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HM King Constantine addressed the ISAF meeting in Singapore 8 November 2005 Category: Speeches The following speech was delivered at the ISAF meeting in Singapore, on 8 November 2005 We knew ISAF had arrived in Singapore when the headlines of the nation's largest daily newspaper read: "Petersson sets course for thrilling image." My immediate concern was of which particular image of Goran was about to present itself on public display. Only on reading the article further did the real essence of the story come to light - it is the image of sailing that is set to be thrilling and not Goran in a floorshow! Every Olympic sport is continuously under observation until the next vote by the IOC in 2009, for the 2012 Olympic Programme. We hope that the media exposure which will result from the President's submission will be greatly enhanced with the call by the Women's Forum for increased exposure by women, not just with the media but in the outfits they wear. Being aware of some of the sports clothing, or lack of it, worn by women in other sports, I think I might join the press corps. Which reminds me of an anecdote I heard recently on the reasons why Sailing is better than sex:
It seems to me that the quote by a well known Baseball player - "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." is perceptive. For sailing, there is an exciting future ahead. But we must continuously be on the look out, attentive, aware for our sport and make sure we secure its future. The delivery of the future of sailing is being presented to you this week with the Strategic Plan - a united vision. This document sets out the blueprint for the future of our Federation and the framework which ISAF will deliver for the sport. We know which direction we are going and it is an extremely exciting opportunity. 2012 Olympics Over the years, I never cease to be amazed with the level of passion, energy and determination which fills the room when my IOC colleagues vote to select the Olympic host city. It was no different on 6 July 2005 when the IOC voted to select the host city for the 2012 Olympics, a decision which happened here in Singapore. Clearly our Singaporean hosts attract the top sports organizations and organize superb conferences. As you heard earlier, Griselda KHNG a fourteen year old Singaporean sailor presented the IOC President Jacques Rogge with the envelope containing the name of the selected host city. Griselda will be 21 by the time of the 2012 Olympics and she will no doubt be hoping to represent her nation. We all send our congratulations to London and Weymouth and wish them good luck. It still seems like yesterday when we were in the midst of the Olympic Games in Athens, and here we are now nine months away from our first Olympic Test event in Qingdao. A fantastic opportunity presents itself for all sports in China - and in our sport in particular I know there are a number of initiatives in place focusing on youth programmes. As Avery Brundage, President of the IOC from 1952 to 1972 said, "The Olympic Games must not be an end in itself, they must be a means of creating a vast programme of physical education and sports competitions for all young people." Sailing has an outstanding opportunity to provide an exciting sports programme for young people - let us in our discussions tomorrow and for the rest of the week think of the sport's future and tomorrow's youth. We have been discussing new Olympic Formats this week which will revitalize the sport's exposure at the Olympics. We are masters of our fortune - and let us take note of the direction that the IOC and the broadcasters have given our sport. However, let us find the right balance and be mindful of what the sailors want. Sailing is about fast decisions, sharpness of mind, foreplay, physical agility, endurance, technique and of course luck. Do we know what young people want out of sport? What changes do they want in their sports? What sports are attractive to them and why? On 12 November last year, ISAF selected the Laser Radial as the new women's single-handed dinghy. One of the objectives for that decision was to enable a wider spread of participation. To date, there are 208 sailors from 40 nations on the world rankings, an increase of 4 nations compared to the Europe. The Laser Radial has attracted eight new nations, including sailors from South America, the Caribbean and Asia and this is only the start. Battle of Trafalgar Two Hundred years ago, the Battle of Trafalgar was fought on the 21 October 1805 off Cape Trafalgar, which was a great victory for Lord Nelson and he was quoted as saying, "I could not tread these perilous paths in safety, if I did not keep a saving sense of humour." That can equally be applied to us and our roles here this week! There are challenging paths ahead, although perhaps these challenges should be considered more as opportunities. And as ever the humour and camaraderie in the meeting rooms is what sport should also be about - the many friendships we have all made. Aegean Regatta Anecdote Aegean in 1967 - ad-lib Almost forty years later, I had great fun sailing with George Andreadis in the Aegean Regatta earlier this year. This year I didn't come last - in fact every day we crossed the finish line first. The race is a series of three legs between the Greek Islands - with a race one day, and then one rest day. We ended up in Rhodes, where the series concluded with windward/leeward racing. At the start of the regatta George had to disclose his crew weights. I was quite surprised to have my weight published as 100 kg - when in fact it is only 99.9 kg!! Anecdote ad-lib Whilst I was delighted to be part of the crew that crossed the line first in most races - on handicap we were pipped to overall race victory by George's son. Again, it is the mix of levels of participation which makes the sport so unique. The Aegean Regatta was about the enjoyment of sailing, being with friends and the sheer desire to win. Our sport is one of the few sports where the bureaucrats actually take part in the sport. I remember many years ago, in 1964, Peter Scott, then President of the IYRU, and Bob Bavier, a member of the Permanent Committee, were at the helms of respective America's Cup boats - Sovereign and Constellation. They recorded the biggest losing margin in America's Cup history - 20 minutes and 24 seconds and Beveare won the series 4-0. The power of the America's Cup has transformed the sport and the Acts which have been held this year have been an inspiring success. Back in 1992 I was racing as 17th Man with Bill Koch on America Cubed - and competing against Dennis Connor. On that particular race Dennis beat Bill Koch. Dennis claimed he won because he had a secret weapon - on Bill's boat. He then proceeded to divulge his secret weapon and that was me - the King of Greece. There are many sailing entrepreneurs and the sport encourages new events around the world - even more so when these events are really giving something back to the sport and youth. One such recent event was the Mykonos Cup or Dream Race, organized by Sofia Bekatorou this year. The Dream Race focused on achieving a number of goals - and it delivered in being a fundraising event and promoting sailing to young people throughout the island of Mykonos and Greece, and it has helped to open the Greek publics eyes of to the world of the America's Cup. Innovation The Volvo Ocean Race started on 6 November in Vigo, Spain with 7 boats contesting this round the world challenge of talent, raw nerves and technical innovation. A week after being put in the water, along with the Executive Committee, I went to have a look at the exciting new boat of Paul Cayard's - Pearl of the Caribbean. It was hidden away in a secret location in Southampton dockyard prior to its official launch, surrounded by container ships and cranes. I have been reliably informed that during testing the Pearl of the Caribbean has reached 30 knots. I am not sure what one does at the helm when your boat is doing 30 knots - other than pray a lot!! The relationship between the movie empire of Disney partnering with sailing is extremely constructive. With several of the film's stars set to compete in legs of the Volvo Ocean Race, the sport will generate even greater publicity. If my schedule permits I plan to be in New York in May next year - it will be an amazing sight seeing the boats weave their way into New York under the Statue of Liberty. Multihull I am personally pleased and delighted that multihull sailors have won the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards. Back in 1961, I along with Bob Bavier, HRH The Duke of Sparta, Alonso Allende and Bob Mckinnon - were founding member of the Catamaran Committee. Staff This is the first time that our Federation has come to Asia and it has been a great success. I would like to thank Arve and his staff for their hard work throughout the past twelve months and this Conference. Can I at this stage on behalf of all of us thank Singapore Sailing and especially T P Low for their support. ISAF Centenary ISAF is now just over one year away from 2007 and the ISAF Centenary. A pinnacle celebration will be the Sail The World weekend on 1-2 September 2007 - two day's when ISAF invites the world of sailing to be out on the water around the globe. The target is to have a global weekend of sailing activities aimed at all disciplines and levels - in effect, a global festival of sailing. I hope many of you will take the opportunity whilst you are here to find out more about the ISAF Centenary and visit the information desk open in the delegates' lounge. Definition of a Conference The definition of a conference has been quoted as "A gathering whose members singly can do nothing, but who together can decide that nothing can be done." Let us not do that - Let's get to work. There are exciting times ahead. On that note I invite you to join me in a toast. To Sailors Everywhere! |
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