If one does a forensic examination of the Eugene 2021 success, there are many people who should get credit for finally bringing the World Championships to the US. Truth be told, one of the major failings of the sport continues to be any comprehension of the sport in North America. One who could comprehend the value, but also the challenges, will find the way to take track and field to the next level in global sports.
It is not that the sport is failing in the US. Far from it. At the junior level, over 1.4 million high school boys and girls run cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field in 16,000 of the 22,000 high schools in US. This makes athletics by far the largest sport in high school athletics.
28,000 road races in US in 2014. An estimated (and low, mind you), 40,000 high school track meets and another 30,000 cross country meets at high school level in US.
Road Runners Clubs of America, the largest running organization in North America, has 2100 running clubs, 177,000 members and the second largest running magazine in North America, with Club Running (177,000 circ). Club Running is represented by Fortius Media Group, the same company that represents RunBlogRun and the RunningNetwork.com.
While the college sport is changing, due to the power and over playing of Football and Basketball at the college level, the NCAA has introduced much innovation and USTFCCCA, the coaches organization has developed into a worthy lobbying group.
The challenges, as they are globally, are with the elite part of the sport. In the US, 50 states have outdoor state championships with from 6,000 a day paid attendance for three days to 60,000 over three days, dwarfing most Diamond League meetings around the world.
In Tracktown, otherwise known as Eugene, Oregon, Bob Fasulo has become the new Chief Strategy Officer of the organization. A worthy candidate indeed, as it was Fasulo, per our informed sources who should get some of the accolades as part of the lobbying effort that helped the US effort succeed. Again, in the truth category, Seb Coe and Sergey Bubka lobbying Lamine Diack was the real reason Eugene won.
Bob Fasulo previously worked for the one and only Primo Nebiolo, charismatic, iconic and colorful late leader of the IAAF through a very important time; the emergence of track and field as a global professional sport. Fasulo probably has a few stories to tell in his autobiography, if that ever is written. He also did some time with the USOC.
I recall an early morning phone call with Mr. Fasulo about two decades ago that was memorable. I remember the tenor of his voice and his message. Suffice it to say, Mr. Fasulo understands the power of a phone call. That is an asset in the world of modern business, where too much is left to email. The power of a phone call, or a visit should not be underestimated.
In any case, Bob Fasulo is a strong addition to the Track Capital of Lane County, as the late James Dunaway used to refer to Eugene, Oregon. Eugene, most notably, the Pre Classic, under the watchful eyes of Tom Jordan and his benefactor, Nike, kept global running alive in the US for the 1990s, which allowed meets such as adidas Grand Prix (formerly Reebok GP) sprout and grow.
Fasulo will provide an appreciation of the global sports culture and the huge mine fields in the global sport. These are things that most Americans not only do not appreciate, but do not see as important. It is a major reason why earlier bids for major global events in North America have failed.
Another example of Vin Lananna knowing full well that one surrounds oneself with a team that can do the tasks well and with room for creativity. That is part of reason why TrackTown is so successful.
We wish him well.
Fasulo named to new role as Chief Strategy Officer for TrackTown USA
EUGENE, Ore. – TrackTown USA President Vin Lananna is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Fasulo to a new leadership position within the organization — Chief Strategy Officer and Special Adviser to the President. Fasulo was the lead consultant for TrackTown USA’s highly innovative campaign for the 2021 IAAF World Championships and was instrumental in helping Lananna secure the right to host the event.
“Over the past year I have witnessed Bob’s expertise in action in national and international settings,” Lananna said. “Bob’s unique talents and relationships will prove invaluable to TrackTown USA’s long-term strategy and viability as well as our company’s ability to make a worldwide impact on the sport of track and field and running.”
A multi-lingual internationalist with extensive experience in delivering communications, public relations, marketing and bid campaigns, Fasulo brings a unique blend of creative and entrepreneurial skills to TTUSA’s executive team as the company expands its international sport business enterprises. Fasulo will help develop, facilitate and communicate the overarching strategy of TTUSA and its long-term vision. He will assess, measure and monitor the company’s key goals and objectives and ensure that all strategic initiatives are in line with the organization’s vision and goals.
“Bob is an exceptional addition to our TrackTown team. He is a respected and experienced executive who cares deeply about our sport and will make an immediate impact on our company’s ability to deliver on our ambitious goals,” said TrackTown CEO Michael Reilly.
Fasulo launched his own consulting agency, Robert Fasulo international (RFI), in 2010 and since then he has provided high-level, strategic consulting and business development services to major corporations, sports marketing and media agencies, national and international sports organizations, events, major event bids and international sport leaders.
“In making their case for the IAAF World Championships, Vin, Michael and their team offered a bold vision based on authenticity, innovation and legacy for the sport. I was delighted to be a part of crafting that vision and am excited to have this opportunity to continue to play a role in TrackTown’s big plans for the future,” said Fasulo. “TrackTown USA and its partners are embarking on a remarkable journey and I look forward to contributing to the company’s long-term success.”
Prior to launching his agency, Fasulo served in a number of senior national and international sport leadership roles, most notably Chief of Staff at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
As IAAF Chief of Staff, Bob played a key role in all of the Federation’s major strategic initiatives at a time when the sport was experiencing an important period of growth. In his IAAF role, Bob was also appointed Secretary General of the International Athletic Foundation, the Monaco-based charitable arm of the IAAF, where he was responsible for managing a $20 million endowment as well as developing grant criteria, donation guidelines, financial policy, project monitoring and athlete award programs.
Fasulo has ties to the state of Oregon as he attended the University of Portland, where he was a scholarship member of the track team and graduated cum laude in 1986 with a BA in communications.
Curtis Anderson | TrackTown USA
Director of Communications
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Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."
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