Future challenges for fencing: Giorgio Scarso on SponsorNet.it

[gladius]

When asked about the economic problems to get to London 2012, Giorgio Scarso, FIE VP and FIS President, answers that he is not so concerned about the games in 2012, but that he can see real serious problems for 2016, 2020, and beyond, unless the world of fencing is going to change the way it does its business in a changed and changing world.

How can this be done?

Scarso says that we all must revise and substantially expand, i.e., invest in communication, media, webTV, marketing, and sponsors. National federations must consider the role of fundraising outside the traditional national Olympic committee support. This "new" fundraising by the national federations must be an important and essential part of the budget of a federation for its survival and for the good of the sport.

Read this very interesting interview with Giorgio Scarso by SponsorNet.it with the English translation on Schermaonline.com

http://www.schermaonline.com/scherma...ticle&sid=2504

While the angle is obviously Italian, there are interesting ideas and concepts which are applicable everywhere, even in the US of A.

The candidacy of Catania, Sicily, for the 2011 Senior World Championships is also discussed.

Food for thought...

[zéphirin]

Scarso says that we all must revise and substantially expand, i.e., invest in communication, media, webTV, marketing, and sponsors. National federations must consider the role of fundraising outside the traditional national Olympic committee support. This "new" fundraising by the national federations must be an important and essential part of the budget of a federation for its survival and for the good of the sport.

(emphais added)

This is all fine and dandy but what about an organization which is bankrupt in more ways than one? What is there to invest if all they know how to do is to suck money from us because of a never ending spiral of rising costs?

Maybe there should be a requirement for all current and wannabe USFA leaders to take first a crash course in Italian and French...