Since the US champs are only a week passed now, and a board meeting in which this very subject was addressed occurred the same weekend, I though I should share my opinion on the matter. As you probably know, the uniforms for the JWOC team arrived in Lithuania halfway through the competition.
It was rather embarrassing at the opening ceremony sharing jackets / uniforms / little American Flags while all the teams had their full complement of clothing. If this mixed and patently un-uniformed group wasn't bad enough, those of us new to the team had to compete in several events in nondescript clothing. I can only imagine what other teams and spectators thought as we crossed the finish line. Even after we did get the uniforms, half the team still wore the older version! And this is the most well off country on the planet we are talking about.
Two families of JWOC 2006 team members spoke over dinner about the issue, and brought up a few points I think worthy of considering.
1) Make sure that the person who is coordinating the uniforms have a vested interest in the successful completion of the task. The most apparent person would be the coach or a team member or their family. Of course, the problem with the latter two and potentially the former is that all these positions are undecided until unfortunately close to the competition itself.
2) Order uniforms on a certain cycle. Every two or three years, a new style uniform is ordered and all team members are required to get one. This should not be much of a problem, as the normal wear and tear on an elite runner's uniform during the years should make a replacement uniform welcome, or at least not a burden. We could also potentially get a sponsor(s). Companies can help defray the cost of the uniforms in exchange for their logo on the uniform, and pictures from the events which they can use in advertising (which, I might add, would be mutually beneficial to orienteering itself).
I was not involved in the decision making in getting the uniforms for this year; I don't know what type of obstacles were encountered, so I don't want to give the wrong impression to those who were involved in the task. However, I think we should be able to do better as an organization in supporting the teams that represent our country overseas.
After all, isn't this the year of the junior, as far as USOF is concerned?
this is the most well off country on the planet we are talking about
I thought the Norwegians were pretty well dressed...
Points well taken. I hope and expect that we'll figure out some changes so this doesn't happen again, changes including ordering much farther in advance, maintaineing a stock of uniforms, involving all USA teams, getting some financial help from USOF, and having a "uniform czar" to run the operation. The plan is to have something to present to the USOF Board at its next meeting in November.
Anyone want to be uniform czar? I think we have one possibility, but if you really want it.... (I'm not sure how czars and commissioners compare in status, but I have to think czars are higher, which would make them very high indeed.)
Good call with the czar status, that'll be a good way to sucker someone in to the position. (Because czars are definitely higher than commissioners.)