The Snowboarding 180 Olympic Charter signed to reach out to the IOC
The “Snowboarding 180 Olympic Charter” was announced in Oslo, Norway, where all the best slopestyle riders have gathered to compete in the 6Star Arctic Challenge that is scheduled to start this week.
The main objective of this charter is to influence the International Olympic Committee, which is scheduled to meet in April to decide on the fate of slopestyle and its’ inclusion into the Olympic Games programme. Snowboarders from around the world are in
favour of including the slopestyle discipline into the Olympic Games program, but only if it the sport is run by snowboarders. They signed the Charter to confirm their support.
In the 180 Charter, the best snowboarders agree to the fact that Olympics can serve as the biggest platform for snowboarding, but not unless certain conditions are met. A demand for an open and democratic decision making system is made in order to get more
acknowledgement. A new order for qualifying to the Olympics is demanded as well.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) is conducting the Olympic qualifications for now. It does not carry out a world slopestyle tour currently, but has announced plans of inaugurating it in the future if the Olympic program adopts the discipline.
The 180 Charter has raised an objection to this decision of FIS, raising concern over the clash between the event dates for the riders since there are existing slopestyle tours with established and progressive events. The conflicting dates are a serious
threat to the progression of the sport according to the 180 Charter, and hence a request has been made to the IOC to make a u-turn. They wish for a common Olympic ranking for all world-class events rather than just the FIS-events.
There is no doubt about the strong presence of snowboarding in the Olympic scene. A viewership of over 30 million Americans for the Vancouver halfpipe finals is substantial enough to make the popularity of the sport evident. It has matured over the years
and managed to make a more solid place in the Olympic Winter Games, earning better recognition and demanding more serious attitude from the OIC.
It is extremely crucial to remove the discontent of the snowboarders that has been developed because of the current crises as the consequences of ignoring the demands of these athletes may prove to be costly for the IOC.
The Snowboarding 180 Olympic Charter is outlined below:
Snowboarding should be run by snowboarders. We recognize the Olympics as a potential pinnacle event of snowboarding, but only if our voices are heard.
All snowboard events and organizations throughout the world must listen to the driving force of our sport: the athletes.
Snowboarders want a transparent and democratic process in all decision-making systems that have an effect on our daily lives and occupation.
Snowboarding will never reach its full potential with conflicting dates of major snowboarding events.
We do not want a new world tour for slopestyle qualifications. We want an Olympic ranking to reduce the date conflicts of major events. We believe the International Olympic Committee has a responsibility to listen to our voices and make way for the unleashing of snowboarding’s true potential.
We want all powers to start a dialogue to find a solution for the better good of the sport.
Preserving the status quo in snowboarding is not an option.
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