News
More attention to event safety in 2023
The Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (Dutch Combat Sports Authority) has drawn up the 2023 Covenant in consultation with its partners. It sets out the agreements that the VA and the combat sports organisations make together. An important addition to the existing agreements is stricter attention to safety at combat sports events. The number of incidents in the Netherlands is already minimal, but the sector aims to keep improving.
The covenant that the VA and the affiliated organisations draw up and sign each year forms the foundation of the effort to make combat sports safer and healthier and to organise them better. It contains the agreements on the use of the Fightpassport, tackling undesirable behaviour, the conditions for matchmaking and numerous other matters. Every year new agreements are added in order to continue improving the level of organisation together.
Three elements have been added to the existing agreements in the 2023 Covenant:
Belgian combat sports gyms
As of 1 January 2023, Belgian gyms must be affiliated with the BKBMO (the Belgian kickboxing and muaythai organisation) in order to take part in events in the Netherlands. The covenant partner checks this. This measure follows from the agreement between the VA and the BKBMO to support each other in enforcing quality requirements.
Safety plan
The combat sports organisation ensures that all promoters are aware of the safety plan template developed by the VA and encourages them to complete it in full. The safety plan template and the accompanying guidance document were drawn up by safety experts under the direction of the VA, at the request of the combat sports sector and municipalities. Among other things, they are intended to reduce the risk of events being disrupted by visitors who misbehave.
Matchmaking risk analysis
From the new year onwards, extra attention will also be paid to carrying out a balanced risk analysis of the most recent matchmaking in advance. It must be prevented that bouts lead to unrest among the audience, for example due to the presence of rival football supporters.
Meeting
The existing and new agreements were discussed with all federations on 30 November during a meeting in Breukelen. It was underlined once again that all organisations recognise that safety is the first condition for the future of combat sports events.