The first day of the symposium, held at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, becomes a really significant talent exchange
The first day in the FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop turned to be a really profitable experience. With the participation of more than 30 National Member Associations, and many of the most relevant people in the Beach Soccer panorama, the discussions, debates and presentations offered a wide perspective of what the sport is becoming, and lighted the way to follow to help it acquire an even bigger dimension.
Key ambassadors of the sport such as Nicolai Pisarev, Sports Director in the Russian Football Association, Mustapha El Haddaoui, Morocco National Coach and FIFA instructor, Christian Karembeu, FIFA Beach Soccer Ambassador, Fernando Gomes, President of the Portugal Football Association, Anton Sealey, Bahamas FA President, Damian Dupiellet, Argentinean FA Head of Beach Soccer, Ferdinando Arcopinto, Head of Delegation Italy Beach Soccer/FIGC, Joel Cantona, CEO of the French National Team, Angelo Schirinzi, National Swiss Coach and FIFA Instructor, Dave Offenbach, Head of Beach Soccer in KNVB, Jesus Rubio, FIFA Referee Instructor, and the big stars Ramiro Amarelle and Madjer took part in the first stage of the FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop. Of course, Jaime Yarza, FIFA Senior Manager Beach Soccer Competitions, Joan Cuscó, FIFA Beach Soccer CEO and FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member, Gabino Renales, BSWW General Manager, and Santi Soler, BSWW Administration Manager lead the debate.
After a highly interesting discussion time on aspects such as the way to register players and competitions to help the sport follow an equally structured pattern everywhere in the world, the correct application of the laws of the game and the aspects to improve to tune up the pace of the matches or the role players need to take when it comes to promote the sport in and outside the pitches, many international representatives joined the afternoon session, with more than one hundred people involved.
FIFA Marketing Director, Thierry Weil, opened the afternoon session, highlighting the special touch of Beach Soccer, a ?modern, attractive game we strongly believe in. The game has become more and more global and, as per my job, it offers a huge commercial value.?
Marco Schuepp, from FIFA, offered an accurate outline on the different Development Programmes organized by FIFA, as well as he presented the benefits of them and up to what an amazing extent they help boost not only the growth of the sport, but the sportive culture of the whole area.
Other issues such as the new TV distribution rights, the media and communication philosophy, including the social media new experience, the marketing strategies and objectives, the structure of the competitions or the rules to be analyzed and implemented were dealt with in depth as well, by the managers of each of the departments in Beach Soccer Worldwide.
Of course, the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 come onto stage of this FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop, too, with Jaime Yarza, FIFA Senior Manager Beach Soccer Competitions and Gabino Renales, BSWW General Manager presenting some details of how the event will look like…
Marco Villiger, head of the Legal Department in FIFA Intellectual Property rights, went into detail with importance of protecting FIFA brands as FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Trademarks and the way to do it against the multiple violation attempts and ambush marketing practices they suffer.
The case studies presented by some of the mos relevant figures in the beach soccer panorama pictured a truly road to excellence. The Dubai?s success story, brought by the Dubai Sports Council, was followed by Switzerland?s National Championship, illustrated by National Team Coach Angelo Schirinzi. After them, Antonn Sealey, President of the Bahamas Football Association explained how important it is to count on permanent facilities to see the sport grow on one?s land, whereas Nikolai Pisarev, Sporting Director of the Russian Football Association (FUR) closed the session with a clear-cut explanation on what it takes to build a World Champion.
The FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop will continue tomorrow at the Home of FIFA, in Zurich.
