CFFS

Open Letter from Gérard Masson

10/02/10

Open Letter from the President of the FFH, Gerard Masson about the suspension of France and its athletes by the ICSD

Dear presidents of committee and associations, athletes, trainers, judges, referees and sports friends,

On 3rd February 2010, by administrative way, ICSD (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) informs FFH, that France and its athletes are suspended by any official participation in the international events organized under the ICSD responsibility. The decision was confirmed and followed by EDSO (European Deaf Sport Organisation) and her president, Isabelle Malaurie, on 09th February.

I shall begin by reminding briefly the context:

At the request of the Ministry of Health and Sports, with the support asserted by the French Olympic and sports National Committee, and after one year of integration, during the 2008 Extraordinary General Assembly, the Sports Federation of the Deaf persons of France (FSSF) dissolved. Deaf Associations and athletes decide on the same day to integrate Fédération Française Handisport

Since the complex process of integration takes its course: Creation of the Observatory of the Disability (all disability type); participation in the Deaflympics in spite of many obstacles; a real effort of our regional and departmental committees to welcome fairly with attention associations formerly affiliated to the FSSF; training of the national technical staff in the practice of the sign language …

My deaf friends how important and difficult are these constructions, but my determination is as high as the stake. A progressive, reasonable integration, with the trust of all the concerned actors.

The dispute which sets us against ICSD and EDSO is not a simple conflict; it is fundamental and grave, affecting directly the universal values of sport. Its concerns the simple fact that I am not deaf, as provided for in the statutes, in spite of the opinion of the International Olympic Committee in January, 2009. The IOC indicated that ICSD had to revise its constitution so that it "respects the national sovereignty and the non-discrimination ". What we have to think of nations which divert this questionable and discriminating rule, without any reaction on behalf of the ICSD? Why this special treatment for France?

To date, our membership application to ICSD were refused, and now our French deaf athletes cannot participate any more in the official competitions organized by the ICSD.

Today, our priority is to solve the situation very quickly to avoid that our athletes continue to be held as hostage. I send an official letter to the ICSD denouncing this decision and propose a meeting. Without a quick agreement, I shall refer immediately the Court of Arbitration for Sport allowing to lift immediately the suspension imposed in France and to wait for a decision before 6 months in favour of the Sport, of the integration and of the athletes.

Faced with this situation, I have a thought for an exemplary man in his fight, Eugène Rubens-Alcais, who was for the initiative of the creation of the international Committee of the sport for deaf persons and who so much made to defend the sports practice of deaf and hearing-impaired people. What must think the «Coubertin of the silent sports «of this unfair position, adopted by ICSD against its founding country and the values he defended?

My successors and I received a legacy in 2008, for which we have to take care. We shall defend it, in the respect for our values: the protection of athletes in front of personal and political stakes; the defence of sport for all, without discrimination.

Am I less placed than the other one to defend it, only because of the fact that I am in wheelchair? Who knows if, in the future, a deaf president will not have for mission to defend the practice of the amputee, visually impaired or paraplegic athletes?

In 2008, if the French Sports Federation of Deaf persons dissolved, the main part continues within Fédération Française Handisport, namely men and women, athletes and their staff, its story and its prestigious achievements. Certainly, this challenge of integration was not simple. On both sides we knew how to face, in spite of the obstacles, on the ground as to the national headquarters, with conviction and enthusiasm. Day after day, we offer a new framework for the deaf athletes.

My responsibility and my determination are bigger and bigger, in spite of the personal game and the disinformation of some influential partisans within our own country, which recommend a regression and isolation. What a loss of time! …

I deeply thank our very many deaf friends, who, through their exchanges, their constructive criticisms, their patience sometimes, they will of opening and modernity preferred to roll up their sleeves by our side. Thank you for their support in these trouble times, thank you for resisting to the masked, sneaky and destructive attacks.

I am proud to defend the national and international interests of the deaf athletes, with the support of the Ministry of Sports, CNOSF, IOC, top elite athletes whom I accompanied to the last Deaflympics, the associations, the coaches which showed me their encouragements to persevere.

It is time for us to react and for the ICSD to change its vision, for its development, France will support it if ICSD starts this inevitable transition.

Let us continue to share this project which we build together all the time and which I shall not let destroy.

Thank you for your trust.

Gérard Masson
President of Fédération Française Handisport
President of the French Paralympic and sports Committee
Member of Executive Committee of the CNOS
Member of the IOC Sport for All Commission the Committee