IDNIYRA Europe is an amateur sports organization that is far from any political expression and organizes its membership on the basis of good sportsmanship, good community spirit and well-meaning rivalry. We organize our sports events in this spirit and try to stay away from everyday politics as far as possible.
We do not think it is right to encounter discrimination on any of our sailors in an invitation to an event. This contradicts to all of our Governing Documents. Since our organization is not a member of either the IOC or World Sailing, the statements and recommendations issued by these organizations cannot be a guide for our organization in any way.
We hope that the Governing Body of IDNIYRA Europe will be able to quickly resolve this misunderstanding and that we will continue to meet our Russian and Belarusian friends at our events.
Niklas Müller-Hartburg former Commodore (2006-2010)
Jörg Bohn former Commodore (2010-2016)
Attila Pataky former Commodore (2016-2022)
As a member of IDNIYRA and chair of DN Sweden, I find it very inappropriate that you use our common web page to undermine the current Commodore who has been elected. Regardless if you agree or not, you should use your own channels for publishing your opinions. Please remove this article immediately.
Max Koszela
S 844
Chair of DN Sweden
I fully support the opinion of Max Koszela, Chairman of DN Sweden.
I believe that the decision on such a publication should be made by the Management Board IDNIYRA Europe and Mihkel Kosk current Commodore should be published.
Jerzy Taber
P 74
Am curios, can anyone just publish anything on this webpage? Personal opinions are maybe better shared in personal channels.
Dear Secretary, may I ask for two things: 1) Please remove personal opinions, 2) Please share the guideline for what/why/when/how to publish.
Stefan Karlsson
National secretary, Sweden
Dear esteemed Ex Commodores,
It is with mixed feelings I read your statement.
Lets start with a positive. I applaud your initiative to speak up when you see a wrong doing. That shows both courage and leadership. In essence what you are saying about encountering discrimination of any of our sailors in an invitation to an event is correct. It is indeed, as you point out, against our constitution. Thank you for pointing this out. Rest assured it was not an easy decision and not one that was not taken without careful consideration of a great number of things.
When it comes to your opinion about our organisation not using other organisations as guides I disagree. We are not governed by these organisations and not bound by there decisions, but surely that is not the same as not being able to use them as guides if that is what we want? And besides… While IDNIYRA-EU is not governed by WS, some of our national DN Associations are actually also members of their respective Sailing Associations. Just saying…. things are not always as simple as they appear….We also as an organsizaton need to abide the laws and regulations that apply in our various countries… again it is not always as simple as it would appear.
I am appalled by your choice of media and agree with the Chairman of Sweden.
I find it ironical when you say “IDNIYRA Europe is an amateur sports organization that is far from any political expression”. Yet you have not realised that by your statement you are creating exactly what you say we should not be, as well as an tsunami of political expressions on various social medias. How about that for irony ?
I for one promise to take your concerns seriously in my future endeavours and I hope we (the Board) can count on your support in the future, even though we may not always see eye to eye on all matters.
I am writing this as an individual. My thoughts are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the rest of the board.
In summary:
– Russian aggression in Ukraine. Not OK
– IDNIYRA-EU support to all our individual members. Including Russian and Belarusian. Yes
– Abiding laws and and regulations that apply in our various countries. Yes of course
– Your choice of media. Not OK
– The impact of your Statement to support political tranquility within our organization. Not that smart.
– Do I support our Commodore? BIG YES.
John Winquist
L 601