Member Insights: What Measures Are NGBs Taking To Ensure Their Long-Term Stability After Covid-19?
June 4, 2020
Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Weightlifting, evaluates how national governing bodies have had to adjust following the difficulties caused by Covid-19 and the subsequent postponement of many major events throughout 2020.
The postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games has had a big impact on national governing bodies (NGBs) large and small across the globe.
Covid-19 has placed an immense strain on the finances, resources, and staff at organisations, and has left many athletes questioning how they will survive the next 12 months. The situation is no different at USA Weightlifting (USAW) and we have had to work collaboratively to ensure that our long-term future is secured.
Many NGBs have been working together to help share the burden of the pandemic, with issues around revenue, expenses, and athlete welfare prevalent for all. This collaborative approach has helped to promote best practice across different organisations, with USAW partnering with USA Cycling, USA Triathlon, and the Canadian Weightlifting Federation. It’s clear that we are all in this together and any support that we can provide one another is invaluable.
With many competitions postponed this year, 2021 is likely to be one of the most expensive years in the history of sport. NGBs will have the same issues post-pandemic, but without the support and leeway given in 2020. They will still have the same income streams, but spending will be double in many cases, particularly in relation to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
At USAW, we are very fortunate that many of our members are still able to compete in some capacity from their own homes or garages, especially at an elite level. It’s led to us moving some competitions to virtual events where athletes are able to stay active and compete against one another to remain competitive.
That’s not to say we haven’t been hit hard financially by the cancellation of certain events, as well as the many coaching courses that we run throughout the country, but in some cases we have seen the emergence of virtual activities that we would not have envisaged pre-Covid-19.
Online camps and competitions that we had initially planned to role out a few years from now have been fast-tracked and could lead to a reduction in costs in the long run, potentially providing a welcome boost.
Another difficulty for all NGBs is maintaining consistent communication with the elite pool of athletes, particularly those that had qualified for Tokyo 2020. The Olympic and Paralympic Games is the pinnacle for many athletes, and the uncertainties around the event can have a negative effect on their mental health and wellbeing.
It’s vital that these athletes are given the necessary support to enable them to stay motivated and not be worried about external factors such as the financial implications of a postponed Games.
Clearly this is a very difficult time for everyone, but elite athletes are in a unique position where they’ve gone from regular competitions around the globe to individual training programmes with no guaranteed live sport in sight.
The situation is ever-changing and there is no easy answer to how NGBs will cope moving forward. One thing that we can all agree on is that the return of live sport – in whatever capacity that may be – will provide a welcome boost for all.