Tras diferetes encuentros y desencuentros entre diferentes Clubs de toda Europa y la LEN , parece que todo está camino de solucionarse de cara a la próxima Temporada 2012-2013 en relación al posible cambio de formato e incremento de 2 a 3 Clubs que puedan participar en representación de sus paises en competiciones europeas.
Esta es la nota de prensa de LEN , en relación a este tema :
Tras European Water Polo Club Cup Competitions
Water Polo meeting in Debrecen
http://www.len.eu/cms?press+pr+2012=242
Luxembourg (LEN Office) During the 31st European Swimming Championships held recently in Debrecen (HUN), the Bureau of LEN took the opportunity to meet and discuss current issues, some of primary importance. Among these, an essential one was the LEN Water Polo meeting called for in relation to the European Water Polo Club Cup Competitions and the movement brought forward by certain individuals that wish to establish an independent multi-national Water Polo league for Clubs.
This special gathering had representatives present from a total of 23 Federations: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine.
LEN, represented by its President, Nory Kruchten, Bureau Member and Water Polo Liaison, Robert Ebejer, Technical Water Polo Committee Chairman, Haluk Toygarli, Director, Laszlo Szakadati, and Water Polo Manager, Marco Birri, expressed thanks for the support and collaboration and took note of the needs and wishes tabled by the Federations present. Accordingly it was announced that LEN will work on a revised system for the European Water Polo Club Cup Competitions for season 2012/2013 which with regard to the Men’s Champions League will allow more playing days for the top Clubs (up to 18 games, not including the Qualification phase), more equal and balanced opportunities for the lower level teams, and the participation of three (3) Clubs from the leading water polo nations. With the goal of being more cost effective it was also mentioned that the first Qualification Rounds will be played, as much as possible, taking into consideration geographical aspects, that part of the logistical arrangements during the season will be handled by the participating Clubs, and also that the television production demands will be overseen in a manner that will partly reduce the financial burden for the Clubs. Offering the Clubs the possibility of openly negotiating their own television broadcast rights to their benefit is also a part of the system’s revision.
During the meeting Dimitris Diathesopoulos, President of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, Paolo Barelli, President of the Italian Swimming Federation, Erik van Heijningen, President of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation, György Martin, President of the Hungarian Water Polo Federation, Dejan Adzic, President of the Montenegrin Swimming Federation, Michael Zellmer, Team Manager of the German Men’s National Water Polo Teams, Connor Sheridan, representative of the Irish Water Polo Federation, Tomislav Karlo, General Secretary of the Croatian Swimming Federation, Evgeny Sharonov, representative of the Russian Water Polo Federation, and Nenad Manojlovic, technical supervisor of the Serbian Water Polo Federation all took the floor in succession.
Many of the participants expressed their opinion and position towards the new system proposed by LEN and also regarding the overall situation, the background of the ongoing initiative, and the unlawful actions and the legitimacy of the persons behind the project of an independent multi-national Water Polo league for Clubs. As a result of the debate, it has been unanimously expressed that there is no way that an independent multi-national Water Polo league for Clubs can be established outside the jurisdiction of the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) and all present committed themselves to the European Water Polo Club Cup Competitions of LEN.
Concluding, LEN stated that in any case if individuals or groups of persons will continue to act against the interests of LEN and not according to the Constitutional Rules, trying to establish international Water Polo Club Competitions without the approval of LEN, sanctions will be taken accordingly. All present acknowledged and agreed to this statement of LEN.
(May 31, 2012)
