SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
Issue link: https://sportsevents.epubxp.com/i/261418
February 2014 12 www.sportseventsmagazine.com ▼ Planner PROFILE Sharing Insight In Their Own Words Organization: USA Canoe/Kayak (USACK) is a non-profit membership organization that promotes canoe and kayak racing in the United States. USACK is the national governing body for the Olympic sports of flatwater sprint and whitewater slalom. Events: Primary events include National Team selection events; National Champion- ships in the Olympic sports of whitewater slalom and flatwater sprint racing and the Paralympic sport of paracanoe sprint racing; the Lake Placid International Regatta; and more than 100 sanctioned paddlesports events. National events draw 300-400 partici- pants; local events draw 50 to 150. What kind of location do you need for your events? As we have a variety of paddlesport disciplines, many different kinds of waterways can work our events—whitewater rivers, lakes, open water, and ocean front, to name a few. Do you rely on the local sports commission/CVB for help with events? The development of clubs and paddling programs is a critical component to our events, and CVB partners understand and support the paddlesports commu- nity, which in turn produces higher-quality paddlesport events. ■ Joe Jacobi CEO, USA Canoe/Kayak, Oklahoma City, Okla. What are the best parts about your job? Engaging young people in the pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic medals in paddlesports; helping communities raise quality-of-life standards and increase eco- nomic impact by developing their waterfronts and waterways and investing in paddle- sports; seeing our athletes on the medal podium; and creating innovative solu- tions and memorable programs for our partners. The planners profiled below are recipients of SportsEvents' "éclat" award. This new industry award is our way of recognizing exceptional performance and sharing the insights from industry leaders who genuinely are making a positive difference for all of us in the sports events industry. Other award winners will be profiled in SportsEvents throughout the year. BY ALISON MITCHELL ZUNKLEI Organization: America seeks to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Events: Moss is responsible for developing and plan- ning sports, fitness and recreation activities for 4,000 clubs that serve nearly 4 million youth ages 6 to 18. Tell us about the Triple Play health and wellness initiative. Triple Play: A Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul is a health and wellness program designed to empower young people to make informed decisions about their physical, nutritional and social well being. The goals of the Triple Play program are to improve club membersʼ knowledge of healthy habits, good nutrition and physical fitness; increase the number of hours per day they participate in physical activi- ties; and strengthen their abili- ty to interact positively with others and engage in healthy relationships. Triple Play is the largest health and wellness endeavor of America. Where do you typically hold your events, and what do you look for in a destination? I typically look for facilities that can accommodate large numbers of boys and girls, an appropriate number of beds, meeting rooms for breakout and general sessions and athletic facilities. ■ Wayne Moss Senior Director, Healthy Lifestyles for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Atlanta What is the best part about your job? Helping young people become caring, productive and responsible citizens through participation in our programs. *02-20 SE FEB 2014_SportsEvents TEMPLATE 2/11/14 10:36 AM Page 12