19 crisis, based on the IOC’s recommendations in Agenda 2020+5.
The 30-minute keynote address was given by Prof. Dr. Holger Preuss, member of the IOC Legacy and Sustainability Commission, after a welcome message by AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport) President Stephan Fox. Invited were members of the worldwide fistball family as well as representatives of the AIMS umbrella organisation. IFA President Jörn Verleger welcomed, among others, the Presidents of Sleddog (IFSS), Helen Lundberg and Savate (FISav) Dr Julie Gabriel as well as Powerlifting (IPF) Secretary General Robert Keller.
The forum was conducted within the framework of the annual evaluation of the current Strategic Plan 2019 – 2023, which was approved in 2019, and is to be evaluated annually at the second meeting of the IFA Board of Directors. For this purpose, a public IFA Policy Forum was organized prior to the IFA Board meeting scheduled for April 17, in which all member federations and stakeholders will have the opportunity to participate in the discussion on the future course of the IFA. The current COVID19 pandemic is not included in the 2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan, but will have a profound impact on the implementation of the plan in the coming years. In addition, at its 137th Session in March 2021, the IOC unanimously approved a new IOC Strategic Roadmap to 2025, called Olympic Agenda 2020+5. This will also have an impact on the IOC Recognition Process.
Olympic Agenda 2020.
The Olympic Agenda 2020, which was based on the three pillars of credibility, sustainability and youth, had been adopted by the 127th IOC Session in Monaco in December 2014. The aim of the agenda has been to highlight Olympic values and strengthen the role of sport in society. The biggest advances have been in the Olympic Games, athletes and their protection, good federation governance, solidarity within the Olympic Movement, creating long-term financial stability for the Olympic Movement, the role of sport in society, sustainability and gender equality. The creation of the Olympic Channel is also among them.
Olympic Agenda 2020+5.
The Olympic Agenda 2020+5 consists of 15 recommendations and follows the Olympic Agenda 2020, the 2014 reform program. The new strategic roadmap will guide the work of the IOC and the Olympic Movement into 2025.
While the world is currently dealing with the global health crisis with the COVID 19 pandemic and its consequences, the IOC is also focusing on further change, building on the success of the Olympic Agenda 2020.
The 15 recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020+5 are based on feedback from the Olympic Movement and five key trends that will be important in the post-Corona world. This is where sport and Olympic values can play a key role in turning challenges into opportunities.
The key trends on which the Olympic Agenda 2020+5 is based are:
– more solidarity within and between societies,
– the growing digitalization, without losing sight of the lack of digital infrastructure in some parts of the world,
– the urgency for sustainable development,
– the need to strengthen credibility of organizations and situations, and the need to achieve stability in the face of the financial and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. These financial and economic consequences will shape the priorities of governments and businesses in the coming years.
The 15 recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020+5 are based on these five trends and include concrete approaches. The IOC and the Olympic Movement should:
– Strengthen the uniqueness and the universality of the Olympic Games
– Foster sustainable Olympic Games
– Reinforce athletes’ rights and responsibilities
– Continue to attract best athletes
– Further strengthen safe sport and the protection of clean athletes
– Enhance and promote the Road to the Olympic Games
– Coordinate the harmonisation of the sports calendar
– Grow digital engagement with people
– Encourage the development of virtual sports and further engage with video gaming communities
– Strengthen the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals
– Strengthen the support to refugees and populations affected by displacement
– Reach out beyond the Olympic community
– Continue to lead by example in corporate citizenship
– Strengthen the Olympic Movement through good governance
– Innovate revenue generation models
Adaptation for IFA.
“The COVID-19 crisis has changed our world,” said IFA President Joern Verleger. “We are therefore well advised to adapt our Strategic Plan and prepare for the new normal. In doing so, we want to involve all member federations and stakeholders in the discussion.”
Of the 15 IOC proposals, the following 11 are of particular importance for the work of the IFA:
– Forster sustainable sporting events
– Reinforce athletes’ rights and responsibilities
– Continue to attract best athletes
– Further strengthen safe sport and the protection of clean athletes
– Harmonisation of the sports calendar
– Grow digital engagement with people
– Strengthening the role of sport as an enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals
– Supporting refugees and populations affected by displacement
– Promoting corporate citizenship
– Good governance
– Innovative revenue generation models
Principles of Good Association Governance.
The IFA admits the principles of a free democratic basic order and safeguards the sport of Fist-ball against all forms of violence, discrimination and illegal betting and match fixing.
To this end, the IFA Board of Directors has adopted a comprehensive set of rules that is regularly evaluated and revised. Therefore, updates of the following regulations will also be discussed during the forum:
– IFA Code of Ethics (approved 20 June 2015)
– IFA Conflict of Interest – Policy (approved 20 June 2015)
– IFA Code of Conduct on Sports Betting Integrity (approved 15 January 2016)
– IFA Rules against illegal and irregular betting and match-fixing (approved 15 January 2016)
– IFA Guidelines for the Conduct of the Athletes’ Entourage (approved 20 June 2015)
– IFA Athletes’ Commission Election Procedure 2019 (approved 4 April 2019)
– IFA World Games selection and qualification criteria (approved 4 November 2018)
The 7th CSIT World Sports Games 2021 including the IFA CSIT 2021 FISTBALL AMATEURS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, scheduled to take place in Cervia (Italy) from 1 to 6 June, have been postponed to 12 to 17 October 2021.
The CSIT Executive Committee made this decision in its meeting on Friday March, 26.
Due to the still very tense COVID-19 situation, this decision was irrevocable wrote CSIT after the meeting. “The CSIT ExCom has analysed the current status quo in great detail and has come to the conclusion that under the current circumstances, the deteriorating situation and considering the health of the WSG participants, it would be irresponsible to hold WSG2021 in two months”, so CSIT.
“In view of the cancellation of the Men’s Fistball European Championships in June in Italy, we would like to emphasize once again that the Women’s World Championships in July in Switzerland and the U18 World Champs in Austria will be held regardless of whether spectators are allowed on site or not,” emphasized IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner. “Regarding a possible quarantine for the athletes, we are already assuming entry facilitations for all participating teams for the U18 World Championships due to the special commitment of Faustball Austria,” said Oberlehner. Thus, the entry will be possible upon presentation of a negative COVID-19 test due to the top sport status of Fistball in Austria. “We are currently working on an analogous confirmation for Switzerland.”
“From the beginning we have planned for the World Championship in several scenarios and will make it an optimal experience for our fans even without spectators through an improved TV offer,” said IFA President Jörn Verleger. It is not up to the world federation to criticize a decision of the Local Organizing Committee in Kaltern and/or the European association, in view of numerous inquiries after the publication of the decision IFA is not really enthusiastic about the communication strategy, since a final decision for the European championship, which are also a qualifying competition for the World Games Birmingham 2022, was not made so far. In the run-up, IFA had suggested a joint communication of the final decision for early/mid-April, as it would then also be clear whether or not the last September weekend on which the annual World Tour Finals for club teams had previously been scheduled would be fixed as an alternative date for the EURO.
“The winner of the European Championships qualifies directly for the World Games, provided the European Championships are held in 2021,” said Oberlehner, who is on duty at the World Games as competition manager for Fistball. “This should be taken into consideration in case of a possible postponement of the European Championship to 2022,” Oberlehner added.
“We have deliberately chosen this publication of a statement to send a positive signal together with our friends in Jona in Grieskirchen, who are preparing the World Championships with great optimism and commitment,” emphasized IFA President Verleger. Currently, the local organizing committees in Jona and Grieskirchen hope and assume that they will be able to hold events with at least a reduced number of spectators and appropriate protective measures.
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