IOC HOLDS FIRST EVER OLYMPISM IN ACTION FORUM
12 October 2018
From 5 – 6 October, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) hosted its inaugural Olympism in Action Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A reported 2000 people from around the world – including Beyond Sport and many members of our network – came together to further the Olympic movement’s ideals of friendship, excellence and respect through conversation, presentations and debate.
As IOC President Thomas Bach stated, “we want to hear your perspectives on what the overarching trends are that will affect the future of sport. With this Forum, we are opening our windows, to let in fresh air, to learn about new trends and hear about new perspectives. I encourage all of you to think out of the box.”
The Forum took place immediately prior to the Youth Olympic Games, an elite sporting event that convenes future generations of athletes from over 200 countries, and the 133rd IOC Session. The goal was to use outcomes from the two days of discussion to further develop the Olympic Agenda 2020. This Agenda, built around the three pillars of credibility, sustainability and youth, includes 40 recommendations created to reform the entire Olympic movement.
Notable attendees included the President of Argentina Mauricio Macri, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus, HRH Prince Feisal Ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan, Former CEO of London 2012 Lord Paul Deighton and past and present Olympians. An emotional highlight of the event was ‘Journey from Refugee to Olympian’ featuring 2016 Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) Swimmer and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Yusra Mardini and middle-distance runner, Yiech Biel. The event was capped off by the reunion of the 10-person 2016 Rio ROT.
“People told me that being a refugee was something to be ashamed of… but now I count myself lucky to be a part of a team that has inspired millions of people like me – that has inspired the whole world,” Mardini said.
We were thrilled to see several members of the Beyond Sport family featured at the event, including:
Donna de Varona, Beyond Sport Ambassador and Olympian, who moderated an engaging panel on the ‘Fan of the Future’ and how broadcast and social media, tech rights holders and venues are innovating ways to reach increasingly diverse fanbases.
Luke Dowdney, MBE, Beyond Sport Ambassador and Fight for Peace founder, who spoke on ‘Social Inclusion & Cohesive Societies,’ highlighting the need for 360 thinking and how sport was useful in facilitating conversations in communities and creating systemic solutions for peace building.
Oliver Percovich, Skateistan Founder and Executive Director (2013 Beyond Sport Global Award winner for Sport for Education), who won an IOC Sport & Active Society Grant during the Awards ceremony and gave a presentation on their award-winning Skate Schools program.
Lindsey Kittredge and Chloe Rothman of Shooting Touch (2018 Beyond Sport Global Award winner for the Sport for Health and Well-being), presented their unique basketball and health education program operating in Rwanda as an example of sport for development in action.
Maria Bobenreith, Executive Director of Women Win (2017 Beyond Sport Global Impact of the Year Award winner), shared her experiences on empowering adolescent girls in developing nations on the ‘Prevention Of Harassment & Abuse In Sport’ panel.
Other Forum highlights included the presentation of the Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration, a document signed by over 4,000 athletes from more than 190 countries and 120 sports disciplines. Covering topics such as anti-doping, integrity, clean sport, career, communications, governance, discrimination, due process and safeguarding from harassment and abuse, the Declaration will be referenced in the Olympic Charter, signifying its important status within the Olympic Movement.
2006 Nobel Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus, closed the two-day event with a powerful call to action for all attendees:
“Sport forms such a powerful emotional tie between people, so use that emotion to transform the society around you – things you want to change in your neighbourhood, your city, your country, the world that you live.”
Videos of the forum Plenary sessions are available online via IOC Media:
You can read IOC President Thomas Bach’s opening remarks here.
The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit independent international organisation made up of volunteers, which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of 3.4 million US dollars goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.
Photos: IOC