Leadership Lessons for Federations Meeting in Lausanne

Patrick Baumann, secretary general of FIBA, says the summit is a “chance to learn from our peers.” (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)Leaders of international sports federations are exchanging best practice ideas at the second IF Forum that could help their organizations combat the impacts of the global economic downturn and emerge as stronger bodies.

More than 200 representatives from the federations are engaging in workshops and hearing case studies from sports experts and business supremos at the summit, which takes place at the Movenpick Hotel, Lausanne, Switzerland. The themes are leadership and media.

Patrick Baumann, secretary general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), said the summit was a good networking opportunity, “a chance to learn from our peers and to interact with some people coming from the business side.”

“You need leaders in all different kinds of fields, the president, board and staff. In times of crisis, it's the people who make the difference,” he told ATR.

Baumann said FIBA had so far not been directly affected by the economic crisis, but officials were concerned about the affects of volatility in the financial markets and fluctuating exchange rates on its income streams.

Some of the federation's constituent bodies internationally have been hit by the movement in currency values since the start of the year, he said. “To some extent it [the credit crunch] has driven us to be a lot more careful,” Baumann added.

International Canoe Federation (ICF) Secretary General Simon Toulson insisted the financial crisis should not require a major change in the attitude of federation leaders. “I think the economic downturn just sharpens everybody up and makes people realize they can't take things for granted,” he told ATR.

“Leadership is critical regardless. We constantly assess and re-assess what we are doing, why we are doing it and our effectiveness and I think that is the key.”

The forum on leadership comes at a crucial juncture in the evolution of the ICF, whose congress meets in Rome Nov. 28 to 29 and will elect Spain's José Perurena López as the federation's new president. He moves up from first vice president to replace Ulrich Feldhoff, who indicated before the Beijing Olympics that he planned to stand down from the post after more than 10 years in the ICF hot seat.

The ICF's new executive committee is expected to include four new faces, according to Toulson, who said the changes would provide new vision and direction to help further professionalize the federation and widen its appeal in line with its new slogan 'Always moving forward.’ A new logo is also set to be unveiled soon.

“If we want to make a noise and show people it's a fun and exciting sport we have to go out and do it for ourselves, no one is going to do it for us. Hopefully this will come under the new president,” he said.

The IF Forum was opened Monday by IOC President Jacques Rogge and Hein Verbruggen, chair of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), one of the organizing bodies.

Lee Daley, former CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi U.K. and worldwide commercial director for Manchester United FC, gave a keynote speech titled 'Leading your organization into the future.' Jean Réveillon, director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), delivered a presentation on 'Federations and the future of European sports media.’

On Tuesday, Anna Legnani, deputy director of communications at the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), and Mike Miller, secretary general of the International Rugby Board (IRB), set the tone for the day's proceedings with presentations on the Giselle Davies, the IOC’s outgoing director of communications, is a panelist in one of the many breakout seminars being held today. (Getty Images) summit themes.

Case studies and breakout seminars featured speakers from sport and business, including Giselle Davies, the IOC's outgoing director of communications, Antony Scanlon, the IOC's head of Games services and coordination, and Philippe Silacci, press operations officer at the International Gymnastics Federation.

In an afternoon session, Simon Cummins, head of sports practice at U.K.-based sports recruitment agency Odgers, Ray & Berndston, spoke to delegates about innovative approaches to successful leadership, explaining some of the qualities desirable in choosing leaders for sports organizations.

A cocktail reception and dinner at Lausanne's Olympic Museum concludes the day's activities.

Highlights of Wednesday's program include presentations on the forum themes by Tom Dielen, secretary general of the International Archery Federation (FITA), and Etienne Thobois, former CEO of the 2007 Rugby World Cup organizers and now president of Ethobois.com.

Among those leading workshops and moderating panels are Denis Oswald, president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), and Pat McQuaid, president of the International Cycling Union (UCI). Philip Hennemann, CEO of Infostrada Sports, and Jean-Pierre Moser, the World Anti-Doping Agency's director of relations with international federations, are other notable participants.

Oswald, IOC member from Switzerland, and Rene Fasel, president of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) will give the closing remarks to wrap up the conference.

With reporting from Mark Bisson.

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