The Pros and Cons of Competitive Sports

If we were to conduct a survey in our model flying clubs on the topic of “the importance of competitive flying,” we might be in for a surprise. In most of our clubs, competition isn’t even on the radar. That wouldn’t be a disaster; after all, if someone were to win a major title, this passivity could easily turn into enthusiasm at any moment. Things get trickier with our notorious “competition haters.” If these individuals are in charge of youth programs within the clubs, this will inevitably have an impact on the next generation of model aviation athletes. Looking at the participation numbers for the SMV Swiss Championships, we can take comfort in a remarkable consistency. Categories with declining participation are offset by others. We might almost feel a bit sorry for the “Club of Five” with its minimum participant requirements—though this is in line with Switzerland’s time-honored protection of minorities. Fortunately, a large number of new categories—outside the FAI classes—are revitalizing the scene.

Information about our sport—for example, our national teams—ranges from woefully inadequate to nonexistent, depending on the relevant technical committee, unless the committee presidents can post their own achievements online. Minimum standards must be required here. Running the entire competition system isn’t free, and our members have a right to greater transparency.

A big word and a big challenge. The nearly countless competition categories, as well as the sometimes long distances involved, make regular training and coaching more time-consuming. It is therefore worthwhile to organize young athletes into small groups. Young people tend to be much more motivated when they’re part of a group. Here, the regions can provide effective platforms.

These four steps pose a challenge for Swiss and international championships and are often underestimated. The support provided to the organizing clubs by the FAKOs or other organizations must be improved.

Emil Giezendanner