Ethics, huts and Ice Climbing high on GA agenda

Print this story Email to a friend

Key themes such as a global agreement on ethics and best practices, a new initiative on mountain huts and the UIAA’s link to the Olympic Movement are expected to generate debate at the UIAA General Assembly (GA) in Porto, Portugal on October 10.

As UIAA Secretary General, Nico de Jong, points out, the code is of such prominence it has been made the theme of the 2009 GA. (see draft code)

“It's not a law, but will hopefully give guidance to our federations in dealing with all sorts of ethical questions, such as our attitude towards the use of oxygen during ascents or the extent a climber can ignore other mountaineers' problems in his struggle to achieve his own goals," de Jong explained.

A contentious issue is likely to be the different approaches Member Federations take on the use of bolts on rock routes. The GA will seek to find a compromise.

The meeting will also hear annual reports from the UIAA commissions (Safety, Access, Medical, Youth, Mountain Protection, Ice Climbing, Mountaineering), elect a new Delegate from the African continent to the UIAA Management Committee, and discuss new initiatives.

Among these is an idea to begin a joint-action mountain hut programme, to work on the common interests mountaineers and federations have in the correct establishment of buildings. Also to be discussed is the reciprocal rights at huts for members of UIAA-affiliated clubs.

Included on the GA agenda will be a report from a working group on expedition climbing. The UIAA must decide on how to manage tasks related to expeditions since the Expedition Commission was abolished earlier this year, de Jong explained.

Finally, the UIAA firmly believes the mountaineering community contributes to the Olympic Movement, and benefits from it, but mountaineers are divided on the extent of these benefits. This issue is expected to be debated in connection with the UIAA’s competition sport, Ice Climbing.

Go to the UIAA Members’ Area to see the full agenda and programme of the 2009 UIAA General Assembly.