"The support from the IOC came not a moment too soon."
Yesterday, or maybe today, was/is Olympic Day, that most wonderful time of year when we gather together with our loved ones and remember the anniversary of the formation of the International Olympic Committee in Paris, in 1894, by the great Pierre de Coubertin.
How do you usually celebrate?
By sitting around the hearth and eating a fresh baked cake in the shape of the Olympic rings (the blue one flavored blueberry, black dark chocolate, red red velvet, yellow lemon meringue, green yucky green apple)?
By dancing turn of the century Parisian dances included but not limited to the chassé?
Typically, I run up and down my street waving the Olympic flag and singing Les Champs-Elysees at the top of my lungs but this year, alas, the dastardly Coronavirus is raining on my parade as the mask I am forced to wear outdoors really hampers my tenor.
The Coronavirus is also raining on the International Surfing Association’s parade as revealed by its chief Fernando Aguerre. In a wide ranging interview with Inside The Games, he discusses how the ISA usually celebrates International Olympic Day with festive beach clean-ups but this year, due restrictions, the ISA is celebrating with Justine Dupont leading a home workout on Instagram Live.
Exciting.
Aguerre also revealed how his International Surfing Association was almost undone but saved from the gallows at the very last second.
“It became very clear when the pandemic came that the ISA was not going to survive without financial support,” he told Inside the Games. “The support from the IOC came not a moment too soon. It was needed and we made a very good presentation for it. We’re the first Federation to receive this financial compensation. It shows in the Olympic family, surfing and the ISA are seen as credible and bring enormous value to the Olympic Games.”
Wonderful but what do you suppose was in the very good presentation?
An at-home Justine Dupont workout?
More as the story develops.