First of all, "Leadership, Development, And Competition, Ensuring Podium Performances".That's what AC states they are all about. And now to Pete.....
Pete wrote:
Darren, I want to ask you a couple of related, but separate questions. Ron can chime in too if he likes.
1. As an obvious fan of the sport, what do you think are the most important key things that can or should be done to improve our sport (distance running) in Canada, and who should be doing them? Why?
2. Imagine you are running AC, charged with the responsibility of leading the development of athletics in Canada. You've been given a relatively small pool of money to support your mandate. How do you choose to spend that money, and what considerations shape your decisions in how you use that money?
These are not rude or snide questions, so please try to ignore your tormentors and give me an unemotional, well crafted response.
Thx
Pete, you won't forgive me for this, but ANY debate/discussion with you at TnF leads to you nitpicking at things that you see through a straw (plus a mentioning of your PhD), so I'm not going to get too carried away with your request (which actually contains condescending remarks.) (BTW, there is a small network off-line from TnF who have an absolute field day with the You vs Oldster Show - and no, we don't see you as the triumphant one.)
Leadership has a huge trickle-down effect. A strong personality in the right position at the top, who declares that Long Distance Running is a "go" in our country, can have significant ripple effects.
Full funding for "development" (ie junior) teams is paramount to our competing with other sports in this country for the all-important pool. We are a rich country. Carrots on sticks will go a very very long way towards increasing interest and goals for our youth, the future of our sport, and for god sake don't tell me we can't afford this.
An actual PR campaign regarding the importance and worldliness of the sport of Athletics, and how Canada can and should be in the game, would be nice. Instead I see the raising of the white flag, and the retreat from even considering being in the game.
A teaming with "funding partners" who are not so short sighted would also be most helpful.
AC keeps stating that they won't focus on things that we are not good at, rather than looking deeply into the reasons why we have fallen off in those things. They set the tone. Unfortunately, the tone is one of surrender and retreat lately.
These are "big pic / philosophy" things, Pete. That's how I am, I'm afraid. (No straws here, LOL.)