Michael Tipper, one of the moving forces behind
the organisation of Memory Sports, reports:
"What on earth is the International
Federation of
Memory
Sports?" I hear you cry. Well as those of you who were at the recent World
Memory Championships will know, Memory as a sport, alongside Mind Sports as a
whole, is growing fast. We had 26 competitors from 9 different countries and
from the response I got from some of, I think we are going to have even more
next year.
So why have an International Federation of Memory Sports? Well very simply, the
aim (call it a mission statement if you will) is to unite memory sports
on a global basis. National competitions are on the increase - by the end of
1999 there will have been national events in the USA, Germany, The Czech
Republic, India and Austria together with the World Memory Championships in
London. What the IFMS will hope to achieve will be to:
- act as the Sport's Ruling body
- Promulgate and arbitrate rules through a committee structure
- provide advice to new national competitions getting started
- act as a results database for competitions around the world
- administer the recording and accreditation of Grandmaster of Memory titles
- act as the archive for memory records (national and international)
- unite those involved in Memory as a sport whether it be as a competitor,
supporter, arbiter or just someone interested in improving their memory
Initially the IFMS will be simply a networking device for those involved but
once its structure and functions have developed it will become the international
organisation necessary to deal with this growing sport.
As well as promulgating the formation of the IFMS, this newsletter is proud to
announce that the World Memory Championships in 2001 will be separate
from the Mind Sports Olympiad (which will have its own Memory event also
administered by the IFMS) and will take place in London at the beginning of May
that year.
After much discussion it was decided to retain next year's World Memory
Championships within the MSO because separating it would conflict with National
Championships already planned.
This advance notice is given so that those involved with National Events can
begin to arrange their dates for 2001 accordingly. Plans for a sponsorship are
being drawn up and you will be notified of the arrangements once they have been
finalised.
