Press Release 14e/1997

IDSF General Meeting 1997

Hotel Home Plazza Bastille, Paris

That it was to become one of the most important Annual General Meetings AGM in the history of IDSF showed the presence of more than 100 delegates from 50 IDSF Member Associations all around the globe.

The main topic was the newly reached joint venture between IDSF and the world biggest and most successful sports promoters and televising companies, the IMG/TWI McCormack Group.

In Paris the IDSF Member Associations were eager to listen the report of IDSF President Detlev Hegemann and approved the joint venture with big applause. The discussion showed, that the delegates appreciated the successful work of the IDSF Presidium and especially of IDSF Treasurer Rudi Baumann who was the motor of all negotiations. Assisted by IDSF Vice President Peter Pover and on the basis of the material delivered by IDSF General Secretary Rudi Hubert he succeeded in this century joint venture contract which will bring DanceSport into a new area to the benefit of IDSF and her athlets but as well to the benefit of McCormack and his imperium.

The news of this joint venture spread around the globe in no time and the media reacted nearly unanimously positively.

As example for this reaction we are to mention the article which the official Magazine of GAISF „SporTVision" published as an eye-catcher on the first page of Sports Monitor in issue 119, June 1997with the headline: „Hit the Ground Dancing".

The event of this year´s IDSF General Meeting took place at Hotel Home Plazza Bastille. At first sight you never would enter this hotel behind an old facade in a very small street. I even asked my taxi driver whether he is sure that this is the right address. But entering you will be surprised. There you will find a nine buildings of the 19th century Eiffel architecture having been luxuriously renovated and turned into the only first class all suite hotel residence in the centre of Paris with all modern facilities, necessary for running a congress.

Besides the AGM there were more activities such as meetings of the IDSF Presidium, the Commission „Standardisation of the Competition Rules in Europe", the Nordic SDF and the Asian DanceSport Federation ADSF.

I will refer to those meetings in one of the next issues.

„Time passes so quickly! I really cannot believe that a year has passed since our last AGM in June 1996 in the Olympic City of Lausanne. Today, dear friends, I am very proud to be able to extend to all of you a hearty welcome to Paris. Present today are more than 100 delegates and officials from 50 nations, who have accepted our invitation to attend this General Meeting here in the heart of France.

50 nations! That is about 75 % of our total membership. A magnificent effort. And incidentally the best ever!

I welcome most warmly the members of the Presidium of our Federation, the Press Commissioner, the representatives of our magazine, the local organiser from our French Member, the Comité National de Dance Sportive, Mr. Roland Rioult.

A special welcome to Mr. Wolfgang Steuer, President of the World Rock´n´Roll Confederation, our Associate Member. May I also welcome our dear friend Léon Léonard and his wife. Mr. Léonard is honoury member of the IDSF and formerly has been a Presidiums member for over 25 years.

I do hope, that we shall have a very successful meeting and a nice stay at Paris".

On the beginning of his address to the delegates Detlef Hegemann welcomed the new IDSF Members Greece, Armenia and the Philippines which makes now 67 National Member Associations. He announced that after a two years dispense the Presidium accepted the Norwegian DanceSport Association as a full member of the IDSF. He was proud to announce that 35 of the IDSF member associations are already recognised or even members of their National Olympic Committees.

The President stated that with the increasing membership and the provisional recognition by IOC, the work to be done by the Presidium increased tremendously. He mentioned the meetings of the Presidium and that Joint Committee Meetings with the Professionals from WD&DSC were held three times in the course of last year. „There we discussed very seriously the position of WD&DSC as we got the aim from IOC to allow the Professional dancers to participate in IDSF competitions and therefore we offered the WD&DSC several proposals".

After entering the Olympic Family we kept close contact to the members of the IOC Board and to the affiliated Sport Associations GAISF, IWGA and ARISF. One of the biggest success was the decision of the International World Games Association IWGA to include our sport into the World Games in Lahti/Finland this year in August.

It was especially our Treasurer Rudolf Baumann, assisted by the Vice President Peter Pover, to find a partner in the field of television and sponsoring world-wide.

Detlev Hegemann announced the signing of the agreement with the world´s leading Sportsmarketing and Television Company, the world renowned McCormack Group, and welcomed their representatives.

He referred to the complete report of the London Press Conference published in the official IDSF magazine The International News and extended thanks to the IDSF Press Commissioner Werner J. Braun for his tremendous work in publishing all the IDSF affairs. „He spread our information world-wide. You can read IDSF news in the official DanceSport magazines in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Russia. Also in Internet you may serve the pages of IDSF".

With his words, IDSF became more and more the leading DanceSport Federation in the world, he extended his thanks to all members of the Presidium, especially Peter Pover, Rudolf Baumann, Rudi Hubert and Heinz Spaeker.

So far Detlef Hegemann.

One of the most active members of the IDSF Presidium is without any doubt besides the General Secretary Rudi Hubert, who is involved in the daily office work up to his capacity, IDSF Treasurer Rudi Baumann. Besides his routine work, being responsible for money affairs of IDSF, he is in charge of the co-operation with IOC, GAISF, ARISF and IWGA. To give a complete report on all his activities in this respect would fill the pages completely. Not to forget the longlasting, discreet negotiations to find a partner in sponsoring and televising which needed a lot of instinct and intuition. Here Rudi Baumann proofed to be the right man on the right place, a diplomat a la bonheur. His success which is carried by the whole of the IDSF Presidium and especially President Detlef Hegemann, surely is an outstanding one in the history of IDSF and DanceSport and will certainly change this our sport and its image positively towards our aim: Participation in the Olympics.

Here a summary of the reports of IDSF Treasurer Rudolf Baumann:

Rudi Baumann was glad to announce again a positive result for the year 1996. Comparing the expenditures from 1995 and 1996 he reported an increase of about CHF 65ooo.--. Besides this we have made a benefit and „this makes me happy"

Main points in the increase of expenditure were the costs for a new IDSF promotion video tape, the costs for the Sportel exhibition stand in Monaco and the intensification of the IDSF press work. „I am sure you agree, that an International Federation as IDSF, looking forward to the full IOC recognition and to a new TV- and Marketing contract, needs more publicity then the years before".

On the income side we saw a remarkable increase of championship fees which together with the allocation of US $ 10 000.-- to the IDSF by the IOC balanced our expenditures.

The outlook for 1997 was as well positive. Rudolf Baumann spoke of the increasing expenditures IDSF will have to pay for the necessary meetings with IMG, The Press Conference in London, the contribution to The International News and the World Games in Lahti/Finland.

Finishing the financial report Rudolf Baumann informed the delegates about the statement of the IDSF auditors, the Liguster Treuhand- und Verwaltungs-AG, Zurich. They had examined the books per 31.12.1996 and confirmed that -

• the balance sheet and the profit and loss account are in accordance with the books,
• the books are duly kept,
• the results and assets are declared according to the law and the articles of incorporation.

Based on these facts, they recommended to the AGM to approve the submitted annual accounts. This was done unanimously by acclamation and with big applause.

It was in May 1996 when Rudolf Baumann presented a documentation titled „Going Global" to the IDSF Presidium for approval. It contained his proposal for a marketing strategy for TV- and Marketing rights. His target was to make a global package deal which must ensure the promotion of DanceSport world-wide.

His plan was accepted and he got the „plein pouvoire" for the means he needed and his negotiations with the world leading TV- and Marketing companies.

The Sportel Exhibition in Monaco with an attractive IDSF PR-stand was the perfect platform to present IDSF DanceSport. Peter Pover, Tony Tilenni, Rita and Rudolf Baumann were present nearly around the clock.

The many contacts led to several serious offers for a co-operation. After careful consideration Rudolf Baumann selected IMG/TWI and intensified his negotiations. 4 meetings in Zurich, 1 in Brussels, Lausanne and Graz and 2 in London followed. At the last meeting he invited IDSF Vice-President Peter Pover as expert and Sports Director Heinz Spaeker because of possible rule changes to make DanceSport more TV-friendly.

Conformity could be reached. The contract could be signed on April 30. in Zurich and the countersignement of IDSF President Detlef Hegemann was made in London on May 19th, the day before the joint press conference. More details within short.

After the IDSF General Meeting 1996 in Lausanne he kept the contact with IOC Sportsdirector Gilbert Felli and things went very well till in February 1997 he was informed about an application for IOC-recognition by WD&DSC. This unfriendly action of WD&DSC against IDSF was indeed the worst which could happen. Rudolf Baumann informed the IDSF delegates about his strong answer to WD&DSC by means of a copy of his letter and his statement made at the Joint Committee Meeting in Brussels on March 1st, 1997.

On the occasion of the Figure Ice Skating World Championship in Lausanne - he was invited by our future partner IMG/TWI - he could discuss the matter with Mr. Gilbert Felli. At a special meeting in the office of IOC Sports Director Gilbert Felli in the presence of IDSF President Detlef Hegemann he could provide Mr. Felli with all necessary documents to proof the good will of IDSF to co-operate and include

professional dancers in future IDSF DanceSport activities. Mr. Felli welcomed the idea to hold the next annual IDSF General Meeting on June 14th again in the IOC hometown Lausanne.

At this important meeting on May 22, 1997 he had the opportunity to announce the IDSF 11 years deal with the McCormack Group to IOC President Antonio Samaranch, Messrs. Kevin Gosper, M. Hodler, Dr. Un Yong Kim, T. Bach and to Mr. Felli. During the coffee break the brandnew IOC Press Review was distributed to all the delegates present. What a surprise, one full page was dedicated to IDSF´s Press Launch in London on May 20th, announcing the deal with IMG under the headline: „McCormack to waltz ballroom dancing to the Olympics".

The GAISF Meetings lasted from 17th to 19th of October 1996. IDSF was represented by Peter Pover, Tony Tilenni and Rudolf Baumann.

Interesting themes were discussed such as:

- Recommend to the IOC ways to reinforce the Olympic Games with new sports and help develop the World Games.

- Respond to the IOC´s call to increase the participation of women.

All major International Sports Federations were present and we had the feeling to be accepted as colleagues and friends.

The next GAISF General Meeting will be held in Duisburg, October 15-18th, 1997

The 1997 General Meeting took place in Monaco on May 21st. IOC President Antonio Samaranch, accompanied by IOC Sports Director Gilbert Felli, addressed the delegates. After the ordinary business a new President was elected due to the resignation of the former President Van der Heiden. Mr. Ron Froehlich, President of IWGA and Treasurer of GAISF was unanimously elected new ARISF President. Here again President Froehlich congratulated IDSF for the fantastic success with IMG.

The General Meeting of IWGA was held in Monaco, October 17th, 1996. Here again IDSF was represented by Peter Pover, Tony Tilenni and Rudolf Baumann. 25 out of 28 IWGA Member Federations were present. Dr. Un Yong Kim, founding President of IWGA, welcomed the delegates and expressed his pleasure with the current state of the World Games 1997 in Lahti and the recent signing of the Agreement with the Akita Prefecture for hosting the World Games in 2001 in Japan. Governor of Akita, Mr. Kikuji Sasaki, announced the budget of the Games amounting to appr. 10.6 million US $. The proposal to the AGM by Bowling and DanceSport to ratify the agreement with Akita was unanimously accepted.

One more topic of historical importance was the application of WD&DSC to become associated member of IDSF

It was nearly 20 years ago, when on August 26th, 1978 in Stuttgart/Germany the newly formed Joint Committee agreed unanimously the General Agreement between ICAD and ICBD, the former international Amateur and Professional Associations.

After long and serious negotiations this document was signed by Alex Moore, the legendary Pope of Dancing, and by myself.

A paragraph was put into this agreement which was and is still up today our leading banner. It reads:

This was since 20 years the guiding star of all our efforts towards our aim: The recognition of our sport by the International Olympic Committee. During those 20 years we build up our independent Amateur Federation. Now we are in the position to offer the World Dance and DanceSport Council the associate membership in the IDSF. The Annual General Meeting of WD&DSC in May 1997 has decided to agree to our proposal. Now we will have to decide whether we finally will agree to this associate membership.

And Detlef Hegemann made the following appeal to the IDSF General Meeting:

„I am sure, that there will arise a lot of problems about the details of the membership. But I feel, it is necessary for us to follow the Olympic idea to allow all dancers - Amateurs and Professionals - to dance in competitions under the rules and flag of IDSF towards the Olympic Games. Therefore I ask you - to replace all your eventual problems - to agree in general to the associate membership of WD&DSC".

The delegates nearly unanimously agreed.

Heinz Spaeker gave an interesting view back into the sportive year 1996 and showed the development to be faced in 1997. The facts he pointed to the audience showed the immense bunch of work which has to be dealt with by the IDSF Sports Director.

In 1996 IDSF has granted to her Member Associations.

8 IDSF World Championships

9 IDSF Continental Championships

5 IDSF Sub-Continental Championships

3 IDSF World Cups

3 IDSF Continental Cups

22 IDSF World Ranking Competitions Latin

22 IDSF World Ranking Competitions Standard

He handed over to the Delegates a summary of all finals of those competitions with the respective results.

Heinz Spaeker pointed out that the IDSF Presidium has nominated 120 adjudicators to judge IDSF Championships and Cups. The adjudicators of World Ranking Competitions are confirmed by IDSF. He launched the motion to change IDSF Competition Rule 10 that in future IDSF International Open Competitions must be judged by IDSF licensed adjudicators.

On May 15th 1997 the IDSF Computer World Ranking List comprises 605 couples in Latin and 531 in Standard. Those numbers are unique in the Sports World. The number of participants in the IDSF Ranking Competitions is rising. But on the other hand the number of competitors making their entries and do not show up without any excuse is rising too. In future IDSF will take disciplinary steps against those couples.

In order to assist organisers of World Ranking Competitions IDSF will offer to her member associations two standardised and iDSF approved computer programs.

The IDSF Sports Director had worked out updated IDSF Competition Rules following the recommendations of the Joint Rules Sub Committee in order to unify the differing rules of amateurs and professionals. The draft had been send to the WD&DSC but no feed back was given. Nevertheless the IDSF Rules must be revised in anticipation of DanceSport in the Olympic Games. „We have to open the door for all competitors being members of the IDSF" was Heinz Spaeker´s statement.

The 1997 highlight for IDSF DanceSport will be the participation in the World Games in Lahti/Finland. 36 of the best amateur couples from 5 continents will participate in the two scheduled IDSF competitions. There DanceSport will be presented successfully in co-operation with the new IDSF partner IMG/TWI. The IDSF Sports Director expressed his hope that the participation in the World Games will be our first step towards being in the program of future Olympic Games.

Heinz Spaeker reported on the 1997 IDSF Adjudicators Congress in Moscow, expressed his appreciation to the organisers, the Russian DancSport Association and to the teachers of the event, Keneth Pedersen/Denmark and Wolfgang Opitz/Germany who together with the top-couples Holger Nitsche/Charlotte Egstrand and Stefan Ossenkop/Pia David gave excellent demonstrations and lectures.

About 100 IDSF Adjudicators participated and received their new IDSF license. The next IDSF Adjudicators Congress will be offered in 1998. Any adjudicator not being able to take part in the 1997 event is then to participate in order to get the license prolongation. IDSF is also in contact with WD&DSC and waiting for their list of adjudicators in order to license them as well. The final decision is naturally up to IDSF.

IDSF comprises now of 67 national member associations. IDSF wants to have the same rules for DanceSport all over the world. All IDSF granted competitions are already organised in this respect. But there are some differences in national competitions. The initiative to standardise the rules in Europe already works and has the full assistance of IDSF. Heinz Spaeker expressed his special thanks to Barbara Nagode-Ambroz and Natasha Ambroz for their intensive work in connection with the restricted syllabus and dress regulations.

The IDSF partners in the new joint venture IMG/TWI had taken the opportunity to present „The World of IMG". Tim G. Moufarrige, Senior International Vice-President

IMG and Zoe Uffindell, IMG/TWI Executive Project Manager Dance Production and Development of the IMG/TWI/IDSF joint venture, showed a very impressive video of DanceSport in connection with IMG/TWI. It impressed the IDSF delegates very much because it showed the professionality of this company and the means they have at their disposal which created their success as the world´s pre-eminent sports marketing organisation with almost 2000 employees in 76 offices in 31 countries.

The representatives of IMG/TWI pointed out clearly the objectives:

• DanceSport to become a fully accepted sport on the international sports calendar
• The IDSF to receive full IOC recognition and to become an Olympic Sport
• To extend the world-wide television exposure of DanceSport through the international distribution of the selected events to maximise the income generated from all commercial activities

The IDSF delegates were impressed and showed their approval to the joint venture unanimously accompanied by a longlasting applause.

Traditionally the IDSF Presidium had invited the delegates and guests on the evening before the AGM. This year a River Boat Dinner Party on a special excursion ship crusing on the river Seine was chosen. As always it became a wonderful evening with the possibility to meet old friends and find new ones. A really good band took care of music for everybody and heated up the mood of the participants. The dinner was excellent and passing allong the illuminated banks of the river Seine was an attraction for everybody. Especially the lit-up Eiffel Tower which showed on illuminated big letters the days still left till the beginning of the year 2000 was admired. The IDSF family had her party and showed that DanceSport unites people world-wide.

A sightseeing tour of Paris at night followed the cruise and burned this wonderful city into the memories of all participants.