Jump on board! Destination Sochi campaign to ride Olympic wave
by JOANNE VASSALLO JAMROSZ Olympic fever is ramping up, with the
Winter Games now just a little more than three months away. U.S. Figure Skating is leading the way with its Destination Sochi Membership Re- cruitment and Clubs Program Campaign to in- crease awareness of U.S. Figure Skating, celebrate its athletes and promote its programs. “T e Membership Recruitment and Club
Programs Campaign is for all Basic Skills pro- grams and clubs,” said Susi Wehrli-McLaughlin, senior director of membership for U.S. Figure Skating. “T e campaign is designed to recruit new families in ice skating and further foster U.S. Figure Skating’s relationship with current mem- bers by off ering exciting events to promote U.S. Figure Skating with the upcoming 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.” With the special season ahead, fi ve unique
and exciting programs and events are off ered to aid clubs with membership growth and spe- cial-event programming at the local level.
Destination Sochi
Team Competition U.S. Figure Skating’s Destination Sochi Competition is designed to be a fun, interactive, social and lighthearted team maneuver event of- fered prior to, during and after the 2014 Games. “Figure skating clubs and Basic Skills pro-
grams are invited to participate in the celebration of skating and off er a team competition event at their local rink,” Brenda Glidewell, director of U.S. Figure Skating programs, said. T e team competition is similar to team
maneuver events held at many nonqualifying competitions. T ere is no registration fee for participating
clubs and programs to host a team competition, and U.S. Figure Skating will provide award rib- bons to each participating club for its team event. Clubs and programs can also purchase U.S Fig- ure Skating (with logo) T-shirts for $4 each in the colors of the Olympic rings for their event. T e shirts are great souvenirs for the skaters and can be used for other promotions that clubs are off ering. “U.S. Figure Skating also created a team handbook that contains information, docu-
36 NOVEMBER 2013
ments, templates and details to help clubs and programs run a successful team competition,” Glidewell said. “T is includes the skater’s regis- tration form for clubs/programs to use during the registration process, a template to assign skat- ers to teams and waivers and order form links for team competition supplies.”
All forms included within the handbook are
downloadable from the Destination Sochi event page.
“T e handbook also contains fi ve examples of team competition elements for clubs/pro- grams to choose from and that suit their total registration and the ability of the participants,” Glidewell said. Clubs and programs must register to host
a Destination Sochi Team Competition using the link found on the Destination Sochi team recruitment summary on the U.S. Figure Skating website. T e ideal time, Glidewell said, to register
with U.S. Figure Skating is four to six months prior to a planned team competition. U.S. Fig- ure Skating will send out a follow-up online
U.S. Figure Skating has 10 one-page guides to help clubs and Basic Skills programs execute their Destination Sochi cam-
paigns. Go to the Destination Sochi website and click on “Club Info.” Go to the bottom of the page and under “Resources” fi nd this helpful information.
form for each participating club to fi ll out regard- ing its event.
“Clubs and programs can also work together
to host a team competition for their area,” Glide- well said. “Interclubs can do the same thing; each club or program can use a diff erent color and compete against each other.”
Video Contest For clubs, programs and skaters who want
to show their artistic side, a video contest with the theme “Go Team USA” is part of the cam- paign lineup.
“Clubs and members can create and sub- mit a 30-second video and are encouraged to be creative,” Wehrli-McLaughlin said. “Winners re- ceive a prize pack and their video will be shown at the 2014 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships as well as distributed at National
This Destination Sochi poster is available for clubs and Basic Skills programs to promote their Membership Recruitment and Club Programs campaigns.
MEDIA
OVERVIEW U.S. Figure Skating is excited about Destina-
tion Sochi as both a membership recruitment tool and an outlet for clubs and Basic Skills programs to publicize ice sports to a wide audience in your community.
Te mission of Destination Sochi is to pro-
mote U.S. Figure Skating through association with the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Te 2014 Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 6-23, 2014, in the Russian resort town.
Destination Sochi features two major develop-
ment initiatives, the Family Tree Program and the $20.14 Program, which were unveiled at the 2013 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
All proceeds from the Destination Sochi
Family Tree Program will go directly to Olympic figure skaters’ families to help offset their travel expenses to Sochi. For each contribution, donors will receive a digital badge to display their support of Team USA and the Family Tree Program across various social media platforms. Family Tree Pro- gram supporters also will receive other benefits,
such as correspondence from Team USA Olympic hopefuls, a Destination Sochi pin and a thank-you letter.
Te Destination Sochi $20.14 Program, in
which donors are asked to make a monthly dona- tion in that amount for 14 months ($281.96 to- tal), will support all U.S. Figure Skating programs, including Team USA. Supporters of the $20.14 Program will receive recognition and various ben- efits associated with their gifts.
In addition, U.S. Figure Skating will host
several special events, including a SkateFest Series, throughout the year. Te organization’s 170,000- plus members and 700 member clubs will be en- couraged to celebrate the Olympic year by getting involved in various activities. National Skating Month, celebrated annually in January as a tool for clubs to welcome new skaters to their rinks, will be extended to include February in 2014.
Destination Sochi features a significant on- line presence. “What’s Your Destination?” is an
Michelle Kwan speaks at a press conference in San Jose.
integrated digital program that allows fans to participate via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms, sharing their own goals and skat- ing journeys throughout the year. By using the hashtag #DestinationSochi, fans can follow the overarching Twitter-based communication cam- paign that will be used to share information.
Among the documents provided in your pro-
motional packet are press release and media advi- sory templates and a flyer that can be modified for your club’s needs.
If you have any questions or concerns
about interacting with media, contact U.S. Fig- ure Skating’s Media Relations Department at 719.635.5200.
SELECT OR DESIGNATE A LOCAL MEDIA
Four Continents Championships.
2013 U.S. silver medalist Gracie Gold speaks to the media at the 2013 ISU
CONTACT – RIGHT AWAY
Te media contact person should have a
good understanding of the sport of figure skating and a desire to learn about and work with the me-
Maia and Alex Shibutani take time to talk to a reporter behind the scenes.
2013 U.S. ice dancing bronze medalists
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68