Sports Bulletin Report
Torino (Italy): The second edition of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Climbing Summit took place at Nuvola Lavazza, in Torino, Italy, on 25 and 26 November 2022.
The two-day event was opened by the Mayor of Torino, Stefano Lo Russo, who highlighted the link between the city and its mountain culture to the 35 National Federation delegates in attendance.
IFSC President Marco Scolaris set the tone of the Summit in his opening speech, welcoming the first Sport Climbing Olympic gold medallist Janja Garnbret of Slovenia, Paraclimbing Committee Athletes’ Representative Lucia Capovilla of Italy, Tokyo 2020 Olympian Sean McColl of Canada, and former athlete Jérôme Meyer of France, for an athlete-first approach.
Various topics were presented and discussed – including strategy, governance, events, media and development of Sport Climbing – to the attendees and the delegates joining online from around the world.
Olympic champion Garnbret took part in a wide-ranging interview with Master of Ceremonies Peter Stafford, of MSM PR & Communications, a Swiss based communications agency, serving as a voice to inform the National Federations of the issues and thoughts of the current competitors.
Garnbret also joined a panel that included IFSC Treasurer Pierre You to investigate the challenges, reputation, and risk that may be posed for the future of the organisation.
In a split session, IFSC Vice Presidents Kobinata Toru and Wolfgang Wabel were joined by Athletes’ Commission Vice President Sean McColl, and by Founder and Managing Director of European Championships Management Paul Bristow, who looked back at Munich 2022 before looking forward to the next Olympic Games with Vincent Caussé, Paris 2024 Sport Manager for Sport Climbing.
Bruno Cavrois and Samuel Bencteux from Warner Bros. Discovery showed the positive impact of the IFSC World Cup Series broadcasts before two interactive sessions focussed specifically on sharing experience, ideas and potential problems from the National Federations themselves.
The delegates shared both positive and negatives aspects of the increased exposure and growth of Sport Climbing from their respective nations and territories, to enable a common knowledge ran throughout the separate organisations and lessons could be learned and implemented, no matter of geography or infrastructure.
A final presentation by IFSC Research & Development Director Silvia Verdolini highlighted the many education programs put in place by the IFSC, followed by a closing address from IFSC President Marco Scolaris, Secretary General Debra Gawrych, and General Director Piero Rebaudengo.
