Olympic shooters accuse federation of mismanagement

The Olympic trap and double trap shooters association on Friday has made accusations against the Cyprus Shooting Federation for mismanagement and against the Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA) for tolerating the situation.

During a press conference, the association’s president Phaidias Savvides highlighted that athletes representing Cyprus abroad have brought international distinctions for the country.

“However, these athletes are now seeking qualification for the Olympic Games and are independently funding their participation in international competitions,” he said.

Savvides urged the KOA to intervene and urged the competent authorities to remove the current board of the Cyprus Shooting Federation.

He also added that the establishment of the association in September 2021 aimed at promoting and developing the sport.

“However, we faced numerous difficulties and obstacles along the way. The first shock was felt when we realised that individuals in crucial positions within the federation, including its leadership, had limited knowledge of Olympic shooting sports and championships,” Savvides explained.

“This realisation prompted the association to contribute constructively to the overall effort. However, we faced aggressive behaviour, belittlement, and personal insults.

“We were forced into a process of continuous adjustment and survival, sometimes defensively and sometimes aggressively, to continue our efforts. Some of our decisions seemed wrong, but we had a broader vision. We remain committed to our ultimate goal,” said Savvides.

He acknowledged the federation’s acceptance of the resumption of the 2023 national championship, yet he said the association was dismissive of the sport once again and allocated KOA funds at will.

“I have evidence demonstrating that the federation is burdening its already deficient budget by using the annual allocation provided by the KOA for Olympic sports for other purposes,” Savvides said.

As a result of mismanagement, he explained that high-level athletes find themselves funding their representation in international competitions, a situation that was highlighted during this year’s crucial Olympic cycle.

He also added that the federation proposed organising six out of eight national championship events in non-Olympic shooting ranges, either deficient or problematic in their competitive settings.

The association initially boycotted the championship, leading to a delay in its commencement. However, after receiving assurances from the federation’s administration, they reluctantly participated a month later to protect the athletes’ preparation for the Olympic qualifications.

Savvides underlined that the majority of the federation’s board is made of individuals lacking fundamental knowledge of the sport.

“The current board has led the sport into dangerous paths. That is why we are calling for its removal,” he said.

During the conference, the association’s secretary Marios Aristodemou also presented evidence of mismanagement, irregular decisions by the federation’s board, and political and personal interests within the federation that have harmed the sport.

Allegations included result falsification, manipulation of rankings, rigged competition draws, athletes being coerced into abstaining from official matches, and changes in the championship regulations.

Olympic trap shooter Andreas Makris, who also attended the conference, accused the federation of forcing athletes to cover their expenses for international competitions. He then spoke of vindictive and arbitrary decisions against athletes made by the federation.