The FISA Council met in London this weekend to promptly consider the positive contribution FISA could initiate to help the International Olympic Committee (IOC) make Agenda 2020 the best possible success. The members of the Council reviewed the 40 recommendations adopted by the IOC Session to see where and how they could be applied to FISA’s Strategic Plan as well as to prepare any appropriate changes to statues, rules, regulations and bye-laws. The Council members then broke up into five working groups to re-assess each point of the FISA Strategic Plan against Agenda 2020 and make the appropriate amendments.
FISA President Jean-Christophe Rolland, who attended the IOC Extraordinary Session in Monaco last Monday and Tuesday, led the Council through each of the recommendations. In particular, the Council addressed in great detail the subjects of cost reduction, sustainability and gender equality. It was very clear from Agenda 2020 that all stakeholders must do their share to help bring the total cost of the Olympic Games back to reasonable sums and that sport has a unique opportunity to lead this effort. As well, staging sustainable Games is critical and the Council gave this aspect a great deal of consideration. Gender equality is a societal issue and sport can play a special role in changing attitudes and behaviours. Rowing has already initiated a strategic plan to address this topic and increase the number of women participating.
All other recommendations were carefully reviewed, one by one, in order to assess the direct or indirect impact on the sport and one FISA. The FISA Strategic Plan was also reviewed line by line with Agenda 2020 and is being prepared for further consultation with the member national rowing federations.
A special meeting will take place in London on 8 March 2015 for the leaders of the national federations with the FISA Council to discuss the contributions that the sport of rowing can make to Agenda 2020, the possible changes and impacts coming from Agenda 2020, to discuss and agree on the FISA Strategic Plan for the sport of rowing and to develop in-depth strategies for greater universality, equality and sustainability for the sport of rowing.
In addition to this careful and detailed consideration of Agenda 2020, the Council also addressed