21/08/2007 - Structure of Bodies Governing Sport in Spain - Tony Winterton

As we have four tiers of government in Spain, i.e. Central, Regional, Provincial and Municipal we have four tiers of bodies responsible for promoting and developing sport.

1. This is the CONSEJO SUPRIOR DE DEPORTE (National Sports Council) a government committee charged with regulating and funding all sport.

2.  They do this through the NATIONAL FEDERATIONS. Some sports have their own, others although unlikely bedfellows are grouped together.

This is the case for lawn bowls. We are part of the FEDERACION ESPAÑOLA DE BOLOS which encompasses thirteen different types of bowling such as tenpin, petanque, etc. It covers its administrative costs by licence fees but receives substantial funds from the  C.S.D. to cover its promotional and development activities, laws, training and insurance cover for accidents incurred whilst participating.

It is responsible for all international activity for which it is our link to World Bowls, to whom it pays the annual capitation fee for all Federated bowlers. It is also an umbrella organization for all interregional competitions and tournaments e.g. the National Championships, etc. but the actual running of the latter is delegated to the next tier, namely:-

3    The REGIONAL FEDERATIONS. Lawn bowls is involved with two, the Federacion Andaluza de Bolos which covers Almeria, Malaga and now Huelva and the Federacion de Bolos de la Comunidad Valenciana which covers Alicante.

The Regional Federations are responsible for running all activities in their area including those delegated by the F.E.B. They collect Licence Fees part of which they retain with the balance going to the F.E.B.

4.    In turn the Presidents of the Regional Federations appoint a Provincial Delegate for each type of bowling within their region. For lawn bowls Bryan Redington is the Delegate in Almeria, I am in Malaga and Crystal Toleman is in Alicante.

ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS.

Under the Federation’s Constitution the only official to be elected is the PRESIDENT and his term of office is four years which in the case of the F.A.B. ends in Sept. 2008... All other officials offer their resignation to the new President, so giving him the chance to appoint his own team.

This he does by experience and taking soundings from the people he has interacted with in each area.   In Malaga we have attempted to introduce selection by election with very poor response.

After the last two Presidential elections notices have been put up seeking candidates for the post of Delegate with the indication that if no one comes forward, the President will reappoint the incumbent. No one has come forward and I am therefore still the in post.

In a similar vein each club is asked to elect/appoint a representative to the Provincial committee and these can be supplemented by the Delegate appointing people for specific jobs. All these appointments also cease on the change of Presidents... In the meantime any member of the Provincial Committee can cease to act and be replaced either by his club or the Delegate.

BACKGROUND TO LAWN BOWLERS JOINING THE FEDERATION.

At some time after lawn bowls became established in Spain, local committees were created in the Regions to act as co-ordinating bodies, e.g. The Costa Blanca Lawn Bowls Association... 

At a later stage the “great and the good” decided that Spain was ready to participate in International events so an approach was made to World Bowls (or its predecessor) who required that the sport be affiliated to a recognised body in Spain. As the initiative originated in Malaga, an approach was made to the F.A.B using as interlocutor one Bixio Folletti, a member of a local club. Because of his involvement Bixio was appointed first as Delegate for Malaga by the F.A.B. and subsequently the F.E.B. appointed him National Director. At the same time John Dugdale was appointed Delegate for Alicante by the F.B.C.V

Problems arose and Bixio was dismissed by the National President who appointed John Dugdale to replace him a job that he combined with that of Alicante Delegate. Under John the National Championships continued to be run by each region and the Friendship cup was started. There was limited International activity but when necessary a trial was held between players who had shown an interest and the team selected.

John Dugdale retired in 2003, a replacement was sought, and John Young expressed serious interest and was duly appointed.

THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

This was John Young’s creation. He wanted to bring in new people, improve the running of the national Championships, and in particular develop the International activity by opening up the process of selection, have training sessions and establish a basis for reciprocal visits between countries, It is a co-ordinating body with specific duties appertaining to matters which are the responsibility of the FEB.  . 

Although the Regional Federations have sponsored events for some years little effort had been made to bring the FEB on board. John made it his policy to engage with the FEB, met with the national President, reported on all the executives activity with the result that the FEB have made a start in supporting lawn bowls in the areas for which they are responsible.

They now provide funding to cover the green fees and incidental expenses for the training sessions of the National squad which now comprises 30 players, the same for visits by official teams from other countries and contributions towards the travel and accommodation costs of the National team going overseas. They also cover green fees and trophies for the four Champion of Champion tournaments all of which are designed to raise the level of skills of our players and give exposure to many more players for the benefit of the selectors.

In addition, names for consideration for trials can now be put forward to the selectors by club captains and federation representatives.  Unfortunately, the personal cost to players representing Spain is very much a limiting factor on players being able to give their time and there is still a long way to go in obtaining more funding.

Some months prior to John Young’s retirement, he appointed two assistant Directors, Graham Marlow and Barry Latham, with a view to reducing his work load.  They have continued in this role to date with Graham also taking on responsibility for the National Team and all contact with World Bowls.

Tony Winterton.

21/08/07