International Olympic Committee : News

ParticipACTION: Keeping Canadians moving for over 4 decades

3/19/2013 2:45:00 PM

Every two years the IOC World Conference on Sport for All brings together those active in the field to share their ideas as well as their programmes designed to get people moving. The 15th edition of the conference will take place in Lima, Peru from 24 to 27 April and a strong lineup of speakers has been assembled to ensure the workshops and discussions are as interactive and interesting as possible.

Go, Canada!

ParticipACTION is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging Canadians to lead active lifestyles and participate in sports. Originally established in 1971, ParticipACTION implements social marketing campaigns that inspire and support Canadians to move more.

“As the national voice of physical activity and sport participation in Canada, our goal is to create a society where daily physical activity is not only a priority, but also second nature for its citizens,” says Kelly Murumets, President and CEO of ParticipACTION. “Our vision is a Canada where physical activity is a vital and fulfilling part of everyday life.”

Armed with a simple mandate – to get Canadians moving –ParticipACTION quickly gained a reputation as a global leader in communications to promote physical activity. Over the years, the organisation has earned praise for its innovative and proactive approaches to forging partnerships to finance and implement its projects.

ParticipACTION creates societal change through social marketing and collaborative partnerships. Through initiatives like Bring Back Play, an integrated campaign that encourages mothers to bring back the unstructured active play that used to be a part of every childhood, and the ParticipACTION Network, a national network that facilitates partnership, coordination and communication among organisations dedicated to encouraging physical activity and sport participation, ParticipACTION works collaboratively with its partners to ensure that its actions set the stage for long-term sustainable change.

Shared goals

Kelly Murumets will be speaking at the 15th World Conference on Sport for All in Lima next month on Sports Day in Canada, a national celebration of sport, from grassroots to high performance levels.

For more information on the 15th IOC Conference on Sport for All and to register click here

For more information on the IOCs Sport for All actions click here

14th World Conference on Sport for All issues call for action

9/23/2011 12:05:00 PM

The 14th World Conference on Sport for All came to a successful conclusion in Beijing today with 527 participants from around the world issuing a call to action in a unanimously approved final declaration.

The declaration was tabled by International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport for All Commission Chairman Sam Ramsamy at the closing ceremony, and called on sports and non-sports organisations such as governments, the health sector, schools and corporations, to embrace the spirit of Sport for All and promote participation by all sectors of society in sport and physical activity.
Among the action points contained in the declaration, the participants called for increased collaboration between the various entities involved in promoting the benefits of Sport for All activities, the use of tools such as social media to get the message out and promote dialogue, and the organisation of Sport for All events wherever possible.

Read the full text of the declaration here.

The format of the Conference was altered this year to include a wider range of participants and encourage interaction and collaboration. The focus of the Conference this year was on practical applications and best practices that could be shared among participants and implemented worldwide.

With that in mind, representatives from governments and sports bodies were invited to attend and share their experiences in workshops and interactive panel sessions designed to encourage greater and more fruitful discussions.

“We have had a really excellent World Conference, and I would like to thank the organisers for their work,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “Our philosophy and approach to this year’s Conference was to share ways to get people of all ages and abilities more active. We have accomplished a lot this week in a very interactive and stimulating environment, and our declaration is an important step in the right direction.”

The Conference, which was hosted by the Chinese Olympic Committee and Beijing Municipal Government and organised by the IOC and Beijing Olympic City Development Association, was also the first of its kind to welcome a large number of local and international media.
The 15th World Sport for All Congress will take place in 2013 in Lima, Peru.

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14th Sport for All Conference kicks off in Beijing

9/21/2011 2:53:00 PM

The 14th World Conference on Sport for All got under way today at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing with workshops, plenary sessions and other meetings designed to promote health, fitness and well-being by encouraging people of all ages and abilities to participate in sports activities and embrace the Olympic values.

The focus of this year’s Conference, running from 21 to 23 September, is on the practical implementation of Sport for All programmes, and was reformatted from earlier conferences to place greater emphasis on interactive knowledge-sharing and the exchange of best practices. Experts from around the globe will share their experiences on a wide range of Sport for All activities with an estimated audience of 600 people this week.

Hosted by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Beijing Municipal Government, the Conference has been jointly organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) in collaboration with SportAccord. The Sport for All Conference is one of the IOC’s key advocacy initiatives in this field. It has, since its formation, been dedicated to promoting broad dissemination of the Sport for All philosophy globally.

“We can always do more”

“Our hope is that when you go back to your respective cities and countries, you will be able to implement on the ground what you have learnt or discovered during this Conference,” IOC President Jacques Rogge told participants at Wednesday’s Opening Ceremony. “I think we all agree: In the end it is not just about talking, but about taking action and seeing concrete results. We can always do more to get more people moving and taking exercise.”

IOC Sport for All Commission Chairman Sam Ramsamy concurred: “In today’s society, Sport for All has to play a very significant role in ensuring that citizens at large participate in sports activities. Elite sport is a beautiful objective and a high ideal for many participants. At the same time, sport offers many other values in abundance, such as fair play, volunteerism, community involvement, a healthy lifestyle, and much more. This is our focus in Sport for All.”

Sport for All Grants

In light of the focus of the 14th Sport for All Conference — the practical implementation of Sport for All programmes — the IOC’s Sport for All Commission decided to create a grant to support the outstanding work of entities actively engaged in promoting Sport for All, particularly in the developing world, and disseminating the health and social benefits of sport in general.

The three winners of the grant correspond to the three main themes of the Conference:

• Health and social benefits of physical activity (Eco Sports Group - Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Programmes and policies (Ethiopia - Sport Builds Bridges)
• Development and promotion of Sport for All (Health Qigong Administrative Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Health Qigong Association)

“The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport. This is one of the fundamental principles of Olympism,” said President Rogge. “This is why I am very pleased about the Sport for All Commission’s project to reward three of the many outstanding Sport for All initiatives around the world ... we thank them all for their valued contributions and wish them continued success in the future.”

IOC, UN and World Leaders Join Forces Against Deadly Diseases

9/20/2011 9:30:00 AM

Speaking to a special session of the UN General Assembly, IOC President Jacques Rogge urged world leaders to expand the role of sport organisations in the fight against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The high-level meeting at the UN headquarters in New York (USA) brought together heads of state and governments; delegates from UN Member States; representatives from civil society; and heads of UN agencies to address a health risk that ranks as the leading cause of death worldwide. At least 63 per cent of all deaths are linked to heart attacks, strokes, cancers and other NCDs.

“The impact of NCDs goes well beyond the lives lost and the daily suffering of millions of people. These preventable diseases are a major obstacle to economic growth and social development in countries around the world,” President Rogge said in reaffirming the IOC’s commitment to combating NCDs by promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles.

The World Health Organisation has recognised physical activity as one of three pillars for the effective prevention of NCDs, alongside good nutrition and avoiding tobacco.

President Rogge outlined the many ways the Olympic Movement promotes healthy lifestyles. The IOC’s Sport for All Commission is at the forefront of efforts to encourage physical activity at all levels. One of the Commission’s initiatives - the annual Olympic Day celebration on 23 June - has proven to be an effective way to get young people more active in countries around the world.

To help put sport to work against NCDs, the IOC President urged meeting participants to:

• Advocate for more safe and accessible public spaces for physical activity and sport.

• Build new partnerships with sectors beyond sport — transport, finance, urban planning, industry and others — to expand the impact of sport in urban areas.

• Work with government authorities and educators to increase the amount of time that students devote to physical education.

• Encourage the development of sports infrastructures and sports organisations.

It was President Rogge’s first appearance before the General Assembly since the IOC gained official UN Observer status in late 2009.

“Many Member States and United Nations agencies or programmes understand the value of sport in promoting development, sustainability, health and the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals. Encouraging others to integrate sport into those efforts will bring us closer to making our goals a reality,” he said.

President Rogge’s visit to New York came on the eve of the 14th World Conference on Sport for All in Beijing (China), a high-level summit to promote best practices and share new ways to encourage physical activity, especially among young people.

Discover President Rogge's full speech

Read news about Sport officially recognised to boost Millenium Development Goals.

IOC to award Sport for All projects

8/12/2011 11:51:00 AM

For the first time ever, the IOC will award outstanding Sport for All initiatives in different continents that have encouraged physical activity for people of all ages, both sexes and from diverse social, physical and economic backgrounds. The three winners were selected by the IOC’s Sport for All Commission and will be revealed during the 14th World Conference on Sport for All, which will take place in Beijing, China, from 20 to 23 September 2011. An IOC grant of up to USD 20,000 will support them to sustain and further develop their activities.

Case studies on stage in Beijing

All of the three selected projects use sport to address social issues, are based on strong partnerships and of a sustainable nature. The project leaders will join the Conference in Beijing to share their success stories. Sport for All expert Nick Keller, founder of “Beyond Sport” , will moderate the session. His organisation promotes, develops and supports the use of sport to create positive social change across the world.

About the 14th World Conference on Sport for All

The focus of the event will be on the practical implementation of Sport for All programmes, and the conference comprises plenary sessions, panel discussions, interactive workshops, poster sessions, networking opportunities and social events, and thus leaves considerable room for fruitful exchanges.

Learn more about the programme

Hosted by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Beijing Municipal Government, the Conference is being jointly organised by the IOC and the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA) in collaboration with SportAccord. As one of the most recent Olympic cities, Beijing has lately experienced a boom in Sport for All activities, and as such will be a vibrant meeting point for experts in this field.

Last opportunity to register

Registration is still open a few more days, until 15 August 2011, and you can save your place here.

Visit the official Conference website
Learn more about the IOC’s Sport for All activities

Last call for registrations: 14th World Conference on Sport for All

7/22/2011 2:19:00 PM

In two months’ time, the 14th IOC World Conference on Sport for All will kick off in Beijing (China), bringing together experts and practitioners to share their latest findings in promoting sport for everyone. This high-profile summit is organised every second year and is a key event in the calendar of the Olympic Movement, specialised NGOs, researchers, governments and UN bodies.

Registration is still open until 15 August 2011 and you can save your place at http://www.sportforall2011.org/cn/enindex.jsp

High-level speakers

The focus of this edition will be on the practical implementation of Sport for All programmes, and high-level speakers from around the world, including IOC President Jacques Rogge, Chairman of the IOC Sport for All Commission Sam Ramsamy, IOC Medical Commission Chairman Arne Ljungqvist, Chairman of the UK-based International Inspiration Foundation Keith Mills, Chairman of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association Liu Qi, WHO representative Timothy Armstrong and Olympic medallist Paul Tergat, will attend to share their expertise in this field.

Interactive knowledge-sharing

The programme comprises plenary sessions, panel discussions, interactive workshops, poster sessions, networking opportunities and social events, and thus leaves considerable room for fruitful exchanges.

The themes of the five plenary sessions are:

Follow-up of the 2010 Conference on Sport for All Programmes and Policies: the Practical and Theoretical Foundations of Sport for All
Development and Promotion of Sport for All
Health and Social Benefits of Physical Activity
Future Directions

A highlight will be the awarding of grants to three outstanding Sport for All projects from different continents on the first day.

Learn more about the programme here

About the organisers

Hosted by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Beijing Municipal Government, the Conference is being jointly organised by the IOC and the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA). As one of the youngest Olympic cities, Beijing has recently experienced a boom in Sport for All activities, and as such will be a vibrant meeting point for experts in this field.

Visit the official Conference website

Learn more about the IOC’s Sport for All activities

14th World Conference on Sport for All – Abstracts submission still running

3/18/2011 3:39:00 PM

The deadline for submission of abstracts for the 14th World Conference on Sport for All has been extended for another month. Experts and practitioners in the field of Sport for All still have until 15 April to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations for the event, which will be held in Beijing, China, from 20 to 23 September 2011.

The abstracts should address one of the following Conference themes:

• Follow-up of the 2010 World Conference on Sport for All;

• Health and social benefits of physical activity;

• Programmes and policies: the practical and theoretical foundations of Sport for All;

• Development and promotion of Sport for All, in particular the roles of different stakeholders; and

• Future directions.

Practical-based and scientific submissions are encouraged. In addition, abstracts summarising case studies and examples of Sport for All initiatives are also welcome.

Contributions must be submitted via the online submission system by 15 April. The authors who are accepted will be able to present their work orally at either a parallel session or during a workshop, or prepare and showcase a poster.

Please click here to download the full information on the call for abstracts.

Beijing to welcome Sport for All experts in 2011

11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM

Beijing (China) will be the host of the 14th World Conference on Sport for All, which will take place from 20 to 23 September 2011. The focus of this edition will be on the practical implementation of Sport for All programmes, and speakers from around world as well as high profile personalities will attend to share their expertise in this field. The event will also look at academic studies on the cultural importance and health benefits of physical activity. The format of the Conference will see emphasis placed upon the sharing of knowledge and the exchange of best practices, including workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities for the participants.

In particular, discussions will centre on the following themes:

• Follow-up of the 2010 World Conference on Sport for All;
• Health and social benefits of physical activity;
• Programmes and policies: the practical and theoretical foundations of Sport for All;
• Development and promotion of Sport for All, in particular the roles of different stakeholders; and
• Future directions.

The attendees will have the opportunity to hear case study presentations in which presenters will share their secrets on the successful implementation of Sport for All programmes. Furthermore, the Conference will provide participants with the opportunity to meet the experts and leaders of the global Sport for All movement, with specific times set aside for networking and communication. The academic content of the Conference will be supplemented by a number of sporting and social events in which participants will be able to gain first-hand impressions of Beijing’s Olympic legacy.

Learn more and register at www.sportforall2011.org

Sport for All Congress declaration shows way forward

6/18/2010 11:42:00 AM

The 13th World Sport for All Congress, held in Jyväskylä, Finland from 14 to 17 June, wrapped up yesterday with a declaration that was adopted unanimously by all the 586 participants from 92 countries. The document, which was presented by Sam Ramsamy, Chairman of the IOC’s Sport for All Commission, sums up current needs and trends in the field of Sport for All and recommends concrete action to counteract physical inactivity. With the declaration, the Congress participants address the sports movement, individuals, families, the health sector, schools and government authorities.

Read the full text of the declaration here.

Organised by the LIKES Research Centre and the University of Jyväskylä, the Congress was hosted by the Finnish Olympic Committee under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and Sportaccord/GAISF.

The 14th World Sport for All Congress will take place in 2011 in Beijing, China, and offer the opportunity to assess whether, and how, the contents of the declaration have been implemented.

Olympic Day at 13th World Sport for All Congress

6/17/2010 3:24:00 PM

Yesterday evening, hundreds of participants of the 13th World Sport for All Congress which is currently taking place in Jyväskylä, Finland, put on their trainers and joined in an Olympic Day event organised by the National Olympic Committee of Finland. The sport enthusiasts could choose between Nordic walking and geocaching, which is a modern version of treasure hunting and orienteering. All three activities are very popular in Finland.

Bringing Nordic Walking to Asia

Nordic walking, a true “Sport for All” activity that was created in Finland and in which you use poles to walk briskly, was a completely new experience for most of the foreign participants. Seung-Soo Baek from the Republic of Korea was one of the many who loved it and said he was keen to buy some poles to take them back home and demonstrate Nordic walking to his students.

©Jouni Kallio

About Olympic Day

Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

Nowadays Olympic Day is developing into much more than just a sports event. Based on the three pillars “move”, “learn” and “discover”, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are deploying sports, cultural and educational activities around 23 June. Some countries have incorporated the event into the school curriculum and, in recent years, many NOCs have added concerts and exhibitions to the celebration. Recent NOC activities have included meetings for children and young people with top athletes and the development of new web sites directing people to programmes in their neighbourhood. If you want to get active on Olympic Day check with your National Olympic Committee (NOC) or join us on facebook and tell us what you do!