REPORT TO COUNCIL

VANCOUVER ATHLETIC COMMISSION

JUNE 27, 2002

INFORMATION

1. Vancouver Athletic Commission Annual Report - 2001-2002

(File 3111-1, RTS #2790)

The Vancouver Athletic Commission Annual Report is respectfully submitted to Vancouver City Council. The report outlines the Commission's functions and activities for the past two years, and current trends in the sports it regulates.

The Vancouver Athletic Commission was established in 1945 to control and supervise professional boxing and wrestling in the City of Vancouver. More recently, professional kickboxing was added as a responsibility. A professional fighter is defined as one who receives a purse or a prize, hence the term prizefighter, for his/her efforts. In compliance with the Criminal Code of Canada, such contests require a duly appointed civic or provincial authority to regulate these events. The Vancouver Athletic Commission has undertaken that responsibility for the City.

The Vancouver Athletic Commission:

· licenses promoters;
· sanctions events and matches;
· names a medical officer;
· establishes rules and regulations;
· certifies that boxers are medically fit;
· holds purse money and other expense moneys in bond;
· examines and holds contracts between promoters and fighters;
· collects a modest seat tax;
· exacts fines for failure to perform;
· appoints all judges, referees, timekeepers and other minor officials;
· reports all results to the Canadian Professional Boxing Federation;
· liaises with the Vancouver Police Department;
· files an annual financial statement with the City;

· establishes security requirement with venue proprietors; and
· carries out other related duties.

The Vancouver Athletic Commission is a working volunteer committee that serves and protects the interests of the City. It consists of five members - four appointed by City Council, the fifth being a Councillor. The City Clerk provides a meeting coordinator and an initial contact person for those seeking the expertise of the Commissioners. The current members have considerable, continuous experience in this specialized area. They are appointed annually. The Vancouver Athletic Commission is proud of its record in these sometimes contentious sports. No athlete has endured serious injury in the ring; no litigation against the City has occurred concerning contracts, purses, fees or services provided; and no incidents at venues have occurred that have not been acted upon without dispatch. Commission members are:

George Angelomatis - Vice Chair
Robert Gatto - Treasurer/Signing Officer
Donald McIntyre - Recording Secretary/Signing Officer
Roy Nosella - Chair
Councillor George Puil - Council Liaison
Lori Isfeld - Meeting Coordinator

In the past year the Commission appointed Dr. Debbie Collins, a specialist in sports medicine, as the Commission doctor. She replaced Dr. Raj Sandhu who was long associated with amateur and professional boxing. The doctor examines all boxers and kickboxers prior to and after fights. Our safety precautions include the authority of the doctor to stop a fight, having two doctors at ringside, an ambulance with trained attendants at ringside, and prior to the event, the neurologist at the local hospital is notified.

The Commission is a fee-paying member of the Canadian Professional Boxing Federation (CPBF). This federation sets national safety code standards, sanctions all Canadian Championships and maintains rankings of Canadian boxers. Since boxing is regulated (and unregulated) in a variety of ways across Canada, members of the federation include provincial, civic and first nations representatives. With the support of Council, the Vancouver Athletic Commission has unsuccessfully petitioned three provincial governments to establish a provincial boxing commission, as recommended in a national task force report following the death of a boxer in Canada.

Next May the Commission plans to host the CPBF Annual General Meeting.

The Commission also regulates professional wrestling in Vancouver. It has established excellent relations with World Wrestling and Entertainment (WWE), the major player in the wrestling entertainment business. Since the spectators include many young people, we have demanded and received patron searches upon entry, no alcohol sold at the venue, and adequate crowd security including uniformed Vancouver Police Department constables. These events can attract up to 17,000 spectators. The WWE provides its own medical and safety personnel; however, the Commission intends to review this matter.

The Commission's meetings are held at the call of the Chair and occur irregularly because they are related to proposed events, business arising at CPBF AGMs, persons seeking promoter's licenses and workshops related to procedural changes (see appendices. In the past year the Commission spent considerable time reviewing and amending its procedures and medical requirements. On average, the Commission meets a least once a month, although there may be periods of inactivity followed by frequent meetings before and after promotions.

In the past calendar year the Commission has sanction two boxing events which were a mixed professional boxing and kickboxing event and an amateur kickboxing and professional boxing event. Both drew small crowds at the PNE Gardens. The Commission also sanctioned three professional wrestling cards, all at the PNE Coliseum. They drew between 6,000 and 12,000 fans. In the previous year, crowds at two events held at GM Place attracted 13,000 and 17,000 fans.

The Commission granted conditional approval to a second boxing promoter subject to the presentation of a suitable card of professional boxing. That failed to materialize. A third promoter has recently been granted a license.

The state of professional boxing in Vancouver and across Canada is very much in decline. Too few boxers are available and those willing to fight can obtain larger purses in the United States where events are frequently held just across the border at casino venues. Local promoters have difficulty filling a card, generating revenues to realize a project, and attracting and maintaining a fan base. This is despite the fact the sport is receiving greater television exposure. The mix of either kickboxing or amateur boxing with professional boxing on the same card has proven less than satisfactory. Consequently, the Commission will not entertain future proposals of a mixed card to satisfy the number of rounds to constitute a show.

There is a growing trend and fan base for other Asian martial arts sports and/or "extreme fighting" contests. These events tend to be club-based amateur cards. Some have been held at the PNE Gardens. The line between amateur and professional fighting has become quite blurred. If these fighters receive a purse, they are prizefighters and subject to the laws of Canada. The Vancouver Athletic Commission is not mandated to regulate these sports. If requested to do so, we would decline because these sports do not have trained officials, a body of rules, a governing organization, nor sufficient safety precautions to protect athletes.

The Commission appreciates Council's support for regulating professional boxing, wrestling and kickboxing in the City, and in reappointing this closely working team of volunteers.

Respectfully submitted,

Roy Nosella, Chair
Vancouver Athletic Commission

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager submits the foregoing for INFORMATION.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver