PRESIDENT OF IBSA

Enrique Sanz, following his re-election as president of IBSA, could not disguise his satisfaction. Born in Zamora, and raised in Bilbao, Mr Sanz is keen to take on this second mandate at the head of the Federation - in 1993, he became president following the Assembly held in Costa Rica; for two years before that, he had been in charge of the Secretariat General - with enthusiasm and, particularly, vitality. And also, in the certainty that the sports for the blind will find their place, thanks to the team work and, of course, to the athletes.

QUESTION: What are the most important conclusions you can draw from this recent General Assembly of IBSA?

ANSWER: The first one is the vitality of our Sports Federation. 51 countries from all five continents have attended, from amongst the 90 that make up our Federation. From this perspective, IBSA is firmly established, both by its results and legally, as the sole organisation with the capacity for regulating and promoting, on an international basis, sports for the blind and visually impaired.

Q: All the indicators from the Assembly seem to forecast a continuance of the current administrative policy and, at the same time, a renovation. In the light of these aspects, how do you assess your re-election?

A: The General Assembly is indeed the maximum control and management body in IBSA. The fact that the administration of the last four-year period, as well as the persons most directly responsible for same, have been given the approval of the Assembly fills us with satisfaction, as we take this as a recognition of the work carried out. As regards my continued presence in this post, I wish to express my gratitude for the renewed confidence placed in me and I believe I am in a position to not disappoint anyone.

NEW MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Q: Amongst the motions passed in the Assembly, most noteworthy is the creation of a new Management Committee, which will provide greater operational capacity to the administration of IBSA. What is your opinion of this new approach and what will the true function of this Committee be?

A: The new approach will be based on the principles of normalisation, rigour, modernising and expediting our administration. In this respect, the Management Committee, comprising the Technical Manager, the Secretary General and the Treasurer, as well as the President, will meet up every three months to offer a timely solution to the most relevant issues on hand.

Q: Morocco, or more specifically Casablanca, has, for the first time in the history of IBSA, hosted our most important meeting. What has the reaction of the Moroccan authorities been? Do you feel this could be the first step towards opening up this country, and indeed continent, which is struggling to incorporate itself into the developed world?

A: First of all, it must be said that, not only is this the first time that an IBSA Assembly has been organised in Morocco, but also it is the first time anywhere on the African continent.

We hope this will serve to raise greater awareness of the importance of the development of sports for the blind in Africa. In fact, at the Assembly in Costa Rica (in 1993), the only African representatives were from Zambia and Egypt. Now, in addition to these countries and, of course, Morocco, there were also representatives from Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritius, Kenya, Libya, Algeria and South Africa.

With regard to Morocco, we hope it will be an important centre of development in the coming years, as its authorities - both in the sports and other sectors - have demonstrated a special interest in IBSA's programmes.

Special mention must be given to the importance of the support forthcoming from the Moroccan Royal Family and the consideration shown by Princess Lamia, accepting our invitation to act as Honorary President of the Assembly.

IBSA-IPC: GREATER COLLABORATION

Q: Finally, the Assembly has received the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Moreover, the attitude of the president of the IPC (International Paralympic Committee), Robert Steadward, has been most favourably received. Could it be said that the frictions with the IPC have come to an end?

A: It could be said, rather, that - following the agreement signed in Lausanne last February - a new phase of joint work has commenced on the coordination of calendars and the search for suitable formulas of understanding and general benefit of the athletes, which, when all is said and done, is what it is all about.

The presence of the Sports Director of the IOC, Gilbert Felli, as well as the IPC President, are a guarantee of the favourable progression of the agreements signed.

I should like to add that we propose to increase, to the full, the sports development in those countries that need it most and fill the competition calendar in the most complete fashion possible, combining the championships exclusively for the blind with those in which common interests enable us to participate in multi-disability championships organised by the IPC.

Finally, the forthcoming World Blind Sports Championships are most important for us. This event will cater for ATHLETICS, SWIMMING, JUDO and GOALBALL and will be held in Madrid (Spain) in JULY 1998.

"IBSA is a federation full of vitality"

The collaboration of the Moroccan Royal Family also extended to the moments reserved for leisure. From their attitude of hospitable hosts, at the end of the Assembly, on Saturday June 14th, they offered the delegates the chance to get to know the magnificent Hassan II mosque, one of the most important modern architectural gems in this country, in a visit organised by the OAPAM. It overlooks the sea, like "the abode of Mohammed" described in the Koran. It is the work of European architects, under the orders of the Moroccan monarch himself. It has become one of the most notable places of pilgrimage and it is capable of admitting over 25,000 people, with a further 100,000 in its exterior patio.

We had the chance to learn more about the city, with a brief coach excursion. The Medina, the shop-filled district, was the most visited, and offered a good example of traditional Moroccan hospitality and a chance to practice the commercial art of "haggling" in the bazaars.

Later in the evening, the OAPAM invited those attending the Assembly to an official dinner in the Hotel Royal Mensour. The Royal Family was represented once again by Princess Lamia. Entertainment was provided by Berber folk groups and typical national products were served, including the not-to-be-missed delicious couscous and the dishes of lamb, sacrificed in the Islamic traditional manner.