Reykjavik, Iceland, February 6, 2007

AIPS

Mr. president Gianni Merlo

The Union of Iceland Sports journalists wants the AIPS to send an offical letter to the German organizers of  the  Handball Wold Championships, the International handball Federation, the European Handball Federation and the German Handball Federation, to protest the unsatisfacatory media accreditation for the Icelandic sport writers during the World cup final in Kologne.

The reporters of Morgunbladid did not get accreditation to the final match although they had all the right papers (all venus) for allt the tournament. After  trying to speak to officials in Kologne the icelandic journalists got perimission to go to the press center but could not see the final!

This is the first time Icelandic journalists, who are members of the AIPS, experience this during Handball World Championship. It has always been in the best interest for the handball sport to get as good coverege all over the world as possible.  But the Media accreditations during the World Cup final this time where unsatisfactory, it was a Media Disaster. The organisers of the 2007 Handball World Champions and the handball world need to know  that.

This letter is also sent to AIPS for publication.

On behalf of the executive board of the Union of Iceland Sports journalists:

Thorsteinn Gunnarsson, President