WAF crisis # Armwrestling # Armpower.net

Following the catastrophic situation occurred at World Championships in Lithuania, we consider it necessary to communicate to a sports community an official position of the Russian Armsport Association (RAA) on each problematic sector of WAF life separately.

Point of view of PAA is presented by a spokesperson Ivan Dobrorezov.

Part One.

Member of the Directorate of WAF, first vice president of EAF Alexander Filimonov about the situation with medals.

First of all, I want to explain why now I have a need to openly speak about all the problems that suddenly fell on our favorite sport.

This does not mean that there were no problems before. They have always been. But election of Assen Hadzhitodorov to the WAF presidency raised hopes for their solution. For less than two years this hope has turned into an illusion. The trust has disappeared between the President and his closest associates - me and Igor Mazurenko.

We know each other with Assen from the mid-90s. We were eagerly lobbying his interests in the EAF and WAF in belief that we were the one, that we had a common look at the key directions of armwrestling development.

But everything collapsed in a moment.

Championship in Lithuania has shown us that the former understanding does not meet present day reality. WAF President suddenly became a "sovereign-emperor" - not less. He has lost his ability to hear his closest and most loyal supporters. In his speech appeared previously unthinkable figures such as: "That's it! I decided do not want to talk about it! ". My remark: "We have a problem! It needs to be discussed! It will not resolve itself, let’s discuss everything with Igor!» was followed by short answer - «no»!

You all know that once the Russian Armsport Association had problems with mutual understanding between the leaders of different levels, which led to fierce opposition and a split in the organization.

We all been there. We all lived through it and made some important conclusions for ourselves.

1. Any crisis always leads to progress and purification - it is not necessary to be afraid of!

2. Dialog is the main tool for both sides of confrontation. We need to talk! Need to discuss. As you know, the truth is born in dispute.

As soon as you get up in the majestic pose and refuse to hear the opponent - you're doing a step toward your own defeat.

Such conclusions we did at home in Russia.

For more than three hours I have been convincing Assen to begin a dialogue with Igor, with whom he already had a conflict. Because of the money. I tried to convince him that one can lose money today and find it tomorrow, but human relationships, built over the years, if lost today - can be lost forever!

But all my efforts were in vain ...

And even when I said that it was my last proposition to start a dialogue immediately, or we will no longer partners, Assen said: «As you like, I will not speak to Igor!"

End of story.

This was prehistory.

Medals and cups were there. Assen had over 50 000$ available. There definitely was the opportunity to solve everything without attracting the attention of the public. WAF President’s pride was the only cause of the mess we witnessed in Lithuania.

Instead of taking care of the terrible gaps in his work, trying to negotiate peacefully with all subcontractors to organize the World Cup appropriately, Assen went on escalation with everybody! And, of course, the top of shamelessness - the public prosecution of Igor Mazurenko in an attempt to disrupt the championship!

This Assen’s step shows complete devastation in his head. It can only be pitied. In fact, he signed his complete failure as a leader when called upon the audience!

Just horror and anguish.

What other help he needed from the athletes who paid the entry fees and from heads of federations who pay an annual fee?!

We arrived at the sports festival. We met all the financial terms of participation in it. We were aimed to compete and had enough problems of our own!

Why did we have to solve yours, Assen, problems ?!

We have delegated the authority to you, to you, to solve our problems, not create them for us!

If you are not capable to cope with the difficulties - just leave! A holy place is never empty.

Lack of medals at the World Championships - this is a nonsense! This is a problem. It is a bright, flashy illustration hitherto unprecedented crisis in international sport organization!

This situation will not be dismissed. The problem will not be solved by itself! No one will close his eyes on such incidents.

PAA guarantees this to you!