"Playing for a Greener Future"!

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QNOC), hosted the 9th World Conference on Sport and the Environment this week in Doha, Qatar. Joining the hosts were over 650 participants representing National Olympic Committees (NOC), international federations (IF), the Olympic Games organizing committees of London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 and future Games candidate cities, who all raised their voices in a concerted effort to reiterate everyone’s concern with regards to the degradation of the world’s environment. Under the theme of “Playing for a Greener Future”, the Conference assessed the environmental success stories of the Olympic Movement; reflected on future challenges; and explored new opportunities of mainstreaming the environment in the world of sport.

While all participants reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable development, three principal focus areas known as the “Doha Declaration” emerged from the Conference, as the framework for activities related to the three pillars of sustainable development:

1. Economic
2. Social
3. Environment

Part of the plan for a greener future is to engage the youth, recognizing that young people play such an important role in society and in promoting sustainable development. To inspire young people around the world to participate in sports and adopt and live by the Olympic ideals, the IOC established the Youth Olympic Games (the inaugural Games held in Singapore in 2010). To continue on that vein, the conference partners will:

1. promote the involvement of young athletes in future World Conferences and continental seminars on Sport and Environment;
2. develop and support educational programs for young people on environment and sustainable development;
3. raise awareness of young people on sustainable development issues and to spread the Olympic ideals in their local communities through sports;
4. promote and support initiatives that engage the youth, particularly in under privileged communities, in sustainable development activities.

Contact SIRC for more information on sport and the environment!

The 2018 Olympic Winter Games City Named in July 2011

In just over seven week’s time, on July 6, 2011, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will choose the host city for the 2018 Olympic Winter and Paralympic Winter Games. The decision will be made at an IOC Session meeting in Durban, South Africa. Three major international cities are currently in the running - Annecy (France), Munich (Germany) and PyeongChang (Korea).

Since 2002, all IOC voting members are no longer allowed to travel to candidate cities and must rely on the bid city presentations. Only the small team that forms the evaluation committee is permitted to visit the cities, so that they can prepare the reports to share with the rest of the IOC members. Yesterday in Switzerland at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, each city was required to give a 45-minute technical presentation to 88 IOC members, and then be available to answer questions. Part of putting together a bid/ candidate city committee is making sure each city has the right “star” power to promote each bid. The Annecy bid includes triple Olympic alpine champion Jean-Claude Killy, Munich is led by two-time Olympic gold medalist figure skater Katarina Witt, while PyeongChang has 2010 Olympic figure skating champion Yu-Na Kim.

According to reports following the presentations, there is still no clear front runner, as each city could successfully host an excellent and well executed Winter Games. If Munich were to win, they would become the only city to have ever hosted both the Summer (1972) and Winter Olympic Games, while some of their venues include the 1936 Winter Games host city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Some of the events in Annecy would include the 1968 host city of Grenoble, while PyeongChang has bid twice losing out to the Games of 2010 (Vancouver) and 2014 (Sochi).

The 2018 Olympic Winter Games are to take place from February 9-24, 2018.

Contact SIRC for more information on winter sports and the Olympic Games.

And the winner is ... !

The city of PyeongChang, Korea was awarded the opportunity of hosting the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games this week over Munich Germany, and Annecy, France. Needing 48 votes from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members for the victory, PyeongChang received 63 of the 95 votes cast in the first round of voting (Munich received 25 and Annecy seven.) It was the first time an Olympic bid race with more than two finalists was decided in the first round since 1995, when Salt Lake City defeated three other bid candidates to win the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

This was PyeongChang’s third consecutive bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, having lost narrowly to Vancouver (2010) and Sochi (2014) previously. It will be the first Winter Games in South Korea, and the nation’s second Olympics after having hosted the 1988 Olympic Games in the capital city of Seoul. PyeongChang will be the first city in Asia, outside Japan, to ever host the Olympic Winter Games. Japan twice hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 (Sapporo) and again in 1998 (Nagano).

Just 180km east of Seoul and in the Taebaek Mountains, PyeongChang, campaigned on the theme of "New Horizons," and how that it deserved to win on a third try. And win they did! There is no doubt that PyeongChang will become the new world class travel destination for winter sports.

The 2018 Olympic Winter Games will be held from 9 through to 24 February 2018.

For more information on the Olympic Games, please visit SIRC.

Olympism is a state of mind

"Olympism is not a system, it is a state of mind. It can permeate a wide variety of modes of expression and no single race or era can claim to have the monopoly of it." Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern day Olympics.

James Worrall (CANADA). A 1936 Olympian.  A flag bearer for his country.  A hurdler. A lawyer. A president of the Canadian Olympic Committee. A member of the International Olympic Committee. A friend. An author.A mentor. A member of the Order of Canada. A Hall of Famer.

And if "Olympism" is a philosophy of life, this was most definitely James Worrall's philosophy. One who combined a balance between quality of life, mind and soul, and had respect for universal ethical principles. One who combined sport with education and culture.

An Olympian in the truest sense of the word. 

The oldest living Canadian Olympian, James Worrall, O.C., B.Sc., LL.B., Q.C. passed away this week at the age of 97.

We honour him.

Once an Olympian, always an Olympian.

 Career Highlights:

• 1934 British Empire Games (Commonwealth Games), 120-yard hurdles, silver medalist
• 1936 Olympic Games, 110mH & 400mH
• Assistant Chef de Mission, Team Canada (1948 & 1952 Olympic Games)
• Canadian Olympic Association (COA), President (1964–1968); Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Honorary Life President (1989)
• Amateur Athletic Union of Canada, President (1951-1953)
• National Advisory Council on Fitness and Amateur Sport (1963-1967)
• International Olympic Committee (IOC), Member (1967-1989), Executive Board Member (1974-1979), Honorary Member (1989-2011)
• Order of Canada (1976)
• Canada Sports Hall of Fame (1987)
• Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (1991)

Olympic Day!

Join in the fun on June 23, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Movement celebrate the 65th annual Olympic Day! The first Olympic Day was held on June 23, 1948 with nine Olympic Committees hosting their own celebrations, with Canada being one of the original participants. Today over 4,000,000 people celebrate this day worldwide.

How did it all begin?

Due to WWII, the Olympic Games had not been held in 1940 or 1944 so the city of London rose to host the XIV Games after the war. In January 1948, the International Olympic Committee, (mainly due to the efforts of Pierre de Coubertin), approved the idea of Olympic Day as a sort of “birthday” of the Olympic Movement. This day is meant to inspire people to adopt and apply the Olympic Values (excellence, fun, fairness, respect, personal growth, leadership and peace).

Can I host my own Olympic Day event?

Yes, you can! Designed to guide you in every step of your event, the Olympic Day Toolkit contains practical information and advice for the preparation and staging of your Olympic Day. It includes the following:

• Introductory remarks from the International Olympic Committee and the Canadian Olympic Committee;
• A brief background of Olympic Day, which will assist you particularly in the promotion of your event;
• Ideas and material to enrich your educational and cultural workshops;
• Tips for the promotion and communication of your event; and
• Suggested modified activities promoting the Olympic Games sport programme. 

If you, your school, your organization or anyone you know is interested, please take a closer look at the Olympic Tool Kit available at www.olympicschool.ca.

Are there any events in the area?

Canadian Olympians and Paralympians participated in an Olympic Fair at the Richmond Olympic Oval June 17, 2013 with over 3,000 local students.

If you would like to join in the celebrations, an Olympic Fair will be held in Ottawa on June 22, 2013 on Rideau Grounds and will be in conjunction with the CHEO Teddy Bear Picnic. Participants are encouraged to stop by the Olympic tent to listen to Olympic athletes and coaches speak about their experiences as well as joining in the multiple sports and activities that will be available.

All you have to do for Olympic day is be active - this event is free of charge, so come out and celebrate with us!

References from the SIRC Collection: 

1. Celebrate Olympic Day. Parks & Recreation. June 2010;45(6):48.
2. Espagnac S. Olympic Day 2000 and a culture of peace. Olympic Review. August 2000;26(34):61-66.
3. Landon C, Leenheer D. Olympic Day Celebrates Coaches. Olympic Coach. Summer2011 2011;22(1):25-26.
4. McFee G. Olympism and Sport's Intrinsic Value. Sport, Ethics & Philosophy. May 2012;6(2):211-231.
5. Run for all: the Olympic Day Run not only commemorates the founding of the IOC, but also enables people who come from diverse origins to meet at an event around the world that celebrates the values and the ideals of the Olympic Movement. Taking place in June 2003, this year promises to attract more participants than ever before. Olympic Review. April 2003;(47):52-53.
6. Olympic Day Run: the World Olympic Day celebration was made an annual event in the Olympic Movement at the 42nd IOC Session in January 1948. The first Olympic Day was celebrated on 23 June of that year with Portugal, Greece, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Great Britain, Uruguay, Venezuela and Belguim participating in their respective countries. Olympic & Commonwealth Games. Summer 2002;:21.