The Bsi As Seen From Pl

[PolskiZuzel]

Some of you, or perhaps even many of you know what the webside sportowefakty.pl is about

I wonder though whether any of you managed to read a text

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/722074/tomasz-dryla-tylko-motor-bsi-czyli-buta-spryt-interesy-felieton

on the BSI activities in PL. It makes an interesting read. For your convenience I am posting

here an my English translation of the main bits.

 

(...) The BSI is not a global corporation with which one deals in glass offices of one of London's skyscrapers, with sushi and a glass of good champagne. Their speedway section is made up of a group of the image efficient professionals, with a knowledge of what and how to handle things. Admittedly, the deals they make with Polish contractors are short of a masterpiece.

(...)

To stage a GP tournament in Poland you have to pay a huge amount of dollars to the BSI account, and then proceed to perform a series of more or less curious BSI's whims. Besides big cash, you have to provide flights and all logistics, accommodation, meals, plenty of dedicated rooms and transport on site. It would not be anything special if we just did not look in those details. And they look like this:

Polish organisers have to pay for the BSI air tickets to Poland from various parts of the world and transport them from airport to hotel. BSI requires hotels of a specific standard , at the same time they reserve the right for some of their personnel to have double or even triple rooms at their disposal! This significantly increases the costs borne by the organiser, and the reason for it? They require mysterious "need of space" . One also needs to have a fleet of 3 to 6 vehicles rented for them , and those cars cannot be older than one year. It sounds ridiculous, but it is true! Before leaving England, the BSI are capable of sending you an email saying they will be arriving at the specific time and expect a hot meal. At the same time Mr. "x" asks for boiled fish and fries, Mr."y" for a medium fried steak, and Miss/Mrs "z" a warm vegetable soup, as she has just turned vegetarian. Meals must be served on ceramic plates. No plastic dishes and cutlery will be accepted.

(...)

Over the years, BSI's activities in Poland have been full of arrogance, and disrespect for my countrymen. The holders of the FIM rights to organise speedway GPs regarded themselves as infallible promoters, saviours of the world's speedway, who must be served by a group of subjects – simply speaking they were giving impressions as being a better species of people , who had all the brains, were cleverly manipulating their position and used it in a disgusting way.

To be clear – this has been happening only in Poland. In Croatia, Latvia or Denmark, there is not even a suggestion of similar conditions. Over there, there is only a handful of GP round organisers who pay 15% of the Polish rate. And Mr. Bellamy and his buddies for years had to simply order a taxi if they wanted to get from the airport to the hotel. All this is a matter of education and a sense of good taste, as well as a sense of certain norms and standards which can be adopted in relationships with business partners.

(...)

What do the army of BSI people who need to sleep in spatial rooms, be fed and pamper, give us? Phil Morris, responsible for the competition and the preparation of the track surface too often have no idea of what is going on around him. On the flooded track in Krsko he ordered ... more water, so thanks to this the past season’s opening round became a parody of the competition. We also had the same thing in Teterow. You cannot see it on TV, but the riders frequent gesture towards the director is just a knock on the head. This was in occurrence at Horsens, Gorzow, Daugavpils and several other places. Of course, Mr. Morris is never guilty. He knew that his decisions at the Gorzow GP simply ruined the track, so after the practice he simply rushed off in the rented car to his hotel triple room. And that's all. Gp’s rounds are being prepared by people from BSI. They have a team of specialists who issue badges, rostrum settings and so on. But among them you will not find anybody who is willing to be responsible for anything.

The pride and joy of the BSI people is the Cardiff round, even though this year it was a festival of organisational mistakes and ineptness. Riders briefing , autograph session, time for reporters to interview riders...nobody had a clue - when, who, or where? . BSI makes a lot of mistakes. And I mean a lot. At the slightest problem in Gorzów, Leszno or Warsaw, the perpetrators are always known to them and they are always Poles. And who mistook the teams helmets on the official notice board during the SWC in Leszno? Who put Piotr Protasiewicz in the Polish team on the promotional materials? Who produced gadgets with the Indonesian flag instead of the Polish one? Was Indonesia competing? No problem. These are all slips from one event! And did they care for Tomasz Gollob, when he lay in hospital after that accident in Stockholm? A man who, for two decades, had pulled fans for them to the stadiums of the whole of Europe, Such examples can be multiplied and for a long time.

There are several people in Poland who are capable of preparing and running a perfectly good event, which would be in no way inferior to GP. BSI have an army of people to do it, and still does incomprehensible things.

The BSI's business model is simple. Polish tournaments cover the costs of the deficit rounds and the FIM license fee, and profit for the BSI is generated in Cardiff. And that's it.

Where did this system come from? It's the Poles who created it. It is the Polish entities, wishing to organise the most important events and bidding among themselves, which led to this unpleasant situation. And this is normal. I do not accept the complaints often heard, that we allow ourselves to be used, that we are being deceived. I don't because ... also in Poland nobody is staging GP's just for sport. Let's be honest! Our organisers, be it Torun, Gorzow or Warsaw also have one goal - profit. It's a pure calculation - They bid to the limit of their profitability. Nobody will transfer millions to the BSI not foreseeing their profits from tickets, advertising, city subsidies, etc. No Polish organiser feels cheated. BSI makes money, and so does. Leszno, Gorzów, Torun and Warsaw. So what's the problem? It's a normal business as everywhere in the world. Zero claims to BSI, zero claims to Polish organisers.

The problem is elsewhere - in the mental sphere. The fact that someone is earning a lot of bucks and thanks to this exists, does not entitle him to permanently show his superiority. And that’s how it's been for years. Being stuck up, dissatisfaction, absurd bans, constant complaints, and nitpicking, just to prove to the Poles that they belong to the third world.

In 2013, Mr. Bellamy sent an email to GP organisers in Toruń with the BSI request ... to change toilet paper in the bathroom ! ...because it was too rough ... It did not indicate that the paper was really bad, just that there was nothing to pick on , and one had to pick on something, just to show whowas the boss..

The British were always convinced that they were coming to Poland with some secret knowledge and know how . That they have a monopoly of organising something special. That was probably the case, but briefly. The thinkers soon realised that competing with us on equal terms would quickly ridicule them. Because it is the Poles who are more hardworking, better organised, more creative, more stubborn and striving towards the goal. Only they do not have so much nerve ... hence so many dirty tricks. nasty ones. .

The British boast about their spectacular showcase in Cardiff, a spectacle so unique in the speedway world. The trouble is that no one can beat them in this. Not that one does not know how but simply one just cannot. Polish organisers of the tournament in Warsaw also had a number of cool ideas for the competition setting and its presentation. But they could not do it! One must not disturb the adopted schedule because there is a fixed presentation structure, because you cannot use pyrotechnics in the stadium before the tournament. But in Cardiff one can . Isn't it strange ... It's simply not fair . Blunders, bluffs, banning riders wishing to ride in SEC and GP , and Mr Bellamy's attempts to throw out the One Sport people from the GP's pits - well, we remember that. Well, the thinking man knows what it is.

Can this be changed? Maybe it is already changing and the way to improve the situation is through us. I am not detached from reality, I do not believe that our organisers will get to an agreement and will all pay less . It's not real. I believe, however, that anyone who has anything to do with BSI can and will talk to them from another position. I.e an equal partner. An example has been set up already. The guys organising the SEC. They stood up for themselves and after their stormy beginnings they caught up . What's more - their relationship with BSI is really good today. It's a big scale, but in the smaller one this hard model also works. We have won better commentary positions and more freedom in the pits for NC +.

Journalists and photojournalists from other channels now have an easier job. Good for them!

A lot has changed with the new BSI boss. It seems that after Mr Bellamy's departure, the model of behaviour in the company ceased to be an idiotic exaltation, proving their position, and a grotesque intervention into everything. BSI are beginning to understand a number of issues. It realises that if it wants to function, it must take more care on the development of this sport, because it will not raise the quality of the product on one patent invented light years ago. It cannot afford a total conflict with a country that is in love with speedway and thanks to that, this sport still exists. Probably hence a visible correction on the approach and civilisation of a series of cases. This is being felt and must be emphasised. Torben Olsen sees more than Mr Bellamy and he understands more. And, he is not English, so he does not think in an English way, and that is a big success.

It's not that the whole BSI is bad, and everything they've done for years is not worth anything. On the contrary, If there was no GP cycle, speedway and the world champion competition would be

a total marginal fun today. And thanks to this cycle, even though full of absurdities, imperfections and bad solutions, is still alive – and contrary to popular opinion - will not end soon. (…) In the BSI actions one see the attempts to lift this sport from the crisis and, despite many falls years ago, it is worth keeping the thumbs up for this project. And what is more important – there are among them more and more people with whom you can simply talk to, more kindly, cool - just normal!

BSI continues in coming to Poland for holidays, and still expects more than enough, still too often looks down on Poles. But it's up to each of us to decide how long it will last. let's not criticise forever the CEOs signing contracts for millions-that they are being done for. They are not. They know how to count money, and well – that's why they run this business at the club level, and success of Polish rounds prove that our organizers are really effective activists.

most important is, that none of us are going to be taken for a ride e. Bosses, riders, supporters, journalists . It's a matter of dignity. And what in the broader perspective pays us. We have the best riders, the best supporters, the best stadiums. Only these heads of ours ... carry them a little higher, please!

[iris123]

The details are a bit of a surprise,but the overall problem,i think has been known for years.I did mention some years back that it was the demans of BSI that were stopping a Russian GP.Of course Phil Rising denied any of this and said it was about the difficulty of getting riders and their equipment to Togliatti,despite the ice speedway riders from western Europe managing the same journey with similar equipment.

 

But it is maybe not so exclusive to BSI.I know the promoters of the Berlin Ice Speedway GP made it known of their displeasure at FIM demands that seemed exclusive to their stadium and the same demands were not mentioned at other venues.That is,they said the reason they dropped out of hosting an FIM meeting for a season or two....

Edited November 18, 2017 by iris123

[PHILIPRISING]

JUST a correction ... the problem, as perceived by BSI (not me personally) was getting the TV trucks in and out safely. There was then the problem of an American company organising an event in Russia which was not permitted under the sanctions imposed on Russia by the USA at the time.

[SCB]

So the issues are they don't like feeding people and providing bog rolls.

 

As for the money, of course BSI will charge each country as much as it can. Thats how business works.

 

Seems to me to be a lot of moaning about nothing.

[BWitcher]

So the issues are they don't like feeding people and providing bog rolls.

 

As for the money, of course BSI will charge each country as much as it can. Thats how business works.

 

Seems to me to be a lot of moaning about nothing.

 

Somewhat xenophobic as well.

[PolskiZuzel]

So the issues are they don't like feeding people and providing bog rolls.

 

 

Perhaps the text was for you too long to read and you did not understand it...

 

It was not about the feeding and bog rolls. It is about BSI being stuck up, about their absurd bans, constant complaints, and nitpicking, just to prove to the Poles that they belong to the third world. It is about the fact that the BSI have been full of arrogance, and disrespect for the Poles. that they (BSI) regarded themselves as infallible promoters, saviours of the world's speedway, who must be served by a group of subjects – simply speaking they were giving impressions as being a better species of people , who had all the brains, were cleverly manipulating their position and used it in a disgusting way.

 

Seems to me to be a lot of moaning about nothing.

 

If you think that way then you surely did not understand what this text was about.

[SCB]

If the biggest nitpicking they can highlight is about toilet rolls then "LOL". Because frankly its irrelevant, BSI are petty to ask for it, Poland are petty for brinigng it up as a major reason for BSI being dicks.

 

Sadly, in this World, people with power like to exert it, it happens in ever country. BSI are showing whos boss, because they are the boss.

 

As for constant complaints, isn't that what Poland does about BSI?

 

Bans, well that just makes sense, why have a Euro Championship and a World Championship that is 80% the same riders? Because Doyle, Hancock and Holder aside, the top Europeans and the top World riders are the same. The SEC is a competition for having a completions sake.

 

If BSI really wanted to show they were boss and put Poland in their place they'd run GPs on Sundays, like every other motorsport World Championship, not Saturday, a day that British Speedway used until the GPs come along and stole it.

[mickthemuppet]

When the World Individual Championships first started at Wembley the profits of these meetings went back to the clubs promoting Speedway in his country, So how did they lose control of this, After all there was not a great competition to lose this yet they did. , Moving on how did BSI get control . Somebody must have sold out to them for a mess of potage. So we now have a company running Speedway and putting nothing back into the sport. So why do not the speedway clubs in Sweden, England ,Dennmark and Poland ban all their riders from taking part and starting their own world championship and the profits go back into Speedway before it falls completely

Edited November 18, 2017 by mickthemuppet

[iris123]

I remember going to the world final at Bradford in 1985.It was a Saturday in August

[A ORLOV]

When the World Individual Championships first started at Wembley the profits of these meetings went back to the clubs promoting Speedway in his country, So how did they lose control of this, After all there was not a great competition to lose this yet they did. , Moving on how did BSI get control . Somebody must have sold out to them for a mess of potage. So we now have a company running Speedway and putting nothing back into the sport. So why do not the speedway clubs in Sweden, England ,Dennmark and Poland ban all their riders from taking part and starting their own world championship and the profits go back into Speedway before it falls completely

I would think that if the Poles are fed up with BSI, if there is enough profit in the series and they can find another company surely they could get together with the other federations and do that. Call the series something different to get round any protected name or title issues, pay the riders more and pay money to the federations to be used for the benefit of speedway in each country.

[Humphrey Appleby]

Im no great fan of BSI or the way the rights have been sold, but it wouldnt at all surprise me if this article was inspired by a certain rival promoting company.

JUST a correction ... the problem, as perceived by BSI (not me personally) was getting the TV trucks in and out safely. There was then the problem of an American company organising an event in Russia which was not permitted under the sanctions imposed on Russia by the USA at the time.

Except BSI is a UK registered company, albeit US owned.

[PolskiZuzel]

If BSI really wanted to show they were boss and put Poland in their place they'd run GPs on Sundays,

 

Well, if they are THE Real Boss why don't they do it.. I wait to see it...

To do it they would have to pay more in their tvelve rounds than the world top riders get by riding in the EkstraLiga...

 

 

.... not Saturday, a day that British Speedway used until the GPs come along and stole it.

 

and why the British Speedway allowed Saturdays to be stolen from them ? Tell me, why ?

[Tsunami]

When the World Individual Championships first started at Wembley the profits of these meetings went back to the clubs promoting Speedway in his country, So how did they lose control of this, After all there was not a great competition to lose this yet they did. , Moving on how did BSI get control . Somebody must have sold out to them for a mess of potage. So we now have a company running Speedway and putting nothing back into the sport. So why do not the speedway clubs in Sweden, England ,Dennmark and Poland ban all their riders from taking part and starting their own world championship and the profits go back into Speedway before it falls completely

Was it not FIM who sold the rights which I think originally was for a 10 year period and people on here could not unstandand how they were going to make a success of it with such high overheads. Some suggested that the BSPA should have bought the rights, but there was not that sort on money available at that time.

As HA has suggested above, the whole tone and direction of the the Polish post suggests that an alternative rival promoting company, let's call them One Sport, are trying to oust the BSI and take over the running of all international competitions. Don't forget they already produced an alternate comp based on the European riders, which is why the UK authorities wouldn't allow UK riders to compete in it.

Edited November 18, 2017 by Tsunami

[PolskiZuzel]

...,BSI is a UK registered company, albeit US owned.

The BSI Company is a private company limited by shares incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act,

The company had no employees during the current and preceding year.

No employees???

(...) One Sport, are trying to oust the BSI and take over the running of all international competitions.

 

Is that a bad thing ?...and if it is tell me why?

[Tsunami]

 

The BSI Company is a private company limited by shares incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act,

The company had no employees during the current and preceding year.

No employees???

 

Is that a bad thing ?...and if it is tell me why?

 

Because it gives them and Poland, the opportunity to organise all things that suit then and for their benefit. It's called monopolies. What part would the FIM play in organised speedway, when the monopoly was a private company,

[Humphrey Appleby]

The BSI Company is a private company limited by shares incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act,

The company had no employees during the current and preceding year.

No employees???

You need to do your research.

 

BSI Speedway is owned by IMG(UK) via another UK-registered holding company. IMG(UK) is a UK subsidiary of its US-based parent, WME-IMG Entertainment which is a talent management agency formed from a merger of various other companies.

 

The work of BSI Speedway is carried out by the staff of the parent organisation, presumably mostly IMG(UK) which is not really very suspicious.

 

Is that a bad thing ?...and if it is tell me why?

OneSport are just another bunch of chancers out to make a quick buck from the sport, and ones that seem to like bigging themselves up by slating others.

[PHILIPRISING]

AS far as the original text goes, I could spend all morning disputing most of which is claimed but have far better things to do. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story springs to mind.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

AS far as the original text goes, I could spend all morning disputing most of which is claimed but have far better things to do. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story springs to mind.

so far our dealings with BSI over our seat problems at Torun is they are not responsible in any way ,its all Torun, it is terrible customer relations at best

[PHILIPRISING]

so far our dealings with BSI over our seat problems at Torun is they are not responsible in any way ,its all Torun, it is terrible customer relations at best

TORUN are responsible but if you like to send me the details of your complain t (either by pm or email to phil@pinegen.co.uk) I will ensure BSI pass them on to Torun.

[mikebv]

The Poles now appear to have a similar attitude to the GP's that some British Promoters had 20 or so year ago when GB was THE place to race..

 

ie "We are being dictated to by an external Company to Speedway who are using OUR riders to line their own pockets"...

 

The British Promoters that thought this didnt see any irony in the fact they seemed to regard Hans Nielsen, Tommy Knudsen, Tony Rickardsson, Leigh Adams etc etc as "OUR" riders...

 

No doubt nowadays Poland see Jason Doyle, Tai Woffinden, Emil Sayfutdinov, Nicki Pedersen, Greg Hancock etc etc as "OUR" riders in the same way.....?

 

Bottom line is the GP brings great global exposure to the riders which delivers good sponsorship backing. As long as the fans keep turning out for the events then Poland, like GB before them, will just have to keep sulking, and sit and watch, from the outside..

Edited November 19, 2017 by mikebv