Volume 1, Issue 3 December 31, 2008
WOA President’s Newsletter
World Olympians Association
Sport & Education Alliance Formed in Monaco
WOA President Dick Fosbury and WOA Director of Global Programs Tracy Mattes attended the 2nd Annual Peace & Sport Forum, held under the high patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco. The Forum brought together leaders from the Olympic Movement, the United Nations, Governments, Sport Federations and NGOs.
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
IAAF Awards Gala China Top Ten
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ExCo Meeting London 2012 ORC WOA Sport Film Award Olympian 2 Olympian New WOA Director USOC Assembly
The main purpose for attending the Forum was to sign a cooperative agreement with the UN office on Sport for Development & Peace, the United Nations World Tourism
1968 Mexico City Reunion
Dick Fosbury, Tracy Mattes, Wilfried Lemke & Peter Tallberg
Organization ST-EP Foundation, The Association of National in conjunction with ANOCA.
Mr. Wilfried Lemke, Special
Olympic Committees of Africa
(ANOCA), and the OlympAfrica Foundation.
Advisor to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Sport for Development & Peace was the first to sign the agreement to promote Sport and Education programs in developing countries.
Last year ST-EP Chairman Madame Dho Young-Shim introduced the program in Monaco with two pilot libraries ready to launch in Ghana.
The Agreement is to collaborate on a Sport and Education plan to create libraries on the 31 IOC supported OlympAfrica Youth Sport Centers around the continent of Africa.
Within just one year, 41 libraries have been created, serving children in developing countries. This is one of the great success stories that came out of the first Peace & Sport Forum,
The first library is schedule to open on the Olympic Africa Youth Sport Center in Mozambique in January 2009.
The Olympafrica libraries, which will
employ Olympians, are an extension of UNWTO ST-EP’s successful “Thank You Small Library” Program, and was formed
You can read more about this program on our WOA Website under Partnerships. demonstrating concrete sustainable results.
WOA Five Rings Development Programs
The new WOA development strategy focuses on five rings of activity which contribute to and are indispensable for the growth and strength of Olympism around the world.
Under the direction of President Dick Fosbury, the WOA has developed a plan and timeline for the design, implementation and monitoring of a wide variety of activities to address the needs in the above mentioned areas. These programs will launch in 2009 and 2010. throughout the world involved in development activities.
These partnerships will help springboard the programs the WOA has designed to mobilize the Olympians of the world to be Ambassadors in their
•••••
Community Outreach Environmental Awareness Peace through Sport Education Programs Cultural Programs communities.
Over the past few months, Fosbury has traveled extensively to create strategic partnerships and alliances with other agencies
WOA President’s Newsletter
Page 2
Olympians Reunite at IAAF Awards Gala
The WOA had a good showing attending the 2008 World
- Isinbayeva successfully
- Here is a great photo of the high
jump greats of the past and present.
defended her Olympic title and remained undefeated in outdoor competitions in 2008.
Athletics Gala in Monaco on November 23rd to see Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva win the IAAF World Athlete of the Year awards.
Aside from the Awards Show the IAAF Gala is a yearly reunion for former Track & Field stars and at this year’s gala the legends were out in Force. Alongside of Dick Fosbury were the likes of gold medalists Tommie Smith,
Bolt set world records in the 100 and 200 meters at the Beijing Games in August, and his third gold medal came in Jamaica's 400 relay, also a world record. He is the first man to win the three Olympic events in single games since Carl Lewis in 1984.
Charmaine Crooks was emcee of the Show
Stefan Holm, Javier Sotomayor, Andrey Silnov & Dick Fosbury
Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Sergey Bubka, and countless others.
WOA President Guest at China Top Ten
“Olympic athletes are the greatest ambassadors of goodwill in the
WOA President Dick Fosbury
After the event, Fosbury met with was a special guest as China's
top Olympic athletes were honored at the country's most prestigious annual sports award ceremony on November 21st in Beijing.
China Top Ten organizers about the incorporation of a WOA Award into the China Top Ten Program in the future.
world of sports.”
Dick Fosbury President WOA
Photos (top) Olympic table tennis gold medalist Zhang Yining receives the Best Female Athlete award (bottom) Yang Wei, Beijing Olympic gymnastics gold medalist, speaks after being awarded the best male athlete
Gold medalist Zhang Yining received the Best Female Athlete award at 2008 China Top Ten Benefiting Laureus Sports For Good award ceremony; while gymnast Yang Wei, the allaround Beijing Olympic gold winner, was selected as Best Male Athlete.
WOA Ex Co Meets in Lausanne
The WOA Executive Committee met at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne on November 18th. strategic plan focusing on new programs and budgets for the next Olympic Quadrennial 2009 through 2012.
The agenda for the meeting
included the review the 2008 Olympians Reunion Center in Beijing and 2008 budgets.
Several new programs are ready launch in early 2009 and Agreements with new partners are in the development stages.
Then looking ahead, Committee
members discussed the implementation of the WOA
The next WOA ExCo meeting is scheduled for March 2009
WOA ExCo members meet in Lausanne to discuss WOA Programs and Budgets for 2009
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WOA President’s Newsletter
London 2012 ORC Site Visit & Education Programs
programs and to provide a location for the Olympians Reunion Center (ORC) in 2012.UEL has committed to providing a venue for the ORC at the London Games.
WOA Film Challenge to London through UEL. The primary focus is to involve the community and create a lasting legacy of the Olympic Games.
WOA is creating Olympian scholarship(s) to UEL and will foster educational and cultural exchange programs with other universities.
UEL is also interested in promoting education and business classes for the community and Olympians; forums, seminars, and online classes on various topics centered on Olympic ideals and attributes.
UEL & the WOA will host a Sports Film Festival (FICTS) in East London making Sports films available for screening to the community.
WOA President Dick Fosbury met with Board Members at the University of East London (UEL) to create a strategic partnership to enhance the WOA Education
The WOA is introducing the Olympic Trees for Kids and the
WOA Cultural Program & Film Festival
“Ask not alone for
Victory
Ask for Courage For if you can
Endure
You bring Honour to Yourself. Even more,
You bring Honour to us All.”
During the Film Festival,
WOA President Dick Fosbury
traveled to Milan to attend the Federation International Cinema & TV Sportifs, Film Festival. FITSC is an IOC recognized organization,
The WOA is currently working on a pilot program for a WOA- sponsored Student Film Challenge on Olympic Values and Sports.
Fosbury met with leaders of the Organization and the WOA has initiated an Agreement with FICTS to provide WOA access to their film library, and to have Olympians involved in the local challenges through the NOAs.
The initial program will be developed in the United States and Europe bringing the finalists to Milano, and will also
The Festival presented a series of competitions globally with the winner of each city arriving in Milano for the final awards in several categories. Films range from 1 minute to full length features and are extremely inspiring and professional. This year’s winner is nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Film Category. coordinate with Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Ultimately the program will be available on all 5 continents
-Bud Greenspan Quote on his Films
2008 Fencing Bronze Medalist Margharita Granbrassi, WOA President Dick Fosbury, FICTS President Professor Franco Ascani,, Oscar Winning Composer Enno Morricone
Olympian 2 Olympian. This Program involves Olympians as mentors and role models for Youth Olympic Games athletes.
This concept was received extremely positively by the IOC’s Youth Olympic Games organizers and we will work to develop specific details with them over the coming weeks and months as they finalize plans for the mentoring programs.
Storytelling, presence in the Athletes Village and film participation are only the beginning of the possibilities.
Youth Celebrations in Singapore
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WOA President’s Newsletter
New WOA Director of Global Programs
World Olympians Association President’s Office
130 Glendale Rd. Bellevue, ID 83313 USA
The WOA is pleased to announce that Tracy Mattes, a former USA athlete, has joined our organization as Director of Global Programs. Tracy was hired on November 1st and will be concentrating on Development, Marketing and implementation of WOA programs on a Global Level.
With a Masters of Business Administration with a focus on Marketing, and more than 10 years experience as an international sports journalist, television producer, sport business entrepreneur, and World Class Athlete, Tracy will be a very valuable asset to our WOA Team. Tracy has volunteered her time
Phone 208 209 3367 Fax 208 788 3604 E-mail
Director of Global Programs Tracy Mattes with IOC Member Irena Szewińska
serving the WOA in multiple capacities over the past 9 years. Welcome Aboard Tracy!
US Olympic Assembly
WOA President Dick Fosbury and WOA Secretary General Tony Ledgard attended the 4th Annual US Olympic Assembly in Orlando on October 10th -12th. A number of topics important to the Olympic Movement were discussed including “Generation Next: Preserving Interest and Participation in Sport Among Youth,” and “Environmental Sustainability: The Implications, Impact and Opportunities for Sport.”
“Once An Olympian, Always an Olympian”
Photos (L) US Olympian Association President Willie Banks joined Fosbury & Ledgard at the Assembly (R) Ledgard speaks about the WOA with Carol Lewis
1968 Olympic Reunion in Mexico City
We’re on the Web!
October 2008 marked the 20th anniversary of the Mexico City Olympics, and President Dick Fosbury’s gold medal, along with the world’s introduction to his ‘”Flop’” technique in the High Jump.
Dick and his wife joined in the celebrations as guests of the Mexican Olympian Committee
Photos: (Top) Dick Fosbury with members of the Mexican Olympians Association. (Bottom) Dick Fosbury poses with some of
and President Felipe Munoz. Dick took the opportunity to visit the Olympians Association offices in the MOC training compound,
the children
meet with AOM President Daniel Aceves, and receive an award from PASO President Mario Vasquez Raña.
Dick Fosbury receives award from PASO President Mario Vasquez Raña