It has just been announced by the Amateur Swimming Association, the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water and Synchronised Swimming, that I have been appointed as non-executive chairman of the ASA Group Board, taking over from John Crowther at the AGM on October 19th.
It is a real privilege to have been selected to take on this important leadership role in one of Britain’s biggest sport organisations. Our key aim in the coming years is to encourage more people to get into the water, learn to swim, and participate in aquatic sports. The ASA also provides the base from which talented athletes can achieve international success.
Following my involvement in last year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, as deputy chairman of the City of London’s 2012 Committee, I was determined to get involved in sport to support a sustainable legacy for the Games. This role, as well as my work with the football authorities promoting greater inclusion, is absolutely what I had hoped to do.
I am really looking forward to working alongside the amazing volunteers and staff who contribute so much to the activities of the ASA; as well as our colleagues at Sport England, and in local authorities, schools, pool providers, and the ASA’s commercial partners, all of whom support the key objectives of getting more people swimming, more people swimming regularly, and more medals on the world stage.
Regular readers of my blog will know that one of the reasons I am so pleased to have taken on this role is the long standing commitment of the ASA to equality and diversity. As the Vision for Swimming in Britain says:
Swimming is a crucial life skill and anyone of any age or ability can participate. This vision is based on the belief that swimming is, and should remain, accessible to all, regardless of age, gender, creed, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, economic position, disability, and level of ability.
That is a belief to which I wholeheartedly sign-up and I look forward to playing my part in making the Vision a reality.
C. E. Lord OBE 