Why Olympics?
reico
OK, this ought to be fun. I know it is BLASPHEMY, but I really do not see
what all the excitement about acceptance into the Olympics is about. First
of all, I have the utmost respect for the volunteers and athletes who have
committed so much personal time and emotion toward this effort. They are
selfless and generous people. But, who stands to benefit? Some elite
skiers are indeed already benefiting from the opportunity to access Olympic
training facilities;. One more obscure international competition has been
added to the schedule, and most importantly, additional funding for USA
WATERSKI (AWSA) will be provided. Evidently this is highly desirable and
the major motivating force as our governing Body has been operating at a
deficit for some years and its financial sustainability is questionable with
out the support. ( This is my understanding. and welcome correction or
clarification from knowledgeable authorities.) Other than the financial
support to Headquarters, what does everyone think we will gain? Does anyone
think that ABC will suddenly put Water Skiing on TV? Is the industry going
to take off and become the next extreme trend? Are young people going to
flock to lakes across the country to train for a shot at the gold? Do some
feel acceptance into the Olympic Games legitimizes water skiing in the world
of sports? Obviously I am missing something. The cost to AWSA for the
reorganization of our governing body in both time, human emotion and
distraction from other issues, as well as the financial cost has been
immense. If we are not accepted, it is all for not. If we are, AWSA stays
alive, I guess it will prove to be worth the efforts. But I seriously doubt
acceptance will be the panacea which establishes our sport among the major
activities. There are many many other activities already accepted in the
Olympics which never see the lens of a camera and have not had a significant
impact on the growth or participation of their sport. Sailboarding is a
perfect example. The sport is a part of the Olympics, but no TV, virtually
no commercial support,and little participation remains around the world.
There are no domestic manufacturers left and last time I looked, not a
profitable manufacturer in the world! Fifteen or twenty athletes might have
benefited from the exposure, but I doubt they can make a career from it! No
doubt we could list dozens of such smaller sporting events already in the
Olympics in a similar situation. On the flip side are sports which are not
in the Olympics but have flourished under their own
management.........Football! (US) Make your own conclusions and I am not
advocating any alternative.
Again I salute those individuals who care enough and get involved enough to
carry the banner. After all why not have Water Skiing in the Olympics! I
just would like some FRIENDLY dialogue which may help me to better
understand the excitement behind the drive. If I am won over, perhaps I too
will volunteer my services to the cause others reading the dialogue may also
jump on board the effort.
I hope to hear an official position reply from USA Water Ski.... Lets
discuss this issue in the civil manner which is intended for news group
users. Thank you......BOB Reich.........(WASHED UP SKIER WHO STILL CARES
FOR THE SPORT)
Nepheline
Bob,
You are so wrong, if we get in we can be seen with synchronized swimming and
rhythmic dance. I long for the old style Olympics, no pros and no
non-mainstream sports.
John T. Horton
Neph...@AOL.COM
vern...@compuserve.com
Bob,
Phew! Lots of things to consider here..
I'm going to flip around a bit.
Football (US) - it is successful because there are 260 million people in
the US and a big percentage watch it. It is not watched anywhere else in
the world as much as the US. Some Canadians and Mexicans with Cable.
Soccer - world wide is the biggest money making event ever - you would
not believe the monetary numbers of a successful team in this event.
Soccer players who are good, in some countries can become President when
they retire - it is a culture more than a sport.
I digress...
Regardless of the so called "small" sports out there in the olympics, did
you realize that a Javelin chucker (a good one) can make $100,000 per
year! In sponsorships. Ever seen a javelin throwing contest on TV? I
mean I scan all the TV guides looking for these events <g>!
However, you have made a huge point, and one that very few people
understand. The Olympics guarantees absolutely nothing for a sport. You
can be there but if you are not what the media wants - you are still
nothing!
Do we want to be nothing?
I have to explain my position because in my own mind, it seems important.
I have discussed this situation with many top ranked skiers in the world
- you name em, I've spoken with them... Patrice, Jaret, Kreg, Bruce
Neville, Brenda Baldwin, Helena, Susi Graham, Jim Clunie, Sammy Duvall,
Carl, John Swanson, Camille, Slone, etc., etc. I'm not name dropping
here, I'm just trying to point out some of the finest athletes in the
world who want to be recognized. I'm also a skier - not great but, not
bad. I do other sports however, I have never found another sport that
simulates the thrill, strength and agility that Water Skiing does. It is
a fantastic sport and involves skill/strength/finesse levels that exceed
95% of existing Olympic sports today.
I do believe that it is important that we deliver this message about our
sport around the world. If it is the Olympics, fine, but as you say, and
I totally agree, this is not the panacea for our sport. If we want it to
be the forefront of sports in the world, we have to make the ordinary
couch potato, channel surfer - stop and watch. Olympics gives us
Credibility but that is only the beginning. If we do not KEEP promoting,
we will fade away and this is what REALLY ticks me off because as an
"unknown" sport, we are getting our butts kicked off more lakes than God
made! And, We have no defence!
This is a rec.sport.waterski group and I am asking you to support an
Olympic ideal. It is not for the "12" people that will really benefit
(monetarily) it is ALL the rest of us that will benefit because the sport
that we truly enjoy and love, will have some respect in the sporting
world.
We can hide - that's a fact. We can go on the way we have for 75 years
but, slowly and surely, you should understand the consequences.
Remember that article about the water skiers that skied the Columbia River
that was in Water Ski mag last year? Did you know that the first leg of
their trip (in Canada) has now been closed to water skiing??! Without a
single notification to any water skiing bodies in Canada!
We have been dumped on, crapped on, treated with disrespect, trashed
and ignored far too long. It is time that the supposed 75 million
water skiers around the world united for one big fat elbow to the face
of every other sport outside our own and MADE A STATEMENT.
As a member of the Executive Board of the IWSF, I can tell you
that, as we speak, a huge effort around the world is being
amassed to put ourselves in the forefront. We even have letters of
support from King Hussein! Directed to his excellency, Dr. Samaranch.
We have people massing in Athens, as we speak, hob nobbing
with the powers to be for water skiing. We are hitting every
single important delegate that we know of to push this issue forward.
Our biggest, and I can say this with some authority, our biggest
effort would be to have so much support from the water ski community -
the common denominator people - like you and me, your brother,
sister and aunt from Toledo, that NOBODY could/would ignore us
and this is what the Olympic Petition is all about.
Even if we do not gain a berth - WE will have made a HUGE statement
that no one can ignore. If you want your sport to survive into the
21st century - make a statement. If not, be prepared to fight a losing
battle when your own personal haven comes under review and the
almighty moral minority tells you to get your butt out of THEIR pond!
Yikes - I got carried away
TKX
Vern
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reico
WELL SAID, SIGN ME UP, HOW CAN I HELP, OUR SPORT AND IT'S ATHLETES DESERVE
IT!!!!! I AM IN SEATTLE IF I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE.
I guess the real question is, is this the best expenditure of effort and
resources. There are less than 10,000 registered competitors in the US!
Participation is waning and the industry is sick. Wake Boarding is now more
popular than traditional skiing, (by industry sales). This is a great and
important effort, but as you said, it is no panacea. Thanks for the
intelligent response.
vern...@compuserve.com wrote in message
<881909600....@dejanews.com>...
Henry Sharp
vern...@compuserve.com wrote:
> <snip> Olympics gives us
> Credibility but that is only the beginning.
> <snip> ... If not, be prepared to fight a losing
> battle when your own personal haven comes under review and the
> almighty moral minority tells you to get your butt out of THEIR pond!
>
> Yikes - I got carried away
Perhaps a little carried away but I think you hit the nail on the head. On
our lake the tournament skiers have been battling property owners, the state,
other users, etc seemingly forever. All sides in this battle have come a long
way in terms of respect but olympic status would put a huge feather in our
cap, give us one more element of respect, carry our torch a little further, if
you will.
For example, if I could go to the next public hearing on banning our slalom
course and say "How are you guys gonna feel when you watch the Olympics and
there are no skiers from your home town because you banned their slalom
course..."
HCS
Henry Sharp
Mike Scannell
vern...@compuserve.com wrote in article
<881909600....@dejanews.com>...
>(big snip)
> We have been dumped on, crapped on, treated with disrespect, trashed
> and ignored far too long. It is time that the supposed 75 million
> water skiers around the world united for one big fat elbow to the face
> of every other sport outside our own and MADE A STATEMENT.
> that, as we speak, a huge effort around the world is being
> amassed to put ourselves in the forefront. We even have letters of
> support from King Hussein! Directed to his excellency, Dr. Samaranch.
>(big snip)
Wow. Have you ever considered running for office? ;-)
Mike