EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT: A SOURCE OF STRENGTH FOR THE NOCs

The NOC Management programmes have been reinforced in order to enhance the support provided to NOCs to strengthen their management during the 2005-2008 quadrennial plan. As one of the key challenges for NOCs is to equip their staff with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the challenges of running a successful organisation in the ever-changing environment of the 21st century, the four management programmes available to NOCs this quadrennial include a component of promoting the knowledge and skills base of NOCs, either through educational opportunities or through encouraging and supporting the exchange of experiences and information among NOCs. NOCs will also receive an annual subsidy, which is to be used towards the running costs of the NOC, and a sub-programme has been reserved for NOCs to be able to present their individualised initiatives to develop a specific aspect of their management, with priority given to NOCs with the greatest needs. The main objectives of the NOC Management Programmes are illustrated through the three "E's" (for striving for EXCELLENCE): to provide NOCs with opportunities to EDUCATE their staff and EXCHANGE information and experiences with other NOCs in order to better EXECUTE their work.

NOC ADMINISTRATION DEVELOPMENT

There are three sub-programmes offered to NOCs through the NOC Administration Development Programme, each covering a distinct area. The Administrative Subsidy provides NOCs with a direct annual subsidy to be used towards their running costs, such as staff salaries, office rent, organisation of meetings, purchase of office equipment and IT development. The Staff Skills Training serves to encourage NOCs to invest in their staff's skills by providing them with adequate training opportunities, such as with IT or financial management courses. The NOC Management Initiatives provides NOCs with the opportunity to develop a specific aspect of their management through projects not covered by the other management programmes, which may involve the assistance of an external consultant.

NATIONAL TRAINING COURSES FOR SPORTS ADMINISTRATORS

As a result of the encouraging feedback received from NOCs and their growing interest in this field, Olympic Solidarity has decided to continue this programme and to add a new category of advanced courses. NOCs now have the possibility to organise training courses on a national basis to improve the knowledge of sports administrators and strengthen the management of Olympic sports organisations through two sub-programmes. The standard Sports Administrators Courses, which are based on the Sport Administration Manual and conducted by certified National Course Directors, are aimed at sports administrators from grassroots to national level. NOCs are able to set up structures that facilitate high quality teaching on sports administration and Olympism and the dissemination of this knowledge in all the regions of their country. The Advanced Sports Management Courses, developed in partnership with MEMOS (made up of professionals from a network of universities), aim to provide in a more formalised manner the competencies needed to successfully manage an Olympic sports organisation operating at a national or regional level. These advanced level courses are designed to train sports managers through a collective learning process in the following five areas: running of an Olympic sports organisation; strategic management; managing human resources; marketing and media communication; and event management. A new sports management handbook will be used as the basic tool in the teaching of these courses.

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE TRAINING COURSES IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT

NOC EXCHANGE AND REGIONAL FORUMS

The aim of the NOC Exchange and Regional Forums programme is to promote and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences between NOCs on an individual, regional and continental basis. All NOCs wishing to broaden their knowledge in a certain area of management and share their experiences with other NOCs are encouraged to participate in this programme. NOCs needing assistance or management coaching in a given area, referred to as "Coachee NOCs", are paired with NOCs that possess the necessary expertise in that area, referred to as "Coach NOCs". Exchanges between NOCs can take different forms: providing technical advice or sharing information and documentation by phone, e-mail or in on-site meetings, participation in a seminar organised by another NOC or an "internship" of a "Coach NOC" or "Coachee NOC" staff member at the other's organisation. The regional forums address issues of particular interest and relevance to the continent or region and are agreed between Olympic Solidarity and the Continental Association involved. Olympic Solidarity, in coordination with the Continental Associations, decides upon the annual programme of forums and the planning and organisation of these forums for each continent.