No Matter What!
The members of the WDSF Presidium were devastated when they received the letter by Russian DanceSport Union (RDSU) President Irina Petrova announcing the unilateral cancellation of the upcoming GrandSlam leg in Moscow.
That the situation regarding RDSU and its leadership was of grave concern to WDSF had led to the 2016 General Meeting in Rome taking the decision to expel the National Member Body for Russia and to suspend such decision until 31 October 2016, provided that a set of clearly defined conditions and provisions would not be met by that deadline.
These conditions and provisions were communicated clearly in a personal letter dated 13 June 2016 that was made available from this website on that very day.
WDSF Letter to RDSU
Several other missives reiterating the urgent nature of the matter and the impending deadline were sent to the RDSU President, Mrs Irina Petrova, since. Together with other members of the Managing Committee I met with Mrs Petrova and other RDSU representatives on two occasions to discuss progress in reconciling between the factions in Russian DanceSport and, particularly, in holding democratic elections. I am all the more saddened that such elections have purportedly been held by RDSU on 12 October, but that their validity appears to be contested by Mrs Petrova herself.
What disappoints me as well as my colleauges the most, however, is that the athletes and the officials planning on taking part in the GrandSlam Moscow are deprived of this opportunity. The WDSF Managing Committee has been working hard - and around the world - for close to 24 hours to find viable solutions - and/or suitable alternatives. We hope to be able to make a firm announcement as to where and when the fifth regular leg of the 2016 Series will be held by Monday 17 October. It will take place! No matter what!
Lukas Hinder
WDSF President
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