SPORTS SPECIALIST GOLDBERG IS NEW ASA CHAIR
Former competitive swimmer and water polo player Mel Goldberg
has been appointed as the new ASA Chairman and takes up his
post from current chair Mike Beard with immediate effect.
Goldberg, who is a lifetime Otter Swimming Club member has
been involved in the sport for many years and has a strong
background in aquatics, representing Cambridge University
at both swimming and water polo.
A practicing solicitor, he was educated at St John's College
in Cambridge and founded his own firm under the style of Douglas
Goldberg & Co. He is now a Partner in the Sports Division
of Max Bitel Greene in London, having spent more than 25 years
specialising in sports law.
He has represented numerous international football players
and clubs, Olympic gold medallists and several world champions
in boxing, squash, tennis and athletics and is no stranger
to working within sports organisations, having been legal
advisor of the International Squash Players Association and
Vice Chairman of the British Olympic Travel Association to
the Moscow Olympic Games in 1980. He is currently Vice Chairman
of the British Association for Sport & Law.
"I'm very much looking forward to taking up my new position
within the ASA," said a delighted Goldberg. "I fully
support the ASA's Vision and I intend to become actively involved
in the organization.
"After a bedding-in period, I hope to meet with representatives
from all the new regions to find out how we can best work
together to raise the profile of swimming and its related
disciplines and improve our chances of future Olympic success."
Goldberg has a wealth of experience across sport that he
will be able to bring to the role.
"I intend to be a pro-active chairman and I hope to
drive and help modernise the sport and work with my associates
in Parliament to gain more funds for aquatics," he added.
"Sport is one of the most important things in my life
and swimming is an activity close to my heart. I have worked
on a number of sports committees over the years and I want
to use my experience to give a helping hand to the ASA across
a variety of areas.
"In particular I hope to have an impact on the amount
of television coverage the sport receives. I believe that
the power of television is enormous and we need to work to
increase the amount of airtime available to aquatics.
"I also want to raise awareness of swimming as one of
the best activities for improving health. I want to encourage
more young children into the sport and find talented young
athletes to nurture for London 2012."
ASA Chief Executive David Sparkes is looking forward to the
impact Goldberg will have on the sport.
"I am delighted Mr Goldberg has been appointed as the
ASA Chairman," he said. "He has a wealth of experience
not only in swimming but from a broad spectrum of issues in
sport.
"I believe his leadership skills will be helpful to
the ASA Committee and he will be able to inform on policies
and strategies, particularly in relation to London 2012 and
the opportunities we all believe that will bring to the sport
of swimming and to challenges the sport faces.
"I'm looking forward to working with Mr Goldberg to
build a strong partnership and for some exciting times ahead."
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