Coaches a Key Role in Development
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OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY Pictured Japanese wrestler Risako Kawai celebrates with her coach after winning gold in the women’s 63kg freestyle event at Rio 2016 COACHES A KEY ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY IS HELPING COACHES AROUND THE WORLD RESPOND TO THE LATEST TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, GIVING THEIR ATHLETES A GREATER CHANCE OF COMPETING ON THE OLYMPIC STAGE ehind every athlete is an four and 15 days. These training entourage (family, doctors, programmes are designed jointly with B physiotherapists, etc.), and the International Federations (IFs) to the person who often fills the most provide basic training for active and influential position in that support officially recognised coaches under network is the coach. the supervision of an external expert Playing a pivotal role in the career nominated by the IF. It also offers of an Olympian, and often carrying Olympic scholarships, giving access out a variety of functions – from to high-level further training at a centre acting as a teacher, trainer or mentor, or university, either in sport science or to psychologist or agent – coaches related to a specific discipline. must possess crucial knowledge and Finally, the development of a national technical expertise to respond to the sports structure programme involves the latest training requirements, so that implementation of a mid- to long-term they can prepare their athletes to be action plan, which is supported by visits competitive on the grandest stage of all. of an international expert in the country. However, for coaches in those countries where national structures are not very developed, access to this type of information can be extremely difficult. This is where Olympic Solidarity lends a helping hand. Olympic Solidarity offers National Olympic Committees (NOCs) three types of programmes. Technical courses for coaches typically last between 60 OLYMPIC REVIEW JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017 NUMBER 102 OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY As part of her scholarship, Odajima participated in a training course aimed specifically at women, which gave her new friends, ideas and perspective, 979 and helped her reach Rio 2016 as a coach for Japan’s cycling team. technical courses “You need to network, to meet helped coaches people, and it’s thanks to the from 170 NOCs scholarship in Aigle that I’ve been in 2013-16 able to do that,” she adds. “All kinds A total of 227 projects benefiting 108 of doors have opened through the NOCs have been subsidised by Olympic links I’ve been able to create.” Solidarity over the past four years. Opening such doors for NOCs In addition, coaches from 170 NOCs with less developed coaching have benefited from 979 technical structures is a fundamental aim for 637 courses run by experts appointed Olympic Solidarity, and the programme by IFs, while 637 coaches received has achieved significant success in individual individual scholarships giving them the Africa, whose NOCs are sending larger scholarships opportunity to further their coaching delegations to the Games – and winning given to coaches skills and education. more medals, following a record haul in 2013-16 At the Olympic Games Rio 2016, of 45 for the continent in Rio – than the success of the 2013-2016 ever before. programme was evident, as coaches Victor Tamba, Technical Director for who benefited from scholarships the Congolese Athletics Federation, has and training courses helped NOCs to attended several training programmes achieve landmark results, whether in in Montreal (Canada), funded by 227 the shape of medals, finishing positions, Olympic Solidarity and delivered by the or simply participation. International Support Program to African projects One such scholar is Rie Odajima. and Caribbean Sport (PAISAC) – and developing Having competed for Japan [as Rie believes his knowledge has increased national sports Katayama] in the mountain bike events with each one, with clear advantages structures, at Beijing in 2008 and London four years for the Congolese NOC. benefiting later, she switched to coaching. But “I’ve learned so much,” he says. 108 NOCs in while her experiences as an Olympian “It’s thanks to the PAISAC training and 2013-2016 will undoubtedly be beneficial to her supervision from Olympic Solidarity new career, equally important has that people have benefited from my been the experience she has gained knowledge, as they’ve found that I can as a result of her Olympic coaching help in some way with the development scholarship at the UCI World Cycling [of track and field]. And today, we are Centre in Aigle, Switzerland. putting it to good use.” “It’s really difficult for an athlete living in Japan – a country where mountain biking is not that developed as a sport, ‘YOU NEED TO NETWORK, and which is situated 10 to 12 hours by plane from Europe and North America – TO MEET PEOPLE, AND IT’S to take part in major competitions,” says THANKS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP Odajima. “And as a coach, unless you’re IN AIGLE THAT I’VE BEEN ABLE linked up to the world at large you’re not TO DO THAT. ALL KINDS OF going to be able to put your athletes in DOORS HAVE OPENED’ the positions they need to be.” RIE ODAJIMA, CYCLING JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017 NUMBER 102 OLYMPIC REVIEW 61 OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY In Rio, Congo’s two-strong athletics implement these methods within their delegation performed well above national sporting structures – potentially expectations, with sprinter Cecilia across a range of Olympic sports – thus Bouele progressing through the raising the overall standard of coaching preliminaries in the women’s 100m and across the country. Franck Elemba finishing fourth in the One course that prioritises this type men’s shot put, one place away from of development is the International what would have been Congo’s first- Coaching Enrichment Certificate ever Olympic medal. These were proud Program (ICECP), hosted by the results for Tamba, who was joined University of Delaware in partnership in “the Marvellous City” by another with Olympic Solidarity and the United coach Raguib Faisal, whose athlete States Olympic Committee (USOC). is the Djiboutian judoka and Olympic In its eight years, the programme has debutant Anass Houssein. hosted more than 200 coaches from “I’ve practised judo for 25 years, 97 NOCs in 23 different sports – and but because of the training I’ve done every scholar is expected to return in Lausanne (Switzerland) where I to their respective countries to serve attended the CISéL (Cycle International as foundation builders for the next du Sport élite Lausanne), a programme generation of coaches. offered by the Sport Academy Lausanne A number of graduates were in Rio, (SAL), my view on sport has changed notably Brazil’s rowing coach Marcello a lot, because the training is much Varriale, who used his new-found more rooted in sports science,” Faisal knowledge to help the hosts achieve explains. “Now, I run training workshops record finishing positions in the men’s for all kinds of sports across many and women’s lightweight double sculls. different areas, such as physical and But the real impact of the scholarship, mental preparation.” according to Varriale, will take place This is important, because the over the ensuing years. purpose of the scholarship is not simply “Participating in the ICECP, ‘AFTER [THE ICECP] FINISHED, to pass on skills so that a coach can and getting to know more than 30 I KNEW WE’D CREATED A PROJECT take an individual athlete’s training coaches from other countries, was THAT WOULD BE USEFUL OVER THE and performance to the next level in a an incredible experience,” he reflects. particular sport. The goal is also to share “In Brazilian rowing we’ve never had LONG-TERM, AND THAT WOULD knowledge and best practices with a coaching development programme BRING A LEGACY TO BRAZIL’ other coaches so that the scholar can before. But after [the ICECP] finished, MARCELLO VARRIALE, ROWING I knew we’d created a project that would be useful over the long-term, and that would bring a legacy to Brazil.” Examples such as these highlight what can be achieved with a sound coaching structure in place, and Above through the three strands of its coaches’ Congo’s athletics programme, Olympic Solidarity coach Victor continues to extend the concept of Tamba hailed the universal participation by giving more performance of athletes access to a proper coaching Franck Elemba system – especially within their own at Rio 2016 country – and consequently, a better chance of competing at the Games. Left And as NOCs around the world Brazil’s rowing now plot their paths to the Olympic coach Marcello Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 Varriale helped and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, they the team achieve can do so in the knowledge that help record results is at hand for their coaches at all levels, on home waters and with huge potential benefits. ■ 62 OLYMPIC REVIEW JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017 NUMBER 102.