Perhaps I’m just being optimistic, but do I detect that new ISAF chief executive Jerome Pels wants to do something about the mess in Estoril?
In an interview on the ISAF website, he comments: “Ongoing is the challenge of being part of the Olympic family. The demands and development of the Olympic Games mean we need to make our sport more attractive to the media and the youth of today.”
Hmmm… I like the sound of that.
Then he is asked: “What do you think ISAF can learn from other areas of the sport, and from other sports federations?”
His answer: From other sports I think ISAF can learn about selling the sport. By that, I don’t just mean selling the sport in the sense of creating income. It’s also about promoting the sport, making it appealing for people to come into the sport; and making sailing more accessible to people around the world.
“Sailing is such a diverse sport, so we need to work on what really matters, to identify a clear path for sailors to rise from grass roots through to professional level. What is the path for a young sailor who wants to emulate their heroes?
“Then there’s also selling the sport in the commercial sense, to expand ISAF’s income stream, which in turn will enable us to develop the sport even further.” I don’t know about you, but I like the way CEO Pels is talking.
Interesting piece of trivia for you, by the way. Jerome Pels is also brother in law of Ben Ainslie, married to Ben’s sister Fleur.
What do you think of Jerome Pels’ comments. Let us know. To read the rest of his interview, click here…
