3-Cushion
ATHENS - The organization of the World Cup in Athens, which was on the international calendar from 26 May to 1 June, is cancelled. The tournament has been withdrawn as a protest against the unexpected and rapid allocation of a World Cup to Luxor (Egypt). The Greek organizers abide that the UMB (world federation) has clearly overthrown the rules.
The organization of the Greek World Cup, where Torbjörn Blomdahl played a new world record last year, also cancelled three Euro Grand Prix tournaments because of the competition battle with the World Cup in Egypt.
The World Cup in Luxor, for the first time in the cycle, has been added to the calendar two months before the tournament, in January 2014. The World Cup organization in Athens arguments: ,,Because of the competition battle with the new World Cup, we could be in trouble with the inscriptions of players. And not only we, also other federations, including France with a national Grand Prix.''
Jean Claude Dupont, the UMB president, says in a reaction: ,,I will not make any further statements about the real reasons for the withdrawal of the World Cup, because we should not discuss it here. But let me say this: if we put all the calendars side by side, we must come to the conclusion that objectively there is no collision and no overlap at all with any other competition.''
The Greeks nevertheless wished to make a serious protest and have removed the World Cup from the calendar. The World Cup of Luxor is scheduled from 23 to 29 March. The World championship for women, from 2 to 5 October, has not been cancelled and will take place in Athens.
Elen Athanasiou, from the IBT Hellas organization, explains: ,,The UMB regulations require that a World Cup tournament must b¬¬¬e applied far before the calendar is finished. The UMB has violated its own regulations by accepting the Luxor World Cup only three months in advance. The tournament will be held only five days before one of our Euro tournaments. Therefore our tournament for sure will be weakened automatically. We had planned to invite top players for our Euro Grand Prix.''
The discussions with UMB/CEB have ultimately led to the cancellation of the World Cup in Athens, but three IBT Hellas Euro tournaments are withdrawn. ,,The European president Rittmann said he fully understood our feelings'', assures Elen Anthanasiou.
The European tournaments were scheduled for the week of March 1, April 4 and May 12. Two tournaments in the discipline three cushion, the other tournament in balkline 47/2.
,,The protest is only meant for this tournaments,'' says the Greek IBT organizer. ,,This decision should not have any impact on our relationship with the UMB and CEB for the future.''
For the 2014 World Cup cycle three cushion there are six tournaments left now: Istanbul, Turkey (10-16 Feb), Luxor, Egypt (23-29 March) Guri, Korea (7-12 October) Antwerp, Belgium (October 27-November 2), Medellin, Colombia (10-15 November) and Hurghada, Egypt (December 7 to 13).