[weglot_switcher]
Leaving Dublin on another early flight after a short 15 hour visit.
I love coming back home and I’m disappointed I cannot stay longer this time although I managed to catch up briefly for a drink with my “famous” sister, RTE TV presenter Ingrid Miley, late last night.
I was in Dublin for a meeting with Tennis Ireland President Shane Cook, CEO Richard Fahey, former President Clifford Carroll and two other Tennis Ireland board members.
I am proud to be the Tennis Ireland nominee for ITF President and, although I had met up with Shane at Wimbledon, it was great to further discuss my ideas for the ITF and to hear their views on what the ITF can do better for federations like ours.
I am a great believer in planning and using limited resources effectively and we discussed the very comprehensive strategic plan that Tennis Ireland has put in place.
I know that every country is different and what works in one country does not necessarily work in another and the ITF has to work flexibly to effectively support the development plans in member nations like Tennis Ireland.
A weekend in London to breathe and then I travel Monday to three European nations, Sept 4 to 9 to the US Open and then I have face-to-face meetings with a further 13 federation Presidents before the ITF AGM in Lisbon.
As the saying goes, “every day is a school day” and each meeting with a member nation president gives me a better insight into the challenges facing the shareholder nations of the ITF. The current fragmented structure of World Tennis is not working for them and, if elected, I will lead a movement of like-minded people who see the need to make positive changes to our great sport and not to accept the current status quo.
Together for Tennis – ITF strong!
