We are today at the beggining of a new century and a new millenium. Our sport has taken giant steps to develop and to adjust to these changing times.

New ideas have been brought into perpective, new disciplines have developped and new challenges are ahead of us.

The IWSF has gained today an important position within the International Sporting Community. Our sport has received greater coverage and we are now an important member of the Olympic family.

But definitely there is only one more step that we need to take to reach complete maturity. Having Waterskiing on the Olympic Program would boost our sport to incredible heights and would give our skiers a new goal to reach. For the last nine years I have worked on that direction with all the support from my Secretary General, Chantal Amade and Graziano Tognala, the IWSF Executive Board, the National Federations and sponsors.

I look back and really see that our sport has come a long way. We are the only sport proposed by the Hellenic Organizing Committee to be in the Athens 2004 program and such support really puts us in a good position.

The work and support received from the Hellenic Water Ski Federation has been almost impossible to measure. They have dedicated full time to make sure our sport is in the front line and keeping pressure on all areas.

I sure hope that 52 years of hard work and dedication of the past IWSF Presidents, Secretary Generals and officials will finally become a reality in 2000 so we can start walking down the Olympic path with pride and confidence.

I want to congratulate Alain Amade and the French Waterski Federation for hosting such a magnificent Congress.

I hope you enjoy your stay in Bordeaux and taste the finest wines of the region.

Best regards,

Andres Botero