The FIRS Roller for Olympics Presentation Videos

Roller sports disciplines are on the roster of sports for the International World Games Association (IWGA), but skating is fighting an ongoing battle for available spots in the Olympic program by making presentations of our sports when the International Olympic Committee assembles to review sports for inclusion. On November 14, 2008 FIRS had the opportunity to present a Roller Speed Skating Proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sports Commission in Lausanne. Six other sports candidates introduced proposals to the Olympic Games Program, too.

Our International Federation of Roller Sports came armed with five videos which were presented by FIRS President, Mr. Aracu, FIRS Secretary General, Mr. Marotta, and accompanied by 18-time roller speed skating World Champion, Derek Parra. After the presentation, FIRS managers and the two roller sports ambassadors – Derek Parra and Ippolito Sanfratello (Sanfratello and Parra are also Olympic champions in ice speed skating) – responded to many questions made by the IOC Sports Commission and eventually journalists who were curious about the presentation.

Take a look at each of the videos presented by FIRS at the IOC Headquarter in Lausanne:

• The presentation in Lausanne was opened with the Roller World for the Olympics, an emotional video showing that FIRS represents many disciplines: speed skating, figure skating, rink hockey, inline hockey, downhill, freestyle and skateboarding.
  
  
• Another video covered Roller Leisure for the Olympics by showing the recreational side of the roller skating world, the social values of roller sports and demonstrating the worldwide following of roller sports enthusiasts.
  
  
• The Roller Dream for the Olympics video explains the attributes of roller sports and what they will give and receive by inclusion in the Olympic Program. Derek Parra spoke passionately to the IOC members about roller speed skating and shared his experiences and the way he felt when he had to leave his world champion position as a roller speed skater in order to achieve the Olympic Dream.
  
  
• Roberto Marotta explained the technical elements of the proposal for the Olympic Games which would include five men's races and five women’s races skated over a three day period during the Games. a Roller Proposal for the Olympics video accompanied the roller technical presentation.
  
  
• The last closing emotional video, Roller for the Olympics - the 5th Element, focuses on the emotional diversity and international scope of the roller sports.
  
  
• Roller for Olympics is a compilation of all of the videos in one mini-documentary.

These videos that were shown to the IOC Sports Program Commission played a very important role in the presentation, because they demonstrated how diverse, emotional and exciting roller sports can be for many people around the world - and those are important qualities for any Olympic sport.