FIA joins Olympic Family

FIA joins Olympic Family

MotorSport New Zealand has welcomed the announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that it now recognises the Federation de L’Automobile and its inclusion within the Olympic family.

President of MotorSport New Zealand Shayne Harris said the IOC’s recognition will help clear away a misconception among official and political bodies in this country that motorsport was not an actual sport.

“While there has been some official support for motorsport events and facilities in some regions and SPARC has assisted in helping fund our young driver development academy, there has been a general reluctance to assist individual competitors to compete both nationally and internationally on the basis that motorsport is not sport.

“Young drivers have grabbed massive attention overseas with their exploits in a range of events with several winning world titles and even now we have our first world champion rally driver in Haddon Paddon. The announcement will benefit not just circuit and rally racers but also kart sport motorcycle racing.

“We hope that those outstanding young men and women will now be entitled to the type of support provided to elite competitors in other sports.

“The IOC recognition is provisional for two years and it is anticipated that the FIA will quickly establish an Athlete’s Commission which is required to make the recognition permanent,” Mr Harris said.

“We expect to begin discussions with the New Zealand Olympic Committee shortly to establish how the sport will fit into the NZOC structure too.”

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