Dubai for Life

Representatives of the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) and WPPA (World Professional Powerboating Association) met behind closed doors at DIMC following an earlier agreement between the parties to try to find a solution for the WPPA and Class 1 to remain under the auspices of the UIM. Representing the UIM were Raffaele Chiulli, Pleasure Navigation Committee Chairman from Italy, Sami Abu Shaikha, Council Member from Qatar and Per Benson, Cominoff Chairman from Sweden while Saeed Hareb, WPPA President; Marco Sala, Rory Power and Sid Bensalah, Council members along with WPPA Advisor Camille Chamoun represented the WPPA at the meeting this week.

The members met and agreed that they would form a Joint Working Group with three representatives from each side to foster a synergy and working relationship. The terms of the cooperation were that the WPPA will recognise the UIM as the sole international governing body for Powerboating and will run the activities under the UIM umbrella. The proposal has been put forward to the UIM council members for acceptance no later than 9th March, 2007 said Saeed Hareb. Among the other terms laid down the UIM recognises the capacity and exclusivity of the WPPA in regulating and managing Class 1 and World Powerboat Championship events with IOTA owning the commercial and TV rights of Class One. During all racing events the WPPA will uphold the image of the UIM and should the 2007 season be a successful venture the parties will broaden their cooperation to extend beyond the season.

Taking the meeting to another level, the parties will agree to work constructively and consult with each other in transparency and good faith, inorder to further promote the sport they also agree to exchange and share knowledge and expertise. “This opportunity to negotiate, which IOTA had strongly sought in Kuala Lumpur, has finally been achieved, demonstrating that there are some genuine changes within the UIM. It is a source of great regret that we lost several months, leading to some confusion amongst the National Authorities who would like to sanction Class 1 activities. We are certain that those who have been charged by the UIM to negotiate will be able to understand and accept the original WPPA Project”, said Saeed Hareb.

WPPA – IOTA finalising new rules for C-1 season

Following the recent meeting between WPPA’s Chairman, Saeed Hareb, General Secretary Sid Bensalah, IOTA General Secretary, Marco Sala, and the members of the UIM Council in Paris with both organisations looking to see if there was common ground to try to resolve the current issues between the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and the sport’s governing body, the WPPA rules committee is in Dubai for clarification of the rules ahead of the UIM Council’s visit to rectify the issues between the organisation for the second time in less than a month.

The new rules are to further boost the excitement in the races that are scheduled to kick off in June in Athens Greece. “We are hopeful that the rules will appeal to all the teams and will be a source of attraction for more professional powerboat racing participation”, said Saeed Hareb.
 
It may be recalled that at the invitation of UIM to the WPPA the latter travelled to Paris to attend the meetings, chaired by Charles Strang, UIM Senior Vice President and acting Chairman which was prompted by moves from several National Authorities in favour of retaining links with the premier class in world powerboat racing. This move was seen as a positive step by Hareb and Sala. “We have maintained from the outset that Class 1 wanted to remain under the umbrella of the UIM,” commented Marco Sala. “Listening to certain comments in the meeting it was clear that there had been some miscommunication within the UIM regarding the situation so we made our position very clear. I believe that our comments were well received by the majority of UIM Council members and that we have established that there is common ground and room for further discussion. If the UIM want Class 1 we are here,” added Marco Sala.

The WPPA and the UIM had agreed to a further round of discussions to try to find a solution for the WPPA and Class 1 to remain under the auspices of the UIM with Raffaele Chiulli, Pleasure Navigation Committee Chairman from Italy, Sami Abu Shaikha, Council Member from Qatar and Per Benson, Cominoff Chairman from Sweden representing the UIM with the WPPA and IOTA represented by Saeed Hareb, Marco Sala and Sid Bensalah meeting this week. The outcome of the meeting is to be confirmed by 1 March. “This opportunity to negotiate, which IOTA had strongly sought in Kuala Lumpur, has finally been achieved, demonstrating that there are some genuine changes within the UIM. It is a source of great regret that we have lost several months, leading to some confusion amongst the National Authorities who would like to sanction Class 1 activities. We are certain that those who have been charged by the UIM to negotiate will be able to understand and accept the original WPPA Project”, said Saeed Hareb.