The Olympic Movement is constantly expanding and is an extraordinary factor in development. Today it represents a major world phenomenon in the development and promotion of sport on every level, as well as in sectors related to education, individual rights, cultural diversity, improvement of society in general and sustainable development. One of the missions of the NOCs is to develop and promote the Olympic ideals in their respective countries. According to the Olympic Charter, Olympism, blending sport with culture and education, seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles. Priorities at national level often favour athletes or the development of coaches, and the NOCs therefore do not always have the possibilities or the means of organising activities in other fields.
The seven programmes at the disposal of the NOCs within the framework of the promotion of Olympic values therefore make an important contribution, enabling the NOCs to carry out actions related to the values conveyed by the fundamental principles of Olympism according to their need, their individual situation and their culture.
Olympic Solidarity refers to the general orientation adopted by the IOC Medical Commission to develop the NOC activities in this area. The Commission's objectives are to protect athletes' health, to defend medical and sports ethics and to give everyone the same chance. Similar to the 2001-2004 programme, with an additional category for individual educational scholarships, this programme aims to develop and disseminate scientific and technical knowledge in sports medicine. It covers three areas that have been defined with the IOC Medical Commission: sports medicine courses, conducted by the IOC Medical Commission and intended to educate doctors, physiotherapists, trainers and coaches through practical and scientific training in sports medicine; the individual educational scholarships programme, conducted by the IOC Medical and Scientific Department and intended to offer a financial contribution to help recently qualified doctors and/or physiotherapists to specialise in sports medicine and subsequently work for the benefit of the national sports community; the new publications of the IOC Medical Commission, of which the purchase and distribution costs are covered by Olympic Solidarity and which are distributed to the NOCs in addition to their annual subscription to the Sportsmed newsletter, available via the NOC Extranet.
Protecting nature and the environment is an integral part of sport and culture. With this in mind, Olympic Solidarity is continuing this programme, of which the main aim is to encourage the NOCs to be actively involved in the field of sport and environment by undertaking, implementing and promoting programmes and initiatives, using sport as a tool for sustainable development.
By contributing to the activities initiated for the NOCs by the IOC Sport and Environment Commission via the IOC Department of International Cooperation and Development, this programme will help a number of NOCs wishing to send delegates to the IOC World Conferences (2005 & 2007) and Regional Seminars on Sport and Environment. This new cycle of seminars, based on a much more practical approach, is organised in the five continents. At the same time, this programme helps NOCs to set up and carry out individual initiatives on a national basis within this field. These might include national seminars, targeted increasing awareness campaigns, education activities and study projects.
Sport is continuing to become more accessible to women, thus enabling them to have a broader representation in the national and international sports movement. Olympic Solidarity works in partnership with the IOC Women and Sport Commission to support this trend. This assistance programme, which is still relevant today, encourages NOCs to reinforce and implement a series of actions in order to promote awareness of women in sport and to increase participation of women in all levels of sport, both in practice and in administration. By contributing to the activities initiated for the NOCs by the IOC Women and Sport Commission, via the IOC Department of International Cooperation and Development, this programme supports the participation of a certain number of NOC delegates in the IOC World Conference (2008) and regional seminars on Women and Sport. This new cycle of seminars aims to assist NOCs in practical terms with the implementation of practical activities in their respective countries. This programme also enables NOCs to set up and carry out individual initiatives in this field on a national basis, which are not covered by any other existing Olympic Solidarity programme. These might include gender equality activities, targeted communication campaigns, national research programmes, national seminars and the development of action plans. However, it is important that each initiative launched by an NOC be part of a coherent set of actions and a policy with defined objectives.
The growth in the practice and promotion of sport throughout society is one reason why Olympic Solidarity is continuing to support the Sport for All campaign. This programme, which aims to promote sport in general and the practice of physical activities throughout all levels of society, follows the guidelines given to the NOCs by the IOC Sport for All Commission: assistance to NOCs organising the Olympic Day Run, and help for a certain number of NOC representatives active in this field to attend the IOC Sport for All Congresses (2006 and 2008). NOCs wishing to organise Sport for All events on a national basis, such as popular sporting events with broad participation, training for sports event organisers, sports camps and awareness-raising campaigns for health for all age groups are also eligible for support through this programme as part of the individual initiatives category.
The International Olympic Academy (IOA) can be defined as a cultural institution whose main task is to study and teach the history of the Olympic Games and to spread the ideals of peace and fraternity. Each year, among its different activities, the IOA organises international training sessions aimed at participants from the five continents. As well as educating, spreading and protecting the ideals and values of the Olympic Movement, this programme, run in collaboration with the IOA, encourages the NOCs and the National Olympic Academies (NOAs) to send participants to the different sessions of the IOA, in order to study and implement the educational and social principles of Olympism. For the 2005-2008 quadrennial, Olympic Solidarity is helping NOCs and NOAs by covering part of their participants' expenses for a certain number of sessions.
Created for the previous plan, the Culture and Education programme is continuing where it left off by encouraging NOCs and their National Olympic Academy (NOA) to be actively involved in the promotion of culture and Olympic education by creating, organising and publicising programmes and initiatives in this field. This programme is complementary but independent from the International Olympic Academy programme. It contributes to the activities initiated for the NOCs by the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education via the IOC Department of International Cooperation and Development. These activities include the IOC World Forums on Education, Culture and Sport (2006 and 2008), for which help is given to a certain number of NOCs wishing to send a representative active in this field, and the IOC contests (Olympic Sport & Literature 2005 - Olympic Sport & Art 2008), where NOCs are assisted with the organisation costs of the contests at national level. The programme also helps the NOCs to set up and carry out individual initiatives on a national basis, by means of programmes and/or specific activities such as the creation of NOAs, establishment of Olympic education programmes in schools and universities, assistance for exhibitions or other cultural activities linked to sport. In order to achieve its objectives and depending on specific NOC requests, Olympic Solidarity may ask for the technical assistance of the IOC Olympic Studies Centre and/or the Olympic Museum.
Olympic values must survive through time. Olympic Solidarity created this programme for the 2001-2004 quadrennial plan in order to encourage the NOCs to preserve their national Olympic and sporting history and heritage. NOCs can therefore apply to Olympic Solidarity for assistance for specific activities linked to the importance of keeping and passing down to future generations Olympic history relating to athletes, the development of sport and sports events in their country. Examples of such initiatives could be preparation and conservation of archives, museum installation or maintenance, research projects, publications and training. Depending on the requests from NOCs, Olympic Solidarity may ask for the technical assistance of the IOC Olympic Studies Centre and/or the Olympic Museum to help it achieve these objectives.