ROYAL PARC EVIAN
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Interview with Christine Lagarde
Sports Manager, Evian Masters Golf Club
The
The funds raised on the International Day of Charity Golf 2008,
held in June at the prestigious Evian Masters Golf Club, in
France, will be used to launch a women-led community telecentre
project in sub-Saharan African countries. ITU News
interviewed Christine Lagarde, Sports Manager at the club, to
discuss promotion of the event that aims to raise funds to help
connect the world.
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Telecentres bring Internet and telephone
facilities within reach of people who would otherwise have no
access to them.
What would be the possibility of
repeating the International Day of Charity Golf at the Evian
Masters Golf Club in 2009, with the proceeds of the collection
going towards ensuring the sustainability of newly-created
telecentres? |
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Ms Lagarde: Already,
for several years now we have been welcoming the International Golf
Associates (IGA) club to Evian. In 2007, IGA asked us whether we could
accommodate this charity event. We did so last year and again this year,
and I don’t see why the same shouldn’t go for 2009. Thereafter, if many
more players wish to participate — why not? — there’s every reason for
us to host the event. |
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As you know, there are some 40 million
registered golfers worldwide, most of whom, after completing the
course, are happy to buy a round of drinks for their fellow
players. If, instead, every adult golfer were to pledge EUR 50,
a global emergency fund could be created which could be used not
only to combat poverty, above all in developing countries, but
also to reduce the digital divide by enabling communities to
participate in the information society.
How do you view the idea of a goodwill
ambassador with the role of making the golfing world aware of
ITU’s mission to connect the world and of helping to gather
funds to that end? |
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» Ms Lagarde: Such a role could become
an important one, but awareness has to be raised: when people turn up to
play golf, it’s essentially because they want to relax, forget about
their daily cares, participate in competitions, and above all enjoy
themselves. There needs to be more communication about the project; it
needs to be talked about. The main thing is to promote it, so that, in
whatever way possible, every player gets to know about it. |
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What is the likelihood of other golf clubs around
the world including the International Day of Charity Golf in their
annual timetable? |
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» Ms Lagarde:
That’s a decision for each individual club, since all
of them have their own ways of working. Initially, some may not be in a
position to open their doors to such an event, but then later they may
begin to feel they should make the effort. |
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Could you perhaps serve as a role model to
encourage other clubs or make them aware of the charity day? |
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» Ms Lagarde:
If a given club steps forward to organize the event, this can lead to
participation on the part of other clubs. After that, everything depends
on partnerships, sponsoring arrangements and the commitment of each
club. |
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© Blid Kwinkel/ Alamy
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Do you see
any other ways of promoting the International Day of Charity Golf?
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» Ms Lagarde: From next year it
will be possible to include in our calendar a club competition, to be
held on a Sunday and open to everyone within the framework of the
International Day of Charity Golf. We can look at how such competitions
are approached by charities, such as the European Leukodystrophy
Association (ELA), whose patron is the footballer Zinedine Zidane. Other
examples are the Coupe de l’Espoir or the
Green de l’Espoir, in France, which are generally held on an
alternating basis — one year for the League against Cancer and the
following year for the
Vaincre la Mucoviscidose
association, which works to combat cystic fibrosis. The International
Day of Charity Golf would thus become a competition with its rightful
place in the calendar and that players are aware of at the beginning of
the season. It should also be open to all golfers. Generally speaking,
the fees for participating in such competitions are paid to the
charitable associations. To start with, reasonable competition fees
should be charged (in addition to the green fees that participants will
also have to pay), so as to ensure that the event is accessible to as
many players as possible. |
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When in 2009 can we look forward to such a
competition? |
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» Ms Lagarde: It could
take place in mid-season, since the weather is a major factor for us. We
should have good weather in May, June, or again in September. If we
remain within the framework of the competition organized by IGA (as has
been the case for several years), and if we count on the participation
of its active members, plus the members of the Evian Masters Golf Club
and external green-fee participants, we’ll have a very fine event with a
lot of potential for growth. |
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