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The
World Olympians Association and VISA:
Creating a Successful VORC
The Visa
Olympians Reunion Center will soon open its doors in Torino
2006 for the fifth rendition since the first VORC of the
Centennial Games of 1996 in Atlanta . The VORC was created
by Visa, is supported by the IOC and is delivered in
partnership with the World Olympians Association (WOA) to
offer all Olympians a place to call home upon returning to
the Games, this time as spectators. The VISA � WOA
partnership is an important one in delivering this benefit
to Olympians. But what is the WOA and what is its role in a
changing society?
The World
Olympians Association unites Olympians from around the world
regardless of age, sport, gender or nationality. The WOA
promotes Olympic ideals and virtues by promoting fair play,
environmental protection, aiding the fight against doping,
providing educational resources and working against violence
and intolerance while supporting diversity and equality. In
addition, the WOA contributes to sport related charities,
hosts special hospitality centers and promotes Olympians as
positive role models.
An
Olympian is any athlete who competed at a Summer or Winter
Olympic Games. Currently there are approximately 100,000
Olympians alive today. Olympians are WOA members through
their local National Olympians Associations. IOC President,
Juan Antonio Samaranch created the World Olympians
Association following the Centennial Olympic Congress, held
in Paris in 1994. If you would like to know more about how
to contact your local National Olympians Association please
contact any WOA Regional office or
[email protected]
for information.
WOA
Vision and Objectives
In order for
the WOA to further its purposes, consistent with the aims of
the General Assembly of National Olympians Associations and
the IOC, the objectives of the WOA are set forth below:
To encourage
contact between Olympians, in support of Olympism and the
Olympic Movement, as described in the Olympic Charter.
- To
educate Olympians to become good ambassadors of the
Olympic Movement.
- To
foster cooperation between National Olympians
Associations.
- To
support and represent the interests of Olympians and
contribute to the enhancement of their quality of life.
- To
motivate Olympians towards active leadership in their
respective local communities and countries of residence.
- To
support the participation of Olympians in activities
where they can serve as role models who embody the
Olympic ideals.
- To
implement development programs as appropriate.
VISA
Provides the Opportunity
Many
Olympians have had the desire to return to the Games after
their competitive careers are over. We can speculate many
reasons for this desire. First, Olympians share a love of
sport and simply want to witness the greatest display of
sporting excellence in the world. There may be a desire to
return to, if not the actual site, then the spirit and
festival of past glorious and often life-changing
experiences. Perhaps, as time moves on, Olympians have the
desire to return to the Games and bring with them their
families and loved ones � to share in the experience. Or,
perhaps it is the opportunity to reunite with old
adversaries, who are now friends, or share the current Games
with former team mates and Olympians.
There
are many reasons to return � but only one partnership which
helps make that possible � Visa International and the WOA.
By creating the Visa Olympians Reunion Center , Visa
provided a place for Olympians of Games past to call home
during the Games. Many organizations have always espoused
the idea that the Games are about all Olympians � Visa did
something about it. The VORC belongs exclusively to
Olympians and their guests. Perhaps what is most wonderful
is the fact that while Olympian visitors are enjoying free
Games hospitality at the VORC � by their very nature these
Olympians are supporting the WOA principle function of
building a network of Olympians without regard to race, age
or gender � based solely on the Olympic ideal. So we look
forward to welcoming you soon, next February, at the Visa
Olympians Reunion Center in beautiful Torino, Italy ! For
more information and to register, go to
www.woaolympians.com
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