British Open 2010 Sombo Championships
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World Sambo Championships 2009
Thessalonica Greece
November 5th, 6th 7th, 8th
This year World Championships the British Sombo Federation
only took 2 fighters and one official; they were Danny Carrott u82k, Ian Parker
u 68k and Martin Clarke BSF President. Instead of our normal 4 day trip we had
to travel an extra day so Martin could attend the Annual FIAS Congress which was
exceptionally important this year as it was election year. The meeting place was
very well prepared with 56 countries in attendance and proper head phones for
translation, FIAS language is Russian English and French sadly some one forgot
to tell the organiser about the French Translation so everyone had to do with
Russian and English. Everyone was expecting a bit of a dust up as there were
three nominations for President but as often happens in these events there was a
behind the scene deal, this I believe stopped a lot of infighting and
recrimination something FIAS can do with out. David Redman has done a marvellous
job for international Sambo, taking the membership to 90 countries and confirmed
FIAS place as the only International Organisation for Sambo. Fernando Compte the
founder of FIAS who is affectionately known as the Father of International Sambo
also resigned as Secretary General a position he took on to help David.
Thankfully the new FIAS Commission awarded then Honorary President position for
the contribution to Sambo.
Before David Rudman handed over the Presidents Mace to the new President, Mr. VASILIY SHESTAKOV Deputy State Duma Committee on Physical Training and Sports, he commented that there was now 90 countries in FIAS something I would never have believed would happen when I first joined FIAS in 1985 just a few months after its inception. Fernando Compte, who is always immaculately dressed, makes a point at being at the tournament all day, welcoming all members new and old, the pair have left FIAS in a very good condition something I believe the new President can build on. I never had chance to speak to the new President as he left after the first day and as I have never met the man before I can not comment on him but he does come from a prominent position in the Russian government myself and the British Sombo Federation will give him our 100% support for the benefit of International Sambo if nothing else.
The standard of the Sambo and Combat Sambo gets better
every year and although still dominated by the Eastern European block, there are
a few countries who are winning medals, teams like Venezuela who always arrive
with a team of about 15 and either takes medals or get near to them an extremely
strong team who are getting better year by year. The French came with a very
large team and went back with medals I am sure within the next couple years they
will have some World Champions.
The Venue and organisation left a lot to be desired but as the host country has to take the burden financially and physically you can not always expect a great deal maybe it is time FIAS organised and financed all World Championships with 90 member countries and with 46 countries participating this year they could be in good position in the future and with more participating countries the event could even turn a profit.
There were several things I was not happy with the main one being the safety aspect of the Sport Combat Sambo in allowing kicks to the groin and the use of elbow strikes, apart from this the Combat Sambo was well refereed. With the majority of countries outside the former Eastern Block having problem financing their trips, most of us receive no grant aid and why should we in a recession there are more important things. So we have to rely on the individual to pay their own way, to lighten the burden why do they not make the World Championships a bi-annual event and alternate the Worlds and World Masters. Especially as each individual country has to finance the Worlds, which includes venue, medals and souvenirs, Hotels, paying 50 euro a day for referees plus accommodation, plus accommodation for all FIAS Council members and so on. The 100$ a day paid for by competitors etc which includes hotel, meals, transport and competition entry, is not enough to cover everything. So can I suggest that the organising country charges every competitor an entry fee and the countries organise the rest themselves all referee fees are paid by FIAS. This scheme has worked perfectly well for us over the last 40 years when we have attended Karate, Judo and Sombo events through out the World.
I see a great future for Sambo/Sombo and FIAS
Martin Clarke
BSF President
British Report World Sambo British Team
For more information on Sombo, CombatSombo, Pancration go IBFBCSA@googlemail.com www.britishsombo.co.uk
For Judo go to the Youngjudoclub@googlemail.com www.youngjudoclub.co.uk a club formed in 1957.
2009 World Sambo and Combat Sambo Results
Results_WorldChampionship-09.pdf
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