Quote:
	
	
		
			
				
					Originally Posted by  Martin Gregorie[_5_]
					 
				 
				On Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:58:08 +0000, Walt Connelly wrote: 
 
 Seriously though, we do need to do something to grow our sport. Exposure 
 to the public is everything.  When a major championship gliding event 
 fails to attract a news camera from a local tv station, something is 
 wrong.  The recent Senior Championships didn't get the coverage that the 
 local Bike Week event did.  There were stories every day on the local 
 media about the bike event but nada on soaring.  Sad. 
 
It would be interesting to know what effort and finance the bike event  
put into attracting sponsors, getting its footage onto TV and the type of  
exposure (sport or local news slots). Comparing that with the same  
figures for the Seniors is likely to provide all the reasons for that  
lack of coverage. 
 
I think we already have a good candidate for a TV sport slot. Its called  
the Glider Grand Prix and comes complete with all the America's Cup  
display gizmos that are apparently needed to get a non-mainstream sport  
onto TV. Most importantly, it showcases racing sailplanes doing what they  
are designed to do. Isn't that the sort of exposure we really need? IMO  
its the type of exposure that's most likely to provide a steady flow of  
new bods into two-seat cockpits.  
  
 
--  
martin@   | Martin Gregorie 
gregorie. | Essex, UK 
org       | 
			
		 | 
	
	
 The reality is that Bike Week brings in many millions of dollars to the local economy.  It draws about half a million bikers and wannabees to the local area for an entire week.  We can't compete with those numbers but It's hard to understand how there was NO local TV coverage of a national event like this.  JMHO
Walt