Important update from ILS International Lifesaving Sport strategic planning meeting
Earlier this month (12/13 November), ILS held an important planning meeting to discuss the long term goals for international lifesaving sport. Chaired by John Martin MBE from SLSGB, the meeting concluded that the successful existing World Championships programme will continue until at least 2016, with no reduction in events. The format of existing events will be reviewed to ensure that they remain fit for purpose.
Also confirmed at the meeting was that the primary aim of lifesaving sport events is to demonstrate lifesaving skills rather than rescue actions. This includes the continuing use of surf skis at World Championships level which will no doubt be of great interest to SLSGB members.
Full meeting notes are available here
The recommendations also include a commitment to continue to hold a full World Championships programme every two years, with a desire to rotate the event around each of the four global regions of ILS on an eight year cycle. This will bring the World Championships to more countries and supports the recommendations to take lifesaving sport into more countries around the world.
The ILS Sport Commission will undertake a feasibility study into the inclusion of lifesaving sport in a future summer Olympic Games programme as well as encourage greater participation of our sport into more multi-sports games.
As part of the commitment to increase the profile of lifesaving sport and its elite athletes, ILS is also committed to engaging with other high profile aquatic sports federations, such as FINA.
We will wait to hear how the European Region reacts to the positive comments made by ILS about the World Championship programme, in respect to its European Championships programme.
SLSGB will continue to play a significant role in the working groups that are being set up to take the meeting recommendations forward. As more of the detail of the proposals is developed we will keep all SLSGB members informed.