CHANGING TIMES
by Luke St. Onge

It’s been some time since I last brought you up to date on what is happening with our sport on the international level. But before I do, I’d like to address those who feel that we should not be involved in this larger field of endeavor, and that all efforts should be focused on the sport’s development here in the United States. For some initial perspective on this debate, it’s important to note that international projects draw a very small percentage of staff resources (under 10%) and that no funds from USRA membership dues are allocated to their use. In fact, for the purpose of evaluating efforts to develop the sport worldwide, perhaps we should take the USRA out of the picture altogether for just a moment.

The International Racquetball Federation has no paid staff and is run by volunteers worldwide. The IRF has 92 member countries (of which the U.S. is only one) and generates its operating monies through a variety of sources, including Olympic Dream auctions, World Senior Championship fundraisers, the Worldsport.com internet sponsorship, member country dues, and stipends from the International Olympic Committee. Efforts by the IRF have resulted in racquetball being included in a series of IOC approved multi-sport competitions, while it recognizes the IRF World Championships, World Senior Championships, Regional/Nationals Championships held in Europe, Asia, and the Americas and the World Junior Championships. The IRF has applied for inclusion on future programs of the Mediterranean, and Asian Games which, along with the Pan American Games, are second only to the Olympics in participation and prestige. Currently, the National Olympic Committees of 30 countries (of which the U.S. is only one) officially recognize the sport of racquetball, plus support the development of their national athletes in the sport through training, competition, and career positions. Why all this effort?

Now we can return to the United States as an example. By virtue of our full member status in the IRF, the USRA (as an association) and its athletes (as a group, and individually) are eligible for direct USOC funding support. This support comes in the form of grassroots development funds to strengthen the sport in the U.S., plus direct monetary support for our U.S. Team competitors in the form of grants, career opportunities, training stipends, performance bonuses, plus travel and competition expenses when they represent the U.S. at international events. Nowhere in this equation are USRA membership dollars used in support of these types of activities. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

As a recognized National Governing Body [NGB] under the congressional Amateur Sports Act, the USRA receives support from the USOC for many of its programs and the development of its athletes. Each and every other major sport — other than American Football — have NGB’s that take part in these funding opportunities. They’d be foolish not to. When racquetball actually becomes a medal sport on an Olympic Program, this type of support could triple – in both program and athlete support — for the benefit of everyone who enjoys racquetball.

When might we be on the program? Not before 2008. Sports are selected seven years in advance of the Games and our next real chance will be in 2002. What are our chances? A great deal depends on new leadership within the IOC and how it will deal with the very serious problem of the Olympics becoming so large that no city or country can afford to host them [gigantism].

To sum up in the simplest terms: international development of racquetball does not re-direct resources (like your membership dues) from the sport domestically. If we chose not to pursue international development in general – or the Olympics in particular – funds used in those pursuits would not magically become available for re-allocation into domestic programs, they would simply disappear altogether. That’s right. Gone. Along with a host of value-in-kind services, sponsorships and other outside funds that provide operating revenues for USRA programs that benefit members like you.

So it’s a good thing for racquetball to spread worldwide, to expand its market, to remain active in the U.S. Olympic movement, and become an important component of so many National Olympic Committee’s developmental programs abroad. By doing so, it has gone a long way in building an excellent future. If you disregard actual player populations, it’s far easier to see that the “larger” global environment supports the “smaller” single-country goals quite well.