Korean Candidate Talks Change for Triathlon

(ATR) Kyung-Sun Yu tells Around the Rings he will realize the International Triathlon Union’s "vast untapped potential" if elected Tuesday to the presidency of the ITU.

Yu, a senior member of the organizing committees for both the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, is among the leading men in South Korean sport.

He’s also president of the Asian Triathlon Federation since 2003 and an ITU vice president since 2008.

A lifelong businessman who heads Korean conglomerate Eugene Group, he credits sport with changing his perspective on life.

"I was introduced to triathlon during the time of the economic crisis in Korea," says Yu, 57, who regularly races in age-category events.

"I was stressed, full of worries. Practicing triathlon made me stronger physically and mentally."

Easy as 1, 2, 3?

Strength is also the focus of his campaign promises as he tries to unseat incumbent Marisol Casado of Spain, an IOC member since 2010 and ITU president since 2008.

Yu’s platform features three prongs: strengthening the ITU’s financial status; strengthening the ITU’s professional structure and practices of good governance; and increasing funding to as well as input from both athletes and national federations.

"Without appropriate control of expenses and without creating additional revenue, the ITU will not survive economically," he tells ATR.

"Not only are we spending more and our revenue stream is weak, but also we are not spending the money where we should: the athletes, sport development and national federations."

Yu cites his background in business and says his support team includes finance experts as well as those with wide experience in sport leadership.

"ITU is not a small organization. It cannot run as a club. It must be operated by professionals like a world class operation," he says.

"Good governance is essential. Finances must become transparent and strategic plans must have input from all stakeholders."

ITU’s No. 2

The race for secretary general pits incumbent Loreen Barnett of Canada against Philip Schaedler of Lichtenstein as well as current VPs Antonio Alvarez of Mexico and Sarah Springman of Great Britain.

Yu says he "wholeheartedly" supports Schaedler, citing his extensive experience in business and sport leadership as well as his long service with the European Triathlon Union and ITU.

Mixing It Up

Asked about the possible inclusion of mixed relay at Rio 2016, winter triathlon at PyeongChang 2018 and sprint at the 2020 Olympics, he says his focus sits squarely on the mixed relay for Rio.

"The IOC makes very careful deliberations in approving new formats in the Olympics, so our approach is not going to be haphazard but carefully planned," he tells ATR.

Yu says his team has close relationships with senior IOC members and NOC presidents, relationships that will help the ITU increase triathlon’s presence at the Games.

"We have prepared a business proposal that we feel very confident about. But that's not enough to achieve success," he admits.

"We will appoint people that will not be burdened with other tasks or have a conflict of interest s as they try to fulfill many roles in different sports organizations, who will only care for the success of this project. To achieve success they will have to actively promote the inclusion of the new format and at the same time consult with our partners within the Olympic Program Commission of the IOC."

Among his goals to achieve as ITU president, Yu also lists ensuring the inclusion of both winter triathlon as an exhibition sport at PyeongChang 2018 and sprint triathlon as a medal event at the 2020 Summer Games.

A Dose of Controversy

Yu thanks Sebastian Coe and LOCOG for giving triathlon an iconic venue as well as outstanding exposure and says London provides a model the ITU must study and emulate at future Olympics.

As a former vice president of the Korean Olympic Committee and current chair of its Culture, Environment, and Education Commission, he was chosen by the KOC as chef de mission for London 2012 but resigned before the Games amid an investigation for tax evasion.

Asked how he expected the controversy to impact his campaign, Yu did not demur.

"There was an inquiry regarding a tax dispute," he concedes.

"This is common in all democratic countries, and I welcome it. I have actually focused all my energy to see this process through as quickly as possible. There were never any charges of tax evasion. That’s why today I am running for the position of ITU president with full-hearted support from the Korean Olympic Committee and Korean government."

First Things First

If elected Tuesday at the 25th ITU Congress in Auckland, New Zealand, Yu says his first orders of business would be to begin weekly teleconferences with all members of the Executive Board, to institute a system of providing sporting equipment and infrastructure to emerging NFs as well to cut expenses among the ITU’s "so many offices".

"We can increase revenue by investing in the brand and therefore attract sponsors and donors. Create further revenue by building synergies with tourism and major events. Develop the selling of branded products and attract advertising," he tells ATR.

"And how do you attract more advertising? By making the sport more attractive for a TV audience as well. We will organize ‘celebrity’ triathlons. We will organize ‘super-sprint’ races that are more dynamic and exciting for the athletes and spectators. We can start ‘indoor triathlon’ that will make the sport more spectator and TV friendly."

Yu stresses pride in his so-called "New Team" consisting of three present and former confederation presidents and a vice president as well as two current ITU officers, an EB member and other support staff.

"These people were selected because they are experienced and dedicated in developing ITU, without any conflicting roles in their involvement with triathlon, volunteering their time with a single purpose in mind: to make the sport better," he says.

"I am very excited that together with this great group of people if given the opportunity and the honor, we will take ITU to the next level."

Reported by Matthew Grayson

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