The Role of Olympians in the National Olympic Movement

Message to the Participants of the ANOC General Assembly The Role of Olympians in the National Olympic Movement I would like to take this opportunity to greet my colleagues, the Presidents of the National Olympic Committees on this occasion of the ANOC General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur. I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to ANOC President Mario Vazquez Raña, who in his highly responsible position, always puts the athletes, the Olympians into the centre of his attention. I am pleased and proud to tell you that the World Olympians Association (WOA) is making dynamic progress and continues towards its goal to be a fully integrated and organic part of the International Olympic Movement acting as its fourth pillar besides the IOC, NOCs and IFs. During the course of the last century the Olympic Movement functioned based on old-fashioned principles, this new century is characterized by the activity and energetic style of this fourth pillar. The IOC Athletes’ Commission was created in 1981 and then in 1995 the World Olympians Association was initiated and established by the IOC. The present trend provides the green light to the Olympians to elect their outstanding peers as members of the Athletes’ Commission and of the IOC. Olympians should be prepared for these challenges, for their participation in the decision making process, for their bigger role in society, we should help them to become real role models, true ambassadors of the Olympic Movement. The World Olympians Association and the National Olympians Associations play an important role and have a big opportunity in this respect. Currently there are 117 NOAs in member countries and their number is growing dynamically thanks to the activity of the WOA Board Members. The majority of the NOAs enjoy the moral, technical and financial support of their respective NOCs. Those NOCs recognize their Olympians as the essential resource for the next generations to utilize, and that they represent the faith that the young athletes have when preparing for the Olympics or World Championships. The WOA also receives moral and financial support from its parent organization, the IOC. We are the only Olympians organization that has been recognized by the IOC and we are delighted to say that President Jacques Rogge, who is an Olympian himself, has accepted our request to hold the post of Honorary President of the World Olympians Association. I would like to encourage the Presidents of those NOCs where there is no NOA established yet, to help create one. At the same time I wish to describe the difference between the Athletes’ Commission and the National Olympians Association. As far as I can see the necessity for the two different organizations is misunderstood in many countries. The fundamental difference is that the Athletes’ Commission is just one of the working commissions in the structure of the NOC, usually with elected active athletes numbering approximately 10–15. The membership to the NOA is not limited. Athletes who represented their nation at the Olympic Games automatically become members. There are no age limits, it is not a commission of the NOC but in many aspects an independent organization. Independence does not exclude the need for cooperation and interaction, which between the two cannot be disputed. The smooth cooperation is guaranteed by the usual practice of asking the President of the NOC to fill the post of Honorary President of the NOA. The Athletes’ Commissions are primarily occupied with practical and specific issues like training, equipment, safety, qualification, medical treatment, doping procedures, prevention, health, legal issues, marketing, financial matters, sponsorship, and the programmes of the Games, the Olympic village, insurance, nutrition, transport, media, etc. The National Olympians Associations are mainly engaged in theoretical issues putting such questions in the limelight as the Olympic ethics, fair play, culture and sport, the responsibility of athlete participation, fostering traditions, solidarity, strengthening and disseminating the Olympic ideals, career planning after retirement. We have to handle questions vital for the IOC like the relationship between women and sport or environment and sport, we have to promote the fight against drug use, eliminating discrimination and promoting peace. We intend to cooperate with the International and National Committees for Fair Play, various national and international Paralympics and Special Olympics chapters, Olympic Aid, and with every organization whose objectives are similar to those of the Olympic Movement, and which needs the approximately 80,000 Olympians of the world as reliable partners, trusted and respected role models for future generations. I hope I have succeeded in clarifying the misunderstandings. The Athletes’ Commission and the National Olympians Association are two separate organizations with different dimensions and tasks but both are necessary for a well functioning NOC to perform its various tasks. So it would be proper to ask why a NOC is successful. I think success and social judgment do not only depend on sport results but also on other factors: the Olympic spirit should be present in the collective thinking of the society, we should help popularize sport and the education of the young, we should “contribute to building a peaceful and better world” as the Olympic Charter says. In these activities Olympians can be of great help to us if we do not forget about them, if we take care of them and if they can feel that we count on them. They are valuable assets to their countries. I would like to kindly ask those NOC President colleagues of mine whose countries do not have a NOA to examine the possibility of establishing one. My colleagues in the WOA Regional Offices (see page 30) are ready to be at your service, giving you advice and assistance. With Olympian regards, Dr. Pál Schmitt WOA President President of Hungarian Olympic Committee 3 2,500 New Members of the WOA Family by Dr. Pál Schmitt President of the World Olympians Association “These were the Athletes’ Games”, said IOC President Jacques or in Senegal. The premises will be decided at the next WOA ExecRogge. His words reflected the truth. Olympians had never played a utive Board meeting. more significant role at any of the Opening Ceremonies than in Salt We had discussions with Timothy Shriver, CEO and President of Lake City. The Olympic flag was carried into the Rice-Eccles Stadi- the Special Olympics and have signed a cooperation agreement. um by not only outstanding representatives of sport, culture and This could urge our members to get in touch with the Special environment, but also by famous Olympians such as Jean-Claude Olympics Chapters in their countries and help their activities. Niall Killy and Kathy Freeman. While at previous Games only one athlete Austin, CEO of NeufChateau Productions undertook the task of makcarried the torch, in Salt Lake City almost all the American stars of ing an Olympians’ portrait gallery. The first interviews that we could various winter sports were present. President George Bush opened watch in Salt Lake City were excellent. We trust that he will continue the Games while standing among Olympians. At the Closing Cere- the series with the same enthusiasm and these interviews will most mony the Italian cross country skier Manuela di Centa, the Finnish probably popularize the WOA to a great extent. ice hockey player Jary Kurri and the Norwegian speed skater Adne Unfortunately our Internet homepage is still not fully functional, Sondral, all new members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, who we have not been able to make satisfactory progress in this area. On were elected by their peers, were standing together with Jacques a more positive note, our family magazine, the Flame is getting Rogge and Mitt Romney. The famous Swedish Olympian, Pernilla increasingly favorable reception and serves as a great tool for Wiberg, also freshly elected member of the Athletes’ Commission informing Olympians and the NOAs. We would like to continue pubwas absent from the ceremony. lishing the Flame quarterly and sending it to more and more The WOA family became richer and bigger with 2,500 excellent Olympians. Olympians. Congratulations and welcome! The American Pachyderm Publishing set out the goal of developMore than 70% of the athletes cast their votes for the new mem- ing a new publication titled World Olympian Magazine with the aim bers of the Athletes’ Commission. They felt the responsibility of of educating young audiences. The first issue was printed for the electing 12 out of the 17 members – 4 members at Winter Games Winter Games and we look forward to the future ones. and 8 members at Summer Games. During the SLC Winter Olympic A Manual for Olympians is under preparation and will be pubGames 4 Olympians were awarded the Olympic Order: four time lished in several languages probably this year. Olympian water polo player Peter Montgomery (former president of We would like to request all NOAs to update their databases of the WOA), Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, the Japanese Olympians. The NOAs can only have a good working relationship hockey player Shoichi Tomita and the Danish retiring IOC member, with the Olympians if they have a reliable list of addresses. We are European champion runner and 1948 Olympic Games finalist Niels- asking the NOAs to send these lists to the regional offices. Holst Sörensen. We would like to congratulate all four of the Olympic This year provides great opportunities to foster traditions as it is Order recipients, we are proud of them. the 50th anniversary of the Oslo and the Helsinki Olympic Games, the The VISA Olympians Reunion Center received Olympians for the 30th anniversary of the Sapporo and the Munich Games and the 10th first time in the history of the Winter Games. Decathlete Barry King anniversary of the Albertville and the Barcelona Games. May I sugwas an excellent host for the Center supported by VISA. Due to the gest that all our members celebrate these jubilees. The next Executive Board meeting will be held in Osaka in June, great distances, the Center received mainly American visitors, who were welcomed by Cindy Stinger, USOC Alumni Relations manager, and preparations are under way for our General Assembly to be conOlympian handball player. IOC President Jacques Rogge paid a visit vened in December. The premises have not yet been decided, but we to the VISA ORC as well. Thomas Shepard, Executive Vice President would like all NOAs to be represented. of International marketing of VISA, who is a great friend of the Olympians, guaranteed us of his continued support. Having accepted the help of the David Eccles Business School, University of Utah, we also operated an experimental educational and information centre during the Games near the Olympic Village. The lectures and exhibitions about the preceding Olympic Games served to make the Olympic Movement and the noble Olympic ideals better known primarily to school children. Katherine Harris, Secretary of State of Florida announced the opening of our third regional office in Miami. We received office space in the well-known Biltmore Hotel. The Asian and European NOAs get assistance, information and advise directly from the regional offices in Osaka and Budapest. Now our American member associations can count on a more efficient support as well. We are planning to open our fourth office either in Morocco Janica Kostellic of Croatia, three time Olympic Champion 4 Olympic Order Recepients Interview with Peter Montgomery (AUS), first WOA President by Dezsõ Vad, Editor-in-Chief speech besides other Olympians. There were a number of calls from people that there should be a body formed to represent Olympians that was independent of the IOC. At the time I was a member of the Athletes’ Commission, as I said, and I discussed this matter with Gilbert Felli, who was the liaison between the IOC and the Athletes’ Commission. President Samaranch suggested that I should try to prepare the way to convene a meeting that the IOC would finance and that is what happened. One of the key elements was that the WOA had to be a separate body from the IOC, because we did not want the World Olympians Association to be another commission of the IOC. The idea was that although it would be able to demonstrate independence from the IOC, if necessary, a key element was that two bodies should be very closely connected as they are now. And so we convened the first meeting in December 1995 and invited all of the countries that had an Olympians Association already in operation. We came together at this meeting in the IOC Museum, adopted a constitution and elected the first office bearers to work for the first four years. It developed from there. The IOC funded the first meeting, which was expensive since many people came from all around the world. The IOC President insured that there was a budget to assist carrying out the activities of the WOA in the initial years. I conducted the activities mainly from my office in Sydney with liaison with our secretary Bill Toomey, U.S. Olympic decathlon champion and the IOC Secretariat in Lausanne. What is your opinion of present day WOA? Now we are in the second term. Pál Schmitt was elected president at the general assembly in 1999. I was very delighted that he succeeded me, we had known each other before, when I was first on the During the Salt Lake City Games Peter Montgomery, four time Olympian water polo player, one of the distinguished figures of the Australian sports world, Vice President of the AOC, first President of the WOA was awarded the Olympic order in recognition of his sports career and of his outstanding services to the Olympic Movement. I talked to him after he received this high honour in the lobby of the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Will you introduce yourself to our readers? I am from Sydney, I was born there, went to high school and university in Sydney and became a lawyer. So you can imagine someone who has had the Olympic fever all his life and who is from Sydney what a wonderful moment it was to see the Olympic Games come to Sydney. I was lucky enough to play in four Olympic Games in water polo. I had a long career and towards the end of it I became interested to take an official role. I served eight years as the honorary secretary of the TWPC of the FINA for water polo. Also along the way I became involved in the Olympic movement in an official capacity by becoming a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 1988 after the Seoul Games, which led indirectly to my involvement in the establishment of the WOA. How do you recall the establishment of the WOA and your work as the President? In 1981 in Baden Baden it was the first time for the athletes to receive an invitation to the Olympic Congress. Then after this successful event the IOC Athletes’ Commission was created in October the same year. At the next Congress in 1994 in Paris there was a large athlete representation, and I, too, had the privilege to make a Peter Montgomery, first WOA President receives the Olympic Order from IOC President Jacques Rogge, in the centre WOA President Pál Schmitt © IOC / Olympic Museum Collections, Photo: Giulio Locatelli 5 Athletes’ Commission, Pál was sitting on the commission, too. And of course he is Olympic champion, he was Vice President of the IOC and is an IOC member, as a result there is a strong link between the two organisations. I am absolutely delighted with the WOA’s progress because I remember our humble beginnings and the association is now moving forward very well. The number of NOAs has grown significantly, I think the number is over 100. One of the main reasons for the need for the Olympians Associations is that for many Olympians the Games are one of the greatest experiences of their life but after retiring they often do not feel any direct involvement any longer in the Olympic Movement. There are so many athletes and for instance in relation to the NOCs there is a shortage of ways or opportunities for Olympians to be involved. The WOA serves an important way of having some form of input into the Olympic Movement apart from opportunities like social gatherings and renewing of old friendships and so on. In the National Olympians Associations around the world there are different levels to which the associations can help Olympians. One of our goals in the first four years when I was in office and now under Pal’s leadership as well, is to have initiatives to try to help Olympians who have difficulties in financial terms or ones who are in bad physical shape. The WOA tries to encourage Olympians to be role models, ambassadors of the Olympic Movement, to promote the Olympic ideals, fair play and environment protection among others. What kind of advice would you give to Olympians who are not active any more? First of all if there is no Olympians Association in their country they should form one and contact the NOC and try to take some action to form one. If there is an Olympians Association in their country they should join and help the association to develop and so on. The other way is to become involved in the affairs of the NOC of their country. They should not turn their backs to the Olympic Movement. They should remember IOC President Jacques Rogge’s words that the winner is not just the person who comes first. But everybody could be a champion if they are champions in their attitude, compete in the spirit of fair play, respect their adversaries, comply with the rules and regulations and keep clear of drugs. This message was fantastic and very appropriate and I would like to recommend it to every Olympians’ attention. What are your future expectations from the WOA? The WOA should increase the number of active member associations and should urge them to perform useful and beneficial activities. The Flame magazine gives them excellent assistance and guidance. The interesting and well-edited articles help to raise the reputation of the WOA. One of your writings caught my attention: very few people know that one third of the IOC members are Olympians and the majority of the EB members are also Olympians. I would like to congratulate you on the magazine. Gretzky and Fellow Award Winners During the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games 4 Olympians were awarded the Olympic Order in recognition of their remarkable services to the Olympic Movement and to sport: Peter Montgomery (AUS), Niels Holst-Sörensen (DEN), Wayne Gretzky (CAN) and Shoichi Tomita (JAP). Niels Holst-Sörensen, having turned 80 years old, has retired in compliance with the rules of the Olympic Charter after serving the IOC for 25 years. He has become an Honorary Member. The excellent Danish runner won a gold in the 400 m and a silver in the 800 m at the European Championship in Oslo in 1946. At the Olympics in London he qualified to the finals of the 800 m event. He filled the presidential post of the Danish Olympic Committee from 1981 to 1984. He had several important official roles in the IOC. Wayne Gretzky, during his 21-year career, participated in the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano; attained 61 NHL records; played in 18 All-Star games and helped Canada to three Canada Cup titles. Known as “The Great One”, he is considered to be the greatest ice hockey player of all time. He has contributed to popularizing the game of ice hockey all over the world. When the Canadian team was defeated in Nagano by the Finns, Wayne Gretzky, according to eyewitnesses, was crying in despair in the changing room. He said that the Olympic Games were the greatest sport event of his life and unfortunately he failed. But he can get some comfort from the fact that Canada’s Olympic hockey team, whose executive director is Gretzky himself, won the Olympic championship title again in Salt Lake City after 50 years. Shoichi Tomita was the goalkeeper for his national hockey team. He represented Japan at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games and many other IIHF World Championships. He played a key role in the success of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. Mr. Tomita is currently Vice-President of the Japan Ice Hockey Federation, Chief Executive Director, and Committee member of the Japanese Olympic Committee. He also became member of the International Ice Hockey Federation Council in 1978 and then Vice-President in 1994. Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One” celebrating the victory of Team Canada DO NOT FORGET! 50th anniversary of the Oslo Winter Olympic Games (staged from 14 February to 25 February 1952) anniversary of the Munich Summer Olympic Games (staged from 26 August to 11 September 1972) 30th anniversary of the Sapporo Winter Olympic Games (staged from 3 February to 13 February 1972) anniversary of the Helsinki Summer Olympic Games (staged from 19 July to 3 August 1952) There is plenty to remember and celebrate. 6 Olympians: the Essence of the Movement declares Gilbert Felli IOC Sports Director Gilbert Felli became the Sports Director of the IOC almost 15 years ago. His immediate predecessors were internationally well-known and distinguished sports leaders. After the sudden death of Árpád Csanádi, member of the IOC EB and Secretary General of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, Walther Tröger held the office of the Sports Director. He was Mayor of the Olympic Village in Munich and General Secretary of the German Olympic Committee and is now IOC member and President of the German Olympic Committee. Both of them filled this highly responsible position as honorary directors. They stayed in Lausanne, at the IOC headquarters from time to time. On the other hand Gilbert Felli, a physical education teacher, emerged from obscurity and became the professional Sports Director of the IOC, who has worked solely at the IOC. In a few years he earned his reputation and prestige in the Olympic family as a hard working, correct and calm mannered professional. In 1995 he had a leading role in establishing the WOA and since then he has assisted the association as the IOC Liaison. He contributes to its successful operation immensely with his useful advice and remarks. Despite his busy schedule he willingly answered some questions for the Flame. What is the focus of your work at the moment? On the sport side, we have just completed the Salt Lake City Games debriefing in collaboration with the 2006 Winter Olympic Games Organising Committee. And we are, of course, focusing on the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens: the Olympic Village, the sport facilities are amongst our priorities, as well as the qualification systems. Regarding Beijing 2008, we have our initial contacts with the BOCOG. Finally, we are in the initial phase of the bid process for the 2010 host city. In addition, I am working on the Olympic Games Study Commission. The Commission’s aim is to reduce the size, the complexity and the costs of the Games. What are the changes that can be expected in the programme of the Olympic Games? The programme should reflect the importance of sport today. However, we must be careful to avoid the gigantism of the Games and keep this event “manageable”. We are discussing with the International Federations to find suitable solutions. We cannot add any more sports and disciplines without a thorough analysis of the potential impact on the Olympic Games Organising Committees. We are currently conducting a deep evaluation of each sport which is on the programme or which would like to be included in the programme. However, any potential changes should stick to the frame of 10,500 athletes and 300 events maximum. Who is considered an Olympian and who can be a member of a National Olympians Association? An Olympian is an athlete who has participated in the Olympic Games. However, we recognise that the term “participate” needs to be clarified. Do we consider the athletes who were accredited but could not compete an Olympian? This issue will be raised soon by the IOC Executive Board. As the IOC Sports Director, what do you expect from the work of the WOA and that of the NOAs? The WOA and the NOAs have a very important role as educational advisors, especially at the end of the athletes’ sports career. Establishing a network between the Olympians who have completed their “reconversion” and those who will have to do so is for sure a great asset. At the national level, the NOAs as the first contact point for Olympians will help the WOA to establish this international network. Both organisations are also strong educational tools. Do you think it is be possible for the Olympians to constitute the fourth pillar of the Olympic Movement? The Olympians, by virtue of their role, are the essence of the Movement and its sole actors. Pillars are institutions and concepts that will ensure that the best conditions are put in place for the actors. Pillars support the Olympians. IOC President Jacques Rogge is an Olympian himself. Two weeks after his election he attended the WOA EB meeting and accepted the post of Honorary President. How can this stimulate the cooperation or open new dimensions between the IOC and the WOA? The IOC has always recognised the value of WOA. This organisation is an essential complement to the efforts of the IOC. The cooperation between the IOC and WOA is of utmost importance as we work for the same “clients” – the Olympians. The role of the WOA is also to be pro-active in terms of proposals to the IOC to develop the Olympic Movement through Olympians. Executive Board of the World Olympians Association Juan Antonio Samaranch Jacques Rogge IOC President Pál Schmitt (HUN), double Olympic champion in fencing, 1968, 1972 Elizabeth Ferris (GBR) bonze medallist diver, 1960 Bill Toomey (USA) Olympic champion decathlete, 1968 Secretary General Liston Bochette (PUR) Olympic participant in decathlon and bobsleigh Members Irena Szewinska (POL) three time Olympic champion, winner of 2 silver and 3 bronze medals, participated in 5 Olympiads Amadou Dia Ba (SEN) silver medallist in 400 m hurdles, 1988 Herb Elliott (AUS) Olympic champion in 1,500 m run, 1988 IOC Liaison Gilbert Felli, IOC Sports Director Representative of the IOC Athletes’ Commission Robert Ctvrtlik (USA) Olympic champion volleyball player, 1988 and silver medallist, 1992 7 Patron Honorary President President Vice Presidents 2002 FIFA World CupTM Korea/Japan in Osaka Welcome Message from Takafumi Isomura Mayor of Osaka “The 2002 FIFA World Cup™ is soon to arrive in Osaka. Three matches will be held at Osaka’s Nagai Stadium, on the following dates: June 12th, June 14th (featuring the Japanese national team), and June 22nd (quarterfinal match). Soccer’s greatest event is held only once every four years. The 2002 FIFA World Cup™ is the first tournament of the 21st century, and it is the first World Cup to be held in Asia. In addition, this Takafumi Isomura tournament marks the first time in history the World Cup has been jointly hosted by two nations. The 2,600,000 citizens of Osaka are delighted to be able to host three of the games in this tournament, and we would like to welcome spectators coming from all over the world with open arms. Osaka, which was the seat of Japan’s capital in the mid-7th century, is proud of its history and traditions. Modern Osaka is a city overflowing with energy, which leads Japan in industry, economics, culture, art and many other areas. Now Osaka has adopted the realization of “Sports Paradise Osaka“ as an important pillar of its governmental policy. The city is striving to make available sports facilities that will allow citizens to participate in sports anywhere, at any time. In addition, Osaka aims to attract various international sports competitions, which will bring first-class play to the city’s venues and leave spectators with a shared sense of wonder. Through sports, Osaka hopes to deepen mutual understanding, and to make contributions to world peace and international friendship. The 2002 FIFA World Cup™ has seen entries from 198 countries, the greatest number in World Cup history. Top athletes from the 32 qualified countries will play out a series of matches which will undoubtedly thrill spectators. We have poured all our efforts into making this tournament a success, and have insured that Nagai Stadium is in top shape for the matches in Osaka. From the bottom of our hearts, the citizens would like to extend a warm welcome to you, the spectator. We hope that you enjoy your stay in Osaka.” Introduction of Osaka Nagai Stadium Nagai Stadium is set in the luxuriant green surroundings of expansive Nagai Park. The park offers many different facilities for the use of Osaka’s residents, including the main stadium, a secondary athletic field, a baseball diamond, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, a football/rugby field, a sumo ring, a botanical garden, a natural science museum and a sports center for the disabled. The main stadium, which will serve as the venue for this tournament, is five stories high and can admit up to 47,000 people. The roof, which covers two-thirds of the seating area, describes a gentle curve in the air. The use of special construction techniques has eliminated the need for supporting pillars, allowing an uninterrupted view of the field from any seat in the stadium. An Outline of Osaka Nagai Stadium Address: 1-1 Nagai Park, East Sumiyoshi Ku, Osaka City Phone: +81-6-6691-2500 Officially recognized type-1 track-and-field venue Capacity: 47,000 people Track: 1 circuit (400 m) x 9 lanes (all-weather urethane surface) Field: 110 m x 73 m (natural turf) The Nagai Stadium and Osaka City’s logo 8 News from the WOA Asia-Oceania Regional Office by László T. Béres, Olympian, Regional Director Osaka’s 2008 Olympic bid brought the Olympic Games closer to the hearts of Osakans and resulted in greater public appreciation of Olympism. To keep the spirit and the legacy of the Olympic bid alive, Osaka wishes to continue its involvement with the Olympic Movement. For this purpose, the City of Osaka has formed a partnership with the World Olympians Association (WOA). The WOA Regional Office in Osaka will enhance WOA activities in the Asia-Pacific region and help make Osaka an even more active member of the international sports community. The Sports Paradise concept will continue to guide Osaka’s development as an International Sports City. After the initial challenges of setting up, opening and starting operations for the Asia-Oceania Regional Office in Osaka, the focus has shifted to continue developing and planning the programs that will support the partnership between Osaka and the World Olympians Association. There have been preliminary discussions and coordination meetings to prepare for the upcoming events in Osaka. On March 21–23 President Pál Schmitt visited Osaka to re-confirm the partnership between the City of Osaka and the World Olympians Association. Osaka City leadership assured him of their continued commitment to support the worldwide efforts of WOA. Both Mayor Isomura and Deputy Mayor Seki welcomed the WOA President, who gave a lecture on the World Olympians Association as the fourth pillar of the Olympic Family in front of a forum of local sports leaders and sports journalist. Afterwards guests enjoyed a casual reception in the unique City Central Gym, an environmentally friendly stadium facility built partially underground, its roof serving as a wooded hill with walking trails. After the short visit by WOA President, Dr. Pál Schmitt, Olympians Andrea Sinkó (HUN, 1988, 6th rhythmic gymnastics), John Naber (US, 1976, 4 gold and 1 silver medal in swimming) and Louis Zamperini (US, 1936, 8th in the 5000 m athletics final) visited the city consecutively. Ms. Sinkó provided her expertise as a world-renowned coach, trainer, presenter, and choreographer in rhythmic gymnastics, sport aerobics and fitness to local gymnasts, children and fitness enthusiasts. Visiting the ultra modern sports facilities and arena of Maishima Sports Island, she met with local rhythmic gymnasts and worked with them on routines. The following day, at the YMCA International School, children aged 4–11 had the opportunity to participate in a class where Andrea taught them an aerobic dance routine. Late in the day adult fitness enthusiasts and instructors of the Minato YMCA made a great effort to keep up in Andrea’s “Latin Dance” aerobic class. The next day a luxury cruiser arrived in the city’s port bringing legendary Olympians John Naber and Louis Zamperini. The Crystal Symphony, the world famous luxury ship often offers her passengers the opportunity to listen and meet Olympians during their voyage. As a result of this great program, Mr. Naber and Mr. Zamperini could spend a few days in Osaka speaking to various audiences and visiting Sakuranomiya High School and Osaka City University. Sakuranomiya (Cherry blossom) high school specializes in physical education and has the distinction of producing four Japanese Olympians from its previous student body. Athletes from the swimming and track teams were on hand to greet Naber and Zamperini and listen to their Olympic experiences and advice to the students. Mr. Naber’s last swimming competition was in Osaka in 1977 and he was pleased to see Osaka’s progress and development of the Sports Paradise concept. He thanked the city on behalf of all Olympians for its generous support to the World Olympians Association. After visiting the WOA offices at the Osaka Dome, a signing ceremony took place in the Sports Gallery where Mr. Tetsuo Hamuro a 1936 Japanese Olympian, gold medalist in swimming and Miss Raika Fujii 2000 silver medalist in team synchronized swimming joined Mr. Naber and Mr. Zamperini. In the evening an audience numbering 120, listened Torchbearer John Naber carries the to John Naber’s presenta- Olympic Flame during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay tion followed by Louis in Coronado, California Zamperini’s account of his incredible life story. Mayor Isomura and Deputy Mayor Seki greeted the Olympians, provided a visit to the beautiful Osaka Castle. Before returning to the United States the next day, John Naber and Louis Zamperini were featured at the Osaka City University where 150 students, mostly freshmen had the pleasure of their lectures and video presentations. The university has among its alumni the Mayor of Osaka, Mr. Isomura, who also served as professor at the institution and Deputy Mayor Dr. Seki, who majored there in medicine. The World Olympians Association is proud to present Olympians to audiences across the globe. Olympians make great role models and by example can motivate young and old people alike. We look forward to participating in many events, in Osaka May 19th will celebrate the Olympic Day where more than 15 Olympians, representing 12 sports and collectively winning 11 medals in previous Olympic Games will be interacting with the event’s participants. Other events are being scheduled and planned where WOA expects to participate or provide Olympians and/or know-how. WOA will focus on Osaka’s specific needs and continue to develop mutually beneficial programs along with its regional goals. In the Asia-Oceania region, during the past months, four new National Olympians Associations have been initiated in the following countries: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Mongolia. In New Zealand Peter Miskimmin is leading the efforts to re-organize the Olympians Club to form their official National Olympians Association. The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) recently recognized the Philippine Olympians Association (POA) and its President Arturo Macapagal, participant at the Munich and Montreal Olympics in shooting, a member of the POC Board and also President of the Philippine National Shooting Association. The President of the POC announced to the body of the formation and accreditation of the POA. They are now in the process to organize the grand reunion of all their Olympians in June. We are looking forward to hearing from our NOA members and feature their activities and Olympians in this publication on a regular basis. The WOA Asia-Oceania office is dedicated to help in the various efforts in the development of our Olympians family. 9 Like Father Like Son – Olympic Champions by Dezsõ Vad Editor-in-Chief Bill Christian, the father, helped the US hockey team to win the 1960 Olympic in Squaw Valley. 20 years later David, the son, followed in his father’s footsteps in Lake Placid by becoming an Olympic champion himself. I talked to the two Olympic champions at the Visa Olympians Reunion Center, the informal meeting place of Olympians at the Salt Lake City Winter Games. Bill was sipping beer, David quenched his thirst with a Coke. First I asked the father. How did your career begin? I grew up in a small place of about 1,200 inhabitants in Minnesota. There were six children in my family, 4 girls and 2 boys. Every winter the lake nearby froze and I learned to skate there. Later on, following my elder brother, Roger’s example, I started playing hockey. He was one of the members of the silver medallist US hockey team in Cortina, and then in Squaw Valley we won the Olympic championship together. Altogether I played in the US hockey team for 6 years and participated in Innsbruck as well. How do you recall the Olympic victory? There were only 9 teams taking part in the tournament and from the three groups the first two could advance to the final round. At the beginning of the finals, to everybody’s greatest surprise, we beat the Russians. The 9,000 spectators celebrated wildly and cheered enthusiastically for the team. My brother and I were hailed as heroes since after 1:2 we scored two goals that helped the team to the triumph. In the following game the Czechs frightened us with a 4:3 lead at the end of the second period, but afterwards they could not answer to our 6 goals. We had enormous success and it is impossible to describe the ovation we received. How did the Olympic success change your life? Indirectly I owe a lot to sport and the Olympic championship. My elder brother and I launched a small business producing hockey sticks, which has grown quite big. We have not had not much difficulty since the name Christian was well known and respected in the American hockey circles and the sticks we design and produce are of good quality. Our undertaking has been flourishing since its establishment. What are the tasks and obligations that are awaiting a true Olympian? The real champions, the Olympians were in the centre of attention even in my time. The youth looked up to those who lead an honest life and who became role models. A champion should be “a good guy” in a good sense. And are you one of them? I have been trying to be one, but I think you had better ask somebody else… Did you watch your son play in 1980? Father and son, Bill and David Christian at the Visa Olympians Reunion Center 10 David Christian (third from the left) with the American hockeyteam at the Opening Ceremony Of course. It was very exciting for my wife and me to watch every one of his matches. To our great joy our son became an Olympic champion as well. Whose victory did you enjoy more? It is a very difficult choice. But you know, parents who like their family are more pleased with their children’s success than with their own. And this goes for me too. I continued the conversation with the incredibly modest, casually dressed David. Only his strong handshake gave away the fact that he is a sportsman. My father keeps saying that I learned skating before I could walk. It is not exactly what happened, but it is undoubtedly true that I started skating at a very young age. And later I started playing hockey of course. Did your father’s example motivate you? Very much. I saw him play only in the senior team since I was born in 1959 so I was only one year old when he won the Olympic Championship title. But his example greatly inspired me. I was dreaming of becoming an Olympic champion ever since I can remember. It was much more than mere dreams, since from the age of 12 I did all I could to make my dream come true. Slowly but steadily I was moving forward and I was part of the US team in Lake Placid. How do you remember your victory? We were a united team. We, all 22 of us, are good buddies for life. We were preparing together in a training camp for a few weeks and I do not remember one loud word or argument. We formed a wonderful and friendly team. Are you still on friendly terms with your former teammates? Yes, I can say that. We do not meet very often since there are big distances in the States and we live scattered. But for example 2 weeks ago we got together in LA and talked as if we had parted company the day before. What was your central role like at the Salt Lake City Opening Ceremony? Fabulous. I am a tough guy but I am still moved even now a few days after the ceremony. I still cannot believe that we were standing under the giant cauldron with our captain, Mike Eruzione holding high the Flame. And we were around him. Probably more than one billion people saw us. For the first time in the history of the Games a team, a real team lit the Flame. When were you notified of this honour? We had received the invitation to the Opening Ceremony earlier and had to confirm our attendance. However, only the afternoon before the ceremony were we told what exactly we would be doing. I can just repeat it was fabulous. And your career? I cannot complain, a week after winning the Olympic Championship I signed a professional contract. I played in various NHL teams with more or less success for about 15 years. Then I retired. But hockey still dominates my life. I live a three and a half hour drive away from my father, who still lives in Minnesota and I actively work in the family business. Moreover I have started my own small businesses as well. Can you tell me what the mission of an Olympian is? Success does not come easily, one should work hard for it. In order to get to the top a sportsman has to prepare diligently and with determination for many years. And if after retiring an athlete still has the same mentality of striving to be the best in private life, he or she can do so by setting an example and giving guidance to the youth. I think setting an example is the main and most important mission of Olympians. What is your opinion of today’s hockey? The game has accelerated, more and more stars and gifted players are emerging. But in my opinion on one hand, there are too many foreigners. On the other hand, the big amount of money that is involved does not increase but decrease the interest in hockey. Tell me, will the family tradition continue: father, son and then grandson? Look, my father was a center forward, I was a defenseman, my 13year old son is a goaltender. He is considered one of the most talented in his age group. He may not be playing in Turin, but I trust he will be there at the following Games. And concerning the result, it will depend on his team as well. 11 Winter Olympic Six Timers Flame Interview with Emese Hunyadi (HUN/AUT) Olympic champion speed skater Emese Hunyadi Budapest, March 4, 1966 Residence: Baden, near Vienna Participated in Sarajevo as a member of the Hungarian team, from Calgary as part of the Austrian team Olympic champion (1500 m in 1994), silver medallist (3000 m in 1994), bronze medallist (3000 m in 1992) Has several World Cup and European Cup titles, In Salt Lake City she broke the Olympic record in 3000 m, finished 9th, in 1500 m finished 12th. Coach: Marek Stanuch (POL) now she lives in Switzerland. She went to visit her sister there but could not return home because of the war. As a matter of fact, we talked on the phone the other day. Calgary? These were the first Games where I represented Austria. I could start in only 2 events because at the Opening Ceremony, as usual, we were standing in the freezing weather for hours and I caught a bad cold. I had never had such a high temperature. But luckily the Olympic village was near the ice rink. At that time the team stayed together. I met outstanding athletes, Alpine skiers Hubert Strolz, Anita Wachter and their team-mates, they are still friends of mine. Albertville? These Games were painful for me. We competed on the worst ever rink, which had been built a year before the Olympics and was torn down right after the Games. Before Albertville I had won world competitions in a row but in Albertville the sun shone on one part of the rink and by the time it was my turn, the ice had melted. I was very upset that I came 7th in my favourite distance, the 1500 m. The gold medallist was the German Jacqueline Börner, who had won only one gold at world competitions before. Lillehammer? I stayed with an elderly lady about 300 m from the rink that resembled a Viking ship. This helped me a lot to win the gold because the usual bustle of the Olympic village did not distract my attention. I could fully concentrate on the race. And in the end I became the first Olympic champion of Austrian speed skating. My landlady was prouder of my victory than me. Since then I have considered her my adopted grandmother. She has even visited me, I showed her round in Budapest and Vienna. Nagano? Sad Games for me. I had won medals before Nagano but there I finished 4th in the 1500 m. After the earlier victories, I did not win a medal, which is painful for every athlete. It was difficult for me to overcome this failure. Salt Lake City? Only in the last few days before the Games did it become certain that I would participate since I had a knee surgery two months earlier. Although I only had one month to prepare, I broke the Olympic record twice. According to my coach it is a wonderful result. He encourages me not to stop competing and claims that I can still be in top form in Turin. And I feel I still have the resources. Two more great athletes have joined the exclusive club of six timers, which consists of Olympians who have participated in six Olympic Winter Games. One of them is the gold medallist speed skater Emese Hunyadi, who represented Hungary at her first Games in Sarajevo, but afterwards has competed in the Austrian team. The other new member of the club is the 38 year-old Raimo Helminen, called “Papa” by some of his teammates, one of the greatest figures of Finnish and European hockey, a former NHL player. He won a silver in Calgary and a bronze in Lillehammer and Nagano. “Ladies first” – as the saying goes, so we talked to the new female member of the six timers, Emese Hunyadi: The years have passed quickly – she started. I was lucky as well because of the changes. After Albertville, the next Games in Lillehammer followed in two years’ time. But it was never my aim to count the number of my Olympic participations and to become a record holder in this respect. Speed skating is my life, my job and if I feel that I can achieve a decent result, I will start in Turin, at my 7th Games as well. Let us continue with your memories. Will you recall one interesting moment of your 6 Olympic participations? Let us begin with the first one in Sarajevo. The bus of the Hungarian team left at 6am from Népstadion (People’s Stadium). My fellow competitors came to say goodbye to me and wished success by giving me a rag doll in a bottle with skates made from wires on her feet. I have kept it as a mascot, an object which brings me fortune. I take it to all the competitions. In Sarajevo I made friends with one of the volunteers, she was a teenager, same age as me and Hungarian. We have kept in touch since then, 12 The incredible love for speed skating makes you say this or have the new technical solutions contributed to your records? It is with no doubt that Salt Lake City has the fastest rink in the world. There were few athletes who did not better their own record. The new skin tight racing suits and the clap skates can also be an advantage but only for those who skate more from mere power rather than dynamism. However, as my style can be characterized by harmonious and balanced movements, the new skates did not mean advantage to me. In fact the others could approach me more. Why did you leave Hungary? When one is 18, they think that they own the world. They want to be independent and free, want to escape from the loving family influence, the overprotective maternal care. And I was the same. If there had been an ice rink in another Hungarian town, I would have gone there and not to Austria. So finally I ended up in Vienna and I have no regrets. I learned to skate in Budapest and I owe a lot to my hometown. But I became a real athlete in Vienna. The two cities are in close connection and complement each other well. However, my Olympic gold medal is not for these two countries. This medal was won by Emese Hunyadi for herself who defied everything and surmounted all difficulties. What change did the Olympic gold bring into your life? I got to know people and in the meantime I became popular. Everybody knows me and I think they like and respect me. But popularity at the same time cautions one to be careful. Very few make the promises reality. The favourable change in my life came in 1987 when I became employed by Bank of Austria. Since 1992 I have received a part time salary without actually having to work. This contract lasts until the end of this year and allows me to devote all my time to sport. This kind of support is unique for a speed skater in Austria. I am very grateful to the Bank since without them I would not have been able to achieve the same results. As an Olympian do you think you have obligations? Look, I first competed in international competitions at the age of 14 or 15. I looked up to the champions of that time. Unfortunately in the changing rooms only a few of them said a word or two to me. At that time I decided to be more open to the youth in the future should I become a champion. And I am true to my promise. Now, at the trainings I go and encourage the young athletes to come and run after me, because I know that this kind of help would have meant a lot to me. But I am fully aware that being popular and a role model also means that I have to behave accordingly and should be modest. Without being conceited, I can say that I am a role model and I can’t disappoint those who consider me one. What advice would you give to the young? They should be hard working and persevering, should not urge the results, the success. Everybody has some sort of hidden talent, they should find the most suitable sport for themselves. Only with enthusiasm, determination and the intention to be the best is it worth doing anything. It goes for sport too. I would like to continue with a severe warning that one should be and stay honest. Looking at some of the female athletes of today, seeing their broad shoulders, flat chests and hairy faces, I am ashamed. I have just turned 36 and am preparing for my 7th Games but I can look in the mirror with self-confidence and a clear conscience. During the past years of hard, tiring and serious training and frequent competitions I am proud to say that I have not changed, I am still an honest and real woman. Let me add that men still turn around when they see her and not because she is a gold medallist Olympic champion. Winter Olympic six timers Athlete Karl-Erik Eriksson Colin Victor Coates Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi Alfred Eder Harri Kirvesniemi Jochen Behle Emese Hunyadi Raimo Helminen Country Sweden Australia Finland Austria Finland Germany Hungary/Austria Finland Sport Bobsled Speed skating Skiing Biathlon Skiing Cross Country Speed skating Ice hockey Years 1964-1984 1968-1988 1976-1994 1976-1994 1980-1998 1980-1992 1984-2002 1984-2002 13 After the Salt Lake City Winter Games by Wolf Lyberg For the third consecutive time since the 1936 Games in Berlin I had to stay away from the Games due to health reasons and thus probably ending my suite of 27 Summer and Winter Games. It was, however, wonderful to watch the Winter Games on TV. It showed me that Salt Lake City very well matched the Games of Sapporo in 1972, which I had previously considered the best Winter Games. Both of these Games took place in a wonderful, simple setting charmed with wild nature and both locations neared – as I could see on my screen – perfection. For Salt Lake City it was also a great revenge for the miserable TV coverage of the Los Angeles Summer Games of 1984 when the IOC had to tell the American TV channel to show other athletes than the Americans. The setting of the Salt Lake City Games was so beautiful in its simplicity and purity. My only personal objection is, however, still the length of the opening ceremony. It is too tiresome especially as it is always presented as some nightshow. But let me say that the first appearance of the new IOC President was a great success. Simple, correct but with the passion of a former Olympic athlete, still very much in love with the Olympic Games. It was regrettable that much of the splendour of the Games was destroyed by the daily doping cases being presented. Do not misunderstand, it is wonderful that the WADA is increasingly setting an example by punishing the “criminals” who not only threaten their own health, but above all, show lack of sportsmanship and an appetite for money. Two proverbs come to my mind: the old Latin proverb “Money does not stink”, the other (more realistic) one “Money is the root of all evil”. It is without a doubt that money is the real root of the doping evil. With the big sponsor contracts in sight, with the NOCs honouring medallists with thousands of dollars and with extra payment from producers using their equipment, nothing can stop this gold-hunger. I personally see no other way than to: – exclude the NOC from the Games – stop all IOC money to the NOC for a period of 1-2 years – ban all athletes with doping history from future Olympic Games Athletes say that disqualifying them is a threat to their work – well, what happens to a pickpocket, a burglar or a robber? They are immediately sentenced when caught in their act. Please remember that the Athletes’ Commission has already expressed the wish that the IOC stop athletes with doping background from Olympic participation in the future. Only the IOC makes decisions about the Games. I was very disappointed to read this morning that the European Union has after all decided not to contribute financially to doping control despite their earlier promise. This leaves the IOC in a difficult position by having to bear the whole economical weight of this absolutely necessary fight for sport and the dignity of the athletes. Since 1988 I have had the honour and the confidence of the IOC to make the official participation statistics of the athletes at the Games. It is more or less the backbone of the payments the NOCs receive for taking part in the Games. It was my old friend Anselmo Lopez, who first asked me to do this job and already in 1992 it saved the Solidarity a few hundred thousand dollars as the official figures were sky-high. Only real starters are counted – an ice hockey player sitting on the bench for five games is not a participant. Neither is a short-track reserve in the relay. Exciting moment from the Switzerland v France match at the E Center in Salt Lake City 14 The IOC’s department for the NOCs helped me do my job perfectly with some 168 metres of faxes with results, but there were still gaps due to the many qualifications in some sports. In Nagano I was ready the day after the Games, but for Salt Lake City it took some time. With the 2,531 athletes accredited it was difficult to complete the task. Once again, the Olympic Unity turned out to be the source, as two of the most qualified researchers, the ISOH President Bill Mallon and the Norwegian specialist Arild Gjerde, both of them wizards of their computers, sent me the results and – mirabile dictum – after a few smaller corrections we had the same result. Let me confess that we gave 5 women ice-hockey players (3 from China and 2 from Kazahstan) the benefit of the doubt to be counted. The statistics then resulted in 5 Games each. But is it possible to play so many games without having achieved anything to be seen in the very detailed statistics? We had the same problem in Sydney in some sports. As you can see from my special statistics on the number of participants, there are still some 60% of Olympic newcomers, but there are several cases of prolonged careers as well. There are two new members of the exclusive 6-start club, the speedskater Emese Hunyadi (HUN/AUT) and the Finnish ice-hockey veteran Helminen. Let me mention one figure from the ones you can read. How many of the readers can tell where the Alpine skier with 5 starts comes from? I think you need many guesses – or did you say KOREA at once? NOC Participation (Man/Woman) AND ARG ARM AUS AUT AZE BEL BER BIH BLR BRA BUL CAN CHI CHN CMR CRC CRO CYP CZE DEN ESP EST FIJ FIN FRA 3/1 11/3 9/4 25/12 90/19 4/1 6 1 2 64/20 10/2 23/10 150/65 6/2 66/45 1 1 13/5 1 76/19 11/6 7/3 17/3 1 98/36 114/27 GBR GEO GER GRE HKG HUN IND IRI IRL ISL ISR ISV ITA JAM JPN KAZ KEN KGZ KOR LAT LIB LIE LTU MDA MEX MGL 49/18 4/1 157/69 10/4 2/2 25/11 1 2 6/1 6/2 5/3 8/2 109/46 2 102/44 50/30 1 2 46/15 47/5 2/1 8/1 8/3 5/2 3 4/1 MKD MON NED NEP NOR NZL POL ROM RSA RUS SLO SMR SUI SVK SWE THA TJK TPE TRI TUR UKR USA UZB VEN YUG 2 5 27/13 1 77/27 10/3 37/5 21/10 1 151/66 40/16 1 111/30 49/11 102/46 1 1 6 3 3/1 68/22 202/87 6/3 4/1 6/1 Tambet Pikkor, Ina Saluma, Indrek Tobreluts FIN 1 Hannu Manninen HUN 1 Imre Tagscherer NOR 1 Ole E. Björndalen SLO 1/1 Andreja Mali 7/1 EST 3 Deducted doublestarters: Participation in the OWG of the SLC athletes Biathlon Bobsleigh Curling Ice hockey Luge Figure skating Short track Speed skating Skeleton Alpine skiing Cross coutnry Nord. Combined Ski Jumping Freestyle Snowboard Total To be noted: 1 94/47 134/30 76/36 295/106 61/16 95/49 72/34 81/39 39/13 169/70 145/62 31 39 62/31 80/32 1473/560 2 52/23 34 20/11 141/50 26/8 38/17 26/12 46/20 58/29 66/27 16 20 27/10 38/21 607/228 Started in nr of Games 3 4 27/15 15 10 27 12 7/4 10/3 24/10 26/13 30/13 5 9 10/7 202/65 3 8/4 4/1 3/2 13/6 24/9 17/4 2 5 6/2 111/31 5 1 2 1 3/1 1 1 2/1 6 Total in sport 190/88 195/30 96/47 468/156 110/29 143/71 111/51 166/71 39/13 278/121 260/107 54 73 105/50 118/53 2406/887 Percentage debutants 49.97 68.72 79.17 63.03 55.45 66.43 64.86 48.80 100 60.79 55.77 57.41 53.42 59.05 67.80 61.22 1 1/1 11/2 2/1 – 7 doublestarters to be deducted: 7/1, see NOC Participation list – Starts in earlier OWG in other sports not considered – Overall participation percentage for women: 63.14, for men: 60.11 15 Visa Olympians Reunion Center Scores Big in Salt Lake by Michael T. Sherman Vice President, Visa International The Olympic Games historically has been a gathering of the best athletes in the world, the Olympians, who come together every two years in winter and summer to compete in a spirit of conviviality and equality. With each Olympic Games quadrennium, the roll call of Olympians grows by at least 15,000 members. Today, nearly 80,000 athletes – never “former” or “past” – share the honor of calling themselves Olympians. But as we know, fame and celebrity are often fleeting and only a few remain forever in the public spotlight. In the past, Olympians attending the Games following retirement may have shared a common experience, oftentimes even competing with one another, yet they have never had a common meeting ground at the Games. Recognizing this unique situation, Visa International created the Visa Olympians Reunion Center (VORC), to provide a place for Olympians and their families to relax, reminisce with former team members and competitors and make new friendships The program began when Thomas Shepard, executive vice president, International Marketing, Partnerships and Sponsorship, for Visa International, saw the need for an Olympians reunion center when visiting the Games in Barcelona. Working with such Olympians as 1968 Olympic Decathlon Gold Medallist, Bill Toomey, four time Olympic Gold Medallist, Al Oerter, and 1960 Olympic Decathlon Gold Medallist, Rafer Johnson, he carried the concept back to Visa, winning support to launch the first Visa Olympians Reunion Center at the Atlanta Games in 1996. Since that time, Shepard has successfully guided Visa’s efforts through its third reunion center, including its first ever at an Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake, and plans for another in Athens. “We are proud of our role in supporting the Reunion Centers,” he notes, “They are a salute to the living legends of sport and our way of thanking them for their undaunted spirit, their devotion to teamwork and Olympic ideals, and to the many great moments in Olympic history they have provided.” Since Atlanta, almost 9,500 Olympians and guests have visited the VORCs to renew and strengthen their ties to the Olympic Movement. In Salt Lake, more than 1500 guests visited the VORC, which was operated in partnership with the World Olympians Association and the US Olympic Alumni Association. The VORC proved especially popular during the Sydney Olympic Games with more than 5,500 athletes and guests visiting the Center, including Australian Olympian and Sydney 2000 torchbearer Betty Cuthbert, US track and field star Carl Lewis, former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, and Romanian gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci and American gymnast husband, Bart Conner. In Salt Lake, Prince Albert of Monaco, a five-time Olympian himself, was the official spokesperson for the VORC. Prior to the Games he noted that “the beautiful setting and competitive zeal of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games will attract a large number of Olympians from all around the globe. One of the rallying spots while in Salt Lake City will be the Reunion Center where they can catch up with their colleagues and rekindle memories of their own Games. I know I certainly will.” And indeed he was a frequent guest. pitality services that included live TV coverage of events, refreshments, and a comfortable atmosphere to catch up with old friends. But the VORC can also provide a means of assisting Olympians. During the Salt Lake Games, in a unique salute, Olympians, corporate friends, Olympic officials and media converged at the Visa Olympians Reunion Center for a special alpine reunion and fundraising event for Bill Johnson, who won America’s first gold medal in Downhill in 1984 at Sarajevo. To help the 40-year-old legend recover from a terrible ski accident suffered almost one year ago, Olympians attended a special auction in Billy’s honor and bid for signed skis, personal memorabilia and items donated by other well-known Olympians. One of the top bids was for an original painting donated by Visa International depicting Bill’s 1984 Gold Medal run. Among the many visitors, we are proud to say that we welcomed IOC President Jacques Rogge. Jacques Rogge signs the banner at the VORC, WOA President Pál Schmitt overlooking Providing Food, Fun, Friendship and Support During the Games in Salt Lake, the VORC with the assistance of Barry King, decathlete Olympian, and Cindy Stinger, USOC Alumni Manager and with several volunteers provided Olympians with hos16 One frequent guest in the VORC was Theresa Andrews, 1984 twotime Olympic Gold Medallist in swimming and vice president of the United States Olympic Committee Alumni Board. Theresa summed it up when she noted that “so many athletes want to get back to the Games. They just don’t know where to come. This is a great place to run into old friends.” Prince Albert, at the VORC opening ceremonies in Salt Lake also commended Visa, noting that, “it is great to see the World Olympians Association and Visa working together for their mission, and the mission that they (Olympians) began when we all took the Olympic Oath...With the support of our friends at Visa, we can expect the glories of today’s Games never to dim…Thank you Visa, thank you World Olympians Association.” Olympians are the Olympic Games states Thomas Shepard Executive Vice President for VISA International The close partnership and sponsorship between Visa and the Olympic Movement have spanned nine Olympic Games. Visa has been a global partner of the Olympic Games for the past 16 years and has been the exclusive payment card and official payment service of the last nine Olympic Games – Calgary, Seoul, Albertville, Barcelona, Lillehammer, Atlanta, Nagano, Sydney and Salt Lake City. Visa has been the sole official payment service of the Games since Seoul. Besides being a TOP V worldwide partner, Visa gives direct support to National Olympic Committees, famous Olympians and Olympic teams. The Flame interviewed Thomas B. Shepard, Executive Vice President of International Marketing Partnerships and Sponsorships for Visa International in the Marriott Hotel, the main hospitality venue for Visa during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games. How many times have you been at the Olympic Games? Let there be no mistake, I have never been an Olympian, however, I have been involved in sport for a number of years; I operated a ski resort in Colorado, USA, and I have been a soccer player my Thomas Shepard at the opening of the VORC entire life. For my health I still play soccer and I am just taking up rowing. I have seen nine Olympic Games but I have worked at eight part of our business. We have been able to mature our sponsorship from a point where it was just about the association and increasing Olympic Games so far. Visa’s name and brand awareness to where it is now more about how Can you tell me which Games have been the best? That’s a very politically challenging question. My favourites to we can utilize this as a fully integrated marketing platform through date have been Lillehammer and Sydney. I think Lillehammer was a our member banks to enable them to issue more cards, to get more very, very special experience, but each Games has been special in volume, to do destination marketing for the host country of the its own way. As an American, the Games that have taken place off Olympic Games, and to increase our merchant activity. It is very American soil in different countries have been the most interesting much more of a complete picture now and we do measure what our return on the investment is, so it is very businesslike these days. and the most rewarding for me. What do you think about the cooperation between Visa and the You must have met a lot of Olympians and made friends with WOA? them. Who are your favourite athletes? I think the Olympians represent the Olympic alumni, represent all I have a number. I am blessed to have some fantastic friends that are sports people. But I think when I was a child the person that I that is good about the Olympic Games. We have a fantastic oppormost looked up to in the Olympic world was certainly Jean-Claude tunity between Visa and the WOA to elevate the status of those folks Killy. And now I have gotten the chance to meet with him and work who have left the legacy of the Olympic Games. They are the with him, and I think that is very exciting. Of course Mohammed Ali, Olympic Games, these people who have competed, given great perhe is probably one of the greatest athletic talents of all time. And formances, succeeded in making the Olympic Games are the then I have got special friendships with Rafer Johnson and Bill Olympic story. We are very fortunate to be aligned with the greatest Toomey, Olympic champions in Rome and Mexico. Let me add Al names in Olympic history. The evolution of the WOA is one that is Oerter. And the list could go on. A number of other people in the going to be tremendously beneficial to all Olympic athletes. There are many people who win the Olympic Games, win Gold and go on decathlon world because I worked so closely with them. What is your opinion of the cooperation between the IOC and Visa, to be very visible for their entire lifetimes. And there are some who strive to be Olympians and never reach that level of success in the the TOP programme? We have been Olympic sponsors now for 16 years. There has sport, but have already reached that level of success in just being been a terrific synergy between a company that has a very very pow- Olympians. There are great stories from both the people who comerful brand and a worldwide marketing platform, the Olympic peted and made it as Olympians and did not win medals, and those Games, a brand that has tremendous power in its own right. It has who have. We are working very closely now with the WOA to make been a great partnership for those 16 years and the reason is sure that there is always a place at the Olympic Games for Olympic because we have learned how to use it and make it work for our alumni, that Olympic alumni are welcome at every Games and that 21,000 member banks around the world. We are an association of all they have to do is look for the Visa Olympians Reunion Center all of these 21,000 member banks, and our sponsorship is only as sign and they know there is a place for them where they are welpowerful as their knowledge of how to use it. We have been very come, an inseparable part of the Games. In Sydney the VORC had a very big success with around 5,000 successful in trying to recognise the power of the Olympic brand, what it means to consumers around the world, and then getting that visitors. Are you satisfied with this Center here in Salt Lake City? This was a little bit of an experiment for us in the winter. We had message to our cardholders in a meaningful way. This has been an done one in Atlanta for the first time, and one in Sydney, which, as exceptional partnership. you say, was very successful. Here in SLC the venues are more Do you consider this partnership solely a business venture? It is more than a business. I would say that to us it is very much spread out, there are obviously fewer winter Olympians to draw from 17 in terms of a pool of alumni. But I think we have been very successful. We have been able to do a number of unique things here not only honoring individual disciplines of sport but to the extent of even taking care of one of your own. The WOA in conjunction with Visa were able to pay a very successful tribute to an athlete who was recently injured and is trying to recover from his injuries. He may never be the person that he was, but we are helping him together and that is tremendously rewarding for both the WOA and for Visa. But the important point is that the VORC has now been recognized to a degree where Olympians know that at each Games there is a place for them. Moreover, it has gained credibility in the eyes of the Olympians, in the eyes of the IOC and in the eyes of the Organising Committees. So will the VORC be available for Olympians at the future Games? I would hope that there is an VORC at each Games from now through the history of the Games, it is something that is a very important part of the Games. We are in active discussions with the WOA and the IOC to reformat, to improve and to continue to offer a VORC in Athens. Although we have not yet signed for a renewal, we would hope that we would also have a VORC in Turin and Beijing. Finally I would like to say that we would like to continue to work with the WOA in the future. Obviously, outside the Games the VORC is a place where we cooperate very strongly but we have recently been in conversations with President Pál Schmitt. He has been a tremendous supporter and has been a great asset to the WOA and the positioning of that organization, and in our ever – evolving relationship. Within this context we would like to continue to support the WOA on a broader basis to help you establish more context with the 80,000 Olympians around the world and bring more benefits to those Olympians. World Olympians Educational and Information Center in Salt Lake City by Dale Kelly, Olympian swimmer, 1960 The first two highly acclaimed Summer Olympians Reunion Centers, in Atlanta and in Sydney and now the first Winter Olympians Reunion Center in Salt Lake City have all been supported and generously funded by Visa. For the first time in the history of the Reunion Centers, the World Olympians Educational and Information Center was run experimentally in addition to the VISA ORC in the Christensen Center at the University of Utah’s School of Business. It was made possible through the patronage of the Dean of the Business School, Jack Brittain. Dick Fosbury was one of the famous athletes to visit the World Olympians Educational and Information Center in Salt Lake City. He is a man who changed the course of the high jump and in doing so, has influenced the way people think. Stephen R. Covey, Vice Chairman of the Franklyn Covey Organization and world-renowned author of the book ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ launched the education program to an elite gathering of business leaders, educators and Olympians with an address on the parallels between the business world and successful athletes. The Franklyn Covey organization also supported the ‘Five Olympic Ideals’ educational program for school children. Over three days, 150 children from three schools toured the Center and attended talks from Olympians who spoke about their experiences, based on the ideals of Vision, Focus, Commitment, Persistence and Discipline. With approximately 50% of Olympians requiring a job when they exit their competitive career, developing educational programs for athletes such as university scholarships plus career guidance and job search facilities provides support mechanisms that will enable the Olympians to take their hard earned disciplines into the business world. The WOA further developed its relationships with future Olympic cities and hosted receptions for other supporters during its seventeen days of operation: At a reception for the Beijing Vice Mayor and Executive Vice President of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Lie Jing Min and members of the Beijing Organizing Committee, the WOA thanked Beijing City for making available the century old Prince Jun’s Palace for the Olympians Reunion Center during the 2008 Games. The President of the WOA, Mr. Pál Schmitt, welcomed over 150 guests to the recep18 tion, including IOC Members, Prince Albert of Monaco, Olympians, Salt Lake City Dignitaries and the Governor of Salt Lake City the Honorable Rocky Anderson, who presented Mr. Liu with a Sister Olympic City commemoration. The opening of the third regional office of the WOA was also announced at the Center at another reception attended by many dignitaries, Olympians and supporters, among them Katherine Harris, Secretary of State of Florida and Mrs. Anne Rogge. Corporate, publishing and educational organizations made presentations to the WOA Board in the state-of-the-art lecture theatres. Some of the rooms normally used by students to study were converted to treatment rooms for The Federation Internationale De Chiropratique du Sport to provide chiropractic and sports medicine support for athletes and volunteers. Pictures and posters of former Olympiads were exhibited on the corridor walls for the visiting athletes to watch, to reminisce and simply to enjoy the art. Our partner, the City of Osaka, had a colorful display of posters, flyers, banners and promotional materials introducing the city and its facilities, and the Sports Paradise concept to athletes. However, it was not all about business. Athletes were treated to a relaxing environment with several nights of live music accompanied by food and beverage. Downstairs 25 computers provided access to the Internet to contact family and friends or just to surf. Anne Rogge and Katherine Harris Cultural Olympiad The Cultural Olympiad is a compulsory, essential and inspirational part of the Olympic Games. “This programme must serve to promote harmonious relations, mutual understanding and friendship among the participants and others attending the Olympic Games”. (Olympic charter) Ever since the first Games in 776 B.C. in ancient Greece, the Olympics have been associated with culture as well celebrating artists’ achievements alongside athletes’ accomplishments. Back in the earlier times, besides athletes, poets, speakers, writers, sculptors and artists gathered to meet, compete and to make themselves known. The first cultural programme of the modern Games was organised in Stockholm in 1912 without much success. Since then the programme has come a long way and today it attracts top artists from around the world. Similarly to the ancient Greek Games, not only existing works but also commissioned pieces are presented in honour of the Olympic Games. In SLC a myriad of various cultural programmes of different genres was on offer. We would like to highlight three of them that the Flame had the opportunity to see. * * * nian and Greek vases, bottles, pots, urns, jewelry, and statues. Materials used in ancient Greece to create artefacts included terra cotta, marble, bronze, obsidian, onyx, and carnelian. The objects represented in the collection span a time frame from the late sixth century B.C. to the end of the 1st century A.D., most concentrated from 600-300 B.C. Images depicted in many of the objects include warriors, mythological creatures and young athletes. Among the highlights of the exhibit is the Getty’s most important bronze sculpture, Statue of a Victorious Youth (Greek, 300 - 100 B.C.; bronze with copper inlays). This statue depicts a naked youth standing with his weight shifted on his right leg, crowning himself with a wreath, probably olive. The olive wreath was the prize for a victor in the Olympic Games and identifies this youth as a victorious athlete. Found in the sea off the coast of Italy, this statue is one of the few life-size Greek bronzes to have survived; as such, it provides much information on the technology of ancient bronze casting. The original location of the statue is unknown, but either Olympia or the youth’s hometown is possible. Romans probably carried the statue off from its original location during the first century B.C. or A.D., the height of Roman collecting of Greek art. The Roman ship carrying it to Italy then foundered off the coast, preserving the statue for centuries in the sea. The UMFA was the only museum in the United States to host this travelling exhibition of exceptional Greek antiquities. This exhibition was generously supported by the S. J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002. Greek Antiquities by Isabelle Kalantzes PR and Marketing Officer, Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) In celebration of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and the ancient origin of the games, the UMFA hosted an exceptional exhibition of Greek antiquities from the J. Paul Getty Museum. The exhibition featured 35 objects from ancient Greek life during Olympian times. Works included dining and drinking vessels, Athe- Berlin Olympics 1936 By Amie Scoville, Program Coordinator, Marriott Library, University of Utah THE NAZI OLYMPICS Berlin 1936, a traveling exhibition from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, originally opened at the museum in 1996 to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the 1936 Games and the opening of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. It explores the ways in which the Nazis used the Berlin Games for propaganda purposes, the controversy surrounding the Games, and the stories of individual athletes, both those who participated and those who chose to boycott. Some of the famous Olympians who took part at the Berlin Games were: Jesse Owens (USA), track and field, Eugen Mack (SUI), gymnast, Ferenc Csík (HUN), swimmer, Ria Mastenbrock (NED), swimmer, Gregor Hradecki (AUT), swimmer, Kee Chung Son (represented Japan, but of Korean origin), marathon runner, Ilmari Salminen (FIN), runner, John Lovelock (NZL), runner, Ivar Johansson (SWE), wrestler, Helene Mayer (GER), foil fencer and Ralph Metcalfe (USA), runner. In 1997, two years after the International Olympic Committee named Salt Lake City the location of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Ronald Smelser, professor of history at the University of Utah, contacted Peter Black, senior historian with the Holocaust Museum, with whom he had collaborated on several projects. Through the work of Smelser, Ronald Coleman, associate professor of history, and many others at the University, the exhibition was housed at the J. Willard Marriott Library on the University of Utah campus Sept. 12, 2001 through Mar. 22, 2002. The exhibition was open during the time of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and part of the Cultural Olympiad. More than 4,400 visitors came through. 19 Greek Statue of a Victorious Youth, 300-100 B.C., Bronze with copper 1 inlays, H: 59 5/8 in., 77.AB.30, Courtesy of UMFA Keepers of the Flame Mirsada Buric, a champion in the 3000 meters in her country of Bosnia Herzegovina, trained for Barcelona in the streets of Sarajevo. She was favored to medal. Then the suddenness and cruelty of civil war destroyed her family’s home and drove them into a concentration camp, just weeks before the ’92 Games. Miraculously, Mirsada was released three weeks later but arrived in Spain weakened and malnourished. Her new goal was not to medal, but to finish. She crossed the finish line without an Olympic medal, but with the victory of being an Olympian. Two years ago, two musicians (and weekend athletes) from Utah, Sam Cardon and Kurt Bestor, were commissioned by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee to write a work for the 2002 Olympic Arts Festival. Their mission was to treat sport as an art form, and art as an athletic endeavor. So they began searching for unique stories of Olympians, one of which was Mirsada’s story and is embodied in “Sarajevo” one of 9 numbers in Innovators II: Keepers of the Flame. “I was very surprised when I found out about this,” said Buric, who now lives in Arizona. “It’s an amazing, powerful piece. It brought back a lot of good and bad memories, but it celebrates the spirit of life. No matter how people with crazy ideas try to destroy our spirit, we can go on. That’s what the Olympics represent.” That message was repeated throughout the performance, as musicians, dancers and dramatic video interpreted the stories of nine Olympic athletes in a production filled with spirit, energy and symbolism. But getting Keepers of the Flame to the stage had its own obstacles. After two years of struggling with the concept and an anchor to establish a starting point, the show’s producer, Randy Blosil contacted Wolf Lyberg, renowned Swedish historian and recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin Medal. Mr. Lyberg had been to 27 Olympiads, his first being the Berlin Games of 1936, and thereby offered Blosil an unusual perspective to the project. “What a joy it was to receive his personal accounts! He would write stories of Olympians on an old typewriter and fax them to me daily. When he wrote about Jesse Owens and Luz Long, I wondered if he had used that same typewriter in 1936. I then passed these on to writer Michael McLean for an early treatment”, Blosil said. From all the stories gathered, the short list was established: Mirsada Buric, Nadia Comaneci, Jesse Owens, Alberto Tomba/Pirmin Zurbriggen, Dan Jansen, Dick Fosbury, Ekaterina Gordeeva/Sergei Grinkov, Muhammad Ali, and Franz Klammer. McLean’s treatment hit the mark with Cardon and Bestor, and they immediately took these Olympians’ lives and re-wrote their stories on sheet music. The music was recorded from a selection of the best musicians in Utah and Los Angeles. Drummer Simon Phillips performs an incredible 1½ minute drum solo on “Rise”, symbolizing the training and boxing matches of Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali. World-great violinist Igor Gruppman provides the edge-of-your-seat performance of Franz Klammer’s unforgettable gold medal downhill run in Innsbruck. “When you create something musically with a world audience judging it, only the best will do,” says Sam Cardon. That’s why it was decided to have the composition titles in the language of the Olympian: “Donner in den Ohren” (All I Heard Was Thunder, Franz Klammer); “Perfectiune” (Perfect, Nadia Comaneci); “Il Genio ed il Genie” (The Genius and the Genie, Tomba/Zurbriggen). Said Ray Grant, the artistic director for SLOC: “[Keepers of the Flame] was the perfect way to open the Arts Festival. The merger of sport and art celebrates the achievement that defines the Olympics.” IOC member and WOA President Pál Schmitt attended opening night and introduced several Olympians in the audience, including Mirsada Buric. “We are proud to be Olympians, to know what it means to represent our countries in the biggest sports gathering in the world.” And this performance, Schmitt said, “captured that spirit with lots of emotion.” Audience guests for other performances included Nadia Comaneci and her husband Bart Conner, and Prince Albert of Monaco, a 5 time Winter Olympian. The production is timeless and has long legs. The show has already been booked this summer for other engagements. It would also be our honor and pleasure to use “Keepers of the Flame” as a fund raising effort for the WOA and for bidding cities. Cardon and Bestor hope the show can extend to the Games in Athens, Turin, and Beijing. The CD “Innovators II: Keepers of the Flame” can be purchased online through www.musicagain.com for US and international orders. Fine curtain call of all performers for “Innovators II: Keepers of the Flame” 20 There is No Sport without Fair Play by Jenõ Kamuti Olympian, President of the International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP) “There is No Sport without Fair Play”, declared IOC President Jacques Rogge in his message sent to this year’s Award Ceremony of the International Committee for Fair Play. The significance of the event was increased by the fact that for the first time the Willi Daume Awards were presented as well. Willi Daume filled the post of President of the International Committee for Fair Play for 8 years after the founding President, Wimbledon tennis champion Jean Borotra. We were delighted to fulfil the request of the IOC to present this award to an organization that has done the most to popularize and strengthen the concept of fair play. The award, arousing great worldwide interest, was presented by Brigitte Zypries, Secretary of State and Walther Tröger, IOC member and President of the National Olympic Committee for Germany. The event, hosted by the City of Frankfurt at the Alte Oper, was attended by Lambis Nicolau, President of the Comité Olympique Hellénique, Denis Oswald, President of the International Rowing Federation (FISA) and of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), both IOC EB members, and Mohamed Mzali IOC member, and Pál Schmitt, President of the World Olympians Association. Petra Roth, Mayor of Frankfurt, welcomed all the guests in her speech. Naturally the real celebration was aimed at the award winners. Our re-organized Committee wished to remedy the negligence of the past years and awards in all categories were presented for the years of 1998, 1999 and 2000. The majority of the award winners are Olympians, which is delightful for us, since in the future we intend to fortify our movement mainly by way of education and the good example of Olympians. The WOA and its President give us enormous support in this effort. I would like to remind the readers that in Sydney during the Summer Games a joint proclamation was signed by the WOA and the CIFP and we intend to enhance our cooperation in the future. It is my pleasure to mention some of the excellent Olympians who were awarded: the canoeist Andreas Dittmer (GER); the Alpine skier Katja Seizinger (GER) who won the women’s downhill event at two consecutive Olympic Games; Pyrros Dimas (GRE) the three time Olympic gold medallist weightlifter (1992, 1996, 2000). They are real champions and role models to be followed. The award ceremony was an exemplary message by the CIFP to the whole world of sports about the necessity of the spirit of fair play, just as the French academic and philosopher Jean d’Ormesson says: “Sport lies half way between everyday tasks and play and in it strength and justice are pitted against each other, according to certain rules, in such a way that justice prevails over strength. Sport does not consist of killing, humiliating, destroying your enemy, but of playing with him in such a way that all of his human abilities can be given expression” Olympians who received Fair Play Awards 1998, 1999, 2000 Coubertin Trophy, Act of Fair Play: 1988: Giovanni Soldini (ITA), sailing 2000: Andreas Dittmer (GER), canoe Sports Career: 1998: Brigitte Deydier (FRA), judo Willi Daume Trophy, Promoting Fair Play 1998: Fair Play Committee of Lithuania and Arturas Pouliunas 1999: Panathlon International 2000: Students and Teachers of Sydney and New South Wales and the International Rowing Federation We are proud of and congratulate those Olympians who received Fair Play Diplomas recognizing their sportsmanlike behaviour and their sports career. 1998: Daniele Caimni (ITA), athletics Sebastian Abramowski (GER), swimming Alexander Inczedi (SVK), judo Andreas Gomez, (ECU), tennis 1999: Katja Seizinger (GER), Alpine skiing Katja Seizinger and Andreas Dittmer at the Fair Play Award Ceremony Zdenek Zeman (CZE), football 2000: Anna Zemal-Krajewska (POL), judo Radoslaw Laskowski (POL), judo László Tábori (HUN and USA), athletics Pyrros Dimas (GRE), weightlifting Marc Huster (GER), weightlifting Zdenek Remsa (CZE), ski jumping Boris Gueorguijev (BUL), boxing Pyrros Dimas three time Olympic Champion 21 Introducing the New Members of the IOC Athletes Commission After Atlanta, Nagano and Sydney, Olympians have cast their votes again in Salt Lake City. The NOCs could nominate candidates who are over 18 years of age, have participated in either Nagano or Salt Lake City and have not been found guilty of a doping offence. Candidates were approved at the 112th IOC Session in Moscow in July 2001. Voting took place in the Olympic Village and in Soldier Hollow, the alternative accommodation for biathletes and Alpine skiers. While in Sydney the total votes cast did not reach 50% of the eligible voters (47.3%), in Salt Lake City the total percentage of athletes voting was much higher (70.5%), which shows a sense of growing responsibility from the athletes. They are interested to elect their most suitable peers as their representatives. The IOC Athletes’ Commission comprises of 8 Summer and 4 Winter Games athletes elected by their peers. They serve a mandate of 4 or 8 years and at the same time are IOC members for that period as well. Five more members are appointed by the IOC President. At the beginning of April to ensure a fair balance between genders and continents, IOC President Jacques Rogge has appointed two new AC members speed skater Lee Kyung Chun (KOR) and swimmer Rania Amr Elwani (EGY). The Korean athlete was a candidate for the Salt Lake City election, whereas the Egyptian swimmer was up for the Sydney election. The final results of the voting are as follow: Total number of eligible voters (Aa credentials) 2516 Total number of votes cast 1773 Total number of ballots accepted 1770 (a ballot was rejected if more than 4 candidates were selected) Total% of athletes voting 70.5% Name Country/Gender Sport Votes Pernilla WIBERG SWE F Alpine Skiing 640 Manuela DI CENTA ITA F Cross Country Skiing 593 Jari KURRI FIN M Ice Hockey 579 Adne SONDRAL NOR M Speed Skating 427 Yang YANG CHN F Short Track Speed Skating 405 Dmitry DASHCHINSKI BLR M Freestyle Skiing 368 Kenji OGIWARA JPN M Nordic Combined 360 Pamela BELL NZL F Snowboard, Giant Slalom 292 Lee Kyung CHUN KOR F Short Track Speed Skating 257 Kuang-Ming SUN TPE M Bobsleigh 177 they took part at the Closing Ceremony except for Pernilla Wiberg, who had already travelled home. The freshly elected members were standing behind Jacques Rogge and Mitt Romney, which must have been an unforgettable experience for them. Let us have a close look at their Olympic career: Pernilla Wiberg (in the photo) (1970, SWE, Alpine skiing) The two athletes with the greatest number of votes (Pernilla Wiberg and Manuela Di Centa) will serve a mandate of eight years; the other two elected athletes (Jari Kurri and Adne Sondral) will serve a mandate of four years. We wish them a lot of success and good luck in their future work and hope they will represent the interests of the Olympians properly. Only Manuela di Centa could preserve her office in the AC and her IOC membership among the Winter Olympians. The mandates of speed skater Johan Olav Koss (NOR), cross-country skier Vladimir Smirnov (KAZ) and cross-country skier Tomas Gustavson (SWE) have expired. The four new members were inducted in Salt Lake City and for the first time in the history of the Games Manuela di Centa, Jari Kurri amd Adne Sondral at the Closing Ceremony 22 Olympic champion in Albertville (giant slalom) and in Lillehammer (Alpine combination); silver medallist in Nagano (downhill); chairperson of the International Ski Federation Athletes’ Commission. The Olympic champion, who settled down in Monaco, was one of the top skiers of the last decade. She also participated in Salt Lake City but due to her 13 knee surgeries could not repeat her earlier successes. Manuela di Centa (1963, ITA, cross country skiing) two-time Olympic champion in Lillehammer (15 and 20 km); president of the Athletes’ Commission of the Italian National Olympic Committee; a re-elected AC member who participated in 5 Olympic Games. Her first Games were in Sarajevo and her fifth in Nagano, where she finished her Olympic career. Jari Kurri (1960, FIN, ice hockey) bronze medallist in Nagano; member of the Athletes’ Commission of the Finnish NOC. In Salt Lake City he was the assistant coach of the Finnish team. Adne Sondral (1971, NOR, speed skating) silver medallist in Alberville (1500 m); gold medallist in Nagano (1500 m); member of the Athletes’ Commission of the Norwegian Olympic Committee. He has two sons and is currently working on his Master’s degree in News from the National Associations Slovene Olympians Club Established but Cerar Causes Disappointment By Eugen Bergant, Senior Correspondent of the Dleo Ljubljana There could not have been a better and more suitable day to establish the Slovene Olympians Club than on the 100th birthday of the oldest Slovene Olympic champion, Leon Stukelj (in the photo) in November 1998. Born in Novo Maesto, the 3 time Olympic champiand member of the silver medallist sabre team. In SLC 41 Olympians represented Slovenia. So far the independent Slovene team has participated at 4 Winter and 3 Summer Games. In SLC 17 newcomers, 6 female and 11 male athletes entered the Games raising the number of Slovene Olympians to 554 (104 female, 440 male). Our athletes were part of the Yugoslav team at the Olympic Games between 1920-1936 and 1948-988. Slovene Olympians have won 26 medals, 18 at Summer, 8 at Winter Games. Out of the 26 medals 7 are gold. Our independent team has won 6 medals (2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze) at Summer Olympics and 4 bronze at Winter Olympics. We have valuable and beautiful traditions so we very much hope that the Slovene Olympians Club will find its deserved place in the near future. 3,000 members in Russia The Association of Athletes of Russia, which joins athletes and Olympians of previous years as well as active athletes, was created in 1991. Now it has approximately 3,000 members. The Association’s main activities include the protection of the sports veterans, drawing attention towards their post-athletic career and providing them medical, financial, social and moral support. Galina Gorochova, three-time Olympic champion fencer (1964, 1968, 1972), member of the Executive Board of the Russian Olympic Committee has held the presidential office since 1991. on, who lived in Maribor, could not attend the founding meeting because of a cold, but sent his best wishes to the Club. In his absence he was elected President. The following day he received the Olympic Order, the highest honour of the IOC, from President Samaranch and gladly accepted an invitation to Sydney. The gymnast Stukelj, participant at three Olympic Games in 1924, 1928 and 1936, enjoyed IOC President Samaranch’s hospitality in Barcelona and in Atlanta. Moreover, at the Opening Ceremony in Atlanta he, together with great young gymnasts – his successors, performed an exercise on parallel bars. Although he was nor an IOC member, neither an EB member of the International Gymnastics Federation, he was still requested to greet the medallists at the official medal ceremonies. Unfortunately he could not go to Sydney. He passed away exactly on his 101th birthday. President Samaranch attended his memorial services as recognition of his reputation and importance. Miroslav Cerar, two time gold medallist in pommel horse (1964, 1968) succeeded Stukelj as the President of the Club. Although the approved program is very attractive, implementation has not been smooth and little progress has been made so far. Cerar followed in Stukelj’s footsteps not only as an Olympian gymnast but also as a lawyer. He leads a successful law firm in Ljubljana and has undertaken several honourable tasks in the field of sport. He is a member of the EB of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, president of the Slovene Olympic Academy, sports envoy to the European Council and activist of the Fair Play movement. No wonder he has little time and energy left for the Olympians Club. The club very much misses his presence and leadership. Official ties with the WOA are still to be established. “We must increase our efforts”, stated Miroslav Cerar. Last autumn at the time of the 10th anniversary of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, we made a decision to join the WOA. However, due to the busy schedule including the Salt Lake City Winter Games, we have not had enough time. On a positive note, now only some administrative formalities remain. According to statistics, a total of 544 Slovene athletes have participated at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Some have taken part at 2, even 3 Games. Our first Olympian is the fencer Rudolf Cvetko, who in Stockholm in 1912 was still part of the Austrian team Polish NOA in Warsaw by Wojciech Zablocki, Olympian, Vice President The Towarzystwo Olimpijczyków Polskich (Polish Olympians Association) has had its office in the same building in Warsaw since 1993. This is where we organize our meetings, discussion afternoons and welcome our guests. For bigger meetings, such as our General Assembly or other special occasions, we hire a nice and spacious hall from either the Polish Olympic Committee, the Opera House or from a museum. This year we started building a new centre for Polish Olympians close to Warsaw. It will serve as the Olympians and Paralympians Rehabilitation Center as well as an excellent meeting place. The facilities will be used in a commercial cooperation with a private surgery clinic, but Olympians generally will have the advantage of reduced prices. The building is scheduled to be opened next year. In addition, together with the National Museum in Warsaw, we have started preparations for a big exhibition about Olympic sports on the occasion of the next Olympic Games in Athens. 40 Norwegian Olympians from 1952 gather in Oslo The 50th anniversary of the 1952 Winter Olympic Games was celebrated in Oslo between 14–17 March. The festivities were combined with the well-known Holmenkollen Ski Festival, which has among its events the Cross Country World Cup and Ski Jumping World Cup. All the Norwegian Olympians who participated in Oslo and are still alive were invited to the jubilee by the Norwegian Olympic Committee. 40 athletes accepted the invitation and took part in the four-day celebrations. 23 Most of them have not seen each other since the Closing Ceremony in 1952. The City of Oslo and the Norwegian Olympic Committee organised an attractive programme: a film of the 1952 Olympic Winter Games was shown and an exhibition of Olympic memorabilia was opened in the City Hall. IOC President Jacques Rogge paid a visit as well and gave an interesting speech in front of 200 Norwegians about the future of the Olympic movement. The programme for the participants of the Oslo Games included a lunch with the Lord Mayor of Oslo, a dinner with the King of Norway, Harald V and another dinner with Mr. Kjell O. Kran, President of the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports. In addition, let us not forget the cross country and ski jumping events in Holmenkollen. Some of the Olympians who were present: 3 time gold medallist speed skater Hjalmar Andersen, who won the most medals in 1952 and became a Norwegian hero Gold in Ski jumping (68 meters): Arnfinn Bergmann Gold medallist in cross-country: Hallgeir Brenden Silver medallist in ski jumping: Torbjorn Falkanger Bronze in slalom: Guttorm Berge Bronze in ski jumping: Arne Hoel Bronze in speed skating: Roald Aas (gold in 1956) Interesting facts and figures to remember: Both the speed and figure skating events were held in the open Bislet Stadium. Five years earlier the European Athletics Championship had been held in the same venue. 25,000 spectators cheered and celebrated the hero speed skater, Andersen. Norway ranked first among the nations with its 7 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze medals. 694 athletes from 30 nations took part in the 22 events covered by 730 journalists and there was no TV coverage. 22 years later in Lillehammer there were very different dimensions: 1,739 participants from 67 nations participated in 61 events covered by 8,200 media people. Moldavians at the Olympic Games By Nicolae Juravschi, Olympic Champion, President Nicolae Juravschi is a two-time Olympic champion in the canoe 2500 m and 1000 m events in Seoul. In Atlanta, as a member of the Moldavian team, he became silver medallist in the canoe 2500 m event. The Association of the Olympic Athletes from the Republic of Moldova was created in Sept 1997 with 46 members. It is continuously growing, at the moment we have 85 members. We are trying to integrate our activities with the sport events organized by our National Olympic Committee. We celebrated the jubilee of the Barcelona Games with our weight-lifting Olympic champion, Tudor Casapu. It was also a great opportunity for all the Olympians to get together and to introduce the new members of our family, who took part at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Moldavian athletes participated in the Olympic Games between 1952 and 1988 as members of the Soviet team. In 1992 they were part of the Unified Team. They could represent Moldova in Lillehammer for the first time. Moldova with its 4.5 million inhabitants became the smallest republic after the dissolution of the former Soviet Union. Moldavian medallists include Serguei Moureko, who won a bronze in the Greco-Roman wrestling under 130 kg event in Atlanta and Vitalii Grusac also a bronze medallist in the 67 kg boxing event in Sydney. So far there are 5 Moldavian athletes who have taken part in 3 Olympic Games: Oleg Molodvan: shooting (88, 96, 2000) Vadim Zadinov: athletics (92, 96, 2000) Olga Bolshova: athletics (92, 96, 2000) Sergiu Mainciuc: swimming (92, 96, 2000) Elena Goroha: biathlon (94, 98, 2002) The Dutch Olympians Association Fills a Need By Huub Snoep “You are sharing something that’s unique” Many countries in the world have Olympians‘ Associations. This is also true for the Netherlands. After the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles the ‘Dutch Association of Olympic Participants’ was founded [NVOD - Nederlandse Vereniging van Olympische Deelnemers]. The association now has around 750 members, who meet once a year to attend the General Meeting. However, the NVOD is more than just a forum for an annual get together, it also has a clear mission for the future. On an unusually warm January day we met Wim Cornelis and Yvonne van Gennip in Vinkeveen, a small village 30 kilometers outside Amsterdam. They are chairman and committee member of the NVOD respectively. The two of them have worked together before, but under different circumstances. In 1988 Wim Cornelis was Chef At the festivities Olympic gold medallist ski jumper in 1952 Arnfinn Bergmann Courtesy of Henrik Aasbo, SPORTMEDIA 24 de Mission of the Dutch Olympic team in Calgary and Seoul. Yvonne van Gennip became the “Queen of speed skating” of the Games in the Canadian cowboy town by capturing gold in the 1500, 3000 and 5000 meters on the ice of the Olympic Oval. “The association was set up with the idea of holding reunions”, says Cornelis. “Within this framework we also organize different activities, such as visiting events as a group. For example, in December 2001 we went to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Heerenveen. We recently celebrated our 15th anniversary. Due to the fact that our five-year anniversaries do not coincide with the Games which are held every two years, we have plans to hold a big reunion during the next Olympic Games in Athens. Maybe we will watch the Opening Ceremony together – not in Athens of course, but somewhere at a nice location in Holland where we can enjoy a drink and a bite to eat together.” The NVOD has ambitious goals as Cornelis points out: “Our founding documents state that we have to function as a board for former Olympians; we have to strengthen the ties among Olympians and enhance the Olympic Spirit. What is the Olympic Spirit? Everyone has an opinion, but we all have a special feeling about it and it’s definitely a positive one.” The Olympic Spirit is carried out by the NVOD members wherever possible. For example, the NOC/NSF (Dutch Olympic Committee/Dutch Sports Federation) have developed an educational plan for elementary school teachers in preparation for the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Participating schools could win a guest lesson to be given by a former Olympian. “We want to promote the Olympic Spirit especially to youngsters in schools and at sports clubs”, stresses van Gennip.” We had 120 Olympians volunteering for the elementary school project.” Membership of the NVOD costs 15 Euro. Although the amount is small, not all Olympians become members of the association, which Cornelis regrets: “When you’ve just participated at the Games, the association will contact you to see if you are interested in joining. The first two years are free, after that you pay a membership fee. Due to the membership fee system we are missing some celebrities. It would be better if anyone who has participated in the Olympic Games automatically became a member of the NVOD. That’s what we would really like. Whether they’re all going to be active members, that’s something we’ll need to find out later.” “I think all athletes should be proud to be members of the NVOD”, says van Gennip. “You can’t become a member just like that. You must have done something special, you must have participated in the Olympic Games. To achieve that you must have sacrificed a lot of things.” Cornelis adds: “Most sportsmen and women who participate at the Olympic Games find it a very special event. It’s a feeling that people share. During our meetings many fascinating stories are told that begin with ”do you remember...” “You are sharing something that’s unique,” continues Yvonne van Gennip. “When you meet other Olympians you don’t need to explain. You know what the other one is thinking. And that’s something that someone who hasn’t participated at the Games, doesn’t feel. Often you only know someone from the newspapers or television, but somehow you seem to know each other personally.” The importance of the NVOD as a reunion-oriented association is underlined by the fact that it has firm ties with the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC). “We get administrative support from the NOC.” Two students of the College of Health and Management have carried out a survey among the NVOD members to record their wishes. There is a desire to involve former Olympians in Dutch sports more. “As a celebrated athlete you can take a stand on certain issues not only in your own country, but also throughout the world”, says van Gennip. “In 1994 we went to Sarajevo with a number of Olympic and Paralympic medal winners to support the local people. We took the The oldest gold medallist of the world Mrs. Alida van den Bos On January 18th, 2002 Alida van den Bos celebrated her hundredth birthday. She is the oldest Olympic gold medallist of the world. Alida, representing the Netherlands, won her gold medal in gymnastics at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. On her birthday she said that she watches the Olympics on television and she is still interested in sports. She received one hundred orange tulips from the Netherlands Olympic Committee to remember the special day. ‘Flame of Peace’ of Lillehammer and handed it over to them. All this resulted in the building of two peace parks. People were so happy that we were there. We represented something they could hold on to, something that could help them get back on track.” Cornelis adds: “You can say that sports and politics have nothing to do with one another, but they are in fact very much interrelated. And that’s where former Olympians, like Yvonne has just said, can play a role.” Just as the forming of the Athlete Committees, the founding of the National Olympians’ Associations is stimulated by the IOC. Looking at the future, Cornelis and van Gennip would like to have more contact with those sister organizations abroad in tackling worldwide issues. Cornelis concludes: “You have to be careful not to grow too big just for the sake of growing. We should not forget that we are here for our Olympians in the first place.” British Initiative O.P.E.N.: the Key to Success from Elite-Level Sport to Professional Life The Olympic and Paralympic Employment Network (OPEN) is a British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association and UK Sports Institute programme aimed at helping athletes and coaches to continue along a defined career path in addition to preparing for major competitions. OPEN works with sportsmen and women to actively target companies to help them start careers in their chosen profession. There are considerable gains for employers, athletes and coaches who participate in the OPEN Scheme. It is a two-way process, which provides employees with access to individuals who have proven themselves in competition and athletes and coaches with the opportunity to build their chosen career. OPEN focuses on athletes and coaches who are committed to establishing long-term careers outside sport, and who have realistic expectations and a positive attitude to balancing vocational careers and elite sport. There are 70 companies presently signed up to the programme covering organisations ranging from manufacturing to government. In addition a further 40 companies have indicated that they are interested in joining the network. 25 PEOPLE – AFFAIRS Special Olympics WOA President Pál Schmitt has signed a cooperation agreement with Timothy Shriver, President and CEO of the Special Olympics. The WOA would like to encourage and urge the National Olympians Association and Olympians alike to support and get involved in Special Olympics events all over the world. Special Olympics is a global movement created in 1968 to provide sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for athletes with mental retardation and is officially recognised by the IOC and numerous organisations and NOCs. Extracts from the Agreement: 1. The World Olympians Association shall encourage its members to actively support Special Olympics activities around the world. 2. Special Olympics shall coordinate with the World Olympians Association to invite Olympians to participate in global, regional and national Special Olympics events. In addition, Special Olympics and national and local Special Olympics Programs shall work directly with Olympians with whom Special Olympics has continuing relationships. 3. The World Olympians Association shall arrange for local Special Olympics Programs to have access to local Olympians to the extent practical. These two films have contributed to increasing Bud’s already extraordinary prestige and widespread reputation. “Education with the help of sport” is the motto of the World Forum of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education to be held on August 24 in Wiesbaden. The preparations for the event are led by Claus Schormann, President of the Union Internationale de Nawal El Moutawakel, first female Olympic Champion of Morocco, IOC Member Left to right: Elisabeth Ferris, WOA Vice President, Nadia Comaneci, Sarah Biggs and Marc Curtis Special Olympics athletes, WOA President Pál Schmitt shaking hand with Special Olympics CEO Tim Shriver, Bart Conner, Graham Jones and John Hollingsworth Special Olympics athletes Pentathlon Moderne and Professor Norbert Müller. Representatives of 199 NOCs, 35 international associations of Olympic sports and the UNESCO as well as representatives of the German sports world will be present. At the opening ceremony IOC President Jacques Rogge, Nelson Mandela former President of South Africa and Roland Koch governor of the Hessen will address the audience. Four world famous Olympians, the runner Kipchoge Keino (KEN), the rower Steve Redgrave (GBR), the pole vaulter Sergei Bubka (UKR) and the runner NAWAL MOUTAWAKEL (MAR) are likely to draw the most attention with lectures about their sports careers. It is nice to see that Olympians are becoming omnipresent nowadays. * * * * * * During the SLC Winter Games Bud Greenspan’s films “Queen of the Ice” and “Endurance” were shown with great success at the Egyptian Theatre in Ogden. Bud Greenspan has chronicled the Olympic Games and produced the official Olympic films for the last two decades. With his two latest films he pays tribute to the memory of Sonja Henie and HAILE GEBRSELASSIE respectively. The figure skater Henie finished last at her first Olympics in 1924 when she was only 11 and a half years old. However, at the following 3 Games she proved to be the best. According to experts she revolutionised women’s figure skating and immensely contributed to raising its popularity. She finished her unique career as one of Hollywood’s stars. “Endurance” is a particular “docudrama”, which revives the course of life of one of the greatest long distance runners of all times, the Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie. He grew up in extreme poverty and became an Olympic champion against all odds. 26 Haile Gebrselassie, one of the greatest long distance runner of all times The Olympian SPYROS CAPRALOS has assumed another responsibility at the ATHOC. The water polo player, who participated at the Moscow and Los Angeles Games, then in Atlanta was the Chef de Mission of the Greek team, will be responsible for the International Relations Division of the ATHOC. Capralos took his Master’s degree in Business Administration from INSEAD University in France and has been working as the Executive Director of the organising committee since May 2000 in charge of Sports, Games Services Transportation and Broadcasting. * * * IOC President Jacques Rogge met Hungarian Olympic champions among others during his visit to Budapest this spring. He laid a wreath at the Memorial of the Olympic Park, where the names of all 149 Hungarian Olympic champions have been carved in marble. President Rogge said that the 1954 Football World Cup in Switzerland was the first big international sports event broadcast by the Belgian TV. Aged 12 he watched the events and wholeheartedly supported the world famous Hungarian Olympic champion team. Even after almost fifty years, although with a foreign accent, he could list the names of the Hungarian football team: Grosics, Buzánszky, Lóránt, Lantos… Therefore it is easy to understand why he was delighted to meet the three living players of the team: Gyula Grosics, Jenõ Buzánszky and Ferenc Puskás. We would like to congratulate her and wish her success and good work carried out in the interest of the athletes. * * * The name of the SHEA family will most probably be engraved with gold letters in the history of the Olympic Movement. Originally the celebration of the family of three generations of Olympians were planned at the Opening Ceremony of the SLC Winter Games. JACK SHEA, the grandfather was double Olympic champion in Lake Placid Jim Shea (centre) with his grandfather, Jack (left), and father Jim Sr., after Shea qualified for the Olympic Skeleton Team at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, New York Jacques Rogge shakes hand with Olympic Champion Ferenc Puskás, the most famous Hungarian footballer. In the centre György Kárpáti Olympic Champion water polo player FERENC PUSKÁS, who is regarded as one of the most popular Hungarians in the world and finished his sports career in the likewise popular Real Madrid, celebrated his 75th birthday 3 weeks after President Rogge’s visit. On his birthday the well-known Népstadion (People’s Stadium) in Budapest was named after him and became the “Ferenc Puskás Stadium”. * * * The Olympic champion LAURA BADEA (born in 1970) has been elected President of the Athletes’ Commission of the Comité Olympique Roumain (Romanian NOC). The threetime Olympian foil fencer, who participated in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney, has one of all three medals. She won her gold medal in Atlanta in the individual event. By becoming President of the Athletes’ Commission she became member of the Executive Board of the Romanian NOC. in 1932 winning both the 500 m and the 1500 m speed skating events. His son, JIM participated in Innsbruck in 1964 as a crosscountry skier. His grandson, JIMMY took part in the skeleton event in SLC. Fate interfered cruelly in their lives. The 91-year old Jack, the oldest American Winter Olympic champion was killed in a traffic accident last December survived by his son and grandson. Eventually, at the SLC Opening Ceremony the young Jimmy took the oath on behalf of the Olympians and carried the Flame together with his father into the Rice-Eccles Stadium. Later on, to the great joy of the American fans, he became an Olympic champion just like his grandfather. Herbert Reynolds, who prevented the three generations from attending the Games by causing the accident, has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Although the Shea family does not demand his prosecution, he could be sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment. * * * Jubilee in Helsinki The Finnish capital was meant to host the greatest athletes from around the world in 1940 after Tokyo’s withdrawal, but WWII interfered. Finally, the Games of the XV Summer Olympiad were staged in Helsinki in 1952. 5,429 athletes from 69 countries took part in the events from 19 July until 3 Aug. The Games saw the return of the German athletes and the first entrance of the Soviet athletes. Great and peaceful Olympic Games were held, although athletes from the Soviet Block were housed in a separate village. This spring the 50th anniversary of the Oslo Winter Games was celebrated and now it is the Finns’ turn - preparations are well under way to commemorate the 1952 Summer Games. A special committee was set up consisting of delegates of the Capital City, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Olympic Museum, the Stadium Fund, and the Finnish Olympic Committee to organize the festivities. Over 50 Finnish towns will join in the celebra27 tions. The highlight of the event will be on the evening of 19 July, when exactly 50 years after the Opening Ceremony IOC President Jacques Rogge will deliver a memorial speech and a procession will be held. According to the plans the stands will be filled with the 1952 Olympians and their children and grandchildren. Olympic participants from several countries are preparing to travel to Helsinki to celebrate together. * * * ARMIN HARY, the Olympic champion in Rome, who first ran the 100 m in 10.0 s