Parkour Earth issues an Open Letter to member National Gymnastics Federations of the FIG
Today (1st Dec 2018) Parkour Earth has issued an open letter to the Presidents/Chairs & Secretary Generals/CEOs of member National Gymnastics Federations of the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique Re: The illegitimate and unilateral encroachment, misappropriation and attempt to usurp ParkourFollowing our meeting with the FIG in Nov 2017, the FIG would have to draft amendments to its current statutes which should then be proposed for adoption by council and congress, requiring a two-thirds majority for ratification – which it has now belated done, following our meeting the FIG.Our position, as well as that of our member National Parkour Federations (as demonstrated through various letters from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Poland etc.) and by legitimate extension the wider international Parkour/Freerunning/Art du Déplacement community (as demonstrated through various letters from Denmark, Switzerland, United States of America etc.), in relation to those fundamental, legitimate and substantiated concerns, has not changed.The proposed statutes (2018 edition) which are being proposed for adoption at the FIG congress, requires a two-thirds majority for ratification. It is deeply concerning, as well as a fundamental and wilful dereliction of constitutionality and democratic process that, the proposed action to consider and formally vote on the encroachment, misappropriation of, and the attempt to usurp Parkour as a ‘discipline of Gymnastics’ under the auspices for the FIG, will not be put to recognised National Parkour Federations, such as our member federations and/or the wider International Parkour community, but, instead this vote will put to you, as FIG’s National Gymnastics Federations! This derogation from democracy, let alone common courtesy and despite the very significant, legitimate and substantiated concerns of Parkour Earth and by legitimate extension the wider international Parkour/Freerunning/Art Du Déplacement community, as set out in various previous correspondence to the FIG, as set out below;
- 24th August 2017 – Parkour Earth open Letter issued to Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG)
- 14th October 2017 - Parkour Earth responds to Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG)
- 14th December 2017 - Parkour Earth issues an Open Letter in response to the meeting with the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) on 7th November 2017
Therefore, Parkour Earth respectfully, reasonably and legitimately requests for and on behalf of our member National Parkour Federations and the wider international Parkour/Freerunning/Art Du Déplacement community that your National Gymnastics Federation votes NO or ABSTAINS on the resolution to ratify the proposed statutes (2018 edition) at the FIG Congress in Baku on the 2-3 Dec 2018.Not to do so would be a direct conflict of interest and would raise significant additional ethical, governance and integrity questions - in addition to (with prejudice) possible questions in relation to European competition law.However, if a two-thirds majority of FIG’s member National Gymnastics Federations vote to ratify the replacement of the FIG’s current statues (2017 edition), with the proposed statues (2018 edition) then Parkour Earth will have no choice but to launch a European competition complaint with the European Commission.We continue to welcome open and mutually respectful dialogue with the FIG and by extension it’s member National Gymnastics Federations and we will continue to demonstrate our goodwill and intention to bring this matter to an amicable and reasonable resolution, but must record our continued objection to the illegitimate and unilateral encroachment, misappropriation and attempt to usurp Parkour and upon the sovereignty of the sport that Parkour Earth legitimately represents.#WeAreNOTGymnastics