General meetings WDSF and WDSF-PD

In Granada, Spain, the WDSF Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place on the cloudy and comfortable cool Sunday. The delegatee of Tanzsport Deutschland were president Heidi Estler and vice president Dr. Tim Rausche. National sports director Michael Eichert took part as second vice president of the WDSF.

Besides some unproblematic alterations and supplements in the Rules as well as in anti-doping and ethics regulations, there were two controversial motions of the presidium. On the one hand, against the vote of the DTV and some other national federations as well as numerous abstentions, it was decided to introduce a platform for "other dances", which basically means that the WDSF is getting involved with the competition part of dance sports types that traditionally are the "field" of the International Dance Organization (IDO). This could provoke tensions in national federations, where the collaboration with national IDO federations is close and good. DTV president Heidi Estler emphasized the close collaboration between the DTV and the national IDO member, the TAF, in Germany. The WDSF presidium assured not to interfere in national agreements.

On the other hand, the alterations of the "Competition Rules" were discussed as the WDSF presidium wanted to implement an automatic block of twelve months for couples that take part in championships and cups of other federations. Up to now the "block or not?", the "how?" and the "how long?" regarding sanctions had to be measured by the national federation. To make things worse also the participation in competitions of other organizations that are only named "cup" but do not have the character of a championship should be forbidden. Because of the previously hold discussions the motion was altered and it was passed that the WDSF is recommending a block of twelve months but the decision stays with the national federations. Insofar nothing has changed for the DTV.

In addition to elections referring the ethics committee and the president of the "Athletic Commission", the "Disciplinary Council" was elected. Successor of Christoph Rubien, who did not candidate again after nine years of holding this function, the committee nominated Jens Grundei (Lower Saxony) upon the proposal of the DTV.

On Saturday morning the WDSF Professional Division (PD) was hold in which mainly financial agreements and little alterations of the Rules were discussed and passed. Martin Pastor is representing the DTV in the "Managing Committee" of the PD, delegatee were Heidi Estler and Martin Eichert. Essentially it was decided that couples have to be reported to the host no later than four weeks before the event by their national federation and that exceptions have to be dealed with the WDSF PD sports director. Additionally now it is not allowed to host a competition of the same category or 10-dance on the same continent and the same weekend anymore except from national championships, Super Grand Prix or cup. The judges for championships will be chosen by electronic drawing lots from now on. The system therefor was developed and presented by Stephan Rath from Germany.

More information about the WDSF committee session will follow in the monthly journal "Tanzspiegel".

Dr. Tim Rausche