The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has been accused of breaching ethics rules after attempts were made to silence a Swedish official when raising concerns over the awarding of the 2024 Cadet and Junior World Championships to Saudi Arabia. A complaint has been filed by the Swedish Fencing Federation (SFF) to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) integrity hotline, alleging that the FIE infringed the IOC Code of Ethics’ “Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance within the Olympic Movement” during its Ordinary Congress held in Swiss city Lausanne in November. insidethegames has obtained a video from the heated meeting showing SFF President Otto Drakenberg being faced with several attempts by delegates to stop him from expressing his views against Saudi Arabia’s unchallenged bid to host 2024 Cadet and Junior World Championships. Loud noises can be heard in the room in an attempt to drown out Drakenberg when he questioned how welcome LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) fencers will be in Saudi Arabia, whether there will be any restrictions on female participants and how secure the tournament will be in a country that is at war.

Egypt’s FIE vice-president Abdelmoneim Elhamy El Husseiny also tried to interrupt Drakenberg, telling him to “stop it immediately” which was greeted by applause in the room but the Swedish official refused to give up on voicing his views. “You should know who you are talking to Mr Elhamy because I will never refrain from speaking my word in a democratic world,” said Drakenberg. “We in the Swedish Federation urge the Congress not to take a decision before the questions I have just raised are answered. “Therefore, the Swedish Federation suggests that the decision of this proposal be transferred by the Congress to the COMEX [Executive Committee] who should be responsible for taking an informed decision or finding a replacement for the organisation of this championships. “Upon taking this decision, the COMEX must communicate to all member federations its assessment of the risks that participate LGBTQ or female fencer will be subject to emotional suffering due to the legislation of the country where this championships are held and the risk and threats to the brand of fencing that the choice of organising federation will cause.” Per Palmström, the former vice-president of both the SFF and Swedish Olympic Committee, has now filed a complaint to the IOC’s integrity hotline.

“The way President Drakenberg was treated by the FIE at the Congress in Lausanne on 26 November 2022 is a clear infringement of the Basic Universal Principle of Good Governance according to which all members shall have the right to express their opinion on the topics on the agenda,” read the complaint. Palmström also claimed that the FIE breached the IOC Code of Ethics for awarding the event without “assessing sustainable development criteria”, including human rights and gender equality. He argued that female and LGBTQ fencers will not travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in the World Championships “without running the risk of being discriminated and facing repression, legal challenges and even the death penalty.”

Spain legend Pau Gasol named Global Ambassador for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

International basketball icon Pau Gasol has been named a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador. With FIBA’s flagship men’s event getting underway in 200 days in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, Gasol will be on hand at a championship he knows very well. Gasol made a huge splash at his first World Cup in 2002 in Indianapolis, leading Spain to fifth place. He ended up as the tournament’s sixth leading scorer, averaging more than 19 points per game. Gasol’s biggest moment with Spain came when he spearheaded his country’s run to glory at the 2006 World Cup in Japan. He was so prolific, averaging 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting a blistering 63.1 percent from the field, that he was named MVP of the event despite having to miss the Final because of injury. In his last World Cup appearance on home soil in 2014, Gasol led Spain to six straight wins before the hosts were upset by France in the Quarter-Finals. He had been so good in the tournament that Gasol again made the All-Star Five. In all, Gasol played at three World Cups, five Olympics and seven FIBA EuroBaskets. He helped Spain win silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and then bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. In the history of the EuroBasket, Gasol is one of the most decorated players.

At the EuroBaskets in 2009 and 2015, he was the MVP as Spain captured titles. In 2011, he was in the All-Star Five as his national team also reached the top of the podium. Gasol was in the All-Star Five when Spain finished runners-up at EuroBaskets 2003 and 2007 and when Spain were third in 2001 and 2017. Even as a member of Spain’s youth teams, Gasol competed and had success. He helped his country beat the USA in the Final of the 1999 World Championship for Junior Men. Looking ahead to the World Cup, Gasol, who has joined Argentina superstar Luis Scola as a World Cup Global Ambassador, knows a lot has to go right for the eventual winners. “The World Cup is the toughest trophy in basketball to win,” Gasol said. “A winning team needs character and chemistry and teammates who will pick you up when you’re down.” “This is a great honor for me to be a part of such a great team of basketball legends and to join Luis Scola, a true legend and one of my toughest rivals, in this role as Global Ambassador for the 2023 World Cup.” Gasol was a wonderful representative for the game during his playing days and has been since his retirement after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Only several months ago, he served as FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Ambassador and was courtside in Sydney, supporting and promoting women’s basketball. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. Gasol is an advisor, investor and activist in projects related to sports and well-being