Vancouver City Council |
REPORT TO COUNCIL
Date:
April 15, 2004
Author:
Donald McIntyre
c/o Tina HildebrandtPhone No.:
604.873.7268
RTS No.:
4171
CC File No.:
3111-1
Meeting Date:
May 6, 2004
TO:
Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:
Vancouver Athletic Commission
SUBJECT:
Vancouver Athletic Commission - 2003 - 2004 Annual Report
RECOMMENDATION
THAT this report be received for information.
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The City Manager submits the foregoing for INFORMATION.
PURPOSE
The Vancouver Athletic Commission Annual Report is respectfully submitted to Vancouver City Council for information. The report outlines the Commission's functions and activities for the past two years, and current trends in the sports it regulates.
BACKGROUND
The Vancouver Athletic Commission was established in 1945 to control and supervise professional boxing and wrestling in the City of Vancouver. More recently, professional kick boxing was added as a responsibility. A professional fighter is defined as one who receives a purse or a prize, hence the term prize fighter, 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 athletes 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; or delegates that responsibility;
· 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;
· carries out other related duties;
· maintains a working relationship with the PNE; and
· notifies the Licensing Department of events.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 Peter Ladner - Council Liaison
Lori Isfeld - Meeting Coordinator, City Clerk's OfficeThe Commission doctor is Dr. Debbie Collins, a specialist in sports medicine. 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 approved the costs for travel, meals and accommodation for Dr. Collins to attend a medical conference for ringside doctors in Nevada. The Nevada Commission is foremost in North America for fighter safety.
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.
Last May the Commission hosted the CPBF Annual General Meeting. The CPBF met jointly with the North American Boxing Federation. Commissioner Angelomatis was elected to the ratings committee of the CPBF at that 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 its spectators include many young people, we have demanded 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. The WWE has complied with all concerns the Commission has brought to its attention. It regularly promotes two or three events each year in Vancouver.
The Commission's meetings are held at the call of the Chair and occur irregularly. They are related to proposed events, business arising at CPBF AGMs, persons seeking promoter's licenses and workshops related to procedural changes. On average, the Commission meets at least once a month, although there may be long periods of inactivity followed by frequent meetings before and after promotions.
In the past calendar year the Commission has not sanctioned any boxing events. The Commission sanctioned two professional wrestling cards, both at the PNE Coliseum. They drew 6,000 fans. In the previous year, crowds were considerably larger.
The Commission granted conditional approval to one boxing promoter subject to the presentation of a suitable card of professional boxing. That failed to materialize. The Chair has received numerous inquiries concerning possible licenses and promotions; however, none have necessitated a meeting of the Commission.
The state of professional boxing in Vancouver and across Canada continues to be very much in decline. Too few professional 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 profit, and attracting a fan base. These discouraging conditions exist despite greater international television exposure to boxing. The mix of either kick boxing 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 mixed martial arts contests. These events tend to be club-based amateur cards. Some have been held at the PNE. The line between amateur and professional fighting has become quite blurred. If these fighters receive a purse, they are prize fighters and subject to the laws of Canada. The Vancouver Athletic Commission regulates those prize fights. Two well promoted mixed martial arts cards were held at the Orpheum Theatre since the Commission's last report to Council. They attracted over 1,000 spectators each. A promoter plans to continue at a smaller venue this year.
CONCLUSION
The Commission is an experienced team of volunteers who are pleased to serve the City regulating professional boxing, wrestling and kick boxing under the Vancouver Charter. The foregoing is submitted to Vancouver City Council for information.
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