The Dubai Expat Diaries

Dubai: Finally the bitter-sweet relationship between the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), World Governing Body for Watersports and the World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA) has been cemented by an agreement between them that was announced yesterday by WPPA President and founder, Saeed Hareb in the presence of the newly elected President of the UIM, Raffaele Chiulli amongst others.

“With this new partnership we intend to sit around the same table and search for common areas of growth and add value to each other,” UIM President Raffaele Chiulli said after signing the agreement with WPPA President Saeed Hareb.

It may be recalled that the WPPA was formed in Dubai on 2nd December 2006, with the support of the teams and at the behest of IOTA (International Offshore Team Association) founded by Saeed Hareb and members of IOTA  with the promise of taking Class One powerboat racing to a new level. Over the last year, WPPA successfully conducted its first full season of eight rounds with three brand-new venues added to its calendar.

“I was witness to the high level of professionalism and expertise during one of the rounds [in Constanta, Romania]. And that is when I made a promise that we could not afford to lose such professionals from the sport,” Chiulli said.

The agreement comes into immediate effect with and just in time for the 2008 World Class One season that kicks off with the Qatar Grand Prix on March 1 in Doha.
The agreement:

 “Today 19th of February 2008 in Dubai, in an open and constructive atmosphere the President of UIM, Raffaele Chiulli and President of WPPA Saeed Hareb are happy to announce to the world that an agreement has been signed in order to have the offshore Class 1 professionally managed by WPPA, definitively back into the UIM family after a long year of absence.

“The main terms of co-operation between the UIM and WPPA foresee that WPPA will recognize the UIM as the sole International Governing Body for Powerboating and that the UIM will recognize the professionalism of the WPPA and will give them exclusivity to organize and manage Class 1 offshore.

“The President of the UIM assures the President of the WPPA that all conflicting situations and mistakes which have determined the choice of WPPA to independently organize Class 1 racing for one year have been now overcome by this agreement. We are now jointly projected, the UIM and WPPA, into future challenges and great opportunities. I am happy to say that the cooperation will immediately start with the first race of the 2008 season in Doha – Qatar, next week.

“The President of WPPA, from several years an international reference point for offshore Class 1, expressed great satisfaction at the agreement and for the future of our sport. He believes that with the new strategy and mentality of the new UIM President we can achieve professional and ambitious objectives.

“Both of us are convinced that what has been achieved today goes into the direction of the overall interest of the sport and cut any attempt to damage our solid and long lasting cooperation.

“IOTA (International Offshore Team Association) welcomes this agreement and is looking forward to have a period of growth and stability for all associated members”, – the statement read.

Chiulli was elected to the highest position in the world governing body of watersports in November last year, after which he set out on the path of reconciliation.

“There will be no change in our approach or the rules during the new season,” Saeed Hareb said. “We have come together because we have seen the openness and the keenness of the new UIM president in working for the greater good of the sport”, he added.

“These are professionals that I have known for well over 20 years. How could we allow such valuable people to be lost to the sport?” Chiulli questioned.

Chiulli emphasised that with the joint efforts of the UIM and WPPA they were ready to forge ahead by organising new series of races including the Class III six-litre championships besides procuring new venues and increasing the number of participating teams.

“We are hopeful we will be able to broaden this agreement and find the motivation of being more accessible to the competitors,” Chiulli concluded.
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.

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