Inclusion Manager

08/06/2009

Richard Butler, USRowing's Inclusion Manager Diversity in rowing is the key to a new initiative for USRowing who have recently set up the role of inclusion manager. Richard Butler, newly hired for the position, has the huge task of bringing rowing to anyone who is not currently rowing. Butler is starting with a clean slate and relishing the challenge.

The position stemmed from discussions following the USRowing Task Force on Access, Affordability & Diversity that first met in 2006. USRowing’s press officer Brett Johnson says the inclusion manager role was developed to move forward from the Task Force findings. The role is to create “diversity in rowing” in the United States.

Butler will develop an integrated diversity strategy and develop and provide resources, materials and consulting for USRowing members and the wider sports community. Apart from USA Swimming there are no other sporting organisations with an inclusion manager. Butler will thus be helping USRowing to take the lead in bringing sport to all parts of society.

World Rowing talked to Richard Butler from the new USRowing base in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

World Rowing: Coming from a non-rowing background, how did you become involved in rowing?
Richard Butler: My background is in various types of sports. As a fitness trainer I worked with various athletes. A masters rower that I was working with approached me and asked if I’d be a mental coach for her masters crew. It got me interested, so I went to the website of her rowing club, Three Rivers Rowing (Pittsburgh) and saw that they had a job going for an executive director. I applied. I was the only non-rower to apply (and I got the job). They were more interested in employing someone with leadership skills. Three Rivers Rowing is large. It has two boathouses with 1,700-plus rowers.
Prior to that I was aware of rowing but like other African Americans I didn’t have rowing on my radar. I was surprised that at Three Rivers Rowing there were 25 masters black rowers. The club already had a diversity manager.
So I wasn’t exposed to rowing until then. Now I’m a masters rower. I have done martial arts and other sports and I can say rowing is the hardest sport.

WR: How did the USRowing inclusion manager role come about?
RB: There are 188,000 participants in rowing in the US. This is a small amount compared to other sports. USRowing created a diversity task force three years ago. The conferences were fantastic but the question was how to make it go further. The task force was volunteer so it is difficult to make it grow. Glenn Merry (USRowing’s executive director) recognised the huge opportunity.

WR: You are setting up the role virtually from scratch. What will be your first focus?
RB: USA Today (newspaper) did a scathing article on national sporting bodies of Olympic sports and found they’d done nothing for inclusion. Swimming was the first to have an inclusion manager. USRowing is taking the lead on this one. So my initial role is coming up with strategic plans on what inclusion should look like and how to make it happen. I imagine my first 10 months will be brain work, creating initiatives.
USRowing isn’t big as a sport, so I’m looking at how we make rowing relevant to all of the US.

WR: Are there certain groups in the community that you want to focus on?
RB: The racial groups that are currently not involved in rowing. I’ll look at rural as well as urban groups, also inclusion in terms of gays and lesbians and adaptive rowers.
I’m careful to begin my conversations stressing that this isn’t about getting blacks rowing. It’s about getting everyone who is not rowing involved. Initially though my focus is youth.

WR: What is your view on why certain ethnicities gravitate towards certain sports?
RB: I teach a college class on diversity in organisations and what I see is that everything we do in life is based on informal social networks. So if my informal social network is playing basketball, then that’s what I know and then likely what I’ll do.
A local school of mainly black students went on a tour of the local university and had a great time. At the end of the tour the students were asked if they’d go to this university. They weren’t interested because they said ‘this school is for Asians.’ Social networks will get different groups involved.

WR: Do you think rowing in the United States is elitist?
RB: Not on purpose. It wasn’t planned, but the nature of the sport means it’s not accessible and it’s not affordable.

WR: There also seems to be barriers in terms of different cultures’ view of water.
RB: Yes, this is an issue. Latin Americans have the highest drowning rate (in the US). In Pittsburgh the number one thing your parents tell you is ‘don’t go near the water, because you’ll die’. There’s a big fear of drowning.
We have to break the fear of water. It’s going to be one of the greatest challenges. I also have the challenge to convince USRowing members and the rowing public in general that this role is relevant.
I embrace challenges. I have the opportunity to make a difference in a whole sport. Glenn Merry said it the best: “Besides that it’s the right thing to do, it’ll help USRowing to become relevant as a sport in the United States.”Here is the beginning of my post.

μπυρίτσα

Πρόσεχε τούς τραυματισμούς όταν ανοίγεις την μπύρα.
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Κωπηλασία στο Dubai ! (?)

Λοιπόν, όλοι εσείς οι γόνοι εφοπλιστικών και λοιπών οικογενειών του πλούτου της χώρας μας, που σας αρέσει η Κωπηλασία, μην ανησυχείτε! Τώρα μπορείτε να κωπηλατείτε και στο Ντουμπάι, μια και ξέρω πόσο συχνά σας αρέσει να το επισκέπτεσθε!!!
"Yes, you can row in Dubai, even in the summer. We took to the creek to give it a bash. Here's what happened"

The city is eerily quiet. Garhoud Bridge is free of rumblings, Creekside Park’s cablecars are at a standstill and, at this time of the morning, Dubai could be mistaken for a peaceful sort of place.With the sun only just over the horizon, it could also be mistaken for somewhere with a hospitable climate at this time of year. Time Out met with Monty Khwaja on the banks of the Al Boom Tourist Village at his suggestion that these blazing days are high season for rowing in Dubai. As the heat sets in, and we’re relegated further and further into a void of air conditioned, sedentary living, any opportunity to get out and active needs to be taken by the oars, so to speak.
‘I’d go so far as to say that winter is the off season for this,’ remarks Monty, a Pakistani expat who has been in and out of Dubai’s rowing scene for the past 10 years, as he shoulders the hull of his two-man boat. ‘At this time of the morning, the water from the creek is cool, the air is cool. You can get to work out, outside, at the hottest time of the year.
’Monty honed his water-bound ambitions in the colonial-era relic of a rowing club in Karachi. Starting out on British army regattas, Monty eschewed the usual Indo-Pak fascination with cricket and concentrated on developing rowing as a sport in his home country, going on to win gold at the Asian Games in 1990, along with appearances at the famed Henley Regatta and several competitions around Europe.Taking the back of the boat, we amble down to the water’s edge and Monty points out where we’ll be heading.
‘We’re going to go right under the Garhoud Bridge, about 200m up the creek and then back, all the way to the Floating Bridge. Sometimes our weekend groups head out from here right up to Ras Al Khor. We row far enough to see the flamingos. Far enough away, of course.’After a slightly daunting wobble into the scull, we strap on the shoes fixed into the body of the boat and take up the oars. Monty jumps in behind and a couple of minor strokes send us cruising into the centre of the creek.‘You’re looking to make a rectangle with the oars,’ explains Monty as he rests his paddles above the water, signalling me to take the reins.
‘Keep hold of them. It’s what’s keeping things upright. Let go and we’ll capsize.’ But despite a couple of initial shaky moments it’s surprisingly easy to find and keep a healthy rowing rhythm. Oblivious to the rising sun and temperature we swiftly progress (at his encouragingly gruff chants of ‘and flick, and flick’) from a staggering slapping paddle to something halfway to graceful. The one-on-one element complements rowing perfectly. A full-body movement, putting emphasis on the stomach muscles, forearms and back, Monty’s coaxing (and cox-like presence) is not unlike having your own un-punishing personal trainer. And, when he decides to pick up the oars himself and provide a bit of wingman propulsion, we catch quite a speed and a refreshing burst of cool air.

The sole boat on the water, we run a couple of merry circuits as Monty explains the attractions of rowing for the gym-shy. ‘For people who don’t like to go to the gym, who don’t like to run, don’t like to lift weights – this is a power workout. You’re building up lean muscle with a strong cardio basis to build on. And you’re learning a skill while you do it.’

Monty’s Thursday, Friday and Saturday sessions are getting consistent turnouts of between 15 and 20 people, with varying abilities across the group. With two sets of two-man, four-man and eight-man boats, all of these rowers are getting out on the water and he’s hopeful of bringing a number of teams together in the future. Back in 2005, when Monty was running lessons with the late Dubai Waterski Club, he organised a charity ‘rowathon’ with members of his group as crew.

It’s easy to sink sleepwalker-like into the rowing rhythm. Movements, flicks of the wrist and the steady loll of the boat provide a constant, stimulating and it’s only when you eventually drop the oars that you realise how much exertion it takes to keep you moving. As the city begins to wake up, and Monty offers a few basic pointers on directing the craft, we skim to a halt, arms, fingers and back buzzing with exertion. Monty leaps out and helps me off. I realise we haven’t spoken for about five minutes, so meditative is this down, push, lift, pull and repeat rhythm. And, as I hail a cab and head back into the Garhoud slipstream, it’s hard not to look at that murky creek in a whole new way.
Monty’s Rowing School. All ages and abilities welcome. Lesson Dhs120. Membership and Group discounts available. Group lessons are Thur, Fri and Sat with sunset and sunrise sessions. For details and times call Monty on 050 738 0910.
Time Out Dubai 8 June 2009

IRA Men's Varsity Eight Grand Final

Το University of Washington είναι ο νικητής του 107th IRA.Αυτό που κάνει τη νίκη ενδιαφέρουσα είναι πως κέρδισανστο finish το University of California Berceley του οποίου προπονητής είναι από το περασμένο Σεπτεμβριο ο Mike Teti πρώην head coαch της εθνικής Αμερικής-χρυσό στους ολυμπιακούς στην Αθήνα και χάλκινο στο Πεκίνο με την οκτάκωπο ανδρών.Ο δε μισθός του στο Berceley τον κατατάσει σαν τον πιο ακριβοπληρωμένο προπονητή του κόσμου (οι φήμες λένε για 250.000 δολ.)

Από τον Δημ. Τσουρτσούλα.

κωπηλατικές φωτογραφίες

photos by Adam Nurkiewicz

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Τι έγινε ρε παιδιά ;

Πέμπτη, 4 Ιούνιος 2009

Τον έπιασαν ντοπαρισμένο και τιμωρήθηκε με...μπάνια

Τι έγινε ρε παιδιά με τον Γιάκουμπ Βαβζίνιακ; Θα βγει αύριο το λαλίστατο goal και η "Εξέδρα" με την "sportday" που μιλούσαν για σκάνδαλα ντόπινγκ να φωνάξουν για τους 3 μήνες αποκλεισμού στον ποδοσφαιριστή του ΠΑΟ για το ντόπινγκ και την ουσία που βρέθηκε θετικός; Το καλοκαίρι θα χάσει με λίγα λόγια. Aλλά δεν ακούσαμε να φωνάζουν στον sentra.
Άντε να δούμε. Κάντε το για να μην εκτεθείτε αύριο. Σας...


σπρώχνουμε λίγο αλλά τι να κάνουμε. Φάγατε όλο τον κόσμο με τα σκάνδαλα ντόπιγκ το καλοκαίρι και τώρα ένας ποδοσφαιριστής τρώει 3 μήνες και δεν μιλάνε ούτε τα κανάλια ούτε τα ραδιόφωνα για σκάνδαλο. Αν ήταν του στίβου ή της κολύμβησης θα έκαναν αφιερώματα.
Και ο Γ.Ιωαννίδης θα άλλαζε τους νόμους.
Αλλά τι να πει και αυτός. Έχει εκτεθεί από παντού με το νόμο-τέρας που έβγαλε.Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Olympic Order για τον Thor Nilsen.

Nilsen nets Olympic honour

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04/06/2009

The International Olympic Committee’s highest award, the Olympic Order has gone to FISA’s Development Director, Thor Nilsen.

Nilsen, 77, has long been quintessential rowing. His involvement in the sport stretches back to his youth in Norway as an active rower and it has remained unwavering ever since through administrative involvement and as a coach and mentor.

As an athlete, Nilsen has rowed at the European Championships and the Olympic Games and competed in 25 national championships in his home country Norway.

Nilsen is known in the rowing community internationally for his willingness to help any athlete that wants his direction. He sees no borders in terms of nationality and has coached athletes from around the world including China, Ireland, Spain, and Italy. He is also involved with the development of rowing in new rowing nations and during Nilsen’s time as Development Director the number of nations that now have rowing programmes has nearly doubled. Medals won by athletes that Nilsen has coached tally up to approximately 40 gold medals at the championship level including eight Olympic golds.

Throughout his career Nilsen has been inextricably involved with FISA in various ways: as a member and chair of FISA’s Competitive Commission. As a member and chair of the FISA Council and as a FISA executive board member.

The impact of Nilsen on the international rowing community is immense and in the award submission for Nilsen it summed him up, “Nilsen is a man of great ethical stature. His generosity is boundless.”

The Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement created by the International Olympic Committee. It is awarded to individuals for their contributions to the Olympic Movement. The award is decided by the Olympic Order Board made up of the IOC president ant the four IOC vice presidents.

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Όμορφη

ΚΩΠΗΛΑΣΙΑ

Έλληνες στη Banyoles

Banyoles photo by Adam Nurkiewicz

Πρόσκληση σε κοινόβιο.

Στην ιστοσελίδα Εκοφνς είδαμε την ανακοίνωση για το νέο κοινόβιο.

Επίσης είδαμε ένα καινούριο αθλητή το Γιώργο Γ...

Αναρωτιέμαι γιατί αποκλείστηκε ο Παύλος Γ.....
Kοινόβιο Ανδρών - Γυναικών

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Ιδέες για ανακύκλωση

Διακολεγιακό πρωτάθλημα Κωπηλασίας

INTERCOLLEGIATE ROWING ASSOCIATION (IRA)

To 1870 ο captain του Harvard Boat Club οργάνωσε μία συνάντηση με άλλα κολέγια που είχαν το άθλημα της κωπηλασίας, να συζητήσουν την οργάνωση ενός πρωταθλήματος στον ποταμό Connecticut - η διαδρομή θα ήταν τρία μίλια.Στη συνάντηση ήταν παρόντες εκπρόσωποι του Harvard,Brown,Amherst και Bowdoin.

To Rowing Association of American Colleges ιδρύθηκε και ορίστηκαν οι κανονισμοί των αγώνων.Αν και σήμερα υπάρχουν τεράστιες αλλαγές από εκείνους τους κανονισμούς,ένας όμως παραμένει αμετάκλητος: μόνο προπτυχιακοί σπουδαστές έχουν το δικαίωμα να αγωνισθούν. Από το 1873 οι ομάδες έγιναν ένδεκα και το 1875 δεκατρείς.Οι αγώνες διεξήγοντο μέχρι το 1894 με διαδρομές από 1 ½- 4 μίλια.

Το 1895 τα Columbia,Cornell και Pennsylvania ιδρύουν το Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) .Μέχρι το 1967 όλα τα σκάφη έμπαιναν στη σειρά,και με σύνθημα ένα πυροβολισμό,έτρεχαν τον αγώνα των 4 μιλίων για τις οκτάκωπες και 2 μίλια για τις οκτάκωπες των “αρχαρίων” δηλ.των πρωτοετών.(Freshmen). Από το 1968-ολυμπιακή χρονιά- καθιερώνεται η μορφή των προκριματικών-επαναληπτικών –τελικών, έξι διαδρομές, 2000 μέτρα,που ισχύει και σήμερα,Από το 1914 μπορούν να συμμετέχουν και οκτάκωπες με Β`πλήρωμα.Τα τελευταία χρόνια συμμετέχουν και οκτάκωπες ελαφριών βαρών, οκτάκωπες γυναικών,καθώς και τετράκωπες με πηδαλιούχο

Το IRA θεωρείται το σπουδαιότερο κολεγιακό πρωτάθλημα και σ`αυτό συντελεί ο παραδοσιακός ανταγωνισμός των μεγάλων πανεπιστημίων που θέλουν το βαρύτιμο κύπελο να κοσμεί το δικό τους σχολείο.

Το IRA 2009 θα διεξαχθεί στη λίμνη Natoma,στο Sacramento California στις 4-6 Ιουνίου.
Από τον Δημήτρη Τσουρτσούλα.