All posts tagged: Federation

Fencing-Athletes and coaches lobby IOC as concerns rise over fencing federation

Fencing-Athletes and coaches lobby IOC as concerns rise over fencing federation

Published by Sam Flores

LONDON, May 5 : Almost 3,000 athletes and coaches were sending an open letter to IOC President Kirsty Coventry and the International Fencing Federation leadership on Tuesday calling for an independent review of what they call “governance failures and corruption” in the world body, says a copy of the letter seen by Reuters. The letter argues that fencing has been destabilised by turmoil at the top of the FIE with disputes over leadership, transparency and decision making. This includes the fallout around former president Alisher Usmanov’s return and complaints about opaque rule changes, event disruptions and weaker safeguards surrounding neutral athletes. “As athletes, we care deeply about the future of our sport,” says the letter. “The governance failures and corruption within International Fencing Federation are threatening the credibility and stability of the sport and must be formally addressed.” FIE interim president Abdelmoneim El Husseiny did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. The FIE has faced scrutiny since Russian-Uzbek billionaire Usmanov, who led the federation from 2008 until 2022, was re-elected president …

EuroHPC Federation Platform launched to simplify European supercomputing access

EuroHPC Federation Platform launched to simplify European supercomputing access

Published by skeptic

Designed as a unified gateway, the platform changes how researchers, businesses, and public sector organisations interact with EuroHPC systems, removing long-standing barriers to entry and collaboration. At its core, the EuroHPC Federation Platform introduces a single access point for multiple operational EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (JU) systems. Users can now log in through a harmonised authentication and authorisation infrastructure, replacing the need to navigate separate credentials and processes across different supercomputing centres. Anders Jensen, Executive Director of the EuroHPC JU, commented: “The first release of the platform marks the beginning of the journey toward a more connected and integrated European supercomputing ecosystem, empowering Europe’s scientific, industrial, and academic communities and strengthening Europe’s capacity for innovation.” Tackling fragmentation across Europe’s HPC landscape Europe’s supercomputing infrastructure is made up of world-class systems distributed across various centres, each with its own tools and procedures. These differences extend to critical functions such as authentication, resource allocation, job scheduling, and software provisioning. While this diversity reflects regional expertise, it has historically complicated access and limited seamless collaboration across borders. The EuroHPC …

Matt Crocker Quits as US Soccer Federation Sporting Director, Just 2 Months Before World Cup

Matt Crocker Quits as US Soccer Federation Sporting Director, Just 2 Months Before World Cup

Published by Sam Flores

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Crocker quit as sporting director of the U.S. Soccer Federation on Tuesday, just two months ahead of the World Cup, to take a new job in Saudi Arabia. The USSF said Crocker was leaving to pursue an unidentified international soccer opportunity, and a person familiar with the decision, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Crocker’s new job was not announced, said he will work in Saudi Arabia. His hiring by Saudis was first reported by Fox. Crocker’s departure was a surprise, given the U.S. is co-host of the World Cup starting June 11 and the contract of men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino ends after the tournament. The USSF next month will open its 200-acre, 17-field training center and office complex in Fayetteville, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb. Dan Helfrich, hired as the U.S. federation’s chief operating officer in November, “will provide executive oversight and support across the federation’s sporting operations,” the USSF said in a statement. Helfrich will work with assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu — a former …

Italy federation chief resigns after another World Cup failure

Italy federation chief resigns after another World Cup failure

Published by Sam Flores

ROME, April 2 : Italian soccer federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina resigned on Thursday, in the wake of the national team’s failure to qualify for a third straight World Cup. Gravina, in charge of the FIGC since 2018, had been urged by the government to step down after Italy’s defeat on penalties in the playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. The federation will hold an extraordinary assembly on June 22 to elect a new chief, while Gravina offered to appear before a parliamentary committee on April 8 “to report on the state of health of Italian soccer”, a statement said. That hearing has now been cancelled, as the committee awaits the election outcome. The Italian soccer team last qualified for the World Cup in 2014 and has won only one match at the finals since lifting the trophy for the fourth time in 2006. Former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, national team delegation head, has also announced his resignation via social media. Gravina was elected unopposed in October 2018, the 72-year-old replacing Carlo Tavecchio who resigned …

Hundreds to rally at Japanese Embassy in Washington in support of Family Federation Japan

Hundreds to rally at Japanese Embassy in Washington in support of Family Federation Japan

Published by Sam Flores

WASHINGTON — Members of the Family Federation and supporters will gather outside the Japanese Embassy in Washington, DC on Thursday, March 19 at 12:00 PM to call attention to what organizers describe as a serious and historic moment for religious freedom in Japan. Participants say the Japanese government has dissolved the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, resulting in the closure of 400 churches and offices across the country. Congregations that had existed for decades were forced to shut their doors, and thousands of members were asked to leave sanctuaries where they had prayed, gathered, and raised their families in faith. “For our brothers and sisters in Japan, this moment has brought deep sorrow and uncertainty,” organizers said. “Communities that have served quietly and sacrificially for decades are now facing the sudden loss of their churches and places of worship.” The demonstration in Washington will serve as a peaceful appeal for the protection of religious liberty and the dignity of people of the members of the Family Federation. Organizers say members of the global …

Portuguese Soccer Federation Monitoring Situation in Mexico Ahead of Friendly in March

Portuguese Soccer Federation Monitoring Situation in Mexico Ahead of Friendly in March

Published by Sam Flores

LISBON (AP) — The Portuguese soccer federation said Tuesday it was monitoring the situation in Mexico amid a surge in violence ahead of its friendly against the Mexican national team in March. The World Cup warmup match is scheduled for March 28 at the renovated Azteca Stadium, which is scheduled to host the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa on June 11. Mexico is set to play Iceland in a friendly Wednesday in Queretaro, with the Icelandic soccer federation saying Tuesday that it expects the game to go ahead as planned. The Portuguese federation said it was honored by the invitation to participate in the reopening of the renovated venue, but noted that “the recent evolution of events requires continuous evaluation of the conditions” that the national team and its delegation will find. It said it will follow the recommendations of the Portuguese government and will be in close contact with the Mexican soccer federation. “Any decision will be made as a result of ongoing monitoring, in close coordination with …