A Spanish
View on the Outcome of the INF Congress |
- We have just celebrated our 25th Anniversary
in the best way we thought fit, sharing it with all the
naturist federations in the world. The relentless confidence
and know-how our movement has achieved and the work carried
out at our centres and FEN associations are now well known
by all. Our country was the meeting point for World Naturism
and, therefore, we have been and continue to be in the
centre of it all through 2006.
- The Spanish government was very involved both physically,
through the presence of its representatives, and financially.
TURESPAÑA provided three buses to and from
Portús. Jointly, with local and regional authorities,
it also arranged for a boat trip and a bus tour. Turespaña
held a formal dinner at the hotel Alfonso Xlll in Cartagena
for convention participants and their companions, 150
guests in all. Turespaña Sub-Director, Mr. José
Manuel de Juan, addressed the convention, conveying the
involvement of his agency in our claims and demands. Whereas
other world conventions have been honoured by the presence
of government representatives at their opening ceremonies,
this was the first time it meant real involvement in the
convention. It shows the concern of the Administration
to promote Naturist Tourism in our country thanks to the
preliminary work done at the FEN (see report about our
first meeting with the Secretary for Tourism at this
link).
- Radio stations and TV reported about the Convention
widely and in depth (see VCs from Spanish Public Television
(TV1), and the private TV5 at
this link). Only a sample from the newspapers, see
the clip from LA VERDAD, (from Murcia, Spain), at
this link.
- The FEN ex-Secretary, was elected to a post at the
INF board, the first Spaniard ever. He will be in
charge of the Development Fund, in collaboration with
Foreign Relations, in order to prepare the next 2008 Brazil
Congress. He will also keep active in developing Naturism
in South America, a project he has been working on for
some time and has earned him a deserved reputation for
his present position in the INF. (See
the link).
- It was certainly unusual for the Federation to ask us,
the host member, to choose the core subject for the
Congress. Our president, Ismael Rodrigo, addressed
the Congress not only at the start but also after the
traditional reports of the Vice-President. In this way,
our federation was able to lay out our vision of Naturism
in the world and the changes we propose, in depth. The
congress representatives got to work on discussing these
proposals for the rest of the afternoon following Ismael’s
presentation (see the speech in full at
this link).
- The Portuguese federation and the FEN worked hard together
to promote Brazil as a candidate for 2008. Italy,
which was also a candidate, was supported by two of the
strongest INF members, Holland and Germany, but it did
not win. The future Argentine Federation was also represented
at the Congress at every session. We are confident now
that 2008 will be the South American year for Naturism.
- The geographically closest associations, Osiris
and Costa
Cálida took upon themselves the task of welcoming
our guests at the airports right from the beginning of
their visits. A numerous group of ADN,
CCN,
AAPNT,
ANAPA,
Osiris
and Camp
de Morvedre members certainly made themselves noticed
by joyfully joining in the activities and by showing that
the Spanish Naturist does not hide his/her body at parties,
either! All members of the different FEN
associations have contributed with an additional Euro
to make not only this Congress possible but other gatherings,
such as the Interfederal at Vera Natura, the Summer Youth
Camp in Almanat and the Swimming Gala in Gijón
in November.
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We wish to express our gratefulness to our
former INF Vice-President, Charles Obergfell, who declined
to be a candidate for another 4 year-term as there was
yet another candidate for the same post, George Volak.
Charles was proposed 'INF Honorary President' by the Central
Committee and ratified by the Assembly with a unanimous
long round of applause. Our federation respectfully says
good bye to him by printing his last address here entitled
"A
worldwide friendship chain – common points in naturism",
while he still was Vice-President |
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The videos
from the reports shown on TV about the INF Congress and other
FEN activities on this 25th FEN Anniversary can be seen at
this address.
All of the above and any others which members and collaborators
may contribute will be compiled in a future DVD at the end
of the Swimming Gala in Gijón. (The reports will be
incorporated in the order in which they come in.) |
The
crowded hall. Only a representative for each country sits
at the table |
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A
quick bite. An open-air restaurant and the sea in the
background |
The
Spanish team on stage on closure day. It did liven up
the party |
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Translated
by Alberto González Iglesias |