On September 23, the IDF office received a letter from the FMJD leadership about the termination of the long-term cooperation agreement. This decision of the FMJD was not a surprise for the IDF. The FMJD leadership has been interfering with our work for many years, trying to destroy the competitor in the face of the IDF and create small weak sections within the FMJD for different types of draughts-64 in order to represent draughts-100 in all international organizations as the main and practically the only international discipline in draughts. After the FMJD General Assembly in 2021 and the arrival of new leadership, there was a chance for joint cooperation between the FMJD and the IDF in one structure for the development of all types of draughts in the world. The IDF proposed to conclude an agreement with the FMJD on long-term cooperation and division of powers, which was signed in February 2022 after lengthy discussions, agreements and consultations with lawyers. Unfortunately, the political situation made its own adjustments. In this situation, FMJD has once again shown itself to be an unreliable partner, showing that it is impossible to negotiate with FMJD about anything and sign any contracts and agreements. They will not be implemented unilaterally anyway. IDF will continue its work, without looking back at any negative actions of FMJD against IDF and draughts-64 in the world. In our opinion, any negative actions only discredit FMJD in front of the world draughts community and harm the entire draughts sport.
Dear colleagues!
The Board of the International Draughts Federation (IDF), having reviewed your letter dated 23.09.2024 addressed to us, as well as the letter dated 23.09.2024 addressed to the national federations, informs:
1. This decision did not come as a surprise to the IDF. The FMJD Executive Council had previously unilaterally, without notifying the IDF, suspended the Long-Term Cooperation Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1exfvSjvDztbU8afIUDHmGEkVTKHkLocp/view
between our organizations (news dated 30.12.2022 on the official FMJD website), violating clause 8.2. Agreement (in case of force majeure, the Party that cannot fulfill its obligations under the Agreement must immediately notify the other Party of the occurrence of circumstances that prevent the fulfillment of the terms of the Agreement).
2. The FMJD held two world championships in Portuguese draughts, grossly violating paragraph 2.1. of the Agreement (separation of powers – IDF develops Russian, Brazilian, pool checkers, Portuguese, and other varieties of draughts-64; FMJD – draughts-100, checkers, Italian, Czech, Turkish draughts, and others).
3. The FMJD Executive Council, in violation of paragraph 2.1. Agreement, in 2023, discussed at its meetings the possibility of holding a world championship in pool checkers and the prospects for the development of draughts-64 within the FMJD (minutes of 06.11.2023), called on national federations to delegate people to the sections “64 Russian”, “64 Brazilian” and “64 Portuguese” (minutes of 04.12.2023), created the section “64 Portuguese draughts”, i.e. actively entered our area of responsibility.
4. We regard the above actions of the FMJD not only as non-compliance with the terms of the Agreement, but as extremely unfriendly steps towards the IDF and the entire draughts sport in general. In the same way, we regard the threat of disqualification of players competing in IDF competitions, voiced in a letter to national federations. In our opinion, this is unfair competition, hiding behind the political situation and external factors.
5. The IDF is not a signatory of the IOC and independently makes decisions that contribute to the sustainable development of draughts-64 in the world. The FMJD, striving for IOC recognition, grossly violates the latest IOC recommendations of 28.03.2023, in which the IOC recommends admitting players from Russia and Belarus to international competitions https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Documents/News/2023/03/Participation-for-Individual-Neutral-Athletes-Personnel-with-a-Russian-or-Belarusian-Passport.pdf
6. Not the whole world is in the mood for confrontation. The Declaration of the Non-Aligned Movement, which unites 120 of the 193 UN member states, adopted unanimously and sent to the IOC, emphasizes that “the participation of athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees in the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024 will be a powerful symbol of the unity of humanity.” https://olympics.com/ioc/news/non-aligned-movement-supports-the-ioc-and-the-unifying-mission-of-the-olympic-games
7. From this perspective, the FMJD decisions look clearly politicized and contrary to the principles of sport and Olympism
– the exclusion of the national federations of Russia and Belarus
– the non-admission of the leaders of the draughts sport – Russian and Belarusian players to official FMJD competitions even in neutral status
– the decision of the FMJD Executive Council dated September 16, 2024 on the disqualification of players and referees who will participate:
– in draughts events and tournaments in the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus
– in the IDF draughts events and tournaments
– in draughts events and tournaments together with players from national draughts federations of the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus, irrespective of the status of the player and using or not national symbolic of the Russian Federation or Republic of Belarus.
What can this lead to? It is not difficult to guess.
8. The IDF Board reminds that the IDF, according to the IDF Charter, can develop ANY kind of draughts in the world. We have all the opportunities for this – resources, professional staff, leading players of the world, equipment, experience in holding competitions of any level in any kind of draughts.
Moreover, our activities are based on generally accepted humanitarian and sports principles, without discrimination of national federations, territories and athletes. We are for fair sport, clear rules and equal conditions for everyone!
