Scuttlebutt Website SCUTTLEBUTT
WEBSITE 		ForumIndex FORUM
INDEX 		Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS 		Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE 		Log in LOG IN         

Forum Index: DISCUSSION: Dock Talk:
ISAF seeks to secure Olympic sailing 		Team McLube

 
 


The Publisher
*****


May 26, 2010, 11:33 AM

Post #1 of 5 (2148 views)
Shortcut
ISAF seeks to secure Olympic sailing Log-In to Post/Reply
Scuttlebutt 3091

A FIX-IT PLAN TO SECURE OLYMPIC SAILING
The Olympics and the sport of sailing are not a perfect fit. One promotes inclusion and opportunity, while the other struggles with it. However, according to Goran Petersson, President of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), “The commitment of ISAF to ensure we strengthen sailing’s position as an Olympic sport is crucial to the long term success of our sport.”

Perhaps because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provides ISAF with 65% of its income (2004 figures), an increased effort is now being made to insure that sailing remains as one of the 28 sports at the Summer Olympics. Therefore, following the ISAF Mid-Year meeting last week at Lake Balaton, Hungary, ISAF has published the Olympic Commission Draft Report to the ISAF Executive Committee. Phil Jones, Chairman of the Olympic Commission, explains what the draft Report addresses:

“The IOC analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the sports on the Olympic Program and what value they add at the Olympic Games. We have looked at how we are performing, both against the evaluation criteria that the IOC has adopted and against other sports. In some areas we get big ticks and others we have considerable work to do. Our aim must be to strengthen the position of sailing in the Olympic Games."

“The Commission has set out to put forward the best solutions to the issues identified. We have considered 5 key areas that need to be addressed, and made recommendations about the changes required in each area. The Report looks at: Increasing Universality, Expanding Qualification Opportunities, Building Popularity, Improving Event Structure and Enhancing the Olympic Games.

“The Commission considers that by implementing the changes outlined in the draft Report, ISAF will maximise the value that sailing brings to the Olympic Games. If we do this, the sport in the Olympic Games will become stronger and more popular, and the sailors, Member National Authorities, Class Associations, Clubs and other stakeholders will all benefit.

“The view of the Commission, endorsed by the ISAF Council following the presentation, is that ‘to do nothing is not an option’. We face some difficult challenges. The changes necessary require ISAF Committees, MNAs, Class Associations, Athletes and others to work together in a common direction. Only in this way will we secure and strengthen the position of sailing as an Olympic Sport.”

In November 2008 the ISAF Council approved Submission 82-08 from Yachting Australia urging the establishment of a comprehensive vision and strategy to strengthen sailing as a sport in the Olympic Games. The Olympic Commission was appointed by the ISAF Executive Committee in March 2009. The Terms of Reference of the Commission as set down by the Executive were: ‘To assist the ISAF Executive Committee in developing, agreeing and promoting a comprehensive vision and strategy on the sport of sailing in the Olympic Games.’ -- Full report: http://www.sailing.org/32708.php

Olympic Commission Draft Report: http://tinyurl.com/2e6vvbh



The Publisher
*****


May 26, 2010, 11:33 AM

Post #2 of 5 (2147 views)
Shortcut
Re: [The Publisher] ISAF seeks to secure Olympic sailing [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
Scuttlebutt 3100

BUILDING POPULARITY
At the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Mid-Year meeting held earlier this month at Lake Balaton, Hungary, ISAF president Goran Petersson said, “The commitment of ISAF to ensure we strengthen sailing’s position as an Olympic sport is crucial to the long term success of our sport.”

To address this need, the newly established Olympic Commission submitted a report to ISAF that identified five core segments to this overarching strategy which link to IOC criteria, among them being to build the popularity of the sport for media and spectators. Here are some of their targeted strategy points:

- It is clear from the data released by the IOC that the popularity of sailing from an audience point of view, whether live or remote, is very limited.

- It is in the area of building popularity where we have the most to do and the most to gain. Whilst what we do at the Olympic Games is important, it is what we do for the other 206 weeks every four years that will determine our future.

- Establish Olympic sailing as a sports entertainment property, addressing each aspect to simplify the product and strengthen audience interest and engagement

- The Olympic Games does not and should not lead the sport. Rather it should reflect how the sport is practised and covered at the highest level. If we are able to build strong events that we present in a consistent, interesting, exciting and understandable way, this is how we will be reflected. We need to develop the presentation of ISAF events and then exploit this capability at the Olympic Games.

- There are significant benefits to the sport and its stakeholders if we are able to reposition ourselves. A higher profile for sailing will increase interest. Participation will grow as a result. This will benefit Clubs, MNAs and ISAF, as well as the industry that relies on sailing, whether competitive or recreational; Making ‘heroes’ of our leading athletes in the Olympic sailing arena will mean that young people, and importantly those parents that support their sailing careers, will aspire to be like them; Our elite athletes will have a higher profile with greater potential to raise the funds to support their campaigns, eventually becoming full time ‘professional’ athletes as we see in other sports, and in some areas of our own; The sponsorship value of national teams and our profile with funders of national programs, such as governments and NOCs will increase to the benefit of the sport.

Here are the categories that the report addresses to build popularity:
- Event Presentation
- Change the Sport or Change the Coverage
- Television Production
- Applying New Technology
- Distribution Channels
- Maximising the ‘Live’ Opportunity
- Consistency of Events and Coverage

Olympic Commission Draft Report: http://tinyurl.com/2e6vvbh






The Publisher
*****


May 26, 2010, 11:36 AM

Post #3 of 5 (2144 views)
Shortcut
Re: [The Publisher] ISAF seeks to secure Olympic sailing [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
From Neil W. Humphrey, Vancouver, BC CANADA:

BUILDING POPULARITY, YA, RIGHT!!!!

I was very surprised but not shocked to see our ISAF President Goran Petersson continue with the line that sailing to be better must better itself by focusing on the Olympics in the end. I think we all understand that to ISAF, the Olympics is their 4 year welfare/social assistance check.

Now add to the Olympics welfare/social assistance check, ISAF thinking they are going to see more money go into the sport from governments, MNA/NSO and NCO just because ISAF repackages for the Olympics. Yep, pure magical brilliance in rational..

The question I have is when is our sailing leaders at ISAF going to get out of their comfort zone of hand outs. When are they going to assert themselves with ISAF Media Rights to ask events like the America's Cup to pay a decent right to media right. Oh, things like that are better done with NDA's. What rubbish.

When is ISAF going to look at other pro sports and realize the professionalism starts outside of the Olympics especially with youth sports. Football/soccer doesn't rely on the 5 rings but their World Cups, Skiing relies on their world circuit, Tennis relies on their Masters and other pro events, Snowboarding relies upon their world circuit and so on. Now let's look at Golf, oh wait a sec, it's not even a 5 Ring sport.

What are sports like Golf doing?. They have huge audience draw on and off the green for viewers and sponsors. Hmmm, maybe it has something to do with tried and true formula that starts from when kids are still in high school, then college, then pro-am and if they make the cut pros. Seems like a model that other sports follow too. Quiet unlike sailing where that WGO wants to focus on the Olympics and the check they get from it. Maybe that explains why the ISAF suits were at the Winter Olympics instead of being at the America's Cup.

Let's hope for some changes but until the ISAF suits start talking to sailors outside of the Olympic family all I can say is status quo and I don't mean the UK rock band.

Btw Pres. Peterson, what's up with Charlie Cook's committee on the 33rd AC Mutiny by SNG pirates. Seems it didn't hit the Mid-Year agenda. So much for making the sport better when it comes to it's Basic Principles.


The Publisher
*****


May 26, 2010, 11:37 AM

Post #4 of 5 (2143 views)
Shortcut
Re: [The Publisher] ISAF seeks to secure Olympic sailing [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
From Bob Colpitts:

At the risk of sounding like a voice in the wilderness, I don't think Olympic sailing is important to the sport at all. The olympics is about politics at its worst, national prestige, and supporting huge bureaucracies. Just think about the horrible and bitter competition that occurs when the classes are changed.

As has been the case forever, what has always brought sailing to media and public attention is the sense of challenge and adventure, in other words, the romance. What actually attracts people to sailing is different for everyone, but it has everything to do with our dreams and almost nothing to do with short course racing on small boats. Just compare interest in Olympic racing to any Parade of Tall Ships, or the incredible media and public attention, and sponsor support, that Jules Verne or Volvo racers enjoy in countries like France.

If you like small boat racing, pick a class you like and can afford, and chase a national or international trophy, you'll have a lot more fun, and find far more camaraderie, and friendly and helpful competition than the Olympics, at a fraction of the cost and with far less damage to yourself and your family. And with over a hundred small boat classes, and thousands of sailing venues, you include many more sailors.




CKGator42
*

May 27, 2010, 11:11 AM

Post #5 of 5 (2085 views)
Shortcut
Re: [The Publisher] ISAF seeks to secure Olympic sailing [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
You are not a lone voice in the wilderness, by any means. I'm an avid sailor, I enjoy watching it on TV, but I have virtually no interest in Olympic sailing. It's just not something I care to follow, there's no drama to the build up every four years, and I can watch local racing (or even participate(!) in it) and get much more out of it.

America's Cup, the Volvo Race, Tall Ships; those are events that draw the public's interest. And mine. We will never make sailing popular by focusing on the Olympics. That's like trying to make fencing popular because it's in the Olympics. Kids play with swords because there is violence, competition, heroism, and it's just plain fun. The fact that it's in the Olympics is nice for those participating in the Olympics, and that's it.

Sailing is the same way. We play with boats because there is adventure, excitement, the experience of being on the water, the opportunity to explore and be out and about with friends. None of this has anything to do with Olympic sailing.

This is not, in any way, to diminish the skills and dedication of Olympic sailors. I wish all of them only the best. But it's just not that interesting to me, and I know what I'm looking at. I just don't see how the general public can be expected to take any interest.


Viewing the Forums: No members and 1024 guests
 
 


Search for (options) Contact Forum Forum FAQS Markup Tags Forum Rules