Francesco Ricci Bitti, president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) has responded to Marius Vizer regarding his newly proposed agenda and call for dialogue asking the SportAccord president to refrain from speaking in the name of International Federations, who no longer feel represented by umbrella association. 

   Following his barbed outburst at the IOC in Sochi after which key federations suspended their membership with SportAccord, Vizer has reached out to Bach and Ricci Bitti and the IF's, requesting what he called constructive dialogue and proposing his own 20-point agenda to match that of Bach's. 

In reply to Vizer, Ricci Bitti directly criticized Vizer's approach and the agenda, highlighting it's "lack of understanding of the governance and functioning of the Olympic Movement" and rift it shows between Vizer's role as SportAccord president and president of the International Judo Federation.

Ricci Bitti did not fail to underline that as a major stakeholder in the Olympic movement, ASOIF cannot and will not stand behind Vizer's postition expressed in such.

The full letter is below:

Dear President, Dear Marius,

I am in receipt of a copy of your letter to President Bach, dated May 21st which included your newly distributed agenda.

Since you mention me as ASOIF President and as the second person with whom you wish to discuss this agenda, you will understand my surprise in reading the contents. First, you have already accepted ASOIF's proposal to hold a meeting in early June. Second, our position, following you welcome speech at its General Assembly in Sochi, is that the scope of this meeting will be limited to representing the views of the ASOIF Council and its General Assembly with regard to future relations with SportAccord.

Your agenda, if needed at all, once again confirms the ambiguity between your roles as President of the International Judo Federation and your wish to represent other International Federations as President of SportAccord. It also displays a lack of understanding of the governance and functioning of the Olympic Movement.

Many of your points have already been addressed within the framework of the IOC's Agenda 2020. After wide consultation, the subsequent set of proposals was approved unanimously by the IOC Session following an inclusive, open and transparent process. The International Federations participated fully in this process, including you as a member of one of the working groups and also at the IOC Summits, at the invitation of the IOC President. It seems from subsequent remarks and correspondence that apparently you failed to represent your opinions and views on those occasions. The IOC's various gatherings always offer opportunities to debate proposals and suggestions, but I would emphasise to you that unity without agreement is a vacant concept.

In conclusion, let me remind you that ASOIF and the Summer International Olympic Federations consider the position you took in Sochi incompatible with their role as major stakeholders within the Olympic Movement. I urge you politely to refrain from speaking publicly on behalf of the International Federations as they do not feel represented by SportAccord, and more importantly, do not agree with your views on the position you have taken.

Yours sincerely, 

Francesco Ricci Bitti,

ASOIF President

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