The World Surfing Games 2004, a competition estimated to be worth £3 million to the local economy, will almost definitely be hosted in Bundoran, Co Donegal after Irish surfers voted to accept the competition.
Some 54.7 per cent of the surfers voted for the games, while 45.3 per cent voted against. The amateur event is to be held mainly in Bundoran, with smaller parts in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal and Strandhill, Co Sligo.
However, some of the surfers who voted No have expressed concern, saying business interests made up part of the Yes vote. They have called for an extraordinary general meeting of the Irish Surfing Association. Mr Mike Roulston of the Easkey Surf Club said the basis for the vote was a resolution passed by the ISA after Eurosurf '97 which stated that no international competition would go ahead without the consensus of the surfers of Ireland. "They still have to show it was only surfers who had voted on the issue," he said.
Mr Brian Britton, president of the ISA, said an ordinary general meeting of the ISA would discuss the World Surfing Games and recent vote, in Easkey, Co Sligo, tomorrow, at the National Championships.
"Item one on the agenda is the World Surfing Games and item two will be the request for an extraordinary general meeting," said Mr Britton. Mr Roulston said, however, that nothing could be confirmed at any meeting until after the e.g.m. had been held. "I am happy that several clubs will decline to recognise or vote at this meeting in light of our request for an e.g.m.," he said. Mr Britton said the vote was taken in accordance with procedures set out at a previous ISA meeting.
"The vote was independently supervised by Supt Joe Cosgrove and Mr Roci Allen, president of the European Surfing Federation. They checked the ballots to ensure only people who were entitled to vote, voted.
"We have taken legal advice on this and are satisfied the principle of all voting is that the identity of the voter is not recognisable as long as there is a system in place to prove their entitlement to vote," he said.
Mr Britton said anyone who was a member of the ISA, an individual surf club or who had paid their £39.50 for third party insurance was entitled to a vote.