3.3.2003
Federation Internationale De L’Automobile
Head Offices - Administration
Fax: 0041 22 544 44 50
Dear Sirs,
Re:
It is now 5
years that the National Motorsport of Cyprus is facing serious problems in general,
due to the wrong behavior, of your representative in
The local 5
Clubs were and are the organizers of all National Events of the Cyprus Rally
& Speed Championships for more than 25 years and the Cyprus Automobile
Association is only the organizer of the International Events, like the “Cyprus
Rally”. Since the Year 2001, the “Cyprus
Automobile Association”, is also the organizer of the “Troodos Rally” which
counts in the Middle East Championship.
Up to 1999
the 5 local Clubs were under the umbrella of the “Cyprus Automobile
Association”, but due that wrong behavior and respect, for so many years,
towards to the national Events and Clubs, on the 2000, the clubs decided to
establish a normal legal Federation under the laws of Cyprus and have requested
the necessary approval from the Government, through the “Cyprus Sport
Organization”.
The “Cyprus
Sport Organization” is the official Government body which controls all the
sports and athlete’s of
The 5 Clubs,
one in each Town in
For your
information the Cyprus Automobile Association (CAA) is not a Club or
Federation, but a Limited Company and is not a body which fulfills the
criteria, under the Cyprus Law, and be a legal Federation. Needless to say that
the board of Directors and all bodies belongs to CAA are not elected from the
Clubs neither from the athlete’s or by anybody which is involve in the
Motorsport and which is the practice happening in all Sports Organizations or
other democratic systems. They are the same people since 25 years and maybe
more and all this is happening because they are a ‘LTD’ company.
Due to the
absence in the past, of a normal and under the Cyprus Law Federation and due to
the fact that all Motorsport was under their umbrella, they had in 1999 a
Government recognition for a temporary status as a national carrier of the
Cyprus Motorsport.
But this was
up to the moment that a legal federation has been established (Year 2000) by
the above named 5 Clubs and the Government has given the necessary approval to
the new official National carrier in
February 2002, named “Cyprus Motorsport Federation” (C.M.F.) (www.cmf.org.cy)
.
After the 5
Clubs had established the Federation, in year 2000, they have officially
declared that their only concern and target, was and still is, to improve the
quality and correct management and execution of the local National events and
Championships, which was really suffering for so many years.
At the same
time they have request the cooperation of the “Cyprus Automobile Association”
in order to raise together, such quality management, for the benefit of the
Cyprus Motorsport.
Unfortunately
the “Cyprus Automobile Association” did not agreed on a such suggestion made
from the Clubs, and have worn everybody with measures using the FIA
regulations.
The new
Federation / Clubs and the “Cyprus Drivers Association” finally they have
proceed and they have carry out all the local Championship, for rally and Speed
Events, without the “CAA” cooperation. This was happening until 2001, and ‘CAA’
was only the organizer of the 2 International Rallies.
During that
period many problems have been created and occurred because of the very bad
relationship between the 2 parties.
After the
demand made from the Clubs / C.M.F. and the Drivers Association the Government
got involve through their Official Government body, the “Cyprus sport
Organization” (C.S.O.), in order to find a solution
that will serve the Motorsport in general.
After many
talks and arguments both parties reach a written agreement on the 20.2.2002. On
that agreement has been done on ‘C.S.O.’ offices and
they have put their signature the “Cyprus Automobile Association”, the 5 Clubs
(Cyprus Motorsport Federation) and the “Cyprus Sport Organization”.
Some of the
conditions on that written agreement are :
-
The “Cyprus Automobile Association”
(CAA – the representative of FIA in Cyprus ) to transfer annually the “ FIA
Sporting Power ” to the “Cyprus Motorsport Federation”, starting from 20.2.2002
, for the organization and execution the National Championships for Rally &
Speed from the “Cyprus Motorsport Federation”.
-
The ‘Cyprus Automobile Association’
will organize and execute only the International Events.
-
The ‘Cyprus Automobile Association’
can only withdraw and recall the said “FIA Sporting Power” from the Federation “CMF”,
if the “C.M.F.” breaches any rules of the “FIA” regulations or the Government
rules and Law. This can be done only, if “CAA” receives first, a written
confirmation and acceptance, from the “Cyprus Sporting Organization”,
confirming that the Federation ‘CMF’ has in any way breach that rules,
conditions or the Law.
After that
and especially from July 2002 new problems has been created from the site of ‘C.A.A.’, with Court cases and Court Orders against the
Federation and to the Government, ignoring the agreement made on the 20.2.2002,
between all parties concerned.
They never
asked or received any written or other confirmation from the ‘Cyprus Sport
Organization’ that the Federation ‘CMF’ has in any way violating any of the
above agreed, before they proceed to this Court cases.
Because of
their hostiles position to the Federation and Athlete’s, when they have proceed
for their Middle East event named “Troodos Rally” at the end of October 2002,
they had only 9 Entries from Cyprus Athlete’s, which 4 of them are not
Athlete’s which regularly participate in the events. They have only entered,
helping them to increase the number of entries. Total cars started was 12,
which 3 of them was foreigners. Finally 6 cars only finished. To help finish as
much as more cars, they have canceled many stages.
Two weeks
before, the Federation ‘CMF’ had one event (National Rally) named “Tiger Rally
2002” and the total Entries/Starters was 47 cars. This is to give you an idea,
that the majority of athlete’s and people involved in the Motorsport of Cyprus
are supporting the Federation ‘CMF’ and their Clubs and their wish to belong,
to legal and under the Laws Federation and of course under the umbrella of the
Government.
All these
have nothing to do, with the ‘CAA’ right, to organize and execute the
International Events, but only as far as concern the local Championships, which
everybody want to be under the Federation “CMF”.
Since
October 2002 many meetings happened in order to find a solution to those
problems, but with no success.
Finally
since January 2003 the “CAA” had declare their own Calendar /Championships
against the announced 2003 Calendar/Championships made from the Federation
“C.M.F.”, giving more confusion to the Motorsport in general.
After many
protests to Government from the Athlete’s, the Federation C.M.F. and the Clubs, the
Government, through the ‘Cyprus Sport Organization’ decided to take over all
the Championships and forced a solution that will be fair and under the law of
It is our opinion,
that “CAA” never had disclosed to you anything of the above problems, and they
never informed you about the transferring of your “Sporting Power” to the
Federation “CMF ” in February 2002, which according to
the FIA conditions and rules, you must transfer such “Sporting power” to any
new third party.
It is also
our opinion that we cannot write all in this letter, and you should get fully
and truly informed about what is really happening, by contacting the ‘Cyprus
Sport Organization’ (www.sport-koa.org.cy),
the ‘Cyprus Motorsport Federation’ (www.cmf.org.cy)
or the “Cyprus Motorsport Drivers Association” through (www.lac.com.cy), as we strongly believe that
you cannot receive the whole story through CAA.
We suggest
also that due to a critical situation which may affect even your interests in
Concluding
we want to apologize for taking so much of your valuable time, and we are sure
that you will help the Cyprus Motorsport in general, by taking such steps you
believe necessary.
Yours truly,
On
Behalf from the Majority of Athlete’s and Clubs of Cyprus.