Sports Tech Rules GSFB
Sports Technology rules the Global Sports Forum Barcelona (GSFB). Thanks to Sports Tech I was able to connect with the #GSFB via @sportstechieNET on Twitter. They asked me to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Barcelona, Spain. Five lucky bloggers would get the chance to cover this fantastic event. Alas, I was not chosen but time and experience have taught me to be a graceful loser and humble winner. Hear that Charlie Sheen! There was a silver lining though and that was the GSFB asked me to blog via Seattle, WA, USA. Here I am writing a virtual blog which I hope you will all enjoy.
Social Media
Got up at four a.m. PST to start covering the Thursday events the best I could via Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and the web site at http://www.globalsportsforum.org. The themes of learning, networking and contributing with influential leaders, sports stars and personalities resonated with me. I could feel the positive energy with each update.
Oscar Pistorius
Take another look at the Flickr photo of Oscar Pistorius with his prosthetic in hand. Now pause and look at it again and remember the moment. This cutting-edge prosthetic helped the double amputee South African Paralympics and world record holder known as the “Blade Runner” earn the title of “the fastest man on no legs.” Oscar was quoted by @GlobalSportsFor as saying, “In 10-15 years, the use of the prostheti legs are absolutely amazing.” This quote brings me joy and happiness as I imagine it does for the thousands of fellow amputees, both sport and non-sport. Sports Technology is amazing.
Dmitry Chernyshenko
Things started rolling when I retweeted someone I did not know before today, Dmitry Chernyshenko, the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee President and CEO. He sent a tweet to Katarina Witt and Alana Abrhamson that I found interesting and RT’ed to my Sports Techie tweeps.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Award
Today, Dmitry was awarded the Juan Antonio Samaranch Award at the GSFB. Congratulations to the person that best represents the Olympic Spirit. DC obviously worked hard to be honored for this prestigious selection and it sounds well deserved. Much to my surprise, he followed me on Twitter which words really do not do justice to describe my elation inside about that. Thank you DC. Check the web site for the names of other happy GSFB Award winners today.
John Amaechi
Another surprise was watching the GSFB YouTube channel new video covering early day-one that had John Amaechi speaking in it. John is a retired NBA player who wrote a New York Times best-selling book titled, “Man in the Middle.” He was the first openly Gay NBA player. In 1995, I was a basketball agent in Los Angeles for Pro Moves, Inc. and we tried to get John to sign with us as his player representative. Looking back on that experience, I respect John even more today for having the courage to be a pioneer for the Gay community and help to break down barriers within the NBA and all of sports.
Women
Be sure to check out all the GSFB sessions from today, especially the segment on improving sport with the further inclusion and help of women. It featured Katarina Witt, Pernilla Wiberg, Chantal Jouanno, Urvasi Naidoo, Samantha Davies, Donna de Varona and Mia Hamm. Here is the YT link to a highlight video: YT.
Sports Techie Role Models
My blessed Mother might be considered the best female basketball player of all-time in Ecuador, South America. Angie took me down in a game of one-on-one when I was sixteen years old that had me eating humble pie. She played in several Hoop-It-Up events vs. men half her age and won. My Mom has always been a role model for our family, she proudly works at REI in Bend, Oregon, and is loved by many.
My Michigan State Spartan basketball playing Father they call Coach put up a hoop in East Lansing at a community center that Magic Johnson grew up playing on. He was the youngest inductee in the Peace Corps in the early 1960’s. Danny later coached both the Men’s and the Women’s Ecuadorian National basketball teams. While coaching he met my Mom, courted her (no pun intended) and they married 45 years ago. I have faith that sports and technology had a big role in their meeting as fate would have it.
Sports Technology
I believe strongly in equal sports opportunities for women and feel that sports technology will help even the playing field for all, animals included. Day two of the GSFB is tomorrow. It should be another good one.
Check out my blog at www.sportstechie.net. I will see ya when I see ya, Sports Techie.