Updated FIBT Cancels Park City WC
By webmaster - Thursday 7 Sep 2005 - Nr 187
Dear Sirs,
please be informed that we had to cancel the World Cup Competition scheduled at Park City from 6th to 12th November 2005.
We are looking for a replacement event.
Further information follows by the end of the week
Best regards
Ermanno Gardella
Secretary General
Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
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UPDATE
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Dear Mr. Bennion:
For some time now FIBT has been trying to reach a reasonable sporting accord with your representatives on the Park City Organizing Committee for the proposed FIBT World Cup competitions in November 2005. We are in receipt of your committee’s response to our email, both dated September 2, 2005. Unfortunately, the response was unsatisfactory.
FIBT, on the application by USBSF, and in the sincere desire to re-engage the Park City Olympic track in high level Bobsleigh and Skeleton competitions, agreed to schedule the first World Cup events of the 2005-2006 Olympic season at Park City, subject to organizers ability to stage an event to FIBT standards.
Subsequently, despite repeated efforts by FIBT, the organizing committee has failed to accept the standard training program required by the FIBT Sport Commission. As the discussions, primarily with and Ms. Beck, Mr. Bulut and others, were going nowhere, FIBT issues a formal request on September 2, with an absolute deadline. This overture was rejected by Mr. Bulent, as was a subsequent “last ditch” phone call by FIBT Vice President David Kurtz on September 6.
The FIBT has no option at this point but to cancel the Park City World Cup competition, and in the best interest of the athletes preparing for the Torino Olympic Winter Games, to find a venue to organize the first World Cup of this important Olympic season.
Without dwelling on the details of difficulties that have been encountered, it is important to note that the FIBT stages some 80-plus competitions each year all over the world. Five of these events were scheduled for Park city this November. Few if any logistical or sporting problems arise with these events and most of these can be quickly resolved because Race Organizers are, for the most part, aware of and concur with the requirements of the FIBT, its member National Federations and, most importantly the athletes.
The FIBT deeply regrets this turn of events and looks forward to working with USBSF and Park City in the future.
For the USBSF and those dedicated sportsmen and women who are the backbone of sliding sports in Utah, the FIBT sincerely regrets this necessity. It is sure, however, that they will realize that sporting requirements of all FIBT athletes come first.
On behalf of the FIBT Executive Board,
Ermanno Gardellaww