International Olympic Committee : News

Olympic Solidarity athletes win medals at London 2012

7/29/2012 5:09:00 PM

In the women’s 48kg judo, Sarah Menezes of Brazil finished in the gold medal position, the first time Brazil has won a gold medal in women’s judo. Hungary’s Eva Csernoviczki finished third, winning bronze.

Jin Jong Oh from the Republic of Korea improved on his silver medal in Beijing 2008 by winning a gold medal in the 10m air pistol at the Royal Artillery Barracks – the first ever gold medal of his country in this event. Andrija Zlatic of Serbia secured bronze in the same event. He is the first male shooter to win an Olympic medal for Serbia.

In the men’s 60kg judo, Rishod Sobirov of Uzbekistan was awarded the bronze medal.

All the athletes have received funding via Olympic Solidarity, the organ responsible for administering and managing National Olympic Committees’ share of the television rights from the broadcasting of the Olympic Games.

Olympic Solidarity’s main mission is to plan, organise and control the execution of the support programmes for the NOCs, particularly those that need it most, as stipulated in the Olympic Charter.

In total, 1,264 Olympic solidarity scholarships for athletes aiming for London 2012 were awarded between September 2010 and August 2012 to athletes nominated by their respective NOCs for their preparation and qualification for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London.

The programme is operational from 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2012 and particular attention was paid to athletes with the greatest need. The athletes came from 171 NOCs in 21 sports. .

Learn more about Olympic Solidarity here.

Ana Sofía Gómez Porras hopes to shine in London 2012

7/12/2012 10:16:00 AM

How did you get started in gymnastics?
The sport had always caught my attention, plus I had a lot of energy when I was little, which helped me a lot in gymnastics.

How has the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship helped you?
For the moment, the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship is helping me to continue my studies.

You competed in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. What was that like for you?
It was one of the best experiences of my life because it was my first international competition and the standard was so high.

How much do you think your experiences in Singapore have helped your career?
I think it was very important because while I was there I competed against very talented rivals who I will face regularly in the future. It also helped me realise that I have the potential to compete at an international level.

What has been your greatest sporting achievement so far?
Qualifying for the Olympic Games and winning the silver medal in the all-around event and the gold medal in the balance beam at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara in 2011.

What are your targets for the London 2012 Olympic Games?
I want to do my best in the competition and hopefully win a medal.

What is a typical training week like for you?
It is a week that is full of challenges and opportunities!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love watching TV and trying out new gadgets. I also listen to all sorts of music.

Do you use social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, to keep in touch with people?
Yes, I use these social networks to find out what people are doing and also to see if anyone has been in touch with me.

Did you have any sporting heroes when you were younger?
I have always admired Rafael Nadal very much. He is a great tennis player.

Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that talented athletes, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena.

It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games.

Working in particular with the most disadvantaged NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.

Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

Paul Etia N'Doumbe hopes to finish in the top ten in London

7/6/2012 1:52:00 PM

Cameroon’s Paul Etia N’Doumbe took up rowing in 2005 and just three years later was competing in the single sculls at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Now, the 28-year-old is hoping that his Olympic Solidarity Scholarship will help him finish in the top ten at this year’s London Olympic Games.

How did you start rowing?
Rowing first came to Cameroon in the early 2000s. It was when I attended the final of the Cup of Cameroon in Douala in 2005 that I decided to try the sport. The Cameroon Water Sports Federation then held a recruitment initiative for a three-month internship, which I was chosen for. At the end of this course, I passed the qualification and joined the national team’s training squad for a year. I then joined the team to participate in international events.

What difficulties have you encountered?
Initially, the hardest part was finding my balance in the boat. It is not easy to balance on the water!

How has the Olympic Solidarity programme helped you?
The Olympic Solidarity scholarship has helped me get good equipment, including my boat. It has also helped me train better, and in my new club in Rouen, France, I get to work with high-level training partners. I’ve now improved my stroke and increased my fitness level. With all these factors, I have greatly improved my overall performance in a short time. I have also gained confidence in myself.

What do you use the funds for?
I use the scholarship to cover my accommodation, medical expenses and insurance, as well as my coach’s travel expenses.

What have been the main highlights of your career so far?
The 2007 African Games in Algiers, which was my first big international competition, where I finished in sixth place. Obviously the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 was a highlight, and then the 2009 African Championships in Tunis, where I finished second. The 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia, were also good, but my best memory and my best performance was in the Olympic Qualifying Championship in Alexandria, where I finished in third place to secure my ticket to London!

What are your goals for the future?
In London in 2012, I hope to finish in the top 10. In September, I am aiming to become African champion, and then I hope to continue rowing while taking courses to become a rowing coach. My long-term goal is to become national coach of Cameroon.

Did you have any Olympic heroes when you were younger?
I watched the Olympic Games on television and liked the high jump, especially watching [1992 Olympic Champion from Cuba] Javier Sotomayor.

Do you use social media to keep in touch with your friends, family and fans?
Yes, I’m on Facebook. And I remain in contact with my family, friends and coaches while I am in France. It is essential to keep your spirits up when you’re away from home!

Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that talented athletes, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena.

It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games.

Working in particular with the most disadvantaged NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.

Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

Soumyajit Ghosh looks forward to London 2012

7/2/2012 3:38:00 PM

Olympic Review catches up with Olympic Solidarity scholarship holders as they target London 2012. The North Bengal teenager Soumyajit Ghosh became the first Indian to medal in the World Junior Table Tennis Championships in 2010. Having since helped India win the junior boys’ team bronze, Ghosh is hoping his Olympic Solidarity scholarship will lead to further success.

When did you first start to get involved with table tennis?
I took up table tennis as a hobby when I was five years old.

How has the Olympic Solidarity programme helped you?
The programme has helped me lot. The Olympic Solidarity scholarship enabled me to travel to Falkenberg, in Sweden, to train under [former doubles world and European champion] Peter Karlsson and play at the Falkenberg club with some other good players. Without the scholarship it would have been difficult to cover those costs.

How did training in Sweden help you develop as a player?
I tried my best during the training sessions with Peter Karlsson. Our hard work and Peter’s good advice – as well as a lot of support from the Table Tennis Federation of India – helped us win the team bronze at the World Junior Championships in 2011. I also won bronze in the World Junior Championships in 2010. Those medals have been the highlight of my sporting career so far.

What are your targets for the future?
My target is to play consistently in the top 20 in the world rankings.

Who were your Olympic heroes when you were growing up?
My favourite hero is [Sweden’s former Olympic, world and European champion] Jan-Ove Waldner. I think he is the best table tennis player ever.

Do you use social media to keep in touch with people?
Yes, I use social networking to make friends and stay in touch with family, friends and fans.

Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that talented athletes, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena.

It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games.

Working in particular with the most disadvantaged NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.

Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

Ella Nicholas, on her way to London 2012

6/28/2012 4:51:00 PM

Olympic Review catches up with Olympic Solidarity scholarship holders as they target London 2012. Ella Nicholas, an ambitious canoe athlete, has London 2012 firmly in her sights as she aims to become only the sixth woman from the Cook Islands to compete in an Olympic Games.

What was it like growing up in the Cook Islands?
I was actually born in New Zealand as my father left the Cook Islands to go to university. My family regularly travels back to the Cooks as my grandmother and many aunts, uncles and cousins all live there, either in Rarotonga or Aitutaki – the two main islands. I love the sea, snorkelling, the lagoon and the coconut palms. The people are so friendly and family is what really matters, so I am lucky to live between the two countries and have a blend of both cultures.

How did you start canoeing?
My brother started at school when he was 12 and I just followed along. My school was very supportive of a large group of girls getting into the sport, which also helped.

How has the Olympic Solidarity programme helped you?
It has made it possible for me to keep paddling and competing, striving towards my goal of taking part in the Olympic Games. Without this support I would not be able to combine study and paddling. I am taking a year off university next year to train full-time in preparation for the Games.

What do you use the funding for?
The funding goes towards the costs of my coach, gym membership and expenses, travelling to training and racing. I have been to Europe twice this year for World Cups and World Championships.

Who do you train with?
In Dunedin, where I am studying, we have formed a training group with New Zealand team member Shaun Higgins, and my brother Bryden and sister Jane who are very supportive. My coach Aaron Osborne and I use the internet to review my progress and get together for white water sessions when we can.

What does your training programme consist of?
My training programme is written by Aaron. I usually do two training sessions per day and it changes around a lot depending on what phase of training I am in and when races are. Usually I do three-week blocks of the same format followed by one week with more rest. Because I live in Dunedin I don’t have regular access to a white water course, otherwise this would make up a lot of my programme. Instead,I have to do mostly flatwater training and if it is too cold I use the kayaking ergo at my gym, along with cardio sessions and weight training. In winter we try to mix it up and my coach gives me the option of swimming and biking as well.

How do you combine training with your studies?
It’s pretty tough. I have been learning to balance them for such a long time that now I seem to keep more on top of things. However, my course is full-time and has a lot of content and class time so I do find it quite hard. I try to keep a good routine and use all my spare time wisely – which doesn’t always work! This year my studies seem to have been the lower priority and I have had to miss some classes due to training and racing. However, right now I am in the lead-up to my end-of-year exams, so training has to move a little further down the priority list.

What are your targets for 2012 in London?
Now that New Zealand and Australia have qualified, I have to make the Oceania Continental spot in February, but as the Cook Islands was the only other Oceania country at the World Championships, I should earn the spot. After my exams in October, I will be taking a year off university to train full-time. All I can ask of myself is to do my best. I want to have a really good build-up and feel like I have prepared the best I can. I want to go into the race confidently and perform to the best of my ability. I also hope to have a lot of fun in the process because, at the end of the day, everyone is there to win and not everyone can. It is important that we all take something positive from the experience, regardless of whether we win the gold medal or not.

What excites you most about the chance to compete at the Olympic Games in London?
In primary school, when the Olympic Games were on, we had whole weeks dedicated to being immersed in everything Olympic. We learnt the history of the Olympic Games and we were taught that they are a way of unifying the world and putting people from every walk of life on an equal platform, to be compared by nothing other than sporting ability. I am excited to become a part of this history and being able to contribute to something that makes our world stronger. Also, to be in the company of the greatest athletes from all over the world will be an honour.

Who were your Olympic heroes when you were younger?
New Zealand athletes Sarah Ulmer (cycling) and the Evers-Swindell twins (rowing). Although neither competed in sports that I loved, they were still great role models and amazing women.

How do you communicate with fans, friends and family? Do you use social media?
Social networks are my main way of communicating with friends. When I am away I call my family on the computer. I do have a blog but I am not very good at updating it. I am investigating getting a website too.

Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that talented athletes, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena.

It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games.

Working in particular with the most disadvantaged NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.

Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

Olympic Solidarity: William Chetcuti

6/21/2012 5:09:00 PM

Olympic Review catches up with Olympic Solidarity scholarship holders as they target London 2012. After narrowly missing out on the top six places in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, 26-year-old Maltese double trap shooter William Chetcuti is hoping his Olympic Solidarity scholarship will help him achieve a place on the podium in London in 2012, having recently won gold at the 2011 ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Beijing

What role has the Olympic Solidarity scholarship had in your training and in your career development?
I’ve recently been accepted for another quadrennial scholarship, which will definitely help me with my intense preparation towards the London 2012 Olympic Games. Soon after I got my first scholarship, I won a silver medal in double trap during the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) in San Marino in 2001. From then onwards, thanks to the Olympic Solidarity scholarships, I have continued to develop my technique and training programmes.

Looking ahead to London 2012, what has been your experience of competing in England so far?
England always offers different experiences at different levels and, as I hope to be able to qualify for the double trap final for London 2012, it helps that I can recall that one of my greatest achievements was in England – at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where I won my first Commonwealth Games bronze medal. I managed to repeat the feat in 2006 in Melbourne.

How did your career in clay shooting begin?
I started when I was about 10 years old, first with my grandfather – who had practised clay shooting at club level – and soon after with my father. Originally I started in trap but then, supported by Saviour Portelli, President of the Malta Shooting Sports Federation, and my coach, Jimmy Bugeja, I opted for double trap. I’ve never regretted making this decision.

How has your career developed in recent years?
Following the silver medal at the GSSE in San Marino in 2001, I won the gold medal in 2003 in Malta, in 2005 in Andorra and in 2009 in Cyprus. During the Junior World Championships in Cyprus in 2004 I also managed to break the junior world record with 146 clays out of 150. This record was equalled recently but has not yet been beaten.

What does it take to be a world-class double trap shooter?
It’s a matter of training, concentration, continuous participation and, of course, one must feel the constant need to always go a step further. In 2008, during the World Championships, I managed to finish in sixth place. During the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Beijing this year, I entered the final barrage with 141 out of 150. Following this I managed to hit 44 clays, which meant I won my first gold medal in a World Cup. Moreover, with this result I became the first Maltese shooter to obtain a quota place for the Olympic Games.

Your attention will soon be turning to London 2012. How important are these Games for your career?
London 2012 will be my third Games. In 2004 in Athens, when I was also flag bearer of the Maltese team, I finished in joint sixth place but then, following a shoot-off, I ended up in ninth, missing out on a place in the top six. Four years later in Beijing I went a step further when, after finishing joint sixth again, I ended up in eighth place following a shoot-off. This was Malta’s best ever result in any Olympic Games since its first participation at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. I will be looking forward to London 2012 with the aim of doing better than I did in Athens and Beijing.

Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that talented athletes, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena.

It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games.

Working in particular with the most disadvantaged NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.

Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

On the road to London 2012: Tanja Bozovic

6/18/2012 11:12:00 AM

Tanja Bozovic, the talented young judoka from Niksic, Montenegro hopes to qualify for the Games in London with the aid of a Solidarity scholarship.

How did you get started in judo?
My older brother had started to train, and I was jealous of him. I didn’t want him to be stronger than me so I begged my parents to let me try! Eventually they gave in, and so it all began. I’m now 17 years old and competing in junior competitions in the 57kg category.

What are the main attributes needed to be a successful judoka?
There are various strengths you need and, of course, people are all different, but my guess is that every judoka needs to be mentally tough. That is one of the most important things in this sport.

How is the Olympic Solidarity scholarship assisting your training and Olympic dreams?
Thanks to the Olympic Solidarity scholarship I can take part in more events across Europe and even in other parts of the world. I can now afford to travel to training camps, which I was not able to do previously – this means my preparation is much better for competitions and I can achieve better results.

What is your training programme like?
I train with both the girls and boys at my judo club – most are older competitors though some are a similar age to me. I train twice daily. Morning training consists of running, strength exercises and judo practice on the mats. In the afternoon, I concentrate on exercise technique, agility and the mental side of things – how to concentrate during a bout. Three times a week I go to aerobics classes and once a week I do heavy weights in the gym.

Have you set yourself any targets for the Games in London?
Assuming I achieve the required number of points to qualify for the Olympic Games, then you can be sure that I want to win a medal in such an important event. Although I am only young, I think that I can represent my country with honour.

Have you been to London before?
No, I have not had a chance to visit the city but I hope to go there in the near future and if not, then definitely next year for the Olympic Games.

What goals, if any, have you set yourself for your career?
I would like to be somebody that my country can be proud of, and to enjoy as long a career in this sport as possible. I wish that in 10 years’ time my name will be synonymous with the sport of judo!

Who were your Olympic heroes or role models when you were growing up?
At first I did not have any role models but since I started as a judoka with dreams of competing in the Olympic Games, Teddy Rinner of France – who has won the World Championships for the last three years – has become one of my biggest role models.

Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that talented athletes, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena.

It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games.

Working in particular with the most disadvantaged NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.

Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

Olympic Solidarity: Ella Nicholas, canoe

2/28/2012 7:24:00 PM

Olympic Review catches up with one of the Olympic solidarity scholarship holders as she targets London 2012. Ella Nicholas, an ambitious canoe athlete has the Games firmly in her sights as she aims to become only the sixth woman from the Cook Islands to compete in an Olympic Games.

What does your training programme consist of?
My training programme is written by Aaron. I usually do two training sessions per day and it changes around a lot depending on what phase of training I am in and when races are. Usually I do three-week blocks of the same format followed by one week with more rest. Because I live in Dunedin I don’t have regular access to a white water course, otherwise this would make up a lot of my programme. Instead,I have to do mostly flatwater training and if it is too cold I use the kayaking ergo at my gym, along with cardio sessions and weight training. In winter we try to mix it up and my coach gives me the option of swimming and biking as well.

Olympic Solidarity

Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that talented athletes, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena.

It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games.

Working in particular with the most disadvantaged NOCs and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes.

Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

Vanuatu’s women beach volleyball team gears up for London 2012

7/27/2011 12:33:00 PM

With one year to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games, the determination and excitement of athletes trying to qualify are increasing. Among them are two female beach volleyball players from Vanuatu, a group of islands some 1,700 kilometres off the coast of northern Australia. Linline Matauatu and Elwin Miller are unlikely Olympic athletes.

Until just a few years ago, making it to the Games would have been a mere dream for these two young mothers, but having received an Olympic Solidarity team grant to pay for equipment, travel and a professional coach, London is now a real possibility.

The two athletes will visit the British capital this August for a beach volleyball tournament as part of the “London Prepares” Series, sport events that bring together top athletes from around the world and give the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) the chance to check crucial aspects of its operations before the Games. However, Linline and Elwin will only know next year if they will qualify for London 2012 and if their Olympic dream can become a reality.

About Olympic Solidarity
Olympic Solidarity is the body that ensures that athletes with talent, regardless of their financial status, have an equal chance of reaching the Olympic Games and succeeding in the Olympic arena. It is responsible for administering and managing the National Olympic Committees’ share of the revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games. Working in particular with the most disadvantaged National Olympic Committees and their Continental Associations, Olympic Solidarity uses this money to develop a range of assistance programmes. Within its total budget, USD 61 million is earmarked to provide support to athletes for the 2009-2012 Olympic Solidarity quadrennial period.

Learn more about the current Olympic Solidarity Programme

An Equal Footing - the Olympic Solidarity Programme

6/27/2011 9:39:00 AM

Adam Szreter looks at the Olympic Solidarity Programme and how it enables athletes from around the world to compete on a level playing field

One of the most enduring and endearing qualities of the Olympic Games is the sight of athletes from many of the world’s less developed nations not only competing, but often winning, against those from more well-heeled backgrounds. The romantic notion is that total dedication and sheer talent is responsible for these tales of poverty to podium, but that is usually only half the story. What many outside the Olympic Movement are unaware of is the financial assistance given to such athletes through the Olympic Solidarity programme.

Now in its 40th year, Olympic Solidarity sprang from the Committee for International Olympic Aid, established in 1962 to assist newly independent countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. At first, with no financial resources at its disposal, the Committee offered little more than moral support to these fledgling National Olympic Committees (NOC). Today, Olympic Solidarity – as it became in 1971 – is responsible for a total budget of US$311 million for the 2009-2012 quadrennial plan which represents the NOC share of the TV revenue from the Olympic Games. This money is distributed to the NOCs in the form of programmes elaborated by the Olympic Solidarity Commission, chaired by Mario Vázquez Raña.

Three main pillars

The budget for 2009-2012 is divided into three main pillars: World Programmes, which focus on athletes, coaches, NOC management and the promotion of Olympic values – this accounts for 43 per cent of the total (US$134 million); Continental Programmes, devised according to local priorities with money distributed directly to each Continental Association – this amounts to 39 per cent (US$122 million); and Olympic Games Subsidies, which cover practical expenses before and during Games and reward NOCs for their contribution to the success of the Games – this comes to 14 per cent (US$42 million). The remaining four per cent is accounted for by the administration and communication costs of running the programmes.

Petra Majdic won a medal at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games - Copyright: IOC/Getty

Nearly half of the World Programmes budget is spent on projects that offer direct assistance to athletes, all with a view to qualifying for Olympic Games. These include Olympic Scholarships; Team Support Grants (giving financial assistance to one national team per NOC); Continental and Regional Games Athlete Preparation; and Youth Olympic Games Athlete Preparation. The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) programme, which provides US$10 million in the current quadrennial for the identification, qualification and preparation of a small number of young athletes, played a big part in the success of the inaugural Summer YOG last year in Singapore, and will play a similar role in the run-up to the 1st Winter YOG in Innsbruck in 2012.

The “identify-qualify-prepare” programme

A good example of how the YOG “identify-qualify-prepare” programme worked in practice was Kyrgyzstan, a country in Central Asia that had previously only won three Olympic medals. In May 2010 its NOC organised a special “spartakiad” event to identify young talent. Athletes in boxing, wrestling, judo and athletics were then sent to qualifying tournaments and four of them qualified for the YOG, preparing beforehand at the national training camp. Three of them went on to win medals including wrestler Urmatbek Amatov, who won gold.

Errol Kerr was Jamaica's sole representative at the vancouver 201 Olymic Games - Copyright: IOC/Getty

Perhaps the highest profile elements of Olympic Solidarity’s World Programmes are the Olympic Scholarships. Launched in 1992, they offer substantial assistance to elite international athletes nominated by their NOC, with particular emphasis on those of limited financial means. The programme includes access to top-class training facilities and coaches at home or abroad; medical assistance; board and lodging costs; and a fixed subsidy to enable athletes to compete in Olympic qualification events. In the period leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing a total of 1,088 scholarships were awarded, and 591 of those – from 151 NOCs – qualified for the Games in Beijing. Of those, 202 were women; 389 were men.

Olympic Scholarship holders won 81 medals in Beijing

A total of 81 medals were won in Beijing by Olympic Scholarship holders compared with 57 in Athens four years earlier. Among them were Abhinav Bindra (10m air rifle), who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal and used the scholarship to train for two years at the USA’s national training centre in Colorado Springs; and Afghanistan’s first Olympic medallist, Rohullah Nikpai, who won bronze in the men’s under-58kg taekwondo competition. Olympic Solidarity worked closely with Afghan taekwondo athletes prior to Beijing, placing them in a number of training camps across the world.

Vancouver 2010 was the first fully-fledged Olympic Winter Scholarship programme. While similar in content to the summer programme, its main objective was to improve the level of competition at the Winter Games, and not to artificially increase their universality given the specific conditions you need to practise many winter sports. Therefore the programme was offered only to NOCs with a strong tradition in winter sports. Nevertheless, scholarships were still offered to athletes ranging from potential medallists to those trying simply to represent their country. In all, 60 NOCs benefited from the programme, 12 of which eventually featured delegations in Vancouver composed entirely of Olympic Scholarship holders. A total of 227 out of 325 scholarship holders qualified, including 89 out of 132 women.

Jakov Fak of Croatioa won his country's first biathlon medal in Vancouver - Copyright: IOC/Getty
Enabling to prepare for the Games in a much better manner

There were 13 medallists among the Olympic Scholars in Vancouver and these included the Sics brothers from Latvia, Andris and Juris, who won silver in the luge doubles. One year earlier, Juris had told Olympic Review: “The Olympic Scholarship enables us to prepare for the Games in a much better manner, which is very important to us.” Andris had added: “Thanks to the Olympic Scholarship we can afford to feel more at home, even being far away from home.” And after their success in Vancouver, Andris said: “It’s perfect. You always want to be first but second place for small Latvia is wonderful. We trained hard and got in the top three.”

Other scholarship-medallists in Vancouver included Jakov Fak of Croatia who won his country’s first medal in biathlon; Petra Majdic, who took Slovenia’s first cross country medal; and Belarus biathlete Darya Domracheva, who became only the second woman to win an Olympic medal for her country since 1994. Outside the medals but of equal merit was Errol Kerr, Jamaica’s sole representative and its first Olympic skier. He carried his country’s flag during the parade of nations before finishing ninth in the ski cross, narrowly missing out on a diploma. The focus of attention for the Olympic Movement is now London 2012 and scholarship programmes are already under way. The overall figure allocated to London 2012 Olympic Scholarships is US$19 million, an increase on Beijing’s US$16 million.

Olympic Scholarships for Coaches

Among the 19 World Programmes administered by the Olympic Solidarity international office in Lausanne there are also Olympic Scholarships for Coaches, which offer access to high-level training and the chance to acquire additional experience and knowledge. US$26 million from the World Programmes budget will be spent on NOC Administration Development, programmes designed to contribute to general NOC running and also to improve specific aspects of their administration, particularly financial management. Other World Programmes include National Training Courses for Sports Administrators and International Executive Training Courses in Sports Management.

In addition, programmes dedicated to the promotion of Olympic values in fields such as sports medicine, woman and sport or sport and the environment, to name but a few, are also available to the NOCs.

The Sics brothers won a medalat the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver - Copyright: IOC/Getty

The Continental Programmes are run by the Olympic Solidarity office within each Continental Association, allowing them to address specific issues for sports development on their continent. The major part of each continent’s budget is spent on direct financial support to the NOCs for the implementation of their own activities and programmes that fit with their specific objectives. In Asia, for example, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) organises an Asian Games Fun Run, designed to spread the message of the Asian Games throughout Asia.

The Oceania Sport Education Program (OSEP), a joint initiative between Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) and various other partners, seeks to develop a regional approach to sport education in the field of coaching and administration. All over the Americas, Pan-American Sports Organisation (PASO) is making high-level international training centres available, with better supervision and state of the art facilities. In Europe, young athletes can take part in the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) thanks to the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and in Africa an increasing number of NOCs are now benefiting from the OlympAfrica project, partially financed by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) through its continental budget.

"Activities to support the NOCs and benefit the athletes"

“Never before has Olympic Solidarity allocated so many resources and developed so many activities to support the NOCs and benefit the athletes,” says Vázquez Raña. “We are aware that Olympic Solidarity is today the fundamental support for the great majority of the NOCs and, in more than a few cases, the guarantee of their autonomy and independence.”

And long may it last. As the Olympic Charter states: “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport in accordance with his or her needs.”
Olympic Solidarity is about making sure those rights can be exercised – everywhere.

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