The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Vancouver, Canada approved its Executive Board’s decision to give to the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) “full recognition”. The UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli stated: “The UIM is extremely proud and honored of the recognition given by the International Olympic Committee to the UIM and to our sport.
This is a significant acknowledgment and appreciation and will strengthen the UIM position as active and loyal member of the Olympic family”.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said after the IOC Session in Vancouver: “They are recognized Federations by us, which now means they can take part in IOC events and eventually obviously postulate themselves if they wish to take part in future Olympics,” and then he added “Until you’re a recognized sport, you can’t do that. It could be seen as the first stage. It allows them to take part in programmes that the IOC runs.”
To be recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), an International Sports Federation (IF) must comply with a stringent set of criteria. These criteria comprise universality, popularity, governance, athlete welfare and development. Before an IF can be considered by the IOC, the sport it governs must be practised and organised in more than 50 countries worldwide. Furthermore, the Federation must have an anti-doping policy which is compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency; stage regular world and continental championships; be committed to youth development; have robust and independent governance structures. Olympic Charter Rules govern the recognition of an International Sport Federation by the International Olympic Committee.
