A month ago I had the opportunity of attending for a week’s seminar at the splendid Headquarters of the International Olympic Academy which are set in the heart of Olympia, in Greece. It was a wonderful experience, for those seeking to learn, and there is a lot one can learn at these seminars which are held every year.

Various speakers made presentations and the key note address, by Ms Nicole Gerard Savoy, Project Manager of the IOC Olympic Solidarity, was the most interesting. Her presentation dealt with the financial support that Olympic Solidarity gives to the various National Olympic Committees (NOC) around the world.

In addition she explained the role, aims and objectives of Olympic Solidarity and the criteria used to distribute the large amount of monies available for distribution.

Through the steady growth of revenues, derived mainly from TV rights, Olympic Solidarity will be distributing, over period of four years up to the year 2008, the budgeted sum of $244 million. Indeed a considerable sum and one which can be compared to the annual income (not profit) of our national airline for a whole year.

The mission of Olympic Solidarity is “to plan, organise and control the implementation of assistance programs aimed at NOC’s in particular those which have the greatest need of it.”

However, through the Olympic Solidarity the expansion of the Olympic Movement for the development and promotion of sports at all levels is continuously made available to NOCs through specific World Programmes (at least 20) in four major areas related to the development of sports and the promotion of Olympism in the following areas:

Athletes: to invest in the development of the athletes at all levels, “starting at grass routs level with the detection of young talents, up to the elite level, through Olympic preparation level”.

Coaches: the possibility of preparing the coaches of National Associations to meet the present demands of the athletes’ preparation. High quality coaching is vital to an athlete’s preparation, which is why the role and training of Coaches are decisive elements in the life of an athlete, whether at beginning or international level.

NOC Management: to strengthen the operation and administrative function of the NOC’s. These include direct subsidies and tailored assistance, training courses for sports officials and even an exchange programme that will allow some NOC’s to benefit fully from the capabilities and experience of other NOC to improve their own management structure.

Promoting Olympic Values: The priorities at national level are usually focused on the improvement of the sport, the athletes or coaches and NOC’s may not always have enough resources to plan activities which help educate and promote the fundamental values of Olympism. It is the role of the International Olympic Academy to teach, propagate and defend the ideals of the Olympic Movement as well as support the NOC, around the world to do all these functions.

Soon after the opening ceremony of the seminar, all the participants were taken for a guided tour of the ruined city of Olympia as well as of the Museum which is within walking distance from the ruins. A tour guide explained the background and significance of the games up to the time that Court Pierre De Coubertin came out with the idea that instigated the beginning of the modern Olympic Games. The monastic aspect of the otherwise excellent accommodation cannot but help you to think and develop ideas.

One of the main purposes of the Olympic Academy is precisely to promote Olympism and I cannot think of a better way to do so then organising a spectacular event or a combination of event. During the presentations I heard one of the speakers saying that apart from the Olympic Day run they also organise the Modern Pentathlon.

In view of the fact that this event includes horse racing and shooting, I do not think that given the size of the population of our country holding such an event would be feasible. We simply would not find any competitors. So if we want to hold something similar we need to make it easy for prospective contenders to have ample choice of events.

Organising an event involving a choice of five different sport disciplines out of 10 disciplines an event on the lines of a ‘Modern Pentathlon’ could be organised for Maltese athletes. Disciplines namely individual sports could consist of Archery; Athletics (a road run); Cycling; Fencing; Judo; Weightlifting; Squash; Swimming; Table-tennis and Table tennis to name a few.

The event could be spread over a period two to three weekends, with the final taking place on one day. The event would be held for both men and women with the possibility of having a junior category.

Participants would be awarded points depending on the number of participants and an overall classification list compiled. Prizes for top placings will be awarded.

The organising of such an event would be a mammoth task,

however, if each Association/Federation would take care to organise its part of the competition this will ease the burden.

Associations/Federations that might be interested in collaborating on such an event are kindly asked to contact me by email [email protected].

Anthony A. Chircop

MOC Olympic Academy Director