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WATERSKI MagazineOlympic Campaign Signatures to be Presented to IOC
The International Water Ski Federation will present more than 58,000 letters and signatures this week to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in support of water skiing's inclusion to the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
The letters and signatures collected from water-skiing supporters in 69 countries will be presented to Juan Antonio Samaranch, the IOC president. In addition to the 58,541 individuals who supported the IWSF drive, National Olympic Committees from 45 countries, including the United States Olympic Committee, voiced their support by submitting letters favorable to water skiing's Olympic admittance. Water-skiing enthusiasts in the United States contributed 13,307 endorsements, the highest of any nation.
Proponents of water skiing are hoping the number of countries and people supporting the sport will have a positive affect on the IOC when it decides whether or not to include water skiing in the Olympic Games. “The support water skiing has will show the IOC that water skiing appeals to large numbers of people across the entire globe,” says Steve McDermeit, USA Water Ski's executive director. “Hopefully, the IOC will recognize that a sport that is practiced and followed by as many people as water skiing will make a great addition to the Olympic Games.”
Last June, water skiing took a major step toward Olympic admittance when the 2004 Athens Organizing Committee (ATHOC) officially selected water skiing as its choice for a new Olympic sport. Under contract terms with the IOC, organizing committees can submit up to two sports to the IOC for acceptance to be added to the Games they are hosting. The IOC's Executive Board must now approve ATHOC's only selection, water skiing, in order for the sport to achieve Olympic admittance.
For more information about the world of water skiing, visit the official Web site of USA Water Ski www.usawaterski.org or contact Justin Campfield at 863-324-4341 ext. 123
