International Surfing Federation suspends membership in SportAccord

La Jolla, California, May 28, 2015

Mr. Mariuz Vizer

Sportaccord President

Avenue de Rhodanie, 54

1007 Lausanne

Switzerland

Dear President Vizer

Dear Marius,

At the ISA, we have been following with concern and sadness, the continued public discord between you and

the leadership of the International Olympic Committee, following your speech in Sochi and your recent

communications on related matters.

It was my hope, and I believe, that of many of my colleagues amongst the Recognized Federations, that

subsequent to your speech in Sochi, there would be a consensus-oriented approach to resolving this crisis

with the IOC leadership, but this does not seem to be the case.

As the President of the ISA and Vice President of the Association of Recognized International Federations, I

believe strongly in constructive dialogue and collaboration through mutual respect, understanding and

tolerance, above all in the interests of the sports and athletes we love.

The ISA also believes the relationship with the IOC is extremely important to all Recognized IFs, and we have

always been working towards strengthening and reinforcing our respective roles, as we believe there is

always room for improvement in life.

In this regard, and as I had the opportunity to express publicly to President Bach during the ARISF AGM in

Sochi, the ISA strongly supports the clear and decisive actions he has taken to reform and innovate the

Olympic Movement through Agenda 2020. The IOC President has been surfing the waves of change with

strong leadership, ability and confidence and has been producing amazing results. We believe the Agenda

2020 process has served the interests of all IFs and will continue to produce benefits for us in the future.

I should also state that my Federation, and I personally, believe in the fundamental value and purpose of the

Sportaccord organization, most importantly as the common home for all IFs. We have appreciated the work

Sportaccord has done until now to give our IFs a voice and a forum for a worthwhile exchange of ideas as well

as the many services which have been beneficial to us over the years.

Regrettably some of your actions, not even in consultation with the Sportaccord Council, have led to very

serious divisions between Sportaccord, its members and the IOC. We believe this goes contrary to the

purpose of Sportaccord. As a result, the ISA has felt obliged, also in line with many other Sportaccord

members, to provisionally suspend our relations with Sportaccord.

We take this action with a deep sense of responsibility, but also with the belief that the Sportaccord

organization should and can have a worthy role to play in the international sport world in the future.

Needless to say, as ARISF Vice President, I would welcome the opportunity to contribute towards finding

respectful and positive solutions in this matter.

Kind Regards,

Fernando Aguerre

President

International Surfing Association

CC: Mr. Thomas Bach, IOC President

Mr. Raffaele Chiulli, President ARISF

Mr. Francesco Ricci Bitti, President ASOIF

Mr. Gian-Franco Kasper, President AIWOF

Mr. Stephan Fox, President AIMS

Mr. Jose Perurena, President IWGA