Dick Pound

Topics

Presentations

On Volunteering

Dick Pound's experience with the people at the Olympics, when he competed as a swimmer in Rome, led him to respect the positive treatment he received.  Pound wanted to 'put more back into the well than he drank' and thus volunteer for the organization.  Dick Pound has now been a high level volunteer with the Olympics for most of his adult life. Recognize the kinds of inspiration that can get members involved in your organization, and show how you value your volunteers, with a presentation by Dick Pound.

Delivering the Goods
The Olympics deliver and connect, on a local, national and international scale. Pound draws upon his experiences in the Olympics to help organizations realize the value of 'Delivering the Goods.'  

On Risk Management/Project Management: 
The Olympics are one of the largest ongoing major projects in the world, with risk and safety involved for our globe's peak athletes. Pound discusses the importance of  a three step approach - Strategy, Live Adjustments and Knowledge Transfer. Pound speaks of having a vision and strategy to start and stresses the importance of making adjustments/tweaks along the way when issues arise.  He emphasises the importance of a post-project debrief and review  of what worked and lessons were learned. Finally, Pound explains the importance of ensuring there is knowledge transfer so that others can follow your blueprint of guidance and lessons learned.
 
His Role / The IOC’s Role in the Games
Dick Pound is one of the highest ranking and longest-standing members of the International Olympic Committee - IOC.  Pound discusses his  evolving role in the Olympics, from competitor to president of the Cdn Olympic Association, to head the IOC's efforts to increase the value of television rights & the brand of the Olympics (to hundreds of millions of dollars) , on to heading the World AntiDoping Assn and chairing the investigative commission into the bidding scandal. He explains the importance of brand management and how the IOC works to protect one of the oldest and most sacred brands in the world; their goal being to reduce risks and make sure that each host city is meeting certain standards.
 
Sponsorship
Dick Pound started with no knowledge of television rights, marketing or branding, but took the lead and ended up positioning the Olympic brand to be worth multibillions of dollars. The minimum amount in negotiations for television rights for multiple games has seen numbers in excess of $2.3 billion.  Corporations and television networks place a high value on a strong brand that represents excellence.  Pound will speak about obtaining sponsorships, the importance of brands becoming involved in any major initiative, and how to  negotiate and make the most of your sponsorship.
 
Future Challenges Shared by the Olympics and Businesses in General
Whether you're the Olympics or a regional brand or property, similar challenges face us all as we head into the future.  Pound talks about the need to remain relevant and up to date by ensuring that you understand and appeal to your clients' needs and wants. Pound also discusses  how to connect with a younger audience in today’s information era, where anything and everything is accessible and at your fingertips.

Summary Profile

For more than 20 years, Dick Pound has been one of the most influential members of the International Olympic Committee. He is currently the director of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Pound built the Olympics into a multi-billion dollar enterprise by branding and marketing the Olympic rings, and negotiating shrewd deals for television rights around the world. He has been the IOC's top TV rights and sponsorship negotiator since the 1980s. Under Pound's leadership, the IOC has grown into one of the richest sports organizations in the world.

On a mission to clean up drug use in sports, Pound retired after an 8 year term as head of the World Anti-Doping Agency from 1999 to end of 2007. His efforts have made him one of the most renowned and influential leaders in sports and in business.

An engaging statesman, negotiation genius and crisis management expert, Dick Pound is an intense public speaker.

"Businesses face the challenge of responding to new competitive forces and standards of conduct while trying to improve efficiency and return on investment. Those agile enough to balance these apparently competing factors will prosper in the globalized economy; those which are not will languish and disappear. Maintaining the highest standards will always be a work-in-progress. On occasions, those standards may not be met. The ability to respond to crises will make the difference between disaster and survival."

Client Testimonials:

"Dick Pound represents the renaissance of the Olympic movement. He can handle the ethical issues, the management issues, and the financial issues."

CEO, Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport