Federations Roundup -- Jobson Nominated for U.S. Sailing President; IAAF Opens Center

Gary Jobson has been nominated for president of U.S. Sailing by the organization’s Nominating and Governance Committee. (Getty Images)The Nominating and Governance Committee of U.S. Sailing nominated Gary Jobson as the organization’s next president at its annual spring meeting in Denver March 28.

The 58-year-old Jobson, a world-class sailor, is a member of U.S. Sailing’s board of directors and has served on the Olympic Sailing Committee for 12 years. He has also been a television commentator on ESPN’s America’s Cup coverage.

“U.S. Sailing is a vital component of our sport,” Jobson said. “At this time in my life, I look forward to serving the sport that has been so good to me for so many years.”

Nominating and Governance Committee chairman Janet Baxter said Jobson was the ideal candidate.

“The committee searched for a candidate who possesses skills as a great communicator, negotiator and motivator, Baxter said. “We sought a person firmly committed to the sport, who understands our organization, the USOC and ISAF and someone who will bring fresh thinking to the board. U.S. Sailing needs a strong strategic thinker to be our leader and to look at our long-term goals. As we see the impacts of a rough economy, Gary’s experience as a public speaker and fundraiser could not come at a better time.”

U.S. Sailing’s board of directors will elect the organization’s next president, who will serve a one-year term, at its annual general meeting in Houston on Oct. 25.

IAAF Opens High Performance Center in Beijing

Beijing will serve as a location for the training of international level athletes and coaches at the IAAF high performance center in the Chinese capital.

The center, which will accept its first athlete on April 15.Located on the campus of Beijing Sport University, it will train elite athletes competing in the long, triple and high jumps, middle and long distance running and race walking.

Attending the ceremony opening the facility was IAAF representatives Luo Chaoyi (council member), Lou Dapeng (former vice president) and Elio Locatelli (director of member services),as well as Beijing Sport University Vice President Chi Jian, Asian Athletics Association Secretary-Treasurer Maurice Nicholas and Chinese Athletics Federation Vice Chairman Feng Shuyong.

The IAAF operates high performance centers in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Oceania as well as North, South and Central America.

Hockey Canada Chairman Allan Morris 1934-2009

Allan Morris, the chairman of the board of directors for Hockey Canada, died on Tuesday. He was 74.

Morris served as Hockey Canada’s chairman of the board for the last two years after serving as the organization’s executive vice chair from 2006-07 and the vice chair at large from 2001-06.

He had also been the chairman of the Ontario Hockey FederationHockey Canada chairman of the board Allen Morris. (Hockey Canada) from 1997-2001 and chairman of the board of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1993-96.

“Dr. Allan Morris was the ultimate volunteer and the game of hockey in Canada is better today because of his devotion to the sport he loved,” Hockey Canada President and CEO Bob Nicholson said. “At Hockey Canada, we are all better off for having known and worked with Dr. Morris.”

ITF to Hold Inagural Beach Tennis Worlds in Rome

The International Tennis Federation said the inaugural ITF Beach Tennis World Championships will be held in Rome May 4-6.

The tournament, which will be organized by the Italian Tennis Federation (FIT), will be played at the Foro Italico, the venue for the Italian Open.

Beach tennis combines elements of tennis and beach volleyball. Players used paddle bats and a slightly depressurized tennis ball.

“Beach tennis is a unique and fun alternative way of playing the sport. Which we hope will widen the appeal of the sport to players of all ages,” ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said. “We are delighted that the beach tennis tour has already grown so quickly and the world championships, organized by the FIT, will help attract additional interest in the sport.”

Written by Greg Oshust.