Former United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and British Olympic Association (BOA) communications expert Darryl Seibel has been confirmed as chief press officer by World Sailing for Rio 2016.
The American is currently deputy director of athletics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and will join the World Sailing team specifically for the Olympic and Paralympics Games.
He will be supported by Malcolm Page, the chief marketing officer of World Sailing.
Following a highly successful sailing career that included Olympic gold medals at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and seven World Championship titles, the Australian has led World Sailing’s marketing and media department since June 2015.
Seibel worked under World Sailing chief executive Andy Hunt during London 2012
Hunt was chief executive of the BOA, where Seibel served as director of communications and Olympic media strategy from 2009 until 2014.
Before that, Seibel was the chief communications officer for the USOC.
Rio 2016 will be the tenth Olympic Games that he has worked on.
It is potentially his most challenging due to the controversy over the quality of the water in Guanabara Bay, leading to fears that sailors could become sick during the regatta.
Several illnesses were reported after the test event last August and in February a human arm was reportedly pictured floating in the water.
Guanabara Bay is set to be among the topics at the International Olympic Committee Executive Board, which started here today.
There is due to be an update from Rio 2016 organizers tomorrow.
“It is a privilege to work with such a talented, experienced team of professionals in the Olympic Games environment,” said Seibel.
“We know there will be unprecedented interest in the sport of sailing in Rio.
“Our goals are to give the world’s most accomplished sailors the opportunity to excel on the Olympic stage and to provide the world’s media with the resources, information and access they need to chronicle these important stories.”
Page is optimistic the sport will attract media attention for the right reasons.
“Sailing has a unique opportunity at Rio 2016 and is one of Brazil’s most successful Olympic sports,” he said.
“Great Brazilian champions such as Robert Scheidt, Martine Grael, Kahena Kunze, Isabel Swan and Fernanda Oliveira will capture the public’s imagination in Rio.
“The natural amphitheatre of Guanabara Bay’s Flamengo Beach provides a fantastic opportunity for the cariocas to come down and watch our great sport.”
Page and Seibel will be joined by an experienced media team on the ground in Rio de Janeiro.
The team includes World Sailing media coordinator Daniel Smith, former Spanish sailing team press officer Neus Jordi, digital media coordinator Max Böhlen and expert sailing journalists Andy Rice and Craig Leweck.
Jesus Renedo and Pedro Martinez have been appointed as World Sailing’s photographers and will deliver international imagery across the event.
Supporting the team at World Sailing’s headquarters in Southampton in Britain will be Richard Aspland and Fi Edwards.
“Sailing under the iconic Christ the Redeemer and in the shadow of the Sugarloaf Mountain, the sport is blessed with Rio’s and the world’s most iconic imagery. It is up to World Sailing to ensure that no opportunity is missed and I am pleased we have such an experienced and forward thinking team,” said Hunt.
“Under the guidance of Darryl and Malcolm, we aim to capture the imagination of the public and create heroes who define our sport.”
By Duncan Mackay
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz