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A Note from the PublisherLima Kicks Off Big Year for the Americas

Ed Hula, Editor and Sheila Scott Hula, Publisher

We are pleased to be here in Lima for the 15th IOC World Conference on Sport for All – hard to believe it’s been almost two years since Around the Rings covered the last event in Beijing.

It’s sure to be an exciting four days in Peru, and as usual it will be a challenge to be every place we’d like to be. If any proof is needed about the importance of sport in everyday life, you need look no further than the list of events scheduled this year for the Pan American region.

n One Year to Brazil 2014, Junen Confederations Cup, Brazil, Junen World Games, Cali, July-Augustn 125th IOC Session, Buenos Aires, Septembern PASO Assembly, Toronto, Octobern Soccerex, Rio de Janeiro, Novembern South American Beach Games, Vargas, December

And let’s not forget that two cities in the Americas – Buenos Aires and Medellin – are bidding for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games along with Glasgow. Best of luck to all when the vote is taken July 4 in Lausanne.

But some might say 2013 is just a warmup for the next few years, as the world’s biggest and most important sporting events head in this direction: the Brazil 2014 World Cup, the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, and of course, the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Whatever the event, you can count on Around the Rings to be on the scene, reporting on developments accurately and incisively – just as we’ve done for the last 20-plus years. And if you are among those who think the Americas are on the fast-track to becoming the center of the sporting universe – we won’t argue. n

Sheila Scott Hula, Publisher sheila@aroundtherings.com

20 YEARS AT #1SINCE 1992

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That’s the gist of the South African’s speech to the 15th IOC World Conference on Sport for All later this week in Lima.In the meantime, Ramsamy discusses some of the issues now facing the IOC Sport for All Commission with ATR Associate Editor Matthew Grayson.

Around the Rings: How would you assess progress made since the last IOC World Conference on Sport for All two years ago in Beijing?

Sam Ramsamy: From my communication with very many countries, Sport for All is now getting more and more widespread, and it’s being used for a series of purposes. In some countries, the education and health ministers are getting involved.

As you know, in the United States – although we didn’t have any representatives [in Beijing], I’m hoping someone turns up to Lima – [First Lady Michelle] Obama is deeply involved now in very many aspects of sports activities. She’s got this “Let’s Move” program. It seems quite inspirational what Mrs. Obama is doing.

And then even in the African countries, because we realize that by spreading sports and a very wide range of activities from schoolchildren onwards, they identify kids

with aptitude, and hopefully that’s going to lead them one day into the Olympic arena.

ATR: How do you expect the conference in Peru to differ from last time around?

SR: Previously, the conference was largely academic. What I did is I combined both academia and sports activities because I believe, in the end, it’s nice to get research done, but it’s not an event only for researchers and university professors, so I’ve turned it around, and we had some success as far as that was concerned overall in Beijing. That was the first time I introduced it, and now we’ve got three major themes: social benefits, sports facilities and public spaces, and partnership.

We’ve got some experts coming to the conference in Peru, and I’m hoping that there’s going to be further inspiration. Already, at the moment, we’ve got a fair number of NOCs turning up, and they’re very interested – at the last count, 10 NOCs from Africa, 10 from the Americas, nine from Asia, 12 from Europe and three from Oceania. I’m certain there will be more.

ATR: Why the choice of theme? Why social benefits, sports facilities and public spaces, and partnership?

SR: This is what we identified when discussing matters in Beijing. These three were the issues we highlighted because we needed to go beyond academics. As far as social benefits, we needed to look at health, we needed to look at societal/educational/economic/environment and sports benefits generally, and then of course we realized that utilization of sports facilities and public spaces are important.

Opportunity is Crucial, Says Sport for All Chair

Sam Ramsamy tells Around the Rings “everyone ought to be given an opportunity” for sport.

Delegates to the 14th IOC World Conference on Sport for All enjoyed early morning shadow boxing in front of Beijing’s Bird Nest. (ATR)

continued on page 8

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New Heroes Needed, Says Peru NOC President

“It’s the reason we asked for this,” says the Peruvian Olympic Committee President. A recent study of nearly 100 countries found Peru to have one of the least physically active populations in the world. Sport for All is one of the ways Quinones and his colleagues are hoping to increase participation in Peru. He says the conference has a chance to be a watershed moment for the country, stressing that never again will Peru’s teachers and government officials have the opportunity to hear from the rest of the world how to implement grassroots sport programs. “We need to produce new heroes. They need to be sports heroes,” Quinones tells ATR. “Having 500 people for four days, discussing and sharing [their] experiences, we need it. We need them to see and be convinced of the importance of practicing sports in all levels of our society.” Since learning that only 28 percent of Peruvians were getting at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity, Quinones claims there have been some changes. He points out the sports ministry is launching a new “philosophy” to encourage fitness. The plan – created in partnership with the Peruvian Olympic Committee, education ministry and sports institute – will channel more resources to sports and hopefully create private/public partnerships to promote participation. Additionally, Peru will host the 2014 Bolivarian Beach Games. Quinones says the event is designed to appeal to people who may not have access to top-of-the-line sport facilities. It’s important that all Peruvians feel they can access sport anywhere, he tells ATR, and with more than 3,000 kilometers of coastline, “it’s almost crazy that no one practices these sports,” he says. Under the leadership of Quinones, the Peruvian Olympic Committee has also inaugurated programs in traditional canoeing and archery to promote sport among native Peruvians in the rainforest.

Quinones says one key difference from the 2011 conference in Beijing is that this week in Lima will feature more roundtable discussions. Speeches will still happen, he says, but now only in the morning. In the afternoon, delegates will split into groups to dive more in-depth on key topics. “This will help to get to what are the problems and how to solve them,” he tells ATR. “I think it will be a pilot plan for how the next events have to be developed.” Physical activity will also be a key part of the conference. Prior to each day’s sessions, participants will enjoy a range of group events, including going on walks. As part of the official program, site visits are planned to multi-sport centers throughout Lima as well.

“It’s important to see not only in speeches but also in the field how you can develop sport,” says Quinones. More than 500 delegates are expected to attend the conference, including 200 Peruvians. Quinones says the sports minister is the key Peruvian figure to attend, and he will be joined by several other ministers and parliamentary officials. Local culture will be on display

with visits to key ruins in Miraflores, a traditional Peruvian dining experience and an optional three-day trip to Machu Picchu, the Incan supercity. Around 50 professional staff members and 100 volunteers are working on the conference. Quinones says the level of success of the event could help springboard Lima to host more and bigger events. The city is bidding for the 2019 Pan American Games. Following an evaluation of the Sport for All Conference, he explains, the Peruvian Olympic Committee will decide whether to bid again for an IOC Session after falling short for 2015. His advice to cities considering bidding for the Sport for All Conference is simple. “Try to do it,” says Quinones. “Sports leaders have the responsibility to strive for a bigger and better future for their country.” n

Jose Quinones tells Around the Rings the 15th IOC World Conference on Sport for All represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Peru to make some sorely needed improvements. Written by Edward Hula III

Jose Quinones at the 14th IOC World Conference on Sport for All in Beijing. (ATR)

Peru sent 16 athletes in nine sports to the 2012 Olympics, winning no medals. (Getty Images)

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In the inaugural list of female movers and shakers unveiled from March 8 to 20, the IOC accounts for more than half the

entries.

Members who make the cut are Athletes’ Commission Chair Claudia Bokel of Germany, Marisol Casado of Spain, Anita DeFrantz of USA, VP Nawal El Moutawakel of Morocco, Princess Haya Al Hussein of UAE, Nicole Hoevertsz of Aruba, Barbara Kendall of New Zealand, Gunilla Lindberg of Sweden, Lydia Nsekera of Burundi, Angela Ruggiero of USA and Rita Subowo of Indonesia.

Two staffers are also among the 25: Jacqueline Barrett, Head of Bid City

Relations, and Pâquerette Girard-Zappelli, Secretary of the Ethics Commission.

A total of five federations lend faces to the crowd. Casado runs the International Triathlon Union, Al Hussein heads the International Equestrian Federation, Nsekera sits on the FIFA Executive Committee, Sarah Lewis of Great Britain is second in command at the International Ski Federation, and Kate Caithness of Scotland leads the World Curling Federation.

National Olympic Committees are also represented with Elena Anikina, Head of International Relations for

the Russian Olympic Committee; Lisa Baird, Chief Marking Officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee; and Jimena Saldana, 1st VP of the Mexican Olympic Committee as well as Secretary General of the Pan American Sports Organization.

Others include Lucia Montanarella, Head of Press Operations for Rio 2016; Sonali Prasad, IOC Young Reporter and Press Commission Member; Debbie Jevans, CEO of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England; as well as Donna de

Varona, Special Olympics International Board Member and IOC Commission on Women and Sport Member.

Rounding out this first edition of the Golden 25 for Women are an athlete, USA’s Lindsey Vonn, as well as two heads of state for countries organizing upcoming Olympics: Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil, and Geun-Hye Park, President of Korea. n

IOC Members, Staffers Among Golden 25 Women

Lausanne looms large throughout the first Around the Rings Golden 25 for Women.Written by Matthew Grayson

Dilma Rousseff is one of two heads of state among the Golden 25 Women. (Getty Images)

The Golden 25 Most Influential Women

Elena anikina - Russian Olympic Committee IR Chief

Lisa Baird - U.S.O.C Marketing Chief

Jacqueline Barrett - IOC Head of Bid City Relations

Claudia Bokel - IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair

Kate Caithness - Curling Chief, IOC Program Commission Member

Marisol Casado - Triathlon Chief, IOC Member

anita DeFrantz - IOC Women and Sport Chair

Donna de Varona - Broadcast Pioneer, Women’s Sports Advocate

Nawal El Moutawakel - IOC VP, 2016 Watchdog

Pâquerette Girard-Zappelli - Secretary of IOC Ethics Commission

Princess Haya - Equestrian President

Nicole Hoevertsz - PASO Women and Sport Commission, IOC Member

Debbie Jevans - Rugby World Cup CEO

Barbara Kendall - Sailor, IOC Member from NZ

Sarah Lewis - Ski Secretary General

Gunilla Lindberg - 2018 Watchdog; ANOC Secretary General

Lucia Montanarella - Olympics Media Expert in Rio

Lydia Nsekera - FIFA Ex-Co Member

Geun-hye Park - President, South Korea

Sonali Prasad - Youth Olympics Reporter

Dilma Rousseff - President, Brazil

angela Ruggiero - IOC Member, Women’s Sports Foundation President

Jimena Saldana - PASO Secretary General

Rita Subowo - IOC Member, Indonesia

Lindsey Vonn - Skiing Superstar, 2014 Gold Medal Hopeful

Lindsey Vonn is the only active professional athlete on the list. (ATR)

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Sport for All Plans Prominent Across Bids for 2020 Olympics

Tokyo, Istanbul and Madrid each registered top-level delegations for the 15th World Conference on Sport for All, accounting for a handful of the 300 overseas participants expected here in Peru. Leading those delegations are Tsunekazu Takeda of Tokyo 2020, Alejandro Blanco of Madrid 2020 and Hasan Arat of Istanbul 2020. ATR asked each what Sport for All means for their city and how it’s being incorporated into bid plans.

Leaders from all three bids tell Around the Rings this week in Lima is a key stop on the road to the 2020 Olympics. Compiled by Matthew Grayson

Tsunekazu Takeda IOC Member, Tokyo 2020 President, Japanese Olympic Committee President: The Japanese people have an inherent passion for sport and live by the Olympic Values of excellence, respect and friendship. This is why we, the members of the Tokyo 2020 delegation, have a deep affinity with the Conference’s goal to promote healthy, positive lifestyles through sport for all ages, races, genders and social classes. We will participate actively in the Conference to discuss sport-related social benefits, facilities, public spaces and partnerships. We also look forward to applying new ideas from the Conference toward our goal of creating a ‘sport for all’ environment in Tokyo. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which implemented its Basic Plan for Promoting Sports in 2009, works tirelessly to encourage participation in sport and recreation among all ages. If Tokyo is selected to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, it would be our honor to take every opportunity to make sport available to people of all ages, races, genders and social classes.

Alejandro BlancoMadrid 2020 President, Spanish Olympic Committee President: I am privileged to be a participant at the 2013 IOC World Conference on Sport for All. When I reflect on the developments taken since the last conference in Beijing, I realize the importance of this event in bringing together worldwide experts with the sole aim of sharing best practices and, through respect and friendship, making a global difference for sports participants, the sporting federations and organizations. With 80 percent of 2020 Olympic Games bid infrastructure in place, the communities of Madrid are already enjoying many sporting facilities and opportunities. I take pride in knowing that attendance at and key learnings from this conference can be implemented quickly, easily and benefit sport in Spain. We are already running major projects that communicate this ‘sport for all’ ethos and the Olympic values. ‘Olympic Heroes’ and ‘Todos Olimpicos’ (We are all Olympic) are innovative programs delivered by the sportsmen and women of Spain to school children around Madrid and are key to inclusion of young people. Our Olympic Bid focus, creating a ‘living legacy’, will be enhanced from knowledge gained in Lima. I am looking forward to participating in the key subject discussions of social benefits and partnerships.

Hasan Arat Istanbul 2020 Chairman: When Baron Pierre de Coubertin came up with the notion of sport for all, it was as if he had countries like 21st century Turkey in mind. Sport is a national priority in Turkey, where the National Sports Plan has ensured a significant investment across Turkey to benefit all sporting enthusiasts - from grassroots to elite level. This investment continues to be put toward new, state-of-the-art sports facilities and stadia; ensuring more affordable access to sport and recreation facilities; improving and extending sport in education and training institutions; developing and implementing sports programs for those with a disability and the elderly; and developing measures to increase participation in sport for people of all ages. Istanbul 2020 believes that the three core Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship are the greatest ingredients to hosting an Olympic Games. Our vision is to inspire people in Turkey, the region, and the world with these messages by hosting the first ever Olympic and Paralympic Games in Turkey in 2020. Istanbul 2020 would inspire people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport. Learning from the successful programs implemented by London in 2012, Istanbul 2020 will develop various projects to ensure that the legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games is an increase in sports participation across all generations and abilities. n

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Sam Ramsamy chairs the IOC Sport for All Commission. (ATR)

I’m very impressed with what’s happening in Peru where people are utilizing the cities. For instance, in Peru, once a month, everybody converges into the city and all the traffic is blocked and there’s activities there. And that happens in Medellin, Colombia and other areas as well.

ATR: What do you hope to come out of Lima, and then how do you ensure that gets acted upon going forward?

SR: Firstly, as I said, we’ve turned this around from being purely academic, and the first such conference where we turned it around was Beijing, so this is only the second such conference. Now, what we need to do is consolidate the particular activities, the youth, the research, and translating the research into action. That, I think, that’s what sport is all about. Sport is about action, and we can’t leave researchers to do all types of activities. Everything must be translated into action, and that I think is going to be the main issue.

ATR: Sport for All seems to be one of the major legacy initiatives of the London Olympics. How is that playing out? Is the U.K.

delivering in terms of getting kids off of the couch and onto the playing field?

SR: Yes, I am in fact very very impressed. Prime Minister David Cameron announced last month he put in $225 million for school sport. They want a legacy out of the Games because the Olympics mustn’t be the pinnacle of everything that happened – that it must go to kids – and what better way of starting with that than school sports.

ATR: Is there anything else you wanted to share with me?

SR: I was in Peru earlier this year, and I was very impressed with the amount of activity they were doing. Like South Africa, they don’t have a very big middle class. It’s like most South American countries where there’s quite a lot of people with not much earning capacity, but the amount of work they are doing is encouraging. They’ve got basketball, their own type of tennis, swimming activities, etc. I was very impressed with that. That is something which I am hoping people from other parts of the world will come and realize they need public spaces more than high-class facilities.

Opportunities – that’s what I’m doing in South Africa. I say everyone ought to be given an opportunity. So that’s what I’m encouraging – to get basic opportunities going for everybody. I’m going to talk about that in my speech. n

Opportunity is Crucial, Says Sport for All Chaircontinued from page 4