Dear CIA Members, Contestants, Delegates, Jury Members and friends,
 
As we all well know, the International situation due to the various strategies that each country adopts for the containment of the Corona Virus (COVID 19) infections is constantly changing and completely unpredictable.  Sadly, after several months of relative success, many countries around the world are now experiencing a resurgence in infection rates and in fact, have surpassed levels recorded at the peak on the global pandemic crisis earlier in the year. We received a communication from our Portuguese Voting Member the Associação de Acordeonistas do Algarve, explaining that from September 15th, 2020 the Portuguese Government had imposed new restrictions pertaining to public events.  On September 17th we received an official letter from the Portuguese authorities informing us that they have been forced to cancel all public events by order of the Central Government.
 
We have maintained daily contact with our Portuguese host to ensure that all requirements were being met and we had always been confident that we could hold our event and adhere to any restrictions in place.  In addition, each candidate and delegate had made great efforts to conform to their country’s travel and quarantine requirements upon return.  Everyone had worked very hard to ensure that we could overcome the challenges in place.
 
The Executive Committee, which met via Internet on 17 September, with great sadness, had to accept that these new regulations from the official Government letter, preventing any public event in Portugal, meant that it was not possible, just weeks away, to hold the 2020 Coupe Mondiale in Castro Marim, Portugal.
 
We have already reached out to communicate this news to all our registered competitors and delegates and the Secretary General will work to provide the necessary financial refund compensations.
 
In relation to our upcoming 2020 Coupe Mondiale, the Executive Committee had previously unanimously agreed that we would not consider the possibility of organizing any of our 2020 competitions via the Internet and have re-confirmed this decision.
 
João Manuel Afonso Pereira, the President of the Associação de Acordeonistas do Algarve and the Portuguese authorities offer their sincerest apologies to all our young contestants who have worked so hard to prepare their programs as well as the Delegates, Jury and our visitors for this sudden cancellation.  Our hosts have been working for several years to present the 73rd Coupe Mondiale and while the Covid 19 health crisis has at the last minute prevented it, our Portuguese friends have already requested a new date, as they would still like to welcome the Coupe Mondiale and the global accordion community to Castro Marim in the near future.
 
In the meantime, our Voting Member is taking steps to organize within a few weeks a series of concerts as planned in Faro and Castro Marim, even without audience, to showcase the diversity of the accordion in Portugal. The Executive Committee has assured the maximum support and availability to organize an online event lasting a few days, in the style of World Accordion Day, with interviews, videos, and the streaming of concerts of artists from Portugal.
 
We thank our dear friend João and the Associação de Acordeonistas do Algarve for having invested so much time and effort to make the 73rd Coupe Mondiale a success and know that these sudden new Government regulations come as a tremendous disappointment.   On behalf of all involved, we once again offer our apologies and thank you for your understanding in these unprecedented times.
 
 
Portugal Coupe Mondiale Contact
Mito Algarvio - Associação de Acordeonistas do Algarve
President: João Pereira
E-mail: joao.alacordeao@sapo.pt
 
CIA General Information Contact:
CIA Secretary General:
Kimmo Mattila
Kyrösselänkatu 3, FIN-39500,
Ikaalinen, FINLAND
 
Phone: +358 40 8496221
WeChat ID: kimmomattila
E-mail: secretariat_cia@harmonikkaliitto.net
 

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