Sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 03:14 PM

From:   Jeff Webb, President
International Cheer Union

To:      Members of National Federations

I would first like to thank you for your active participation in our 2010 Annual Council Meeting and ICU World Championships.   Despite challenges presented mainly by the volcano in Iceland, the meeting and the competition were hugely successful, and we are already looking forward to even greater things next year.

The ICU has had remarkable success in building its membership and addressing its primary goals, which are to assist and support the global development of Cheer, and to be an effective voice in representing the athletes, coaches and officials who make up our sport. 

As a National Federation member of the ICU, we want to assure you that we will continue to be available to assist you as you develop our sport in your country.  For the overall good of our sport, it is also imperative that we stand together as we continue the development of Cheer globally.  This means that each country must not only be supportive of our international organization, but must also aggressively take steps to properly represent our sport within their own respective countries.

If it has not already done so, each National Federation must promptly and actively establish a true, legal non-profit federation that is properly registered in its respective country, including pursuing the necessary steps to be recognized by the sports commission designated by the government.  This means also taking the necessary steps to be inclusive in your federation by involving all groups who are active in Cheer within your country.  Our ICU office, as well as your continental regional council member, stands ready to assist you in any possible way.  However, it is indeed up to each National Federation to take the initiative in this particular area.

Next, I would like to report on our annual meeting of SportAccord, which we attended last week.  ICU Secretary General Karl Olson and I were assisted at the meeting by Alfredo LaMont (ICU International Consultant), Liv Uggerhoej of Denmark (Athletic Representative for the ICU General Council) and Shing Fang of China (ICU General Council Member for North Asia).

During the meeting we met with SportAccord representatives to review our newly approved statutes.  They were extremely complimentary of our progress in this regard, but have also requested several minor changes going forward.  We will address these requests and prepare recommendations to present to the General Assembly as soon as is practically possible.

Because this was our first time to participate in SportAccord, our membership was questioned by DanceSport (whose primary discipline is Ballroom Dancing), which we feel strongly should have no role in Cheer.  However, at the meeting FIG (Gymnastics) also asked for time to meet with us and review how we can more clearly establish differences between our two sports.  We have agreed to actively and in good faith work with them to achieve that in the coming months.

In light of these developments, we felt (and were advised by our friends within SportAccord) that we should request a one year delay in actually submitting our request to SportAccord for a vote to become a member.  This additional year will allow us the proper time to make the necessary minor changes to our bylaws and to constructively work with Gymnastics to settle any differences that might exist.

We did have the opportunity to make a presentation to the full membership of the 100+ International Federation members of SportAccord.  Our presentation, which included facts about the ICU, a full description of how our sport operates, and a three minute highlight video of our World Championships, was extremely well received and served as an exciting introduction of Cheer to various sports organizations from around the world. We believe our participation at the meeting has created excellent understanding and support of the ICU, which will be extremely valuable as we move forward.

As we discussed in Orlando, I want to emphasize that the most important thing we can do for our sport is to remain strongly united and resolute in our commitment to move forward together.  We now represent 87 different countries and 3.5 million athletes.  If we remain united, and if we continue to work tirelessly toward our objectives, the future for our sport, our organization and each of our member Federations is extremely bright.

Thank you again for your support and I wish you the very best as you continue to build Cheer in your country.

For any further enquiries regarding ICU's meeting with SportAccord, please contact CAS at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on Friday 7 May 2010, 4:49pm

Dear World Organizations:

Enclosed please find yesterday's Press Release regarding ICU's formal presentation to the SportAccord General Assembly on 30 April 2010 in Dubai.

As mentioned in the Press Release, the ICU presented a detailed power point and video presentation to over 100 IF Presidents & Sport Executives who were in attendance. As also noted, the presentation delivered great value as a wonderful opportunity to introduce Cheer to the world of International Sports Federations.

From the presentation, the ICU continues to receive overwhelming feedback on the strength of the ICU organization, our membership, as well as our World Championships. Additionally, our presentation has promoted greater dialogue with IF Presidents on the positive attributes of Cheer as it applies to the world's sports community.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-cheer-union-introduces-cheer-to-sportaccord-92944059.html

With greater awareness of Cheer, the ICU also received requests for greater clarification of our Sport. In respect of these requests as well as further SportAccord suggested adjustments of our bylaws, the ICU made the decision to present Cheer/ICU to the 2010 SportAccord General Assembly but to withhold a vote until 2011 in London.

Please email with any questions. Thank you again, and best wishes to everyone!

Kindest Regards,
Karl Olson
International Cheer Union
http://cheerunion.org/Home.aspx

CAS is proud to announce that International Cheer Union recognize CAS as the National Governing Body (NGB) for the Sport of Cheer in representation of the nation of Singapore. Below is an extract from the official letter from ICU.

Dear Mr Ng:

On behalf of the International Governing Body of Cheerleading, the International Cheer Union ("ICU") and its more than 75 member countries, we thank you for your dedication to the positive advancement of cheerleading in your country and throughout the world. As a powerful advocate for those truly committed to this effort, the ICU is pleased to make the following announcement:

The International Cheer Union ("ICU") hereby recognizes CHEERLEADING ASSOCIATION (SINGAPORE) as the National Governing Body for the Sport of Cheer in representation of the nation of SINGAPORE.

This status is granted under the conditions of continuous good standing as acknowledged by the ICU Executive Committee and bylaws of the ICU. All rights and privileges associated with this honor and distinction will be provided to Cheerleading Association (Singapore) within its ongoing commitment to the ICU ideals and principles which confirm the inclusive and positive advancement of cheerleading in Singapore and around the World. This commitment is focused on providing benefit and opportunity in the sport of Cheer for the athletes who participate.

The ICU continues to look forward to providing structure and safety, as well as balanced input and governance to assist the various stages of development in which cheerleading finds itself in many nations across the globe. Based on your efforts in Singapore, enclosed you will also find the International Cheer Union National Governing Body Certificate documenting this distinction and high honor for your country.

We appreciate very much the contributions you have made to the development of cheerleading in Singapore, and around the world. Congratulations on this achievement, and we look forward to working closely with you on this exciting endeavor.

Yours Truly,
Jeff Webb
President

Click here to view the original letter and NGB certificate.

Sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on Thursday, Jan 28, 2010 at 11:09 PM

Dear World Organizations:

Please allow me to inform you of an item of significant importance to all ICU member federations.

Kindly please note that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has recently informed the International Cheer Union (ICU) that we have been approved and meet all the requirements set forth by WADA in the ICU's Anti-Doping Code. And therefore, with WADA's approval of the ICU Anti-Doping Code, we meet a very important requirement as we continue to seek formal recognition by SportAccord. SportAccord has already been informed of the ICU's achievement and they applauded our accomplishment.

This is, of course, an important first phase in our efforts for a doping free sport, and we also look forward to working closely with each member federation in this effort as well.

More details will follow: however, we congratulate our member federations on this significant step in the development and international stature of the International Cheer Union!

Kindest regards,
Karl Olson
Secretary General
International Cheer Union
http://cheerunion.org/Home.aspx