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10.4 Sport Administration Manual
10.4 Sport Administration Manual
The Sport Leadership curriculum for the Olympic Solidarity courses was first published in 1986 and was
revised and renamed the Sport Administration Manual in 1998. The Manual was further revised in 2000,
2001, 2005 and 2009. It serves as the basic textbook for the Sport Administrators Courses,
which are organised as part of an Olympic Solidarity NOC Management programme.
Olympic Solidarity wishes to thank the following individuals and organisations for their
contributions to the revision of the Sport Administration Manual
Claire Buffone-Blair
Roger Jackson
Catherine Laville
Martha McIntosh
Khanh Nguyen
Richard Palmer
Leigh Robinson
Anne Wuillemin
Joanna Zipser-Graves
IOC staff in Lausanne
IOC Olympic Studies Centre
IOC Photographic Archives
World Anti-Doping Agency
Court of Arbitration for Sport
Printing
The Lowe Martin Group
Ottawa, Canada
Photos
IOC
Getty Images
Own The Podium
SYOCOG
VANOC
Sport Caricatures
Spitzensport mit spitzer Feder, Institute of Foreign Relations,
Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany, 1981
Contents of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part provided the intended
use is for non-commercial educational purposes and full acknowledgement is given to the
International Olympic Committee, Olympic Solidarity
ISBN 978-0-9687146-4-5
International Olympic Committee
All over the world, sport has become an integral part of society. Sport is a
unique and indispensable tool for sustainable development as well as a means
to promote peace, culture and education, providing young people in particular
with opportunities and hope.
To help the NOCs fulfil these objectives in the best possible way, Olympic Solidarity organises multiple,
diverse programmes, such as the Sport Administrators Programme. This programme seeks to enhance
knowledge of the Olympic Movement, its values, the issues facing sport and the management of sport. It
also seeks to develop the capabilities, tools and practices needed for sport to thrive in the 21 st century,
thus helping all our member organisations to professionalise their administrative capabilities.
At the heart of this programme is the Sport Administration Manual, which has been the basis of the course
work since 1986. As a result of thorough re-editing, this new version fully lives up to its title in it you can find
information on everything that a sport administrator should know: from the history of the Olympic Movement
to its structure; from the Olympic Games to the values and ethics of sport; from the constitution of a national
sport organisation to its management; and from organising a sport event to leading an Olympic delegation.
I am grateful to all the contributors, all lifelong advocates of the Olympic Movement, for their invaluable
contribution to the development of the Manual - a true example of the transfer of knowledge. We are
particularly grateful to Dr. Roger Jackson for his fine work in revising and publishing the Manual since
its inception, and to Richard Palmer for his contribution to the writing of the Manual and his continuous
support of the Sport Administrators Programme.
Through this Manual, the International Olympic Committee wishes to express its appreciation of all those
who contribute to the process of learning, thereby making the conditions for our sportsmen and -women
even more conducive to the true values that derive from sport.
I am certain that the Sport Administration Manual will serve as a constant guide for the numerous sport
leaders in all countries, and can help them in the daily management of the organisation they serve and
in the promotion of their activities, so that they will be active partners and a source of strong support in
achieving the objectives fixed by their organisation.
My wish is that those attending the courses will derive maximum benefit from these encounters and that
this training will encourage exchanges of ideas and useful experience. I call upon the participants to
continue the noble and committed endeavour of organising and developing sport throughout the world,
reaffirming the conviction that, by teaching young people the values and principles of the Olympic ideal,
we are making an important contribution to improving their lives.
This revised version of the Sport Administration Manual makes available the knowledge and information
needed to constantly improve management skills and spread the values of Olympism around the world. I
express my sincere gratitude to the NOCs and the Course Directors, as well as those who have contributed
to this new version of the Manual.
I wish you an enjoyable reading experience and every success in your sport organisations.
Since it was first published in 1986, the Sport Administration Manual has been revised on four occasions, the latest
revision being completed in 2009. It therefore reflects up-to-date knowledge, issues and practices current within
the Olympic Movement and provides information on the most important matters related to sport administration
and management.
The manual begins by providing information on the Olympic Movement and by defining the values, attitudes and
philosophy of Olympic sport. It includes some theory and requisite skills for administration and management,
and discusses possible solutions to various needs, problems and concerns. Finally, information is provided on
technical aspects related to athlete development and the leading of an Olympic Games mission.
The Sport Administrators Courses are designed to assist those who work in the Olympic and sport movement
throughout the world, so that they may operate more effectively and more happily. Above all, the courses
centre on improving interpersonal relationships, communication between individuals and commitment by many
to advancing sport opportunities for people, both young and old.
The Sport Administrators Courses form a key part of Olympic Solidaritys management training programmes.
Since the beginning of the programme up to the end of 2009, 2,230 courses have been organised by 100 NOCs
and more than 60,000 participants have taken part in the courses.
Additionally, Olympic Solidarity has developed the Advanced Sport Management Courses, based on the Managing
Olympic Sport Organisations manual, which focuses on six key management areas: organising an Olympic sport
organisation, managing strategically, managing human resources, managing finance, managing marketing and
organising a major sport event.
At the apex of the training opportunities is the Masters degree in sport management, MEMOS (Master Excutif
en Management des Organisations Sportives), which is supported by Olympic Solidarity through its International
Executive Training Courses in Sport Management programme, awarding scholarships on a world-wide basis to
NOC-supported participants. The MEMOS programme is offered in English, French and Spanish.
The Sport Administrators Courses are therefore an essential part of Olympic Solidaritys management training
strategy and are characterised by the breadth and range of the content of the Sport Administration Manual. They
form an essential tool for anyone involved in managing, administering and organising sport and sport organisations,
particularly in the Olympic Movement.
It is hoped that the Sport Administration Manual will prove to be an essential aid to Sport Administrators Course
participants and will subsequently be a constant companion and guide throughout their involvement in the
sport movement.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) acts as a catalyst
for collaboration among all members of the Olympic Movement -
from the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), International
Sport Federations (IFs), athletes and Organising Committees for
the Olympic Games (OCOGs) to the Worldwide TOP Partners,
broadcast partners and recognised organisations.
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I
Olympic background
Unit 1 Foundations of the Olympic Movement and the modern Olympic Games. . . . 11
Unit 2 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Unit 3 The National Olympic Committees (NOCs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Unit 4 The International Federations (IFs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Unit 5 Other constituents of the Olympic Movement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Unit 6 The Olympic Games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Unit 7 The Youth Olympic Games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Unit 8 Continental and other Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 9
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UNIT 1
Foundations of the Olympic
Movement and the modern
Olympic Games
A. Pierre de Coubertin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
B. Sources of inspiration for Pierre de Coubertin . . 12
C. The 1894 Congress for the Revival of the
Olympic Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
D. The Olympic Charter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
E. Fundamental principles of Olympism . . . . . . . . . 15
F. Symbols of the Olympic Movement . . . . . . . . . . 16
G. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Kishimoto
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 11
A. PIERRE DE COUBERTIN
Pierre de Frdy, Baron de Coubertin was born in Paris on 1 January 1863. Very early in life, he showed an
interest in literature, history, sociology and the problems of education. After studying at a Jesuit college, de
Coubertin attended the French Military Academy as well as law school, but abandoned both to concentrate
on his vision of educational reform and his dream to revive the Olympic Games in a modern form.
It is to de Coubertin that we are indebted for his commitment to ensuring the early development of the
Olympic Movement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Games. The Olympic
Charter, the protocol for Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the athletes oath and the Olympic rings and
flag were his creations. From 1896 until 1925, he personally presided over the IOC and, when he stepped
down as President, the title of Honorary President of the Olympic Games was bestowed on him.
The revival of the Olympic Games represents only a small part of de Coubertins work. Apart from numerous
publications devoted to the technique and teaching of sport, he was the author of important historical,
political and sociological studies. His works total over 60,000 pages.
Pierre de Coubertin died in Geneva on 2 September 1937. He was buried in Lausanne, Switzerland. In
accordance with his last wishes, his heart is buried at Olympia, Greece in a marble stele that was erected
to commemorate his dedication to the Olympic ideal and spirit.
IOC
Pierre de Coubertin
IOC President, 18961925
IOC
Writing about why he had decided to restore the Olympic Games, de Coubertin explained that he did so
to enable and strengthen sports, to ensure their independence and duration and thus enable them better
to fulfil the educational role incumbent upon them in the modern world; for the glorification of the individual
athlete whose muscular activity is necessary for the maintenance of the general spirit of competition.
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He also wrote, When reviving the Olympics, I did not look near myself but far into the distance. I wanted
to give back to todays world in a sustainable way, an ancient institution, the principles of which were
becoming relevant again.
Sport and the role it could play in education was therefore just as relevant for de Coubertin as the outcome
of the Franco-Prussian war and the exciting discoveries that were being made at the site of the ancient
Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece.
Equally important to de Coubertin was the English educators concept of the Christian gentleman.
It was a concept which imbued sport with moral and social values as well as the obvious physical ones.
For de Coubertin, it was clear that the sport programme of the ancient Olympic Games would need to
be adapted. In 776 BC, the ancient Olympic Games lasted one day and included only one sport event, a
foot race over a distance of one stade. By 600 BC, the Games lasted five days and included equestrian
events, a pentathlon (long jump, javelin, discus, a foot race and wrestling), boxing, wrestling and pankration
(a combination of boxing and wrestling) as well as foot races over several distances.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 13
Another important distinction between the ancient and modern Olympic Games concerned the question of
who could compete. In contrast to the ancient celebration, where originally only men and boys who were
both free and Greek could take part, de Coubertin wanted the modern Olympic Games to be an international
sport festival. Additionally, at the ancient Olympic Games in Olympia, women had been excluded from
competing with the exception of equestrian events where a woman, as the owner of a horse, could be
declared a winner. In comparison, by the second edition of the modern Olympic Games in 1900, women were
included in the competitions, even if their inclusion was not something that de Coubertin had envisioned.
With all these examples, the mood was obviously right for a revival of the Olympic Games. It was de
Coubertin who was destined to lead the way and turn his vision of an international sports festival into the
re-establishment of the Olympic Games in a modern form.
It was not the first time that de Coubertin had presented the idea of reviving the Olympic Games. In contrast
to his first attempt, which had been made at a conference on English education and failed to capture the
interest of his audience, those who came to listen at the Sorbonne gave their support and enthusiastically
adopted the proposal.
Therefore, on 23 June 1894, the proposal to revive the Olympic Games was passed, the proposal that the
Games be ambulatory and take place every four years was accepted, and Athens was selected to host
the first edition of the modern Games in 1896.
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D. THE OLYMPIC CHARTER
The introduction to the Olympic Charter states:
The Olympic Charter is the codification of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, Rules and Bye-Laws
adopted by the International Olympic Committee. It governs the organisation, action and operation of the
Olympic Movement and sets forth the conditions for the celebration of the Olympic Games.
It was not until 1908 that the first edition of a Charter was published by the IOC and not until 1978 that
the title Olympic Charter was actually used for the document. In comparison to todays version, the
first edition was simple in its content. Along with basic rules on recruitment of members, the holding of
meetings and the administration of the IOC, it included the four points on the mission of the IOC that had
originally been put down on paper by Pierre de Coubertin as early as 1899. Over the years, the rules have
been expanded and modified a number of times in order to deal with the growth and evolving complexity
of the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games.
Today, the Olympic Charter includes rules which define the relationship of the International Federations
and the NOCs to the Olympic Movement, as well as addressing such essential elements as the Olympic
Games host city selection process, the eligibility code for the Games, the make-up of the Olympic sports
programme and rules for arbitration in case of disputes.
1. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of
body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way
of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal
fundamental ethical principles.
2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with
a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
3. The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out
under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the
values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of
the worlds athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced
rings.
4. The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport,
without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding
with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration and management
of sport must be controlled by independent sport organisations.
5. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics,
gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
6. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition
by the IOC.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 15
F. SYMBOLS OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT
The Olympic Movement is recognised around the world by the Olympic rings and flag, the Olympic motto,
the Olympic anthem and the Olympic flame and torch. As per Rule 7.2 of the Olympic Charter (2010), all
rights to these Olympic properties belong exclusively to the IOC, including but not limited to their use
for any profit-making, commercial or advertising purposes. The IOC may license all or part of its rights on
terms and conditions set forth by the IOC Executive Board.
The Olympic flag with the Olympic symbol centred on its white background were designed by Pierre de
Coubertin. The flag was made in Paris and first introduced at the 1914 Olympic Congress. It made its first
appearance at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920.
It is widely, but wrongly, believed that de Coubertin saw a link between the colours of the rings and the
continents. Instead, the colours de Coubertin selected for the rings and the white background of the
Olympic flag were merely the colours found in the different national flags at the time and were not chosen
to correspond to specific continents.
IOC/Richard Juilliart
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The Olympic anthem
The anthem, with music by Spiros Samaras and words by Kostis Palamas, was originally composed for and
played at the Games of the I Olympiad that took place in Athens in 1896. It was later replaced by anthems
specially commissioned by Games organisers for subsequent Olympic ceremonies.
In 1954, the IOC held an international competition to select a permanent anthem for the Games. The winner
was Michael Spisak, who had written music to the words of Pindar. This was played at the 1956 Olympic
Games, but the composer demanded such a high fee that the IOC declined to use it again.
In 1958, at the IOC Session in Tokyo, the original anthem of Samaras and Palamas was performed. It
proved so popular with the IOC members that the decision was unanimously made to adopt it as the
official Olympic anthem. In 1960, the anthem was once again played at the Games, this time for the VIII
Olympic Winter Games. It has been played at each edition of the Winter and Summer Games ever since.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 17
In the case of the Olympic Winter Games, the Olympic flame has a slightly different historical timeline.
Like at the Summer Games, a symbolic fire was first used, but not until 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
While the first winter torch relay was held for the 1952 Games in Oslo, it was not until 1964 that an Olympic
flame was lit in Olympia for the Winter Games. Before that, for 1952 and 1960, a Nordic flame was lit in
the Morgedal home of Telemark skiing pioneer Sondre Norheim. For the Rome Olympic Games in 1960,
the flame was lit in Rome.
Over the years, torches used to carry the flame have been created for each edition of the Games and
the torch relays that have brought it from Olympia to the Olympic host city have become one of the most
symbolic events associated with the Games.
G. QUESTIONS
1. Which of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism is best known and which is least known in your sport?
2. Can the motto Citius, Altius, Fortius inspire athletes of any level in your country?
3. What can be done in your country to promote a better understanding of the Olympic Movement?
4. Do you think Pierre de Coubertins vision is still relevant today?
REFERENCES
IOC website: www.olympic.org
Pierre de Coubertin, Olympic Memoirs, IOC, Lausanne, 1997
Olympic Charter
The Olympic Symbols (Educational Factsheet The Olympic Museum), www.olympic.org
The Olympic Flame and Torch Relay (Educational Factsheet The Olympic Museum), www.olympic.org
The Olympic Games in Antiquity (Educational Factsheet The Olympic Museum), www.olympic.org
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UNIT 2
THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC
COMMITTEEE (IOC)
A. Role and structure of the IOC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
B. Olympic financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
C. Olympic Solidarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
D. The Olympic Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
IOC/Richard Juilliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 19
A. ROLE AND STRUCTURE OF THE IOC
The three main constituents of the Olympic Movement are the International Olympic Committee (IOC),
National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Sport Federations (IFs).
The IOC is an international non-governmental, non-profit organisation and the supreme authority of the
Olympic Movement. On 23 June 1894, delegates at Baron Pierre de Coubertins Congress for the Revival
of the Olympic Games voted not only to revive the Olympic Games in a modern form but also to create
an international committee that would serve as the organising body for the newly born Olympic Movement.
Originally called the International Committee of the Olympic Games, it was later renamed the International
Olympic Committee. Its official languages are French and English.
IOC/Albert Meyer
The first members of the International Olympic Committee
According to Rule 2 of the Olympic Charter (2010), the mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout
the world and to lead the Olympic Movement. The role of the IOC is multi-faceted and extends beyond
merely ensuring the regular celebration of the Olympic Games and taking action to strengthen the unity and
to protect the independence of the Olympic Movement. The IOCs role also encompasses the development
of competitive sport and sport for all, support for womens involvement in sport, encouragement of various
measures that protect the athlete, and taking the lead in the fight against doping. Emphasis is also placed
on the promotion of fair play, peace, non-discrimination, sustainable development, culture and education
as well as on leaving behind positive legacies for Olympic host cities and countries.
Members
The first IOC members were enthusiastic pioneers as well as friends of Pierre de Coubertin. They were keen
to spread the popularity of sports and Olympism everywhere in society. New IOC members were originally
appointed by de Coubertin. Later, they were co-opted by the Session, since de Coubertin believed that a
self-recruiting body would ensure independence.
Members of the IOC are its representatives in their respective countries and not delegates of their country
to the IOC.
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Today, before individuals can be considered for election as IOC members, their candidatures must be
submitted to the IOC President, examined by a Nominations Commission and then selected by the Executive
Board for submission to the Session. Members are elected for an eight-year term, renewable by re-election,
but with an attached age limit fixed at 70. Only those members who were co-opted before the 1999 reforms
have a different age limit, i.e. the one that was in force when they were co-opted.
From a handful of members co-opted by Pierre de Coubertin in 1896, the membership of the IOC has grown
to a maximum of 115. This total includes a majority of no more than 70 individuals whose membership is not
linked to any specific function or office, a maximum of 15 active athletes, a maximum of 15 presidents or
persons holding an executive or senior leadership position within NOCs, and a maximum of 15 presidents
or persons holding an executive or senior leadership position within IFs. This total does not include any
honorary president, honorary members or honour members.
President
The President of the IOC is elected by an absolute majority of IOC members convened at a Session. Today,
the term of office is eight years with the possibility of a subsequent four-year term if approved by the
Session at the end of the first term.
The President represents the IOC and presides over all its activities. The President may take any action
or decision on behalf of the IOC when circumstances prevent the action or decision being taken by the
Session or the Executive Board. The action or decision, however, must be promptly submitted for ratification
by the competent authority.
Today, the Executive Board is composed of the IOC President, four vice-presidents and 10 additional
members who are elected by the Session by secret ballot by a majority of votes cast. The vice-presidents
and members are elected for four-year terms, beginning at the end of the Session during which they were
elected. Members may serve on the Executive Board for a maximum of two successive terms, regardless
of the capacity in which they have been elected.
The Executive Board meets when it is convened by the President or at the request of the majority of
members, typically about four times per year. Its duties include ensuring the observance of the Olympic
Charter, assuming ultimate responsibility for the IOC administration and approving the annual budget. In
addition, it falls to the Executive Board to submit names of persons it recommends for election to the IOC,
to supervise the procedures for the acceptance and selection of candidate cities to host the Games, and
to appoint a Director General based on the proposal of the IOC President.
Reports presented by the Executive Board on such matters as finance and amendments to the Olympic
Charter, as well as any major decisions which they may propose, must ultimately be approved by the Session.
Session
The Session is the general assembly of the IOC members, meeting at least once a year. An extraordinary
session may be called either by the President or upon the written request of at least one third of the
members. It is the supreme organ of the IOC and its powers include adopting Olympic Charter amendments,
electing members to the IOC and the Executive Board, expelling members and selecting the host city for
a Session as well as for each edition of the Olympic Games. Its decisions are final and the Session may
decide to delegate its powers to the Executive Board.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 21
Commissions
The IOC President may establish specialised commissions and working groups for the purpose of studying
certain subjects and making recommendations to the Executive Board. While the composition of each
Commission varies, their members are typically drawn from the IOC members, representatives of the
NOCs, IFs, athletes, technical experts, advisers and sports specialists. In 2009, the IOC had the following
Commissions:
Said Chidmi
The IOC Athletes Commission members
Athletes Created on 27 October 1981, the Athletes Commission is composed of active and
retired athletes, the majority of whom are elected by their fellow athletes participating at the
Games. The Commission serves as the link between the athletes and the IOC, bringing their ideas
and recommendations before the IOC Executive Board. Additionally, it forms working groups that
liaise with the OCOGs in order to ensure that the athletes needs are met.
Culture and Olympic Education Created in 2000 through the merger of the existing Cultural
Commission and the IOC Commission for the International Olympic Academy and Olympic Education,
the Commission for Culture and Olympic Education is composed of IOC members, representatives
of IFs, NOCs, athletes and the Paralympic Movement, as well as individual experts. Its role is to
advise the IOC Executive Board on what policy the IOC and Olympic Movement should adopt in
terms of the promotion of culture and Olympic education.
Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games Coordination Formed shortly after the election of each
Olympic or Youth Olympic Games host city, the Games Coordination Commission is composed of
representatives of the IOC, IFs, NOCs, athletes and experts in Games-related fields. It is the role
of a Coordination Commission to oversee and assist each Organising Committee with the planning,
realisation and implementation of the Games. Additionally, each Commission serves as a liaison
between the IOC, the Organising Committee, the International Federations and the NOCs.
Ethics The Ethics Commission was created by the IOC Executive Board in 1999. This independent
Commission is made up of nine members, no more than four of whom are IOC members and
including at least five prominent personalities known for their independence of spirit, competency
and international reputation. Its mission is to be the guardian of the ethical principles of the Olympic
Movement, as set out in the Olympic Charter and the Code of Ethics. It makes recommendations
to the IOC Executive Board and Session on major breaches of the Code of Ethics.
Finance The Finance Commission, which is composed of IOC members, supports the Executive
Boards efforts to safeguard the continuity of the IOC and the Olympic Movements activities through
efficient management of its financial resources. The Commissions mandate includes maintaining
the accounting records of the IOC and its subsidiaries, ensuring that an annual external audit is
performed by an independent accounting firm, and that the IOC has a transparent and efficient
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budgeting and financial control system in place. It also makes recommendations to the IOC
Executive Board on financial investment strategies and monitors those strategies in relationship
to changing conditions in the financial market.
International Relations The International Relations Commission was established in 2002 with a
mandate to facilitate and promote the relationship between the Olympic Movement and governments
and public authorities. The Commission is composed of IOC members and influential sporting
figures that have, in addition to their sports ties, all served, or are currently serving in a political
function in their respective country or region at different levels. The Commission prepares position
papers on specific political issues related to sport, advises the IOC President and Executive Board,
and supports efforts to communicate the IOCs policies, actions and mandates.
Juridical Created in 1974, the IOC Juridical Commission is composed of IOC members. Its
principal tasks are, upon request, to provide legal opinions to the IOC President, Executive Board
and Session on issues relating to the exercise of their respective competencies and on draft
amendments to the Olympic Charter. The Commissions other roles include carrying out legal
studies on issues that may affect the interests of the IOC and performing any other tasks of a
legal nature entrusted to it by the IOC President, Executive Board or Session.
Marketing The Marketing Commission is composed of IOC members as well as NOC, IF and athlete
representatives. Its mandate includes making recommendations to the Executive Board on matters
relating to marketing, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the IOCs marketing-related
programmes, and seeking means to maximise the potential benefits that could be available to the
Olympic Movement via marketing partners. In addition, the Commission also reviews and studies
possible sources of revenue and financing for the IOC and the Olympic Movement, while at the same
time working to ensure that the control of sport rests with the sport authorities.
Medical Created in 1967 to deal with the increasing problem of doping in sport, the Medical
Commission is composed of IOC members and experts in the medical and sport sciences fields. In
addition to its main mission to fight against doping, the goals of the Commission have expanded
over the years to also address issues relating to the protection of athletes health, respect for
medical and sport ethics, and the equality of all competing athletes. The Commission serves as
the IOCs representative on World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) committees and supervises the
drug testing programme during the Games.
Nominations Created in 1999, the Nominations Commission is composed of IOC members. It is the
task of the Commission, as stipulated in the Bye-law to Rule 16 of the Olympic Charter (2010), to examine
the candidature of each individual being considered for IOC membership. The Nominations Commission
is responsible for gathering and verifying all the necessary information on the professional and material
situation, career, sports background, eligibility, origin, status and admissibility of the candidates and
preparing a report with the Commissions assessment of whether or not each individual possesses
the qualities required for election as an IOC member. The Commission is then also responsible for
submitting the report to the IOC Executive Board for its consideration.
Olympic Congress Established in the lead-up to an Olympic Congress, this Commission is
responsible for overseeing the entire coordination of the Congress. Its tasks include establishing
the general framework of the Congress, determining the themes and sub-themes to be covered,
validating publication content proposed by the Congress Editorial Committee, approving the
speaker list, drafting recommendations and producing the draft of the final document.
Olympic Philately, Numismatic and Memorabilia Originally established as the Olympic Collectors
Commission in 1994, the Commission is composed of a small number of IOC members and
independent experts. The Commissions role is to advise the IOC on policies and practices related
to Olympic philately, numismatics and memorabilia.
Olympic Programme The Olympic Programme Commission is composed of IOC members as well
as NOC, IF and athlete representatives. The Commission is responsible for reviewing and analysing
the programme of sports, disciplines, events and athlete numbers for each sport at the Games of
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 23
the Olympiad and the Olympic Winter Games. It is also responsible for developing recommendations
on the principles and structure of the Olympic summer and winter sports programmes and then
presenting its recommendations to the IOC Executive Board and Session.
Olympic Solidarity Olympic Solidaritys aim is to organise assistance for the NOCs, particularly
those with the greatest needs, so that they can fulfil their responsibilities towards the Olympic
Movement. The Olympic Solidarity Commission is composed of members representing the NOCs,
IOC and athletes. See section C of this unit for more information.
Press The Press Commission is composed of IOC members as well as NOC, IF, athlete and
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) representatives and other independent members who are
experts in the field of sport and Olympic journalism. The Commission advises OCOGs on how they
can provide the best possible working conditions for the written and photographic press covering
the Games. In addition, it makes recommendations to the IOC Executive Board on matters relating
to press operations and services within the framework of the Olympic Games.
Radio and Television The Radio and Television Commission is composed of experts in the
field of Olympic broadcasting. The Commission advises the OCOGs and Olympic Broadcasting
Service on how to provide the best possible working conditions for the media during the Games.
It also makes recommendations to the IOC Executive Board and plays a key role in the worldwide
dissemination and promotion of the Olympic Games and Olympic values.
Sport and Environment Created in 1995, the Sport and Environment Commission is composed
of IOC members as well as NOC, IF, OCOG, athlete and IPC representatives and other individual
experts. In conjunction with the IOCs recognition of the environment as the third pillar of Olympism,
the Commission advises the IOC Executive Board on what environmental protection and sustainable
development policies the IOC and Olympic Movement should adopt.
Sport and Law Created in 1996, the Sport and Law Commission is comprised of members of the
Olympic Movement, including IOC members and IF and NOC representatives. The Commission
provides a forum for the discussion of current legal issues generally affecting the different
constituents of the Olympic Movement.
Sport For All Originally established as a working group in 1983, the group became the Sport
for All Commission in 1985. The Commission is composed of IOC members as well as NOC, IF,
athlete and IPC representatives and experts in the field of sport for all. Its principal mission is to
support the efforts and development of organisations involved in sport for all initiatives, as well
as to encourage the practice of sport for all, particularly in the developing world.
TV Rights and New Media Chaired by the IOC President, the TV Rights and New Media
Commissions members also include the Chairpersons of several other IOC Commissions, such
as the Finance, Juridical, Marketing and Radio and Television Commissions, as well as other key
personalities. The TV Rights and New Media Commission is responsible for preparing the overall
IOC strategy for future broadcast rights negotiations and dealing with issues pertaining to current
broadcast rights agreements. It also collects marketing intelligence, consults experts, determines
the rights and benefits packages to be sold and implements the tender and negotiation process.
Women and Sport Originally established as a working group in 1995, the group became the
Women and Sport Commission in 2004. The Commission is composed of IOC members as well
as NOC, IF, athlete and IPC representatives and other independent members. Its primary role is
to advise the Executive Board on the implementation of suitable policies relating to the subject of
women and sport, as well as to make recommendations from which an action plan is developed
and implemented via the IOC International Cooperation and Development Department.
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SECTION I
IOC administration
The administration of the IOC is placed under the responsibility of the Director General who, under the
authority of the President, runs it with the assistance of the directors of various departments - Olympic
Games, International Cooperation and Development, Finance and Administration, Sports, NOC Relations,
Technology, Communications, Information Management, Television and Marketing, Legal Affairs and Medical.
The main tasks of the administration are varied. The staff prepare, implement and follow up on the decisions
taken by the Session, the Executive Board and the President. They prepare and follow up on the work of the
various IOC Commissions and liaise regularly with the IFs, NOCs and OCOGs. Additionally, the staff coordinate
the preparation of all Olympic Games as well as organising and preparing for other Olympic events.
The administration must also circulate information within the Olympic Movement and give advice to
candidate cities wishing to stage the Games. Other tasks carried out by the staff include liaising with
Olympic Solidarity and intergovernmental organisations dealing with sport, education and culture, and
implementing other tasks of an ongoing or ad hoc nature that are assigned to the administration by the
President and Executive Board.
IOC/Jean-Philippe Daulte
Chteau de Vidy
IOC headquarters
In 1915, after 21 years in Paris, Baron de Coubertin moved the IOCs headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland,
first at the Casino de Montbenon and, from 1922, at the Villa Mon Repos.
In 1968, the administration moved from the Villa Mon Repos to the Chteau de Vidy, which was offered
by the city authorities of Lausanne. The Chteau still houses the office of the President and remains the
property of the city of Lausanne, with the IOC using it under a contractual arrangement.
In 1986, the IOC opened the Olympic House, which constitutes the administrative centre at Vidy. For the
first time in its history, the IOC possessed its own building. A new annex was added in June 1998 and a new
multifunctional pavilion connecting the Chteau to the Olympic House was inaugurated on 23 June 2008.
In addition to the Vidy site, the IOC uses several other buildings in different areas of Lausanne. For example,
Olympic Solidarity and the NOC Relations Department have their offices at the Villa Mon Repos.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 25
B. OLYMPIC FINANCING
Revenue generation
One of the IOCs primary responsibilities is to ensure the ongoing financial stability of the Olympic Movement.
It does so not only by securing Olympic revenue, but also by distributing that revenue equitably among
member organisations of the Olympic Movement so that they can effectively carry out their efforts to
stage the Olympic Games and promote sport development and Olympism around the world. The primary
sources of Olympic revenue are the sale of Olympic Games broadcast rights and The Olympic Partners
(TOP) programme. Increases in broadcast and sponsorship revenue over the past two decades have
provided the Olympic Movement and sport with a strong financial base. The IOC also manages the IOC
official supplier and licensing programmes.
Sponsorship 27%
Licensing 6%
Broadcasting 67%
Sponsorship 27%
IOC (<10%)
NOCs/IFs/OCOGs (>90%)
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SECTION I
The main recipients include:
The Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs) The IOC provides TOP programme
contributions as well as Olympic broadcast revenue to support the staging of the Olympic Games
and Olympic Winter Games. Organising Committees raise additional revenues through domestic
marketing activities, which include sponsorship, ticketing and licensing programmes.
National Olympic Committees The IOC distributes TOP programme revenue to each of the 205
NOCs around the world. In addition, the IOC supports NOCs through Olympic Solidarity, which is
responsible for managing and distributing the NOCs share of broadcast revenues.
International Olympic Sport Federations The IOC provides financial support from Olympic
broadcast revenue to the International Federations. These funds, which are used to support the
development of sport worldwide, are distributed after the completion of the Games in which the
Federation is active. The IOC also contributes Olympic revenue to the programmes of various
recognised international sport organisations, including the International Paralympic Committee,
the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Broadcast rights
The IOC is the owner of the global broadcast rights for the Olympic Games including broadcasts on
television, radio, mobile and internet platforms and is responsible for allocating Olympic broadcast rights
to media companies throughout the world through the negotiation of rights agreements. The fundamental
IOC broadcast policy, as set forth in the Olympic Charter, is to ensure the widest possible audience for
the Olympic Games.
Olympic broadcast partnerships have been the greatest source of revenue for the Olympic Movement
for more than three decades and television coverage has been the single largest factor in the growth of
the Olympic Games worldwide. Broadcast revenues hit new heights with the Beijing and Turin Games
generating USD 2.6 billion.
Beijing 2008 saw the Olympic Games and Olympic broadcasting come of age, as superb sports action
was delivered to the world via television, the internet and mobile phones, offering fans unprecedented
choice of when and where to watch the Games. Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Company, a joint venture of
Olympic Broadcasting Services and BOCOG, provided more than 5,000 hours of high definition coverage
to the rights-holding broadcast partners. Coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games the first Games covered
entirely in high definition exceeded 61,700 hours globally, making it the largest broadcast event in history.
Digital media coverage of the Beijing Games was also freely available, making the 2008 Olympic Games
the first truly digital Games. Fans were able to access live action and highlights videos streamed to their
mobile phones, live video streams via dedicated internet sites and High Definition Television (HDTV)
coverage. In addition to the activities of its rights-holding broadcast partners, the IOC launched its own
internet channel, Beijing 2008, available on the YouTube platform, to broadcast video highlights from
the Games to territories where digital video-on-demand rights had not been sold.
TOP partners provide the resources, products and expertise to stage the biggest sports event in the world.
During the Games, partner technology and operational support without which the Games could not take
place includes timing and scoring systems, IT infrastructure, audiovisual infrastructure, security equipment
and venue infrastructure, to name but a few.
Commercial partners also provide vital funding, technical services and product support to the IOC, OCOGs
and NOCs.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 27
The Olympic Games provide sponsors with an unparalleled opportunity to develop innovative ways to
build their brands, increase sales, connect with the public, build customer relationships, motivate their
employees, enhance their corporate reputation and leave a lasting company legacy in the communities
where they do business. Sponsors are also able to develop marketing programmes with various members
of the Olympic Movement, including the IOC, NOCs and Organising Committees.
Operating on a four-year basis in line with the Olympic quadrennium, TOP VI (covering the Turin 2006 and
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games) generated USD 866 million of financial support and goods and services
for the Olympic Movement. As of December 2009, the following companies are TOP VII partners for the
Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games:
General Electric E
xclusive category: select industrial equipment, residential
equipment and appliances
Domestic sponsors In addition to the global TOP programme, the Olympic Games are supported by
a domestic sponsorship programme which grants marketing rights within the host country. The domestic
programme, which includes sponsors, suppliers and licensees, is managed by the OCOG under the direction
of the IOC. Domestic sponsorship programmes are primarily focused on fulfilling the many specific operational
needs of the OCOG during the planning and staging of the Games. In addition, domestic sponsors often
support the host countrys NOC and Olympic team.
Olympic Games ticketing The Olympic Games ticketing programme is managed by the OCOG with the
approval of the IOC. The primary goal is to enable as many people as possible to experience Olympic
Games ceremonies and competitions. The secondary goal is to generate necessary financial revenue
to support the staging of the Games. The OCOGs and the IOC work to ensure that tickets are priced to
accommodate the wide-ranging economic circumstances of the public and to establish ticket prices in
accordance with domestic market prices for major sports events.
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SECTION I
The OCOG ensures that licensing programmes provide consumers with high-quality merchandise that suitably
reflects the Olympic image and the Olympic Movement, and properly commemorates the Olympic Games
and Olympic teams. The OCOG also establishes a programme of trademark legislation, education, monitoring
and enforcement. These efforts protect consumers from unauthorised or counterfeit goods, protect official
Olympic licensees from rights infringements and protect the Olympic brand from the potential negative impact
of low-quality unauthorised merchandise.
NOC marketing
Many NOCs manage local sponsorship, licensing and supplier programmes in non-competing categories to
the TOP sponsors, which support their sport development activities and Olympic teams. These sponsorship
programmes grant Olympic marketing rights within the NOC country or territory only.
Brand protection
The Olympic rings represent the Olympic brand and, as such, symbolise the many principles and traditions
that are associated with the Olympic Games. It is vital that the Olympic Movement and its partners work
to protect and uphold their intrinsic value. The IOC therefore implements a number of strategies and
programmes to maintain the value of the rings, preserve and enhance the Olympic brand, and protect the
exclusive marketing rights that are granted to the Olympic partners.
Ambush marketing refers to any attempt by non-Olympic sponsors to create an unauthorised association
with the Games. Only official sponsors, licensees and government partners of the Olympic Movement are
allowed to suggest such an affiliation.
The IOC does not allow any commercial branding to appear on the field of play, in order that the emphasis
is placed on sport, strengthening and protecting the value of the Olympic brand even further.
C. OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY
Mission
Olympic Solidarity provides support to the NOCs in order to help them fulfil their mission
and responsibility towards the Olympic Movement. According to Rule 5 of the Olympic
Charter (2010), the mission of Olympic Solidarity is to organise assistance to NOCs,
in particular those which have the greatest need of it. This assistance takes the form of
programmes elaborated jointly by the IOC and the NOCs, with the technical assistance
of the IFs, if necessary.
The objectives of these programmes are to help promote the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic
Movement. This is achieved through providing support for athlete preparation, improving the technical level
of coaches, strengthening NOCs administrative structures and helping them to promote the Olympic values.
Numerous athletes have benefited from Olympic Solidaritys programmes to prepare and qualify for the
Olympic Games. For example, 1,088 individual scholarships were awarded for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad in Beijing in 2008. Of these, 591 scholarship-holders (289 men and 202 women) from 151 NOCs
qualified for the Games, where they won a total of 81 medals (19 gold, 33 silver and 29 bronze).
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 29
Structure
Olympic Solidarity is governed by the Olympic Solidarity Commission, chaired by ANOC President and IOC
member Mario Vzquez Raa. Composed of members representing the NOCs, the IOC and the athletes, the
Commission is responsible for establishing the orientations for the work performed by Olympic Solidarity,
including approval of the programmes and the related budgets, as well as for controlling the activities
carried out.
The Olympic Solidarity Commission is autonomous in financial, technical and administrative terms and
works closely with the IOC President and Executive Board.
The Olympic Solidarity administration reports to the Olympic Solidarity Commission, is responsible for
implementing and executing the decisions adopted by the Commission, and acts upon its instructions.
Olympic Solidarity is composed of six offices. The international office in Lausanne manages the World
Programmes and ensures overall coordination, while the continental offices of the five Continental
Associations manage the Continental Programmes.
History
In 1962, with a view to providing support to the countries of Asia and Africa that had just obtained their
independence, Count Jean de Beaumont created the Committee for International Olympic Aid. This initiative
was approved by the IOC Session. In 1971, this Committee merged with a similar body set up by the
Permanent General Assembly of National Olympic Committees (predecessor of ANOC) to form an IOC /
NOCs joint organisation named the Committee for Olympic Solidarity.
In 1981, in accordance with the decision of then IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and the ANOC
President, Mario Vzquez Raa, the Olympic Solidarity Commission assumed its current form and established
a permanent office in Lausanne, with the task of meeting the needs and interests of the NOCs. Although
funding became available in 1972, the amount was still limited. From the Los Angeles Olympic Games in
1984 onwards, the increasing level of income generated by television rights made it possible to take further
steps forward, progressing from a general subsidy to a structure administering this income according to
distribution parameters established by the IOC.
In 2001, IOC President Jacques Rogge decided to strengthen the work of the Olympic Solidarity Commission.
The political and administrative decentralisation of Olympic Solidarity towards the Continental Associations
involved the transfer of budgets to the five Olympic Solidarity continental offices. This gave the Continental
Associations the freedom to decide on the use of financial resources according to their particular needs.
The decentralisation process was subsequently reinforced in 2005 and, for the 2009-2012 quadrennial
plan, 37% of the overall Olympic Solidarity budget is managed by the continental offices.
The decentralised Olympic Solidarity offices are located in Abuja (Nigeria), Kuwait City, Rome (Italy), Suva
(Fiji) and Mexico City. They work in close coordination with the international office in Lausanne to offer
programmes that address the specific needs and priorities of NOCs on their respective continents.
Funding
The total Olympic Solidarity budget for the 2009-2012 quadrennial plan stands at USD 311 million, a 27%
increase compared to the 20052008 plan. The sole source of funding for Olympic Solidaritys operations
and the activities of each programme is the NOCs share of the revenue from the sale of Olympic Games
broadcast rights.
World Programmes
Since 2001, Olympic Solidarity has been offering NOCs two types of programme at world and continental
levels. Assistance is also provided in the form of Olympic Games subsidies.
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SECTION I
For 2009-2012, the 19 World Programmes managed for NOCs by the Olympic Solidarity international office
in Lausanne fall within four main areas of sport development:
Athletes Programmes for athletes offer the NOCs assistance adapted to the level of their athletes
and the type of competitions for which they are preparing. Olympic Solidarity wants to ensure
that all the NOCs are able to send qualified athletes to the Olympic Games, therefore seeking
to continue to guarantee the universality of the Olympic Games. These programmes also aim
to offer equal training conditions to all athletes, regardless of the country or region they come
from. Emphasis is placed on scholarship programmes, whether for the Olympic Games, Olympic
Winter Games or Youth Olympic Games, as well as on those involving preparation for regional
and continental Games.
Coaches High-quality supervision plays a vital role in athletes preparation and, for this reason,
the role of the coach is a decisive factor. The programmes offered in this area enable the NOCs to
provide their coaches with training adapted to their level of competence, and also provide support
in order to reinforce the whole national structure of a particular sport.
NOC management The objective of the NOC management programmes is to help NOCs fulfil
their mission in the best possible way. This is achieved through direct financial assistance and
support for projects aimed at strengthening their management. The programmes also offer several
training opportunities to sport administrators, as well as facilitating exchanges of information and
experiences between NOCs.
Promotion of Olympic values In line with the IOCs general policies and the NOCs mission to
promote the fundamental principles and values of Olympism, Olympic Solidarity offers programmes
that enable NOCs to play an essential role within local communities by building on the educational
and cultural aspect of sport and engaging with their communities.
Continental Programmes
The Continental Programmes offer the NOCs access to technical, financial and administrative assistance
which addresses their specific needs and priorities. These programmes, managed by the Olympic Solidarity
office of each Continental Association in coordination with the Olympic Solidarity international office in
Lausanne, complement those offered at world level. The Continental Associations can choose which
Continental Programmes to implement and how to distribute the relevant funds. However, certain basic
elements should be covered, such as the organisation of the Associations statutory meetings (if not
covered by other sources) and the payment of individual subsidies to NOCs for the development of their
own programme of national activities. Each Continental Association is fully responsible for the technical
and financial control of its programmes.
A global partnership
A global network of partners is involved in setting up, implementing and monitoring Olympic Solidarity
programmes, as well as providing technical expertise. Thanks to the contribution and support of the
Continental Associations, IFs, the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), NOCs and IOC
Commissions, as well as the high-level training centres, universities and experts in various fields, Olympic
Solidarity is able to continue its mission of assisting the NOCs in the best possible conditions.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 31
D. THE OLYMPIC MUSEUM
The idea of an Olympic Museum in Lausanne
was the brainchild of Pierre de Coubertin.
Established in 1915, the Museum was, at first,
a single room in the Casino de Montbenon.
When the IOC headquarters moved to the
Villa Mon Repos, an exhibition room was
set up there. Over time, as the collection
expanded, so too did the space allocated
to it. This small museum remained at Mon
Repos until 1969.
Construction of a permanent museum began in 1988 following the acquisition of properties located at
Ouchy, in Lausanne, on the slopes overlooking Lake Geneva. On 23 June 1993, The Olympic Museum was
officially inaugurated. Since that time, its collections have continued to grow and more than 2.6 million
people have visited it.
E. QUESTIONS
1. How do you see the IOCs role?
2. Does your country / region have one or several IOC members?
3. D oes your sport organisation / NOC have commissions? Which ones? What is their role and how do
they function?
4. Does your sport organisation / NOC benefit from Olympic Solidarity programmes? In which ways?
5. Is there a sport museum in your country?
REFERENCES
www.olympic.org
Olympic Charter
The Olympic Movement in Society, IOC Final Report 2005-2008, www.olympic.org
Marketing Fact File, IOC, www.olympic.org
Marketing Report Beijing 2008, IOC, www.olympic.org
Olympic Solidarity, Creation and Development, Olympic Solidarity, 2006, www.olympic.org
Solidarity, our Strength 2005-2008 Quadrennial Plan, Final Report, Olympic Solidarity, www.olympic.org
Where the Action Is 2009-2012 Quadrennial Plan, Olympic Solidarity, www.olympic.org
32
SECTION I
UNIT 3
THE NATIONAL OLYMPIC
COMMITTEES (NOCs)
A. Role of the National Olympic Committees . . . . . 34
B. Association of National Olympic
Committees (ANOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
C. Continental Associations of NOCs . . . . . . . . . . . 34
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
IOC/Yo Nagaya
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 33
A. ROLE OF THE NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
The first NOCs were established in France, Greece and the United States in 1894. Over the years, as the
Olympic Movement has expanded, so too has the number of NOCs recognised by the IOC. As of 2009,
there are 205 NOCs.
Any NOC seeking IOC recognition must ensure that its statutes are in conformity with the Olympic Charter
and approved by the IOC. In their composition, NOCs are required to include the IOC members in their
country, all national federations affiliated to IFs representing sports included in the Olympic programme,
and either active or retired athletes. The NOCs members may also include certain other categories of
organisations or individuals.
Under Rules 28 and 29 of the Olympic Charter (2010) and their Bye-laws, an NOC has a defined mission,
role and tasks. The mission is the same for all NOCs - that of developing, promoting and protecting the
Olympic Movement in its country or territory. The role of the NOC includes promoting the fundamental
principles and values of Olympism, in particular in the fields of sport and education, ensuring the observance
of the Olympic Charter, encouraging the development of both high-performance sport and sport for all,
assisting in the training of sport administrators, taking action against discrimination and violence in sport,
and adopting the World Anti-Doping Code.
In 1914, at the 17 th IOC Session, it was decided that only NOCs recognised by the IOC would be entitled
to register competitors for participation in the Olympic Games. As a result, each NOC also now has the
crucial task of selecting, organising and leading its respective delegation at the Olympic and other Games
patronised by the IOC.
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SECTION I
Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA)
ANOCA affiliates the following 53 NOCs and its headquarters are in Abuja, Nigeria. For more information,
please visit www.anoca.info.
ALG Algeria ETH Ethiopia NAM Namibia
ANG Angola GAB Gabon NGR Nigeria
BDI Burundi GAM Gambia NIG Niger
BEN Benin GBS Guinea-Bissau RSA South Africa
BOT Botswana GEQ Equatorial Guinea RWA Rwanda
BUR Burkina Faso GHA Ghana SEN Senegal
CAF Central African Republic GUI Guinea SEY Seychelles
CGO Republic of Congo KEN Kenya SLE Sierra Leone
CHA Chad LBA Libyan Jamahiriya SOM Somalia
CIV Rpublique de Cte dIvoire LBR Liberia STP Sao Tome and Principe
CMR Cameroon LES Lesotho SUD Sudan
COD Democratic Republic of the MAD Madagascar SWZ Swaziland
Congo MAR Morocco TAN United Republic of Tanzania
COM Comoros MAW Malawi TOG Togo
CPV Cape Verde MLI Mali TUN Tunisia
DJI Djibouti MOZ Mozambique UGA Uganda
EGY Egypt MRI Mauritius ZAM Zambia
ERI Eritrea MTN Mauritania ZIM Zimbabwe
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 35
The European Olympic Committees (EOC)
The EOC affiliate the following 49 NOCs and their headquarters are in Rome, Italy. For more information,
please visit www.eurolympic.org.
ALB Albania GBR Great Britain MNE Republic of Montenegro
AND Andorra GEO Georgia MON Monaco
ARM Armenia GER Germany NED Netherlands
AUT Austria GRE Greece NOR Norway
AZE Azerbaijan HUN Hungary POL Poland
BEL Belgium IRL Ireland POR Portugal
BIH Bosnia and Herzegovina ISL Iceland ROU Romania
BLR Belarus ISR Israel RUS Russian Federation
BUL Republic of Bulgaria ITA Italy SLO Slovenia
CRO Croatia LAT Latvia SMR San Marino
CYP Cyprus LIE Liechtenstein SRB Republic of Serbia
CZE Czech Republic LTU Lithuania SUI Switzerland
DEN Denmark LUX Luxembourg SVK Slovakia
ESP Spain MDA Republic of Moldova SWE Sweden
EST Estonia MKD The Former Yugoslav TUR Turkey
FIN Finland Republic of Macedonia UKR Ukraine
FRA France MLT Malta
D. QUESTIONS
1. When was your NOC established?
2. To which continental, regional or other association(s) is your NOC affiliated?
3. What are your NOCs mission and areas of activity?
4. W hat are the basic conditions an NOC must fulfil in order to be recognised by the IOC?
5. W here does your sport organisation fit in relation to your NOC?
REFERENCES
Olympic Charter
www.olympic.org
www.acnolympic.org
36
SECTION I
UNIT 4
THE INTERNATIONAL
FEDERATIONS (IFs)
A. Role of the International Federations . . . . . . . . . 38
B. Sportaccord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
C. Associations of International
Sport Federations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
D. The National Sport Federations (NFs) . . . . . . . . 40
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Kishimoto
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 37
A. ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
The IFs are international non-governmental organisations that administer one or more sports at the global
level and have as their affiliates the national sport federations. While conserving their independence and
autonomy in the administration of their sports, IFs seeking IOC recognition must ensure that their statutes,
practice and activities are in conformity with the Olympic Charter. Among the IFs recognised by the IOC,
only those representing sports included in the programme for an edition of the Games are categorised
as Olympic.
Within the Olympic Movement, the mission and role of the IFs includes establishing, applying and enforcing
the rules concerning the practice of their respective sports, furthering the global development of their sports,
contributing towards the spread of Olympism and Olympic education and providing technical assistance
in the practical implementation of the Olympic Solidarity programmes.
For the Olympic Games, the IFs are specifically responsible for establishing and submitting eligibility criteria
for the competitions of the Olympic Games to the IOC for its approval. The IFs also assume responsibility
for the technical control and supervision of their sports at the Olympic and other Games held under
the patronage of the IOC and express their sport-specific opinions on Olympic Games candidate cities
proposals concerning technical aspects at the venues.
Additionally, the IFs have the right to formulate proposals addressed to the IOC concerning the Olympic
Charter and the Olympic Movement, collaborate in the preparation of the Olympic Congress and, at the
IOCs request, participate in the activities of various IOC Commissions.
B. SPORTACCORD
Previously called the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), Sportaccord is
a non-profit association whose membership is composed of the IFs and various other organisations
contributing to sport.
The objectives of Sportaccord include maintaining the authority and autonomy of its members, promoting
closer links between its members and any other sport organisation, coordinating and protecting common
interests, and gathering, verifying and disseminating information to its members.
Sportaccord also works to promote sport world-wide and increase the recognition of its members within
the Olympic Movement. At least once a year, the organisation brings together its members to exchange
views on subjects of common interest. It also provides them with assistance, training and support. For more
information, please visit www.sportaccord.com.
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SECTION I
C. ASSOCIATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL SPORT FEDERATIONS
The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)
The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations is a non-profit association whose membership
is composed of IFs governing the summer sports that are included in the Olympic programme.
The mission of ASOIF is to unite, promote and support the summer Olympic IFs while at the same time
defending their common interests and preserving their autonomy, independence and authority. In addition,
ASOIF serves and represents its member IFs regarding issues related to the Olympic Games and Olympic
Movement, and ensures close cooperation between its members and members of the Olympic Movement
and other organisations. For more information, please visit www.asoif.com.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 39
IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (32)
(whose sports are not in the Olympic programme)
Federacin Internacional de Pelota Vasca (FIPV) (Basque International Wushu Federation (IWUF)
Pelote) International Baseball Federation (IBAF)
Federation of International Polo (FIP) International Softball Federation (ISF)
To be recognised by an NOC and accepted as a member of such NOC, a national federation must exercise
a specific, real and on-going sports activity, be affiliated to an IF recognised by the IOC and be governed
by and comply in all aspects with both the Olympic Charter and the rules of its IF.
The national federations affiliated to the IFs governing sports included in the programme of the Olympic
Games form the voting majority of each NOC under Rule 29.3 of the Olympic Charter. The NOCs may also
include as members the national federations affiliated to IFs that are not included in the programme of the
Olympic Games, as well as multi-sport groups and other sport-oriented organisations.
In many countries, national federations (associations or governing bodies their name may vary) have
clubs in their membership that include athletes. It is therefore the clubs and their athletes that form the
basis of the national federations. Regional, provincial or other organisational structures may also exist
under the national federations.
E. QUESTIONS REFERENCES
Olympic Charter
1. How many Olympic sport national federations are affiliated to your NOC?
2. How many non-Olympic sport national federations (recognised and other) www.olympic.org
are there in your country? Are they affiliated to your NOC? www.sportaccord.com
3. W hat are the basic conditions your national sport federation must fulfil www.asoif.com
in order to be recognised by its International Federation? www.arisf.org
40
SECTION I
UNIT 5
OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF THE
OLYMPIC MOVEMENT
A. Olympic Games Organising
Committees (OCOGs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
B. Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) . . . . . . . . . . 42
C. International Committee for Fair Play (CIPF) . . . 42
D. International Paralympic Committee (IPC) . . . . . 43
E. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) . . . . . . . . . . 43
F. World Olympians Association (WOA) . . . . . . . . . 43
G. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
IOC/John Huet
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 41
A. OLYMPIC GAMES ORGANISING COMMITTEES (OCOGs)
Each Olympic Games Organising Committee (OCOG) plays an essential role in the perpetuation of the
Olympic Games. Formed shortly after the election of the host city, the executive body of the OCOG includes
the IOC member(s) in the country, the President and Secretary General of the NOC and at least one member
designated by the host city to be its representative. In addition, representatives of the public authorities
and other leading figures are generally included.
The purpose of the CAS is to resolve sport-related disputes which are submitted to it through ordinary
arbitration or through appeal against decisions of sport bodies or organisations. It does this by pronouncing
arbitral awards that have the same enforceability as judgements of ordinary courts. It can also help parties
solve their disputes on an amicable basis through mediation when this procedure is allowed, and give
advisory opinions concerning legal questions related to sport. In addition, the CAS sets up non-permanent
tribunals, with special procedural rules for events such as the Olympic Games.
The CAS appoints a minimum of 150 arbitrators who are chosen based on their specialist knowledge
of arbitration and sport law. Its head office is located in Lausanne, Switzerland but there are also two
decentralised offices: one in Sydney, Australia, and the other in New York, United States. For more
information, please visit www.tas-cas.org.
In 1964, the Committee awarded just one trophy - the Pierre de Coubertin
Trophy - to the Italian bobsledder Eugenio Monti. This trophy or, in more recent
years, this medal, is awarded to either an athlete or team who sacrificed a
possible victory by undertaking an act of fair play. Over time, the number of
awards has been expanded to also include letters of congratulations, diplomas
and two other trophies - the Jean Borotra and Willi Daume Trophies. The Jean
Borotra Trophy recognises an athletes career in sport and general attitude to
sportsmanship and fair play. The Willi Daume Trophy is awarded in recognition
of activities aimed at promoting fair play and may therefore be presented to an
institution or individual other than an athlete. Any organisation or individual is
IOC/Hlne Tobler entitled to nominate someone for a CIFP fair play award.
The Committee also strives to play a role in fair play education, the prevention of adverse behaviour
and the fostering of a fair play ideal. It also works in close cooperation with various national bodies
to encourage the establishment of national fair play committees. For more information, please visit
www.fairplayinternational.org.
42
SECTION I
D. INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (IPC)
In 1948, Sir William Guttman launched the Stoke Mandeville Games for World
War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. Those Games, as well as other multi-
disability sports competitions that were subsequently introduced, led in turn
to the establishment of the Paralympic Games and the foundation of the
International Coordination Committee of World Sport Organisations for the
Disabled (ICC). In 1989, the ICC was replaced by the International Paralympic
Committee. The IPC is an international, non-profit organisation formed and
run by National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and four disability-specific
international sports federations (IOSDs).
Since the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, the Paralympic
Games have been held in the same place as the Olympic Games. In June 2001, an agreement aimed at
securing and protecting the organisation of the Paralympic Games was signed between the IOC and the
IPC. The agreement reaffirmed that the Paralympic Games would take place shortly after the Olympic
Games and that the same sport venues and facilities would be used for both Games. Additionally, from
2008 onwards, the host city chosen for the Olympic Games is also obliged to host the Paralympic Games.
For more information, please visit www.paralympic.org.
The WOA is an independent global organisation representing one affiliated National Olympians Association
(NOA) per nation whose NOC is recognised by the IOC, as well as the Olympians who are members of
those NOAs. For the World Olympians Association, an Olympian is defined as an athlete who has been
accredited to compete at the Games of the Olympiad or the Olympic Winter Games in a full medal sport.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 43
The Associations activities reflect its objectives and include disseminating the Olympic ideals, promoting
fair play, educating against doping, working against violence and intolerance, advancing environmental
protection and supporting diversity and equality. The WOA also contributes to sport-related charities, hosts
special hospitality centres and involves Olympians in serving as positive role models and providing social
support. For more information, please visit www.woaolympians.com.
G. QUESTIONS
1. How is fair play promoted in your country?
2. Does your country participate in the Paralympic Games?
3. Is there a National Paralympic Committee in your country? What are its mission and activities? Is there
any other organisation promoting sport for the disabled?
4. Who are the Olympians in your country? Is there a National Olympians Association?
REFERENCES
www.olympic.org
www.tas-cas.org
www.fairplayinternational.org
www.paralympic.org
www.wada-ama.org
www.woaolympians.com
44
SECTION I
UNIT 6
THE OLYMPIC GAMES
A. Terminology and beginnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
B. The international bid process to
select a host city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
C. Olympic Games Organising Committee
(OCOG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
D. Other parties and their role in the
Olympic Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
E. Elements of the Olympic Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
F. Universality of the Olympic Games . . . . . . . . . . . 52
G. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Getty/Mark Dadswell
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 45
A. TERMINOLOGY AND BEGINNINGS
The Olympic Games officially consist of the Games of the Olympiad and the Olympic Winter Games. They
were designed by Pierre de Coubertin to be a celebration that would be held in different countries, take
place every four years and bring together athletes from around the world to take part in sports competitions.
The Games of the Olympiad are sometimes more commonly referred to as the Olympic Summer Games
or the Summer Games. They are comprised of those sports that are defined as Olympic and that may be
included in the programme for the Games of the Olympiad. The editions are numbered consecutively from
the first Games of the Olympiad that were held in Athens in 1896, and their numbering is not affected by
any instances of non-celebration. The term Olympiad refers to a period of four consecutive years and is
used only in conjunction with the Summer Games.
The programme of the Olympic Winter Games, which are sometimes commonly referred to as the Winter
Games, comprises only those sports that are contested on snow or ice and defined as Olympic. The
editions are numbered according to the order in which they are actually held. The first edition, organised
by the French NOC in Chamonix in 1924, was originally entitled Winter Sports Week. In 1925, the IOC
decided to establish a separate cycle of Olympic Winter Games, but it was not until 1926 that it decided
to retroactively recognise the Chamonix event as the first edition of the Winter Games.
The Winter Games took place in the same year as the Summer Games for the last time in 1992. Since then,
starting with the XVII Olympic Winter Games in 1994, the Winter Games have been held in the third year
of the Olympiad, with the Summer Games in the first.
Although some cities and NOCs start the bid process as early as 15 years in advance of the Games they
are applying for, the general timeline of todays host city bidding process is as follows:
9 years before the Games, the IOC sends out a circular to NOCs, inviting them to submit applications.
8 years: NOCs submit the name of an applicant city.
8 years: the IOC Executive Board accepts candidate cities.
7 years: candidate cities submit their candidature file and shortly thereafter, the IOC Evaluation
Commission evaluates candidate cities, spending four or more days in each.
7 years before the Games, the IOC Session elects the host city for the Olympic Games.
46
SECTION I
number of criteria such as government support, public opinion, general infrastructure, security, venues,
accommodation and transport. In concluding this phase, the IOC Executive Board determines which cities
are to be accepted as candidate cities, based on the working groups report.
The candidature files are analysed by an Evaluation Commission made up of IOC members, representatives
of the IFs, NOCs, IOC Athletes Commission and International Paralympic Committee, as well as other
experts. The Commission carries out a site inspection of each candidate city and issues a report of its
findings to the IOC Executive Board and IOC members.
At the IOC Session, each candidate city makes a final presentation prior to the voting. In the voting, the
first candidate city to receive a majority is elected as the host city. If no city obtains a majority in a round
of voting, the candidate city with the fewest votes is eliminated and another round of voting takes place.
Only active IOC members have a vote. Members who are nationals of the countries which have a candidate
city taking part in the election are not permitted to vote for as long as the respective candidate remains in
contention. IOC honorary and honour members, as well as any suspended members, are not allowed to vote.
Following the announcement of the elected host city, the IOC enters into a written agreement with the host
city and the NOC of its country. This agreement, which is commonly referred to as the Host City Contract
(HCC), sets out the legal, commercial and financial rights and obligations of the three parties. The contract
is specific to each edition of the Games.
The OCOG is the main entity responsible for coordinating all matters relating to the Olympic Games. It
goes through a seven-year planning cycle, establishing functions and services for all aspects of the Games
such as sports, venues, finance, technology, accommodation, catering, medical service, transportation
and media services. Along with paid OCOG staff, volunteers play an essential role in carrying out the many
tasks associated with the organisation of the Games.
From the time of its constitution until the end of its liquidation, the Organising Committee must comply with
the Olympic Charter, the Host City Contract and the instructions of the IOC Executive Board. In addition
to its direct collaboration with the IOC, it is essential that the Organising Committee liaises with a number
of other parties who also play a vital role in the Olympic Games.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 47
D. OTHER PARTIES AND THEIR ROLE IN
THE OLYMPIC GAMES
The IOC, Olympic Games Coordination Commission and OGKM
The honour and responsibility of hosting the Olympic Games are entrusted by the IOC to a city that is
chosen to host the Games. In doing so, the IOC remains the guardian of the Olympic Games and has the
role of supervisor and supporter.
Today, as part of its supporting role, the IOC forms an Olympic Games Coordination Commission shortly
after the election of the host city. This body is made up of representatives of the IOC, IFs, NOCs and
athletes, as well as experts in various Games-related fields.
In the seven years leading up to the Games, the Coordination Commission oversees and assists the OCOG
with its planning and implementation of the Games. It validates the level of services and facilities proposed
by an OCOG through plenary sessions and technical working groups. There are regular visits to the host
city, interspersed with frequent reports to the Commission on the progress of such items as the building
of facilities and infrastructure. The Commission also aims to ensure respect of the Olympic Charter and
the Host City Contract.
The IOC Olympic Games Department supports the Coordination Commission, with the aim of ensuring that
the Games are staged in the most efficient, effective and harmonious manner possible. One way in which
this is done is via the Olympic Games Knowledge Management (OGKM) programme. This programme,
which evolved out of the Transfer of Knowledge (TOK) initiative for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney,
now provides applicant, candidate and host cities with services such as workshops and access to a
network of experts with Games experience, as well as to a wide range of useful documentary and video
resources such as the Official Reports, technical manuals and knowledge reports that are focused on
Games preparations and requirements. Additionally, OCOGs are able to gain personal experience on
Games-related preparations and operations through the Games-time observers programme, the official
Games debriefing and a secondment programme which allows staff members of future OCOGs to work
on the current edition of the Games.
Athletes
As stipulated in Rule 6 of the Olympic Charter (2010), the Olympic Games are competitions between
athletes in individual or team events and not between countries. To be eligible to participate in the Olympic
Games, an athlete must:
comply with the Olympic Charter as well as with the rules of the IFs concerned as approved by
the IOC;
be entered by their respective NOC;
respect the spirit of fair play and non-violence and behave accordingly; and
respect and comply with all aspects of the World Anti-Doping Code.
48
SECTION I
The NOC also supervises the preliminary selection of potential bid cities. Before a city can be submitted
to the IOC as an applicant city, it must first receive the endorsement of the NOC in its own country. If the
city is selected to host the Olympic Games, then the NOC is also a signing party to the Host City Contract
and is responsible for establishing the OCOG.
International Federations
Each IF is responsible for the technical control and direction of its sport at the Olympic Games. More
specifically, this means that all the elements of the competitions, including the schedule, field of play,
training venues and all equipment, must comply with the IFs rules. It is the role of the IFs to select the
judges, referees and other technical officials for the competitions as well as to establish the final results
and rankings of the competitions.
The IFs can also offer suggestions and express their opinions about candidate cites seeking to host the
Olympic Games.
Media
The media have become so important for the Olympic Games that the Olympic Charter lays down the
provisions which must be made for them. The aim is to ensure the fullest possible news coverage and
the widest possible audience. The media render two essential services to the Olympic Movement and the
Olympic Games. Firstly, they provide a source of income through the purchase of television rights. Secondly,
they present the Games and other aspects of the Olympic Movement to a vast unseen audience. The image
which most people in the world have of Olympism is the image presented by the media.
The Organising Committee has to provide sophisticated facilities for radio and television transmission at
its own expense, but it also receives a portion of the sale of television rights negotiated by the IOC with
radio and television networks.
Over the history of the Games, the number of sports and disciplines in the Olympic programme has
gradually increased. In the case of the Games of the Olympiad, the number of sports on the programme
has increased, rising from seven at the 1896 Games in Athens to todays programme of no more than
28 sports, at least 25 of which must be core sports, as stipulated in the Olympic Charter.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 49
Date of First Inclusion for Sports and Disciplines Included in the Programme of the Games
of the XXX Olympiad
Sport / Discipline Men Women Sport / Discipline Men Women
Athletics 1896 1928 Gymnastics
Aquatics Artistic 1896 1928
Diving 1904 1912 Rhythmic - 1984
Swimming 1896 1912 Trampoline 2000 2000
Synchronised Swimming - 1984 Handball 4
1936 1976
Water-polo 1900 2000 Hockey 1908 1980
Archery1 1900 1904 Judo 1964 1992
Badminton 1992 1992 Modern Pentathlon 1912 2000
Basketball 1936 1976 Rowing 5
1896 1976
Boxing 1904 2012 Sailing6 1900 1900
Canoe / Kayak Shooting7 1896 1968
Flatwater 1936 1948 Table Tennis 1988 1988
Slalom 2
1972 1972 Taekwondo 2000 2000
Cycling Tennis 8
1896 1900
BMX 2008 2008 Triathlon 2000 2000
Mountain Bike 1996 1996 Volleyball
Road 1896 1984 Indoor 1964 1964
Track 1896 1988 Beach 1996 1996
Equestrian 3 Weightlifting 1896 2000
Dressage 1912 1952 Wrestling
Eventing 1912 1952 Freestyle9 1904 2004
Jumping 1900 1952 Greco-Roman 1896 -
Fencing 1896 1924
Football 1900 1996
1
rchery was an Olympic sport several times between 1900 and 1920 before disappearing from the Olympic programme for more than 50
A
years. It was reintroduced at the Munich Games in 1972.
2
his discipline was included for the first time at the Munich Games in 1972. It was excluded from the Olympic programme between 1976
T
and 1988, but returned in 1992.
3
efore 1952, only men participated in equestrian events at the Olympic Games. All riders had to be military officers. These restrictions
B
were lifted in 1952, since which time men and women have competed against each other in the same events.
4
andball was introduced (on grass) at the Berlin Games in 1936. It was then removed from the programme before reappearing in its current
H
form (indoors) in Munich in 1972.
5
Rowing was on the programme of the 1896 Games, but the events were cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.
6
Women have always competed in the mixed Olympic sailing events, but separate womens events were introduced in 1988.
7
omen participated in shooting events for the first time in 1968, in mixed events. It is only since the Atlanta Games in 1996 that the
W
programme has included separate mens and womens events.
8
Tennis was included in the Olympic programme from 1896 to 1924. It was reintroduced in 1988
9
ince 1920, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling have been two separate competitions. Prior to that date (apart from 1908), only one style
S
was included, usually Greco-Roman.
50
SECTION I
Date of First Inclusion for Sports and Disciplines Included in the Programme of the XXI Olympic
Winter Games
Sport / Discipline Men Women Sport / Discipline Men Women
Biathlon 1960 1992 Skiing
Bobsleigh Alpine Skiing 1936 1936
Bobsleigh 1924 2002 Cross-country Skiing 1924 1952
Skeleton 1
1928 2002 Freestyle Skiing 1992 1992
Curling2 1924 1998 Nordic Combined 1924 -
Ice Hockey 1924 1998 Ski Jumping 1924 -
Luge 1964 1964 Snowboard 1998 1998
Skating 1
he discipline of skeleton was included in the Olympic programme
T
Figure Skating 1924 1924 in 1928 and 1948. It was reintroduced in 2002.
2
urling was included in the Olympic programme in 1924. It was
C
Short-track Speed Skating 1992 1992
then removed from the programme before reappearing in 1998.
Speed Skating 1924 1960
The Olympic programme is still not permanently fixed and the discussion, rules and decisions relating to it
have evolved over time. Today, after each edition of the Games, the IOC Olympic Programme Commission
uses a set of 33 criteria to review the programme in order to ensure that it remains exciting and relevant.
Sports have to show merit to join and to remain in the programme. The eligibility criteria and the number of
athletes per sport are also evaluated. The Commissions recommendations on the principles and structure
of the Summer and Winter Games programme are first made to the IOC Executive Board and then reported
to the IOC Session. The IOC Session decides which sports are in the programme and the IOC Executive
Board decides the disciplines and events.
Cultural programme
When Pierre de Coubertin looked to the ancient Olympic Games and Greek culture for inspiration, his
imagination was captured as much by the cultural elements as the sports-related ones. Sport would come
first, but after just a few editions of the modern Olympic Games, de Coubertin was campaigning to have
a cultural and artistic component added. Therefore, at the Games of the V Olympiad in Stockholm in 1912,
a separate programme of arts competitions was introduced. These competitions in architecture, sculpture,
painting, literature and music continued to be a part of the programme until 1948.
Following the 1948 Games, a decision was made to eliminate the art competitions but not to remove art
and culture entirely. Instead of competitions, exhibitions became a part of the Games celebration and today,
in accordance with Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter, the OCOG organises a programme of cultural events
which must be approved by the IOC Executive Board and cover at least the entire period during which
the Olympic Village is open. The cultural programme is distinct from the sports programme and usually
consists of such events as plays, concerts, dance, and art exhibitions, but has even included cinema and
literature. The events are held in the athletes village, the city, region and even other parts of the country
in which the Games are taking place.
Ceremonies
Today, with their protocol and pageantry, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games are
not just events marking the official beginning and end of each edition. They are as much a highlight of the
Games as the sports competitions themselves. The elements of protocol, such as the athletes oath, the
parade of athletes, the Olympic flag, the official declarations opening and closing the Games and the always
eagerly anticipated answer to the question of who will light the Olympic cauldron are now longstanding
traditions. It was not, however, until 1920 that most of these elements, some of which were introduced by
Pierre de Coubertin, were incorporated into the Games.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 51
The medal ceremony has also evolved over time. At early editions, the medals were often all given out
together at the end of the Games. It was not until the 1904 Olympic Games that gold, silver and bronze
medals were given to the first, second and third place finishers respectively. The medal podium was not
introduced until the 1932 Olympic Winter Games. Today, the Organising Committee must follow set protocol
guidelines for all of these ceremonies.
Olympic Village
Sometimes also referred to as the athletes village, the first Olympic Village was organised at the 1924
Olympic Games in Paris. The first official Olympic Village, only for men, was introduced at the Games of
the X Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1932.
Although not all athletes choose to live in the Olympic Village, Rule 39 of the Olympic Charter requires OCOGs
to provide an Olympic Village, covering all board and lodging expenses. The objective of a Village is to bring
together all competitors, team officials and other team personnel in one place. Where this is impossible due
to the location of competition venues, the OCOG is still responsible for providing accommodation.
52
SECTION I
No. Year City NOCs Events Athletes
XIV 1948 LONDON 59 136 4,104
XV 1952 HELSINKI 69 149 4,955
XVI 1956 MELBOURNE/ 67 145 3,155
STOCKHOLM 29 6 159
XVII 1960 ROME 83 150 5,338
XVIII 1964 TOKYO 93 163 5151
XIX 1968 MEXICO 112 172 5,516
XX 1972 MUNICH 121 195 7,134
XXI 1976 MONTREAL 92 198 6,084
XXII 1980 MOSCOW 80 203 5,179
XXIII 1984 LOS ANGELES 140 221 6,829
XXIV 1988 SEOUL 159 237 8391
XXV 1992 BARCELONA 169 257 9,356
XXVI 1996 ATLANTA 197 271 10,318
XXVII 2000 SYDNEY 199 300 10,651
XXVIII 2004 ATHENS 201 301 10,625
XXIX 2008 BEIJING 204 302 10,942
XXX 2010 LONDON
XXXI 2016 RIO DE JANEIRO
The same can be said of the Olympic Winter Games, which have expanded from 258 athletes from
16 countries on two continents participating in 1924 to a total of 2,508 athletes from the five continents
competing in Turin in 2006.
The increase in participant numbers over the years has occurred for a number of different reasons. Increased
interest in the Games is one reason. Other changes, such as the increase in the number of events at the
Games and more opportunities for womens participation, as well as world events, such as the break-up
of the Soviet Union, have led to more NOCs and athletes taking part. In addition, programmes such as
the Olympic Solidarity Olympic Scholarships for Athletes have made it possible for many athletes who
might not otherwise have had the opportunity to train for, qualify for, participate in and even win medals
at the Games.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 53
Olympic results
Olympic results also demonstrate the evolving universality of the Games. In 1896, at the first edition of
the modern Olympic Games in Athens, athletes from 11 countries on four continents won medals. At the
Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008, medals were won by athletes from 87 countries on five
continents, many of whom won their countrys first ever medal. Even at the Olympic Winter Games, it is no
longer only athletes from countries typically associated with winter sports that are taking part and achieving
impressive results. Whereas athletes from only 10 countries on two continents took home medals from
Chamonix in 1924, athletes from 26 countries on four continents won medals at the XX Olympic Winter
Games in Turin in 2006.
Olympic programme
Universality is one of the 33 criteria that are used today to review the Olympic programme. In this case,
universality is defined by statistics relating to the number of recognised national federations and their
participation at certain levels of competition. Attention is also paid to the global spread of excellence,
as defined by the continental distribution of medals within a sport at the Olympic Games.
From 2009, the IOCs Olympic Broadcast Services (OBS) oversees the host broadcaster function for the
Games. Under this new initiative, each Olympic broadcaster will be able to select which events from the
full range of available material that they will include in their schedule of Olympic programming. Increased
host broadcast coverage will afford Olympic broadcast partners greater programming opportunities in more
sports and enable the broadcast partners to deliver more complete Olympic coverage to their audiences
around the world. The IOC is also working in partnership with its broadcasters to ensure that an increasing
amount of live coverage is available, and that the latest technologies, including HDTV, live internet coverage
and coverage on mobile phones is available in as many territories as possible.
G. QUESTIONS
1. When did your NOC participate in the Olympic Summer Games or Olympic Winter Games for the first time?
2. Who are the Olympic heroes in your country? Why?
3. What are the conditions for an athlete to be eligible to participate in the Olympic Games?
4. W hat are the most important elements that should be taken into account when selecting the Olympic
Games host city?
5. W hy is it important for the IOC and OCOGs to have an Olympic Games Knowledge Management
programme in place?
6. Do you think that the Olympic Games are truly universal?
REFERENCES
www.olympic.org
Olympic Charter
The Modern Olympic Games (Educational Factsheet - The Olympic Museum), www.olympic.org
www.vancouver2010.com
www.london2012.com
www.sochi2014.com
www.rio2016.org
54
SECTION I
UNIT 7
THE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
A. The birth of the Youth Olympic Games . . . . . . . . 56
B. The vision and key elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
C. Application and election procedure
of host cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
D. Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
E. The 1st Summer Youth Olympic
Games in 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
F. The 1st Winter Youth Olympic
Games in 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
G. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
SYOCOG
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 55
A. THE BIRTH OF THE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) have been developed as an exciting new project to reach out to young
people around the world. It is an important milestone for the IOC and for the Olympic Movement, which
demonstrates the IOCs decision to continue engaging with young people and introduce them to the
Olympic values. Inspired by IOC President Jacques Rogge, the YOG took the first step towards becoming
reality when the IOC Executive Board unanimously welcomed the Presidents idea in April 2007. The IOC
members approved the project at the 119th Session in Guatemala City (July 2007). The first edition of the
Summer YOG will take place in Singapore in 2010, and the first Winter YOG in Innsbruck in 2012.
The Summer and Winter Youth Olympic Games alternate every four years, with the Summer YOG staged
in the year of the Olympic Winter Games and vice versa.
The organisational requirements to host the YOG are significantly lower than for the Olympic Games. The
first edition of the Summer YOG will gather around 3,600 athletes and 1,450 officials compared to the 10,500
athletes at the Olympic Summer Games. About 1,000 athletes will participate at their winter counterpart.
The Summer and Winter YOG last a maximum of 12 and 10 days respectively.
The participation of all 205 NOCs is the key factor in ensuring the universality of the YOG. As such,
Universality Places for NOCs are reserved to ensure that at least four athletes from each NOC are able
to participate in the YOG.
As with the Olympic Games, the World Anti-Doping Code is applied during the YOG, which are held in
accordance with the Fundamental Principles of Olympism and the rules of the Olympic Charter.
56
SECTION I
C. APPLICATION AND ELECTION PROCEDURE OF HOST CITIES
Candidate cities need to submit a candidature file to the IOC in response to a detailed questionnaire covering
the following 15 topics: concept and legacy; political and economic climate and structure; legal aspects;
customs and immigration formalities; finance; marketing; sport; culture, education and ceremonies; Youth
Olympic Village; medical services and doping control; security; accommodation; transport; technology;
and media operations.
Candidature files are studied by a panel of experts. They are analysed in order to draw up a shortlist of
candidate cities to be evaluated by the IOC Evaluation Commission, which is appointed by the IOC President
and comprises representatives of the Olympic Movement. At the end of this process, the Evaluation
Commission issues a report for the IOC Executive Board, which draws up the list of final candidate cities
to be submitted to the vote by the IOC Session for election as host city.
The respective roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in the organisation of the Youth Olympic
Games are formalised through the signing of the Host City Contract by representatives of the IOC, the
elected city and the NOC concerned.
D. INFRASTRUCTURE
Venues The infrastructure and service levels have to fit the purpose of the YOG, ensuring conditions
adapted to suit young elite athletes. Sports venues will be located in the same city, and no new
venues will be built. The use of existing multi-sport venues (e.g. one venue for different sports /
disciplines) is encouraged. Other venues include a small Main Media Centre and a number of amphitheatre
facilities for the workshops and forums of the YOG culture and education programme.
Youth Olympic Village A Youth Olympic Village with a capacity of 5,000 beds (2,000 for Winter YOG) will
be provided. Design can include existing, refurbished or new urban development, a residential housing
project, campus style villages or a block of hotels. The Village is the heart of the YOG and a privileged
place for participants to gather and share their experiences and cultures among themselves and with their
relatives and youth communities through digital means of communication located in an internet centre.
Transport There are no requirements to upgrade road and railway infrastructures as the transport system
of the YOG will be based on a single and common shuttle service for all accredited persons.
Sport programme Around 3,600 athletes will compete in 26 sports comprising 201 events. The
sports in the programme are identical to those in the London 2012 Olympic Games programme.
The events, however, differ significantly from the Olympic Games in order to match the age
groups and interests of the young athletes. Basketball, for example, is played on a three-a-
side basis, with teams of three playing against each other on one half-court. An interesting
element of the YOG is the numerous mixed-gender or mixed-NOC team events in archery,
athletics (medley relay), cycling (combined BMX-mountain bike-road event), equestrian, fencing,
judo, modern pentathlon (relay), swimming (relay), table tennis, tennis and triathlon (relay).
Age group and limit Depending on the sport / discipline they compete in and their gender, athletes
participating in the YOG must be 15, 16, 17 or 18 years old on 31 December in the year of the YOG.
The age groups eligible for participation in a sport or discipline were defined together with the relevant
International Federation. For example, in the modern pentathlon, athletes born between 1 January 1992
and 31 December 1993 are eligible.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 57
Qualification process The qualification system for each sport and discipline, prepared in close collaboration
with each IF, strives to guarantee the participation of the best athletes in each age category and to respect
the principle of universality. For all disciplines, competitions such as junior world championships, continental
championships or official junior ranking lists will be used to enable athletes to qualify for the YOG.
The four team sport tournaments (football, handball, hockey and volleyball) consist of one national team per
continent as well as a sixth team which either represents the NOC of the host country or is proposed by
the relevant IF for IOC approval. An NOC is limited to two teams (one boys and one girls team) competing
across all four team sports. For qualification purposes, basketball is considered as an individual sport for
which Universality Places apply. In addition, and irrespective of the number of athletes qualified, an NOC
delegation may include no more than 70 athletes in individual sports.
The IFs are in charge of the technical aspects of their sport. They are also responsible for defining the age
categories and qualification criteria.
G. QUESTIONS
1. W hat will be the specific benefits of your athletes participation in the YOG in your country?
2. W hat disciplines / events would you recommend for inclusion in the programme of the next YOG?
3. Is the YOG educational aspect important? How can this aspect be strengthened in sport competitions
for young people?
REFERENCES
www.olympic.org
www.singapore2010.sg
www.innsbruck2012.com
Youth Olympic Games Brochure, www.olympic.org
58
SECTION I
UNIT 8
CONTINENTAL AND
OTHER GAMES
A. Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
B. America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
C. Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
D. Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
E. Oceania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
F. Other Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
G. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Getty/Harry How
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 59
As well as the Olympic Summer and Winter Games, numerous continental, regional or thematic Games are
organised worldwide under the leadership of several different sport organisations. These include Games
such as the following.
A. AFRICA
All Africa Games
In the early 1960s, the Friendship Games were held among the French-speaking countries in Africa. The
first host countries were Madagascar in 1960 and Ivory Coast in 1961. In 1962, a conference of African
Ministers of Youth and Sport was held, during which it was decided that the Games would henceforth
become the Pan African Games, as a few English-speaking countries were already participating. The first
All Africa Games were held in Brazzaville, Congo in 1965. Algiers hosted the 2007 Games, which involved
52 countries and 27 sports. The 10th All Africa Games will take place in Maputo, Mozambique in 2011.
B. AMERICA
Pan American Games
The Pan American Games, the regional Games of the Americas, are held every four years during the
summer preceding the Olympic Games. At least 80% of the Pan American Games programme consists of
sports in the official programme of the Olympic Games. The first Pan American Games opened in Buenos
Aires on 25 February 1951, with 2,513 athletes from 22 countries. The organisation governing the Games
was renamed the Pan American Sport Organisation (PASO) in 1955. The last Games were held in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil in 2007, with 5,634 athletes from 42 countries participating in 38 sports. The next Games
will be in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011.
In addition to the Pan American Games, there are also a number of regional Games in the Americas, such
as the South American Games, Central American Games, Central American and Caribbean Games and
Bolivarian Games, each placed under the responsibility of their respective regional organisation.
C. ASIA
Asian Games
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) was established in December 1982 as successor to the Asian Games
Federation. The OCA coordinates the Asian Games, which are held for the purpose of developing intercultural
knowledge and friendship within Asia. They are held every four years. The 2010 Asian Games will be held
in Guangzhou (China) and will have 42 sports. Starting with the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea,
there will be a maximum of 35 sports: the 28 sports in the Olympic Games, plus seven non-Olympic sports.
The Asian Winter Games is a multi-sport event established by the OCA and held every four years. The next
Asian Winter Games will be held in Astana-Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2011 and will host 45 NOCs and 2,500
athletes participating in 12 sports with 59 events.
The OCA also organises the Asian Beach Games, the Asian Youth Games and several regional Games.
From 2009, the Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts Games have been merged into one multi-sport event.
60
SECTION I
D. EUROPE
European Youth Olympic Festival and the Games of the Small States of Europe
In 1990, the European Olympic Committees (EOC) launched the European Youth Olympic Days, now called
the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF). The EYOF is a biennial multi-sport event for young athletes
from the 48 member countries of the Association of European Olympic Committees. It has a summer edition,
held for the first time in Brussels in 1991, and a winter edition, which began two years later in Aosta, Italy.
EYOF is the only all-European multi-sport event.
In 1985, the EOC launched the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE). The first edition of the Games
was organised in San Marino. The Games are held every two years in one of the eight Small States of Europe.
E. OCEANIA
Pacific Games
The Pacific Games (formerly called the South Pacific Games) is a multi-sport event exclusively for countries
of the South Pacific, governed by the Pacific Games Council. The first South Pacific Games were held in
Suva, Fiji in 1963. The next edition of the Pacific Games will be held in Noumea in 2011. In addition to the
Pacific Games, the Pacific Mini-Games are organised to allow athletes from smaller countries to compete
against each other.
F. OTHER GAMES
Commonwealth Games
The tradition of Games in the Commonwealth began in 1930, when the first Games, called the British Empire
Games, were staged in Hamilton, Canada. The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi, India and
the 2014 Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The Glasgow Games will include 17 sports: aquatics (swimming and
diving), athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling (road, mountain bike and track), gymnastics, hockey, judo,
lawn bowls, netball, rugby sevens, shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.
The Commonwealth Youth Games, held for the first time in Edinburgh in 2000, are held every four years.
The fourth Games will be held on the Isle of Man in 2011. The 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games will be
held in Samoa.
Paralympic Games
The fundamental philosophy guiding the Paralympic movement is that elite level athletes with physical
disabilities should have opportunities and experiences equivalent to those enjoyed by elite athletes
without disabilities.
The Paralympic Games are sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). International
organisations affiliated to the IPC represent five disability groups and provide technical guidelines for the
classification of athletes. Starting with wheelchair events, through the years the Games were expanded
to include amputees, persons with cerebral palsy, persons with vision impairments and other athletes,
including dwarfs.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 61
On 19 June 2001, an agreement was signed between the IOC and the IPC, stating that, from 2008, the
Paralympic Games would always shortly follow the Olympic Games, using the same sporting venues and
facilities. Since 2002, a single Organising Committee has been responsible for hosting both the Olympic
and Paralympic Games. Athletes from both Games live in the same village and have the same catering,
transport, ticketing, technology and other systems. Beijing had 18 competition venues and 17 training
venues for the 19 sports. Except for sailing, which was held in Quindao, the other 18 sports were held
in Beijing. The Games lasted 12 days and participants included 4,000 athletes, 2,000 team officials and
nearly 1,000 technical officials.
The Paralympic Winter Games have seen a dramatic change since the first Games in rnskldsvik, Sweden
in 1976. At the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games, approximately 1,350 athletes will compete in
five sports and 64 separate medal events.
The word Universiade comes from university and Olympiad and means Olympic Games for students.
The first Summer Universiade held under the auspices of FISU took place in Turin, Italy in 1959 with 45
countries and 985 participants. The 25th anniversary summer Universiade was held in Belgrade in July
2009, with some 9,000 athletes from around 145 countries competing in 15 sports and 208 disciplines,
including athletics, judo, football, basketball, fencing, volleyball, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, diving,
artistic gymnastics, table tennis, archery, tennis, taekwondo and water polo.
The Winter Universiade dates back to 1960 in Chamonix, France. The 2011 edition will be held in Erzurum,
Turkey, the 2013 edition in Maribor, Slovenia, and the 2015 edition in Granada, Spain.
Other Games
There are dozens of other multi-sport international Games based on sub-regions, language and culture and
other considerations. A few of these include the Mediterranean Games, Francophone Games, Lusophony
Games, Maccabiah Games, Arafura Games, Micronesian Games, Carifta Games, Special Olympic Games
and Deaf Olympic Games, to mention but a few.
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SECTION I
G. QUESTIONS
1. In which continental / regional or other Games does your NOC participate?
2. How are continental / regional or other Games promoted to the public in your country?
3. H as your country ever staged a continental / regional or other Games? If yes, how do you evaluate its
success? If no, would this be desirable and possible? How?
REFERENCES
Websites of respective Games Organising Committees
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 63
This Section discusses the soul of the Olympic Movement, and defines the sport
we want the desired values and the ethical behaviours in implementing these
values. It discusses the codes or rules that have been developed to emphasise
these values and types of behaviour so as to guide our actions. This Section
also discusses the challenges to these values and types of behaviour - whether
doping, abuse, harassment, lack of inclusion or others and describes a large
number of initiatives and partnerships that the IOC has undertaken to resolve
these matters.
2009 was a special year of reflection for the IOC. Taking the pulse of the Olympic
Movement, analysing its strengths and weaknesses, evaluating the opportunities
and the risks it faces: these were the challenges which IOC President Jacques
Rogge laid down by convening the Olympic Congress held in Copenhagen from 3
to 5 October 2009, in accordance with Rule 4 of the Olympic Charter. Discussions
of the Copenhagen Congress centred around issues related to the athletes, the
Olympic Games, the structure of the Olympic Movement, Olympism and youth
and the digital revolution. We encourage you to consult the recommendations of
the 2009 Olympic Congress, which are available on the IOC website.
64
SECTION
II
VALUES AND ISSUES
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 65
66
SECTION II
UNIT 9
THE OLYMPIC VALUES
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
B. Olympism and the Olympic values . . . . . . . . . . . 68
C. The sport we want . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
IOC/Steve Munday
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 67
A. INTRODUCTION
Most people would probably say that sport can and should make a positive contribution to the development
of youth and to the quality of life in our communities. But few would agree that sport is actually living up
to its potential.
Sport is never neutral. It can teach values and ethical behaviour or not. It can help people develop a
positive self-image and respect for others or not. It can strengthen community life or not. Sport can
bring people together, foster friendships, reinforce healthy lifestyles, build civic pride and community
participation. Or it can be about violence, drugs, cheating and winning at any cost.
It is an essential and ongoing requirement, therefore, to actively support positive values in sport in simple
and powerful ways. This responsibility must be undertaken by everyone, especially those associated with
youth in communities, such as schools, community groups and sport clubs, in order to build a strong and
positive sport culture.
Values, as intellectual concepts, are difficult to define. They are thought of as universally accepted or
absolute. Yet they may vary in importance from one person to another. They may mean different things to
different people, depending on the social or cultural context in which they reside. And they are interpreted
through the unique lens with which each human being views the world. The Olympic Movement, since it
belongs to everyone, is obliged to encourage discussion, debate and questioning about the relevance of
its values in the contemporary world.
To articulate its vision more effectively, the IOC set out to clarify the meaning of the Olympic values and
place them within a comprehensive framework. The goal was to show how the Olympic values are linked
to the Movements mission, activities, guidelines and principles, and to find ways of communicating what
the IOC stands for more clearly.
The three core values of the Olympic Movement, which inspire us on individual and organisational levels,
are excellence, friendship and respect.
Excellence In the Olympic ideal, this value refers to giving ones best, either on the field of play or in life.
It is not only about winning, but also participating, making progress against personal goals, striving to do
our best in our daily lives and benefiting from the healthy combination of a strong body, mind and will.
Friendship The Olympic Movement encourages links and mutual understanding between people.
Friendship refers to building a peaceful and better world through solidarity, team spirit, joy and optimism
in sport. The Olympic Games inspire people to overcome political, economic, gender, racial or religious
differences and to forge friendships in spite of those differences. For athletes, this means forming life-long
bonds with their team-mates as well as their opponents.
Respect This value represents a principle which should inspire all those who take part in Olympic
programmes. Respect for oneself and ones body, respect for one another, for the rules as well as for the
environment. It refers to the fair play attitude that athletes should have, and to their commitment to avoid
doping.
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The principles of Olympism
The principles of Olympism, described below, amplify the Olympic values and allow them to be expressed
in a way that drives far-reaching social change.
Non-discrimination The Olympic Movement strives to ensure that sport is practised without any
form of discrimination whatsoever.
Sustainability The Olympic Movement organises and delivers programmes in a way that promotes
sustainable economic, social and environmental development.
Humanism The Olympic Movements activities place human beings at the centre of its attention,
ensuring that the practice of sport remains a human right.
Universality Sport belongs to everyone. In all its decisions and actions, the Olympic Movement
takes into account the universal impact sport can have on individuals and society.
Solidarity The Olympic Movement is committed to developing programmes that, together, create
a meaningful and comprehensive social response to issues within its sphere of influence.
Alliance between sport, education and culture The Olympic Movement is committed to promoting
the spirit of Olympism, which emerges at the convergence of sport, culture and education.
Individual values
What are the most important individual values to encourage and support participation among young people?
Here are the answers, in priority order, from the Canadian study, although these may vary in different societies.
1. fun 6. personal development
2. respect 7. health and well-being
3. access for all 8. positive role models
4. fair play 9. self-esteem
5. inclusion 10. self-confidence
Fun Children and adults primarily participate in sport whether organised or not in order to have fun and
enjoy time with their friends. Children are generally not motivated by the adult value of winning. Parents
and coaches often forget this and focus on winning (the end) rather than on the process of playing (the
means). This can place huge pressure on children to perform well at any cost.
Tolerance and mutual respect There are two equally important aspects of respect that should be taught
to children through sport self-respect and respect for others. Respect can help humanise sport as well
as provide children and young people with a critical social value that will guide their decisions and actions
throughout their lives. Tolerance is essential for us to learn to live together harmoniously.
Access The benefits of sport cannot be fully realised unless everyone has access to it. Sport is a right,
not a privilege, and its benefits should be maximised for all, regardless of their economic status, ethnic
background, skill or gender. We need to ensure that sport is inclusive at its introductory levels, to give
children a solid foundation from which to continue participating in sport throughout their lives. Often, a
sport system is inaccessible because it focuses on developing elite athletes to the detriment of the others
involved. Access for all can also build a sense of community by providing common experiences for people.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 69
Fair play Fair play promotes and supports the ideal
of true sport that we want in our communities. The
value of fair play makes a unique contribution to society
because it encompasses other values such as respect,
tolerance and inclusion, and it promotes fairness
and honesty.
We will know we have fair play if children continue to
be involved in community sport throughout their lives
and show respectful behaviour to parents, coaches
and officials, who also need to be respectful to
children. To build fair play values into community sport,
athletes should be continually recognised for effort and
participation and not just for winning and losing (e.g.
fair play awards).
IOC/Takamitsu Mifune
Community values
From the same Canadian study, it appears that the most important community values for sport are:
1. equality of access
2. tolerance and mutual respect
3. safe and welcoming environment
4. healthy citizens
5. leadership development
6. skilled volunteer base
7. inclusion of citizens
8. developing positive social behaviour
9. shared values
10. community unity and cohesion
D. QUESTIONS
1. List, in priority order, the values that you believe are important for sport in your society.
2. Are these being fully expressed in the sport programmes that you operate?
3. If not, what can you do about the situation?
4. T hrough which means or programmes do you communicate and apply the Olympic values in your
sport movement?
References
Olympic Review, article on the Olympic Values, IOC, April-June 2007, www.olympic.org
Bringing the Olympic Values to Life, DVD, IOC, 2007
Teaching Values - An Olympic Education Toolkit, IOC, 2007, www.olympic.org
The Sport We Want, Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, www.cces.ca
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UNIT 10
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT
TO SOCIETY
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
B. The IOC and its social responsibility . . . . . . . . . . 72
C. IOC programme example - sport and health . . . 73
D. What your NOC / sport organisation can do . . . 74
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 71
A. INTRODUCTION
Although sport development cannot be a panacea to
solve all the issues of society, nor a priority compared to
life-subsistence needs of disadvantaged communities,
it can generate many positive effects and be a valuable
tool for development. It is both a means and an end
in itself.
Sport can fight discrimination and raise awareness of womens rights and issues, as well as enable
communities at odds with each other to build bridges between each other. It helps the healing process in
populations overcoming trauma, and brings joy and fun to brighten up peoples lives.
As an integral part of basic education, sport supports mental and physical health and instils in people
the discipline of physical activity. It can be a useful platform for preventive and peer education against
major illnesses affecting populations and high-risk health groups. It reaches out to young people of all
social groups.
Be it in a more formal or informal manner, community development through sport has gained recognition
and a place on the agenda of the international community. This has led to numerous projects being
implemented at all levels with the sport community.
The Olympic Games themselves leave an increasingly positive legacy in terms of sustainable social and
economic development for the host city and the country at large. But beyond the Games, the IOC and the
Olympic Movement are committed to promoting the values of solidarity, peace and human dignity. This
finds its roots in the fundamental principles of Olympism as expressed in the Olympic Charter (2010): The
goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to
promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
Based on its commitment as a socially responsible organisation, the IOC is engaged in sport development
at grassroots level, aiming to both increase access to physical activity worldwide and to improve human
well-being through the promotion of Olympic values.
The IOC cooperates with numerous United Nations agencies, as well as with other international governmental
and non-governmental institutions, to develop and implement a range of projects using sport as a tool
for development. NOCs are also important partners which support these activities locally through their
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sport expertise and network. Several International Federations have also
developed initiatives in this field.
Through sport, the IOC and its partners are working to help promote
Olympic education, culture, healthy lifestyles, human rights, sustainability
and gender equality in disadvantaged communities or among populations at
risk. The IOC also assists several humanitarian organisations by providing
funds and other type of support, such as food, clothing and educational
material, as well as sport equipment, to war victims, refugees and victims
of natural disasters.
IOC/Richard Juilliart
C. I OC PROGRAMME EXAMPLE -
SPORT AND HEALTH
Over 40 million people around the world are living with HIV and many of
Giving is Winning campaign
them are involved in sport, either as spectators or as participants. The
sport community has not been spared. As part of civil society, the Olympic Movement has a responsibility
to make a contribution.
HIV and AIDS are threatening to destroy our collective sporting future and everyone must play their part
in this fight. This is why all of us - whether teacher or coach, administrator or community leader, athlete
or spectator - are being called on to play a part in the response to the HIV and AIDS pandemic and in the
fight against discrimination.
It is in this framework that the IOC has developed a policy and related programmes of activities to contribute
to this global fight. The programme is implemented in close cooperation with the joint United Nations
programme against HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies.
The IOC actively urges NOCs to place their networks and organisational and other resources at the
disposal of national efforts that are aimed at reducing and eventually reversing the HIV / AIDS pandemic.
In particular, NOCs are urged to encourage high-profile sport personalities to be involved as role models
in anti-HIV / AIDS campaigns. The NOCs can build capacity to give them the necessary confidence and
tools to fight against the pandemic, and they can participate in activities marking World AIDS Day and
other such symbolic public occasions.
The IOC and UNAIDS have published the first toolkit for HIV and AIDS prevention through sport. Specifically
designed for members of the sport community, it offers:
information about HIV and AIDS, how prevention can be effective, how sport can be beneficial for
people with HIV, testing and counselling, and much more;
numerous activities and programmes that can be developed, such as communications campaigns
during sport events or comprehensive policies for sport organisations themselves;
specific suggestions for activities for young people aged 10 and over, as they are a crucial target
group for prevention; and
information on who can assist and what organisations can provide expertise and support.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 73
D. WHAT YOUR NOC / SPORT ORGANISATION CAN DO
In addition to the aforementioned suggestions about how an NOC can assist in the fight against the AIDS /
HIV pandemic, your NOC or sport organisation can support community development through sport-related
activities such as:
educational activities on social issues (gender equality, inclusion, peace-building, etc.) in the
framework of sport tournaments;
talks by sportsmen / women to the youth community about these issues;
information campaigns on social issues faced by your community; and
assistance for deprived communities to access sport and recreation activities and basic
infrastructures.
Fruitful partnerships for the NOC can be sought with the IOC and local branches of international organisations
specialised in socio-economic development and humanitarian assistance or with local non-governmental
organisations (NGOs).
E. QUESTIONS
1. Is your sport organisation contributing to the social development of your community in some meaningful
way? How?
2. If not, is this a worthwhile initiative?
3. W hat could your sport organisation do to enhance the importance of sport and the Olympic Movement
to your society?
4. With which social agencies in your community could you form partnerships? How would you do this?
5. W hat specific goals could you set for your sport organisation in order to support social causes in
your community?
References
Together for HIV and AIDS Prevention, A Toolkit for the Sports Community, IOC / UNAIDS, 2005, www.olympic.org
port for Development and Peace: Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Report from the United Nations
S
Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace, United Nations, 2003, www.un.org / themes / sport
74
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UNIT 11
THE BENEFITS OF SPORT
TO INDIVIDUALS
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
B. Benefits of sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
C. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 75
A. INTRODUCTION
There is evidence that sports benefits go far beyond the positive health effects of physical activity that
have long been understood. A growing body of international research suggests that community sport
also contributes to social goals including education, child and youth development, social inclusion, crime
prevention, economic development and environmental sustainability.
Perhaps most significantly, no other domain of community life has demonstrated sports capacity to connect
so many young people to positive adult role models and mentors, and thus to opportunities for positive
development and the acquisition of critical life skills.
The following is based on the report What Sport Can Do The True Sport Report (September 2008), from
the True Sport Foundation in Canada.
B. BENEFITS OF SPORT
The following sets out the broad spectrum of public benefits that are available if we build a comprehensive,
accessible and inclusive community sport system that delivers the sport we truly want True Sport.
In organised youth sports, the primary factors that determine whether young people will have a positive or
negative experience are the adults involved parents, coaches, officials and administrators and the quality
of coaching and mentoring. The values and practices employed by parents, coaches and volunteers can
be powerfully enabling and enriching for young people, or they can drive them out of sport for a lifetime.
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Sport can lead to excessive focus on winning and competition, violence, under- and over-involvement
of parents, poor coaching and leadership, harassment, intolerance, racism, lack of fair play, and injuries.
These pressures can contribute to decreasing sport participation rates as children grow older.
However, the main reasons for young people dropping out of sport are that they are no longer having fun,
they do not have the time and they do not believe they are good enough to play.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 77
Fostering greater inclusion of people with disabilities Sport helps people with disabilities to build
their self-confidence. It also helps change negative community perceptions by focusing attention
on athletes abilities, rather than their disability.
Strengthening cultural pride and identity Sport offers particular benefits to minority cultural
communities that have serious social issues, in terms of building cultural pride, social cohesion
and self-esteem. In such communities, sport can help reduce drug and alcohol use, with related
reductions in family violence.
Promoting environmental sustainability Sport can instil appreciation of, and a desire to protect, the
environment and provide a platform for social mobilisation on behalf of environmental sustainability.
Fostering environmental awareness and stewardship Many investments in community sport
are investments in green space, with users often becoming advocates for their protection, proper
maintenance and expansion, just as those who pursue wilderness sports are often advocates for
the protection and sustainable use of remote environments.
Providing a platform for social mobilisation Elite international sport events such as the Olympic
or regional Games provide powerful platforms for promoting environmental protection because of
their large audiences and global reach. High-profile athletes possess this same potential. Many
international sport and environment bodies are using this capacity to raise environmental awareness
and to advocate for greater sustainability at local as well as global levels.
Making sport facilities more sustainable New greener standards for sport and recreation facilities,
combined with efforts to improve the sustainability of existing facilities, ensure that community sport
is doing its part to make our communities more sustainable and to leave a positive environmental
legacy for the future.
C. CONCLUSION
Sport is a powerful means of promoting health, but an even more powerful means of building social capital,
and perhaps the most effective system we have, outside of the family, for providing young people with
positive adult role models and mentors and opportunities for positive development.
In order to provide these benefits, however, we need to build an inclusive community sport system that
delivers the sport the community wants sport that is fun, fair, inclusive and promotes excellence. This is not
the job of sport alone. Local communities have a leading role to play, together with their sport organisations
and governments, who can help ensure that all communities have the sport infrastructure they need.
The quality and ultimate impact of community sport finally comes down to individuals the athletes, parents,
coaches, administrators and volunteers - whose ideas, attitudes and behaviour determine whether we will
close the gap between the sport we have and the sport we want True Sport.
D. QUESTIONS
1. G iven all the suggested benefits that sport can offer, how are these being promoted to leaders in your
community?
2. Is the sport we want the sport that can deliver many benefits - being delivered through your
programmes? If not, how can you improve?
3. A s the sport we want requires many in your community to embrace positive sport values, who will
help you achieve this?
References
True Sport Report, www.truesportpur.ca
78
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UNIT 12
SPORT FOR ALL
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
B. IOC policy and programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 79
A. INTRODUCTION
Sport for All is a movement promoting the Olympic ideal that
sport is a human right for all individuals, regardless of race,
social class and sex. The movement encourages sport activities
that can be undertaken by people of all ages, both sexes and
under different social and economic conditions.
The 12 th World Sport for All Congress was held in Malaysia in November 2008. Under the motto Sport for
All for Life, more than 500 participants from around 100 countries worked together to share knowledge,
discuss best practice and find progressive solutions to counteract trends of physical inactivity and the
increasing incidence of obesity. The Congress called on governments and public authorities at all levels to:
focus on the importance of sport and physical activity as a key element of health policy;
when formulating policies, take into account the public health, social and economic benefits of
increased participation in sport and physical activity;
recognise the importance of community sport and physical activity; and
consider Sport for All as an investment, not a cost and burden.
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Olympic Day 23 June
At its 42 nd Session (1948) in St Moritz,
Switzerland, the IOC approved the idea of
an Olympic Day. This celebration would be
used to commemorate the creation of the
IOC on 23 June 1894 in Paris. In an effort
to encourage all NOCs to commemorate
and celebrate Olympic Day, in 1987 the
IOC Sport for All Commission launched
the Olympic Day Run concept with the
objective of promoting participation in
sport by men, women and children from
all corners of the world, regardless of
athletic ability. All rights reserved
In 2009, the IOC decided to consolidate and perpetuate the success of the Olympic Day Run. Under the
theme Move, Learn, Discover, the new Olympic Day concept encourages NOCs to launch various sporting,
cultural and educational initiatives which go beyond the run itself. Some NOCs have incorporated the event
into the school curriculum, while others organise cultural exhibitions and various activities centred on the
Olympic values. Some organise sport activities customised for different age groups, educational sessions
for children and youngsters with top athletes, websites that direct visitors to sport programmes in their
neighbourhood, or a discovery tour of sports never previously tried.
C. QUESTIONS
1. W hat is your NOC or sport organisation doing to promote Sport for All?
2. What partnerships could be developed between your sport organisation and other agencies to promote
Sport for All? Are schools and other local organisations involved?
3. W hat Olympic Day celebrations occur in your country? What more could be done?
References
12th World Sport for All Congress Sport for All for Life, Final Declaration, Genting Highlands, Malaysia, 2008,
www.olympic.org
13th World Sport for All Congress 2010, Jyvskyl, Finland, www.jyu.fi/en/congress/sportforall2010 and www.olympic.org
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 81
82
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UNIT 13
INCLUSION AND EQUITY
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
B. Inclusion of women in the Olympic Movement . . 84
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
IOC/Wataru Abe
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 83
A. INTRODUCTION
Sport is a fundamental right and all should have the opportunity to participate, and to do so under conditions
that treat them fairly.
The following examples show how sport can help to foster a more inclusive society.
The inclusion of refugees can help to break down barriers between newcomers and local host populations,
improve relationships among asylum-seekers of diverse backgrounds, and build their self-esteem and
self-confidence. Sport is also being used successfully to link newcomers to key community services and
supports.
Sport helps people with disabilities to improve their health and mobility by making them stronger, more
flexible and more coordinated. At the same time, it provides opportunities for them to build their self-
confidence and self-esteem, enhance their social skills and networks, and become more motivated and
independent. Sport also helps change negative community perceptions by focusing attention on athletes
abilities rather than on their disability.
It is true that the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896 were not open to women. Baron Pierre de
Coubertin, who revived the Games, was very much a man of his time and believed that the Games should
traditionally remain a eulogy to male sport. Women did take part in the tennis and golf events at the 1900
Olympic Games and their participation has grown steadily over the years. In 1991, the IOC, in cooperation
with the IFs, decided that any new sport included on the Olympic programme should have both mens and
womens events. More than 42% of the athletes at the 2008 Games in Beijing were women, participating
in 26 of the 28 Olympic sports, after the number of women was boosted by the addition of a number of
new events and modification of some others.
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Female Athletes Participation in the Olympic Summer Games
Female Female
Year Sports Events NOCs % Year Sports Events NOCs %
Participants Participants
1896 - - - - 1960 6 29 45 610 11.4
1900 2 3 5 22 1.6 1964 7 33 53 683 13.3
1904 1 2 1 6 0.9 1968 7 39 54 781 14.2
1908 2 3 4 36 1.8 1972 8 43 65 1,058 14.8
1912 2 6 11 57 2.2 1976 11 49 66 1,247 20.7
1920 2 6 13 77 2.9 1980 12 50 54 1,125 21.5
1924 3 11 20 136 4.4 1984 14 62 94 1,567 23
1928 4 14 25 290 9.6 1988 17 86 117 2,186 25.8
1932 3 14 18 127 9 1992 19 98 136 2,708 28.8
1936 4 15 26 328 8.1 1996 21 108 169 3,626 34.2
1948 5 19 33 385 9.4 2000 25 132 199 4,069 38.2
1952 6 25 41 518 10.5 2004 26 135 201 4,306 40.7
1956 6 26 39 384 16.1 2008 26 137 203 4,639 42.37
Both Anita DeFrantz and Gunilla Lindberg have served as Vice-Presidents and Olympic champion Nawal
El Moutawakel from Morocco was elected as a member of the IOC Executive Board in 2008. She was the
first woman ever to chair an IOC Evaluation Commission, and has done so for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic
Games candidature procedure.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 85
IOC World Conferences on Women and Sport
Since 1996, the IOC has organised a quadrennial World Conference on Women and Sport. The purpose of
these Conferences is to assess the progress made in this area within the Olympic Movement and to define
future priority actions to improve and increase the involvement of women in this framework.
Olympic Solidarity
Particular efforts are made to ensure that a growing number of women benefit from Olympic Solidarity
programmes. In addition, a specific Women and Sport programme has been established to support
NOC projects such as gender equality activities, targeted communications campaigns, national research
programmes, and national seminars. This programme also serves to finance participation of certain NOCs
delegates in the IOC continental seminars and the IOC World Conferences on Women and Sport.
C. QUESTIONS
1. Identify any special efforts your sport organisation is making, or could make, to ensure inclusion in your
programmes.
2. Identify any special efforts your sport organisation is making, or could make, to ensure equity between
men and women in your programmes.
3. Looking at the list of opportunities that should be made equally available, what are the actual opportunities
for women in sport leadership in your country?
4. H ow could women be encouraged to become more involved at all levels of sport in your country?
References
th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport, Dead Sea, Jordan, Conference Resolution and Action Plan, 2008,
4
www.olympic.org
86
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UNIT 14
ATHLETE SUPPORT
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
B. IOC interest in protecting athletes . . . . . . . . . . . 88
C. IOC Athlete Career Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
D. Athletes and money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
IOC/Richard Julliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 87
A. INTRODUCTION
Athletes are the heart and soul of the Olympic Movement, the focus of attention. They are universally seen
as role models and heroes by the youth of the world.
They have rights, which include the right to fairness and due process, good coaches, clear rules, fair
competition, health, privacy, safety, confidentiality and education.
Their ambition to contribute to sport development centres on a desire to be heard by the leaders of sport,
to make their suggestions count so as to orientate sport for the better.
IOC/Richard Juilliart
88
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As representatives on most IOC Commissions, the members of the Athletes Commission participate in the
entire organisational process of the Olympic Games. Furthermore, they form working groups to ensure that
the competition, training and living conditions for the athletes during the Games are satisfactory. During
the period of the Games, Commission members are available to listen to their peers in the Olympic Village
or at the competition venues.
At each edition of the Olympic Games (summer and winter), the participating athletes are invited to vote
to elect the majority of the members of the Athletes Commission, which has 19 members:
eight summer sport athletes elected during the Games of the Olympiad (four at each edition of
the Games);
four winter sport athletes elected during the Olympic Winter Games (two at each edition of the Games);
up to seven athletes appointed by the IOC President, to ensure a fair balance in terms of gender,
sport and region.
The 12 athletes elected by their peers serve an eight-year term and become IOC members for the duration
of their term with the Athletes Commission.
In order to be eligible for the Commission, athletes must have participated in the previous Olympic Games
or in the Games during which the elections occur and never have been found guilty of a doping offence
during their sport career. Only NOCs that have their own Athletes Commission may propose a candidate
upon the recommendation of that Commission.
The 4th Athletes Forum, held in Marrakech, Morocco in May 2009, centred around the following three key
concerns for todays and tomorrows athletes:
relations between athletes, clubs, federations and NOCs;
health protection during training and competition; and
the social and professional life of athletes during and after high-level sport.
The full report of the Forum can be obtained from the IOC website.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 89
Therefore, it is widely accepted that the sports world needs to better support athletes to enable them to
have a balanced life throughout their sports career, and to provide them with the tools and resources that
will better prepare them for their transition into life after sport. Athletes dedication to their sport, competition
and training demonstrates they are just as capable of achieving success well beyond their sporting career.
The IOC has implemented a programme to address these needs by providing athletes with the support they
require during and after their sports career. The IOC Athlete Career Programme (IOC ACP) provides guidance
as well as the necessary tools to help athletes successfully manage training, competition and the challenges
and opportunities of everyday life. It focuses on three pillars: education, life skills and employment.
The programme has been developed and delivered by the Olympic Movement, including NOCs, IFs and
national federations.
Direct actions (e.g. the implementing of programmes) should remain the primary responsibility of national
bodies (NOCs, NFs, government, etc.). However, there may be significant areas where the IOC can provide
support and influence, particularly to NOCs. Therefore the main position of the IOC is that of a thought leader.
Life after a sports career and an athletes reintegration into society are important for the IOC. The IOC
alone cannot do everything, as there are hundreds of millions of athletes throughout the world. However,
the IOC will create a network to give a stimulus to what has to be done on a national level. We must work
on a local basis, and we have a huge network of NOCs. In many countries, either the government or the
NOC offers access to education to an athlete during their sporting career. But the important thing is that
the athletes should bear in mind that they have a responsibility during their career to prepare for later
life.(International Athletes Forum, Lausanne, 19-20 October 2002)
It is therefore crucial to make athletes aware of the skills and qualities they possess which can be applied
in a non-sporting context. The athlete who possesses effective life skills will be better able to cope with the
challenges of a career outside sport than the athlete who lacks those skills. Research suggests that providing
education and vocational counselling in preparation for a post-sport career is an integral part of the athletes
developmental process and contributes to their ultimate success. It is argued that helping athletes prepare
for a post-sport career has the ability to broaden an athletes self-identity, and develop their life skills.
Furthermore, career development assists athletes to develop work and social skills, enabling them to deal
more effectively with the pressures of being elite athletes, and suffer less anxiety about being a late starter
in a career outside sport.
Education Advice on how to assist athletes to successfully combine sport and studies, including academic
counselling. Information and tips regarding successful pathways within education at all levels are presented.
Life skills Information, practical tools and guides to share with athletes on subjects such as health,
budgeting and financial matters, time management, media training, public speaking and goal setting
are presented.
Employment Support and advice to assist you in working with athletes on their other career, including
information on drafting a CV, job hunting and interview preparation, are presented.
The IOC, in collaboration with Adecco, provides NOCs with the support and tools necessary to help athletes
make the transition from competitive sport to a new career. Adecco, in the countries in which it is represented,
also helps athletes with job placement. To the end of 2009, Adecco had supported more than 5,000 athletes
from 40 countries, including those where Adecco has agreements with the respective NOCs.
The major platform for the IOC Athlete Career Programmes information and tools is www.olympic.org/iocacp.
It is designed with athletes in mind, based on advice from elite athletes and experts around the world, and
provides a career toolkit for athletes. Please also refer to Section 4, Unit 57 on Developing Athletes for more
in-depth information, as well as practical guidance.
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D. ATHLETES AND MONEY
Amateurism and professionalism
Nobody seriously believes that athletes can be
competitive in high-performance sport without
some form of financial support. The word
amateurism, so prevalent in sport in the last
century, has now essentially disappeared. Since
the IOC decided in 1981 to stop trying to define
amateur and to use the concept of eligibility
instead, rapid changes have taken place in the
All rights reserved
opposite direction.
There is now a trend towards professionalism, as defined both in monetary and full-time training terms.
Coaches, administrators and athletes at the highest levels of competition are essentially full-time, receiving
various types of support from governments, their association, sponsors and employment as athletes.
Some can receive prize money for appearances and performance. The IOC and IFs have permitted fully
professional athletes to compete in the Games (e.g. basketball, tennis, ice hockey) because they are the
best in the world; television and other sponsors of the Games believe there will be massive viewer interest
in these famous athletes at the Games.
Commercial athletes tend to be talented, successful entertainers with public appeal, who receive extensive
media coverage and are able to generate significant income both within and outside their sport. Commercial
athletes are created by events and good management. This new breed of athlete is currently restricted to
a few sports but, with increasing television exposure for many minor sports, commercial influences will
soon become a reality for many more.
Commercial athletes are subject to additional stresses in the already stressful atmosphere of the Olympic
Games. They may bring with them many problems for their coaches, organisation and Olympic Games
mission to solve. These problems are linked to the media, their promoters and agents, who all want a large
part of the athletes time and energy. Some athletes, as media stars, may seek extra attention. Some are
given hotel rooms as part of their sponsorship deals and they may therefore wish to live outside the Olympic
Village. They may be given cars to use and want vehicle accreditation. Most have an entourage, such as
a manager, coach, masseur, physiotherapist, lawyers and accountants, all with requests for accreditation
and tickets.
Sponsors place serious demands on athletes. They insist that the athletes fulfil their contractual obligations
and duties, such as attending functions and entertaining corporate clients. The contract would include
a code of conduct demanding a high standard of behaviour, with termination of the contract if a doping
offence was committed and penalties for wearing a rival companys product.
The bottom line for the sponsors is a return on their often substantial investment. That return comes in
the form of sales and maximum exposure of their logo, name and products. At the Olympic Games, the
opportunities are multiplied many times over. The IOC has its own world-wide Olympic Sponsors, who pay
for exclusive rights to the Games emblems. Each NOC has its own sponsors who pay for the exclusive rights
for their product to be the Olympic team product. Athletes also now have their own sponsors, who pay
for the exclusive rights to the athlete. There is a potential for conflict between these competing sponsors,
certainly as far as the athlete and their sponsor are concerned. If the NOC has a contract with one clothing
company and an athlete has a contract with another, this inevitably leads to difficulties.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 91
Para. 2.3 of the Bye-law to Rules 28 and 29 of the Olympic Charter (2010) indicates that:
They (the NOCs) have the sole and exclusive authority to prescribe and determine the clothing and uniforms
to be worn, and the equipment to be used, by the members of their delegations on the occasion of the
Olympic Games and in connection with all sports competitions and ceremonies related thereto.
This exclusive authority does not extend to specialised equipment used by athletes of their delegations
during the actual sports competitions. For the purposes of this rule, specialised equipment shall be limited
to such equipment acknowledged by the NOC concerned as having a material effect on the performance
of athletes, due to the specialised characteristics of the equipment. Any publicity in respect of any such
specialised equipment must be submitted to the NOC concerned for approval if there is any reference,
express or implied, to the Olympic Games.
There is always pressure for athletes under contract to wear their sponsors clothing rather than their
NOCs clothing at medal ceremonies, press conferences or other public events during the Games. Such
problems arise from many products, such as sunglasses, hats with sponsors labels, equipment labels
and others. Ambush marketing is now very much an issue for the NOCs Games mission, as it is with
Organising Committees and the IOC.
Each sport team manager has a crucial role to play. They must be aware of all the issues and pressures
and exercise fairness and consistency for all the team, not just the commercial members. Above all
else, communication is the key. Many NOCs now require each potential Olympic team member to sign
a contract relating to several issues, such as being drug-free, abiding by the team code of conduct and
wearing team-issued clothing on appropriate occasions.
E. QUESTIONS
1. How do you support your athletes? How can you improve your level of services?
2. In particular, how can we better help athletes to combine sport, education, life skills and employment?
References
The Athletes within the Olympic Movement, IOC Athletes Commission, www.olympic.org
Athletes Handbook, Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010, IOC, www.olympic.org
Recommendations of the 4th International Athletes Forum, IOC, 2008 www.olympic.org
IOC Athlete Career Programme, www.olympic.org/iocacp
Adecco, http://athlete.adecco.com
92
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UNIT 15
PROTECTING YOUNG ATHLETES
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
B. Training the elite young athlete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Getty/Robert Giroux
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 93
A. INTRODUCTION
What could be more important in sport than ensuring athletes, in particular young athletes, are protected
from harm so that they enjoy their sport experiences? To live in a values-based sport system, we must help
create a safe and welcoming environment because it will help ensure that all are encouraged to participate
in sport. Valuing a safe and welcoming environment means that we must be aware of the stages of child
development and adapt sport experiences to the abilities of children.
The main contributing factors to our failure to provide a safe and welcoming environment is that sport, by
its nature, is competitive and not necessarily conducive to a safe and welcoming environment. In addition,
current media portrayal of professional sport often provides examples of abuse, doping and winning at
any cost.
An elite young athlete is one who has superior athletic talent, undergoes specialised training, receives
expert coaching and is exposed to early competition. This unique athlete population has distinct social,
emotional and physical needs which vary depending on the athletes particular stage of maturation. These
athletes require appropriate training, coaching and competition that ensures a safe and healthy athletic
career and that promotes future well-being.
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Reiner Zimnik
In girls, the pressure to meet unrealistic weight goals often leads to the spectrum of disordered eating,
including anorexia and / or bulimia nervosa. These disorders may affect the growth process, influence
hormonal function, cause amenorrhoea, low bone mineral density and other serious illnesses which can
be life-threatening.
Elite child athletes deserve to train and compete in a suitable environment supported by a variety of age-
appropriate technical and tactical training methods, rules, equipment, facilities and competitive formats.
They deserve to train and compete in a pleasurable environment, free from drug misuse and negative
influences, including harassment and inappropriate pressure from parents, peers, health care providers,
coaches, media or agents.
Recognition that an elite young athlete has very different training requirements form those of a teenager or
young adult is critical, both in protecting the health of the child, and in ensuring training progress. Expertise
in child development is required in setting up such training programmes.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 95
With regard to training of junior athletes, the 2009 Olympic Congress in Copenhagen made the following
recommendation (no. 5):
5. All constituents and other stakeholders of the Olympic Movement should take into account the current
trends of overloading training and competition schedules and calendar, which can be detrimental to athletes,
in particular junior athletes, from the perspective of performance, health and commitment; and should take
appropriate measures to prevent this escalation where necessary.
SYOCOG
C. QUESTIONS
1. How safe is the environment for children and young athletes in your sport system, club or school?
2. What are the most important safety issues for children and young athletes in your sport environment?
3. Can conditions be improved and, if so, how?
4. Whose responsibility is it to assess the safety conditions for children and young athletes?
5. Whose responsibility is it to rectify safety or harassment problems when there is need to do so?
References
Consensus Statement on Training the Elite Child Athlete, IOC, 2005, www.olympic.org
96
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UNIT 16
ETHICAL ISSUES OF DOPING
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
B. Ethical issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
IOC/Michalis Sourlis
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 97
A. INTRODUCTION
What is doping?
Doping is the deliberate or inadvertent use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or method as defined
by the World Anti-Doping Code. Doping is strictly prohibited. Encouraging or assisting athletes to use such
substances or methods is unethical and also considered a doping-related offence.
B. ETHICAL ISSUES
What drugs to use or not to use, and what drugs should be allowed or forbidden, is both a moral and a
medical problem. However, when all the facts are known, or at least when as many as possible have been
discovered, a decision still has to be made whether or not to have medical treatment, whether or not to use
a particular drug and, where sport governing bodies are concerned, which medical and pharmacological
aids to performance should be allowed and which forbidden. At this point, the question is no longer a
medical one but a moral one. The question is which drugs, devices and therapies are fair and which are
unfair? This is not an easy question. The list of forbidden drugs is under constant review and is available
through the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) website.
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Human rights
The purpose of a doping control programme is to monitor the status of athletes with respect to the
use of prohibited substances and methods in sport, thereby serving as a deterrent against the use of
such substances or methods. The detection of a prohibited substance or prohibited method leads to the
establishment of a doping offence.
A doping offence results in national and / or international sport penalties which are normally limited to
eligibility. For example, athletes are faced with the loss of eligibility to participate in sport for certain periods
of time up to and including ineligibility for life, as well as the loss of financial support. It is essential that an
athlete testing positive be protected from additional actions or inactions by others which are considered
unacceptable according to standards of natural justice and fundamental human rights. Given that the
responsibility for the application of sanctions and disclosure of offences is primarily that of national and
International Federations, those conducting the testing should discharge their obligations in a manner
which respects the jurisdiction of such federations.
Should a situation arise where a positive case creates a concern for human rights, each case should be
assessed on its own merit, which may require action or measures outside the normal national and / or
International Federation doping control procedures, or a review that is considered more fair and appropriate.
C. QUESTIONS
1. Does your NOC or sport organisation educate your athletes about doping and why it is prohibited?
2. If not, should you, and what would you do?
3. Are you familiar with the educational materials developed by WADA which are available on the WADA website?
References
WADA, www.wada-ama.org
WADA List of prohibited substances and methods, www.wada-ama.org
Getty
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 99
100
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UNIT 17
FAIR PLAY
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
B. The rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
C. The sporting spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
D. Theory into practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
E. Promoting fair play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
F. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
IOC/Steve Munday
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 101
A. INTRODUCTION
At the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, one of the athletes takes an oath on behalf of all the
athletes. One of the officials takes a similar oath on behalf of all judges and officials. These oaths bind
athletes and officials to abide by the rules which govern the Games in the true spirit of sportsmanship.
There are thus two parts to the Olympic oaths - observing the rules and behaving in a sporting spirit. The
term fair play covers both of them.
Fair play demonstrates attitudes and behaviour in sport consistent with the belief that sport is an ethical
pursuit. It does not include acts of violence, cheating, drug abuse or any form of exploitation in an effort
to win. When elements such as these are introduced, the true competitive spirit is lost and there remains
no purpose for sport.
Fair play does not only mean adherence to written rules; rather it describes the right attitudes of sportsmen
and sportswomen and the right spirit in which they conduct themselves; showing respect for others and
care for their freedom from bodily or psychological harm. Fairness is trying to put oneself in the place of
the other and acting accordingly. Fair play is, first of all, a matter of personal commitment of the individual.
Sport federations at regional, national and international levels contribute significantly to the fair play
environment through rules and regulations and the training of coaches, referees, judges, medical officers
and other officials. Governments and public and private educational institutions in particular are also
responsible for fair play education and attitude formation. The educational process should not only address
active participants in sport but also consumers, i.e. spectators. Parents play a vital role in instilling a spirit
of fair play in children. Spectators and the mass media have a role to promote fair play. It should not be
forgotten that not only good but also bad examples in sport have a major impact on the socialisation
process of human beings.
The International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP) is concerned about developments in sport all over the world
which undermine fair play. Its primary objective is to promote fair play worldwide and to create conditions
in which fair play can prosper. More information on the CIFP can be found on www.fairplayinternational.org.
B. THE RULES
Sport without rules is impossible and a sport in which the rules are frequently broken disintegrates and
will be abandoned. It is therefore in the interests of every athlete that rules should be kept and that they
should be enforced with penalties when they are broken.
In the Olympic Games, a serious and intentional breach of a rule would result in disqualification, as was
the case when a fencer adapted his weapon to give him an illegal advantage. There were few instances of
cheating in the ancient Games and there have been very few in the modern Games. Efficient judging and
officiating can and does prevent most cheating during competition.
The oaths, however, are not just administrative devices; they are solemn promises and they place personal
responsibility for keeping the rules upon athletes and officials because, throughout human history, keeping a
promise has been accepted as a duty even if and when there might be an immediate advantage in breaking
it. This personal responsibility for observing the rules is at the centre of Olympism.
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Unfair judging
Sometimes mistakes are made in judging, especially in style events such as diving, skating and gymnastics,
where a judge may make an unintentional error of judgment. Occasionally, a judge may depart from
impartiality to favour competitors from a particular country, group of countries, continent or ethnic group.
Such favouritism, if confirmed, would quickly destroy an event as an Olympic contest. Impartial administration
of the rules is the primary duty of all officials and is included in the oath for all judges and officials. It is
also an elementary principle of justice.
In 1956, Christopher Brasher crossed the line first in the 3,000m steeplechase but was immediately
disqualified because, it was said, he had impeded another competitor, Larsen, at the water jump. Rozsnoi
(Hungary), Larsen (Norway) and Laufer (Germany) were placed 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd. Brasher appealed and his
appeal was supported by the three athletes, who were downgraded when the appeal was upheld.
In 1964, at the Winter Games, the British team at the start of the bobsleigh race found that a vital part of
their sleigh was broken. The Italian pair, who at that stage had the fastest time, offered their own part to
the British pair, who then won the gold medal.
These three incidents have nothing to do with keeping or breaking the rules but they exemplify the second part
of the Olympic oath, the true spirit of sportsmanship. They show competitors treating each other not as hated
enemies but as friendly rivals. Striving to win must go with respect for opponents and friendship with them.
For some athletes and coaches, even Olympic athletes, the values of Olympism are posted, that is to
say they are known, talked about and discussed, but they are not operative because they are not acted
upon. Non-retaliation to fouls or personal violence may be a posted value, but if the player does retaliate
or even gets his retaliation in first, the value of non-retaliation is not operative.
One of the most powerful forces against the operation of values is the poor example of others. If athletes
believe that most of their fellow athletes retaliate, take drugs, intimidate opponents or officials, or accept
illegal rewards, it is difficult to put contrary values into practice. They may even abandon their value because
everyone does it or you have to do it to win or nice guys finish last. Such a lack of morality can be
very powerful but it does not determine what is truly right and wrong, or good and bad, in sport.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 103
E. PROMOTING FAIR PLAY
Fair play needs to be promoted to all people in a
comprehensive manner. Changing behaviour starts with
education. Advertising what fair play means will encourage
all those who enjoy competitive sport to practise the
principles of fair play.
Participants:
cooperate with team-mates, coaches, officials and
opponents and treat them with respect; Gabor Benedek
Educators:
teach children to have pride in their achievements and efforts, and in those of others;
encourage participation from everyone, regardless of skill level;
help children to understand the meaning of sportsmanship;
remember that not all children have the same desire for athletic activities - never force a child
to participate;
ensure safety of playing areas and equipment;
set a good example in your own activities;
teach that the use of violence is not acceptable;
make students aware that the style of play they witness from some professional athletes is not
necessarily fair or sportsmanlike.
Coaches:
set an example for players and spectators;
teach the values of sportsmanship, practise them and expect players to respect those values;
be knowledgeable about your sport by attending clinics to keep up to date with new developments;
never argue with officials and coaches in front of players or spectators;
maintain and follow the letter and spirit of the rules, and reprimand offenders;
respect and treat participants as individuals, recognising their different levels of ability;
use only constructive criticism and encourage players to be disciplined and honest;
discourage a win at all costs attitude.
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Officials:
maintain good relations with players and coaches;
be knowledgeable about the rules of the game;
match officiating to players level;
enforce penalties against players and coaches;
maintain a fitness level necessary to properly officiate the sport.
Parents:
never force children to participate in sport;
never publicly challenge the officials judgment;
do not try to achieve your dreams by pressuring your child;
inquire about who is coaching your child. Is the coach properly qualified in skill, injury prevention
and the psychological development of youngsters?
attend one of your childs practices. Does the coach treat the children fairly?
talk to your child. Do they enjoy their team and sport? Are they learning that having fun, doing
their best and sportsmanship are important?
if you see a problem, address it immediately and notify other parents;
if a sport becomes violent on television, turn it off. Explain to your children that fighting and abuse
are not an acceptable part of sport;
accept and promote fair play initiatives sponsored by your government at local, provincial or
national level.
Media:
report fair play issues and fair play situations;
condemn problems in sport such as violence, unethical strategies, good fouls, abusive language
and the use of drugs that make it possible to gain an unfair advantage over competitors;
support officials rulings and emphasise the calibre of play rather than sensationalising the violence.
Spectators:
do not ridicule players;
encourage fair and skilful play;
show respect for the officials;
condemn the use of violence;
maintain dignified behaviour;
if fighting breaks out when you are watching
a game on television, turn off your set.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 105
Administrators:
develop programmes to emphasise fun and skill development;
ensure that there are programmes providing equitable opportunities for all players, regardless of
age, sex, physical size or skill level;
ensure that proper equipment and safe facilities are available;
include education on sportsmanship and fair play in coaching courses;
make it clear that violence on the playing surface and unsportsmanlike conduct are unacceptable;
establish a fair play award;
condemn all violence by advertising your facility as a fair play area.
Others:
as a sponsor of a sport event, team or athlete - at any level - request that the principles of fair
play be respected;
as an advertiser, resist the temptation to resort to themes or images based on sport violence to
promote products;
as a medical practitioner, inform patients about the serious consequences of sport violence and
express your concerns publicly;
as a team owner or manager, take a public stand against sport violence;
as a government elected representative, express your concern about violent outbreaks at sport
events and speak publicly about fair play;
as a public speaker, incorporate fair play themes in your presentation.
F. QUESTIONS
1. H ow does your sport organisation promote fair play values and behaviour to your coaches and athletes?
2. What could you do to really be sure that these values and types of behaviour are understood by everyone
associated with your sport organisation?
3. What could you do to promote fair play around Olympic Day celebrations?
References
International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP), www.fairplayinternational.org
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UNIT 18
VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
B. Violence in sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
C. Harassment in sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
D. Strategies to prevent violence
and harassment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Kishimoto
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 107
A. INTRODUCTION
In its role of promoting and protecting athletes health, the IOC Medical Commission recognises all the
rights of athletes, including the right to enjoy a safe and supportive sport environment.
Harassment and abuse are violations of human rights that damage both individual and organisational health.
Harassment and abuse occur worldwide. In sport, they give rise to suffering for athletes and others, and to
legal, financial and moral liabilities for sport organisations. No sport is immune to these problems, which
occur at every performance level.
Everyone in sport shares the responsibility to identify and prevent harassment and abuse and to develop a
culture of dignity, respect and safety in sport. Sport organisations in particular are gatekeepers to safety and
should demonstrate strong leadership in identifying and eradicating these practices. A healthy sport system
that empowers athletes can contribute to the prevention of harassment and abuse inside and outside sport.
B. VIOLENCE IN SPORT
Most sport is non-violent. Every day in every country in the world, thousands of athletic contests take place
and thousands of games are played without a hint of violence. However, violence, when it does occur, is
a threat to sport and to the Olympic Movement. Of course, violence has news value. The occurrence of
violence must be treated seriously.
In games and sports where physical contact is not supposed to occur, violent contact may nevertheless
happen. Judges then have to decide who was responsible and whether it was deliberate and intentional.
Judging intent is perhaps the most difficult task which an official has to perform. In the end, it is impossible.
Only athletes can know whether they are competing in a sporting spirit.
Some sports allow vigorous physical contact and it is part of the game. Shoulder charges in soccer and
body checking in ice hockey are recognised in the rules. In boxing, violent contact is not only permitted,
but it determines the outcome of the contest. Head guards may reduce superficial injuries, but they do
not prevent knock-out blows, nor do they prevent internal and permanent injury, however slight, to the
central nervous system.
If vigorous physical contact is allowed in the rules, how vigorous can it be without being too violent? Who
is to decide where this borderline is? Athletes themselves play a big part in determining the general climate
of opinion on what is fair and not fair. Sport governing bodies must, in their rules and public statements,
bear in mind the Olympic aim of promoting friendship. There must be a limit to what you can do to a friend
even in sport, even if he or she is a willing recipient of your violence. Friendship is the ultimate criterion.
Probably those who can do most to curb violence are coaches, the mass media and teachers. They
themselves are not directly involved in acts of violence and sometimes too readily encourage athletes to
commit such acts. Their athletes value obedience and will tend to do as their coach tells them, even when
they have moral doubts about what they are instructed to do. Coaches and teachers, therefore, have a
heavy responsibility for eliminating violence from the Olympic and Sport Movement.
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Violence among spectators in stadiums
The issue of spectator violence in stadiums has been with us for several decades, and has arisen in many
sports and in many countries. Many academic papers have discussed the socio-cultural basis for such
hooliganism and theories include the following concepts:
Violence and struggle on the field precipitates violence by team fans in the stands.
Referee decisions precipitate violence in crowds.
Fans associate with their home team and create their own competition against fans of the
opposing team in the stands.
Fans, hidden in large crowds and fuelled by alcohol, relish creating a riot and acts they would not
commit when alone.
Individuals become more aggressive in groups and are influenced by group norms and acceptance
of violence. Examples of group violence stimulate other acts.
Whatever the socio-cultural reasons for fan violence, it has a significant effect on peoples attitudes towards
involvement in sport attendance at games, or even community support for sport. Thus, it is very important
that appropriate ethical values are instilled in youngsters in particular, to reject such unethical behaviour.
It is an important responsibility of the sport movement, together with political authorities, to address this
issue and define policies and ways to remedy such situations of violence.
Gabor Benedek
C. HARASSMENT IN SPORT
There are many forms of harassment verbal, physical, sexual all of which can be present in sport.
However, in this Unit, we will use the example of sexual harassment and sexual abuse.
Sexual harassment and abuse in sport stem from power relations and abuses of power. They occur within
an organisational culture that facilitates such opportunities. Indeed, they are symptoms of failed leadership
in sport. Gender harassment, hazing and homophobia are all aspects of the sexual harassment and abuse
continuum in sport.
Sexual harassment Refers to behaviour towards an individual or group that involves sexualised verbal,
non-verbal or physical behaviour, whether intended or unintended, legal or illegal, that is based upon an
abuse of power and trust, and that is considered by the victim or a bystander to be unwanted or coerced.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 109
Sexual abuse Involves any sexual activity where consent is not or cannot be given. In sport, it often
involves manipulation and entrapment of the athlete.
Gender harassment Consists of derogatory treatment of one gender or another which is systematic and
repeated but not necessarily sexual.
Hazing Involves abusive initiation rituals that often have sexual components and in which newcomers
are targeted.
Homophobia Is a form of prejudice and discrimination ranging from passive resentment to active
victimisation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.
The risk of sexual harassment and abuse is greater when there is a lack of protection, high perpetrator
motivation and high athlete vulnerability (especially in relation to age and maturation).
Sexual harassment and abuse in sport have a serious and negative impact on athletes physical and
psychological health. They can result in impaired performance and lead to athlete drop-out. Clinical data
indicate that psychosomatic illnesses, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide are
some of the serious health consequences.
Passive attitudes / non-intervention, denial and / or silence by people in positions of power in sport
(particularly bystanders) increase the psychological harm of sexual harassment and abuse. Lack of bystander
action also creates the impression for victims that sexually harassing and abusive behaviour is legally and
socially acceptable and / or that those in sport are powerless to speak out against it.
The policy is a statement of intent that demonstrates a commitment to create a safe and mutually respectful
environment. The policy should state what is required in relation to the promotion of rights, well-being and
protection. It allows the organisation to take prompt, impartial and fair action when a complaint or allegation
is made. It also allows the organisation to take disciplinary, penal and other measures, as appropriate.
Codes of practice describe acceptable standards of behaviour that, when followed, serve to implement
the policy. Standards of behaviour set a clear benchmark for what is acceptable and unacceptable. They
can help to minimise opportunities for sexual harassment and abuse and unfounded allegations.
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The policy should:
identify and address these issues;
be clear and easily understood;
involve consultation with athletes;
be approved by the relevant management body (e.g. Executive Board ) and incorporated into its
constitution and / or regulations;
be widely communicated through publication and a comprehensive education and training strategy;
apply to all involved in the organisation;
state that all members have a right to respect, safety and protection;
state that the welfare of members is paramount;
identify who has responsibility for implementing and upholding it;
specify what constitutes a violation;
specify the range of consequences for such violations;
specify procedures for reporting and handling complaints;
provide details of where to seek advice and support for all parties involved in a complaint;
specify procedures for maintaining records;
provide guidance for third-party reporting (whistleblowing); and
be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, particularly when there is a major change in the
constitutional regulations of the organisation or in the law.
Sport organisations should adopt codes of practice on violence and harassment for specific member roles,
which should:
provide guidance on appropriate / expected standards of behaviour from all members; and
set out clear processes for dealing with unacceptable behaviour, including guidance on disciplinary
measures and sanctions.
E. QUESTIONS
1. Do you believe there are instances of either violence or harassment in your sport organisation?
2. Does your organisation have appropriate written policies in place for these matters, and are the policies
implemented?
3. How could your organisation improve its approach in order to prevent such misbehaviour?
References
IOC Consensus Statement on Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport, 2007, www.olympic.org
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 111
112
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UNIT 19
ETHICS IN SPORT
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
B. The IOC Ethics Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
C. The IOC Code of Ethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
D. The basis for ethical behaviour in sport . . . . . . . 116
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
IOC/Daniel Stucki
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 113
A. INTRODUCTION
The first Fundamental Principle of Olympism set out in the Olympic Charter states that Olympism seeks
to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for
universal fundamental ethical principles.
Ethics is a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about morality, how moral values
should be determined, how a moral outcome can be achieved in specific situations and what moral values
people actually abide by. Ethics in sport refers to the behaviour of all those participating in sport, including
athletes, coaches, judges and referees, sport physicians as well as officers and staff of sport organisations.
Consequently, to observe the First Principle of Olympism, all the participants of the sport movement must
respect ethical principles.
In order to understand and implement basic ethical principles, codes of ethics and rules are created to guide
behaviour. They provide standards or benchmarks against which conduct is evaluated in relation to values.
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C. THE IOC CODE OF ETHICS
The IOC Code of Ethics and regulations, set up by the IOC
Ethics Commission, have become necessary in order to help
people understand the major red line which must not be
breached. The IOC Code of Ethics is based on the principles
enshrined in the Olympic Charter and is applicable to the
whole Olympic Movement worldwide.
Dignity
1. Safeguarding the dignity of the individual is a
fundamental requirement of Olympism.
2. There shall be no discrimination between the
participants on the basis of race, gender, ethnic origin,
religion, philosophical or political opinion, marital IOC
status or other grounds.
3. All doping practices at all levels are strictly prohibited. The provisions against doping in the World
Anti-Doping Code shall be scrupulously observed.
4. All forms of harassment of participants, be it physical, professional or sexual, and any physical or
mental injuries to participants are prohibited.
5. All forms of participation in, or support for betting related to the Olympic Games, and all forms of
promotion of betting related to the Olympic Games are prohibited.
6. The athletes conditions of safety, well-being and medical care favourable to their physical and
mental equilibrium must be guaranteed.
Integrity
1. The Olympic parties1 or their representatives shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, accept or offer
any form of remuneration or commission, nor any concealed benefit or service of any nature,
connected with the organisation of the Olympic Games.
2. Only gifts of nominal value, in accordance with prevailing local customs, may be given or accepted
by the Olympic parties, as a mark of respect or friendship. Any other gift must be passed on to
the organisation of which the beneficiary is a member.
3. Any form of conflicts of interests must be avoided.
4. The Olympic parties shall use due care and diligence in fulfilling their mission. They must not act
in a manner likely to tarnish the reputation of the Olympic Movement.
5. The Olympic parties, their agents or their representatives must not be involved with firms or persons
whose activity or reputation is inconsistent with the principles set out in the Olympic Charter and
the IOC Code of Ethics.
Resources
1. The Olympic resources of the Olympic parties may be used only for Olympic purposes.
2. The income and expenditure of the Olympic parties shall be recorded in their accounts, which
must be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. An independent
auditor will check these accounts.
1
In the IOC Code of Ethics, the Olympic parties are the IOC and each of its members, the cities wishing to organise the Olympic Games, the
Organising Committees of the Olympic Games and the NOCs.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 115
3. In cases where the IOC gives financial support to Olympic parties:
a) t he use of these Olympic resources for Olympic purposes must be clearly demonstrated in the
accounts;
b) t he accounts of the Olympic parties may be subjected to auditing by an expert designated by
the IOC Executive Board.
4. The Olympic parties recognise the significant contribution that broadcasters, sponsors, partners
and other supporters of sport events make to the development and prestige of the Olympic Games
throughout the world. However, such support must be in a form consistent with the rules of sport
and the principles defined in the Olympic Charter. They must not interfere in the running of sport
institutions.
Kishimoto
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Expertise Sport organisations require expertise and staff knowledge in the areas of drug use in sport,
the promotion of fair play and matters of ethics. This could involve recruiting expert advisors, hiring
an appropriately trained ethicist or contracting for such services, and could require a certain amount
of staff education / training (e.g. material designed to give staff the necessary background information
for understanding the language and concepts of moral reasoning and judgment, and processes for
reflecting on moral issues).
Business practices Ethical business practice is essential. Examples of unethical behaviour include:
false or misleading information, misrepresentation (e.g. qualifications), misappropriation of property
(including such things as membership lists, sponsorship proposals), inappropriate marketing practices,
unfair athlete contracts or coaching employment agreements, fraudulent solicitations, or confidential
material disclosure.
Area-specific policies and practices
These are needed in areas such as:
gender equity;
multiculturalism;
racism;
discrimination;
integration of athletes with disabilities;
harassment;
safety; and
drug-free sport. All rights reserved
Quality control system Internal quality control of ethical actions could include the following:
policy review: what policies / procedures exist; their clarity, thoroughness, specific steps to address
problems, specific targets and monitoring systems;
process review: how policies and programmes are developed and implemented;
programme review: are values / ethics incorporated into decision-making and programme delivery?
External quality control would require feedback from those affected by the policies / programmes. This
might be obtained from:
focus group research;
surveys; and
audits (value audits, ethical audits).
E. Questions
1. Why is ethics important to sport?
2. D oes your organisation have a code of ethics or related policies? If not, what can be done to amend
this situation?
3. H ow can athletes serve as role models of ethical behaviour to youngsters?
References
IOC Code of Ethics, www.olympic.org
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 117
118
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UNIT 20
GOVERNMENT AND SPORT
A. The relationship between government
and sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
B. Principles of autonomy of the Olympic and
sport movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
C. Good governance of organisations within the
Olympic and sport movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
IOC/John Huet
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 119
A. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND SPORT
In most countries, sport is an important area for governments and is often linked to youth. Indeed, it may
be a means of encouraging young people to become involved in healthy social activities; promoting health;
fostering the educational progress and personal development of athletes and sport players of all ages;
focusing on cultural and social values; achieving prestige nationally and internationally; highlighting the
concepts of excellence and fair play; and stimulating international exchanges.
The support given by the public authorities and the technical and financial resources provided for sport
development can vary widely depending on the political choices, level of development and priorities
in different countries. However, since governments often play a key role in the development of sport,
this requires good cooperation between public authorities and sport organisations. This is why the
Olympic Movement hopes for and encourages harmonious collaboration between sport organisations
and public authorities.
This means that public authorities must respect the autonomy of sport organisations (in particular NOCs
and national sport federations) and must in no way intervene in or interfere with the internal affairs of these
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organisations. The internal operating procedures, decision-making mechanisms, running of meetings,
election methods, etc. fall within the remit of these organisations themselves and must be defined in their
own statutes (adopted by the general assembly of each organisation) in accordance with the rules applicable
in each country and the rules of the international sport bodies to which they are affiliated.
This in no way prevents the sport organisations from deciding (at their own discretion) to invite government
representatives to their meetings or communicating to them their activity reports and / or accounts for
information purposes and in the interest of transparency, in order to have a good working relationship with
the public authorities. Moreover, if the sport organisation receives public funding, it is logical and legitimate
that it should report to the relevant public authorities on how these public subsidies are used. This must
not, however, be used by these public authorities to justify interference in the internal functioning of these
organisations; rather they should work complementarily and jointly on developing these organisations and
hence sport activity in general.
By way of illustration of the above, the Olympic Charter (2010) includes the following provisions on this subject:
Rule 28.5: In order to fulfil their mission, the NOCs may cooperate with governmental bodies, with which
they shall achieve harmonious relations. However, they shall not associate themselves with any activity
which would be in contradiction with the Olympic Charter. []
Rule 28.6: The NOCs must preserve their autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind, including but not
limited to political, legal, religious or economic pressures which may prevent them from complying with
the Olympic Charter.
Rule 28.9: Apart from the measures and sanctions provided in the case of infringement of the Olympic
Charter, the IOC Executive Board may take any appropriate decisions for the protection of the Olympic
Movement in the country of an NOC, including suspension of or withdrawal of recognition from such NOC if
the constitution, law or other regulations in force in the country concerned, or any act by any governmental
or other body causes the activity of the NOC or the making or expression of its will to be hampered.[]
41. The legitimacy and autonomy of the Olympic Movement depends on upholding the highest standards
of ethical behaviour and good governance. All members of the Olympic Movement should adopt, as their
minimum standard, the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic Movement, as proposed
by the IOC. All members of the Olympic Movement must always demonstrate integrity, accountability and
transparency, as well as the highest level of management skills; and they must ensure that at all times their
legal status is both fully consistent with their activities and responsibilities and wholly compliant with the
laws of the land (applicable laws).
42. All members of the Olympic Movement should keep annual accounts in accordance with acknowledged
standards of accounting; ensure they have an independent audit or verification of their accounts; adopt
rules, norms and practices under which those who cannot comply with good governance may lose financial
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 121
support or be sanctioned; adopt and implement a code of ethics based on the principles and rules of the
IOC Code of Ethics; and always seek to protect and promote the interests of the athletes they represent.
The full text of the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic and Sport Movement
can be found in Section 3, Theme 2, Unit 34 on Governance of sport organisations, point C.
D. QUESTIONS
1. How does the government help your sport organisation and vice versa?
2. Is there a national sport plan? If so who is responsible for drawing it up? And who is responsible for
monitoring its implementation?
3. Does your country have a sport law? What does it say?
4. What are your governments policy and priorities for sport?
5. How do you apply for government money? How could you improve your grant application?
6. W hat course of action could your sport organisation take when it has a major disagreement
with government?
References
Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance, IOC, 2008, www.olympic.org and Section 3 of the Manual, Theme 2,
Unit 34, point C
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UNIT 21
ARBITRATION AND DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
A. Settling sport-related disputes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
B. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) . . . . . . . 124
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
IOC/Hlne Tobler
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 123
A. SETTLING SPORT-RELATED DISPUTES
The problems posed by the application of law within the world of sport are becoming increasingly complex.
Today, sport influences ever larger areas of our society through its commercialisation, media impact and
internationalisation. This evolution has unavoidably brought with it an increase in the number of disputes
connected with sport activities.
Generally speaking, it is highly recommended that sport organisations handle and resolve any sport-related
conflicts in a friendly way, outside traditional ordinary courts, whenever possible and if the parties involved
are willing to do so, with the possibility of appealing to specialised institutions in the area of sport, such
as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
To do so, sport organisations can establish, on their respective levels, conflict resolution mechanisms
through mediation, conciliation or arbitration by creating, for example, specific bodies which can as
far as possible resolve conflicts at local level (with, if needed, the possibility of appeal to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport). The competence, composition or functioning of these bodies should be defined in
a statutory way, respecting basic principles such as the independence and neutrality of their functioning,
procedures and decisions.
The 2009 Olympic Congress issued the following recommendation in this respect:
Arbitration in general
The state legal system does not give state courts a monopoly over settling
disputes. It is accepted that, within certain limits, the parties to a dispute
may, by means of a contract, entrust the task of settling private-law
disputes to non-state bodies, arbitral tribunals, created for this purpose.
If their independence is guaranteed, these tribunals may intervene instead
of ordinary jurisdictions within the limits of their competence, thereby
excluding recourse by the parties to state courts. Arbitral awards have
the same binding force as the judgements of state courts in civil matters.
Getty/Harry How
The CAS, which is overseen by the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS), is split into two divisions:
an ordinary arbitration division, which has the task of resolving disputes submitted to the ordinary
procedure; and
an appeals arbitration division, responsible for resolving disputes concerning the decisions of
disciplinary tribunals or similar bodies of federations, associations or other sport bodies.
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The CAS has more than 150 arbitrators from 55 countries, chosen for their specialist knowledge of arbitration
and sport law. Around 300 cases are registered by the CAS every year. The CAS head office is in Lausanne,
Switzerland. Two decentralised offices are also available to the parties, one in Sydney, Australia, the other
in New York, United States.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 125
rule on the basis of the regulations of the body concerned by the appeal and, subsidiarily, the law of the
country in which the body is domiciled. The procedure itself is governed by the Code of Sports-related
Arbitration.
C. QUESTIONS
1. How do you resolve sport-related conflicts within your organisation?
2. How can your sport organisation improve its conflict resolution mechanisms?
References
CAS website, www.tas-cas.org
Code of Sports-related Arbitration and Mediation Rules, www.tas-cas.org/statutes
Rules for the Resolution of Disputes Arising During the Olympic Games, www.tas-cas.org/adhoc-rules
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UNIT 22
SPORT AND PEACE
OLYMPIC TRUCE
A. The Olympic Truce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
B. IOC initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 127
A. THE OLYMPIC TRUCE
Rule 2 of the Olympic Charter (2010) identifies the mission and role of the IOC and states under paragraph
4 that: The IOCs role is to cooperate with the competent public or private organisations and authorities
in the endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace.
The tradition of the Truce or Ekecheiria was established in ancient Greece in the 9th century BC by the
signature of a treaty between three kings. During the Truce period, the athletes, artists and their families
as well as ordinary pilgrims could travel in total safety to participate in or attend the Olympic Games and
return afterwards to their respective countries. As the opening of the Games approached, the sacred Truce
was proclaimed and announced by citizens of Elis (ancient Greek district) who travelled throughout Greece
to pass on the message.
The Olympic Truce is symbolised by the dove of peace, with the traditional Olympic flame in the background.
The Olympic flame represents the warmth of friendship to all the people of the world. In the symbol, the
flame is made up of colourful effervescent elements, reminiscent of festivities experienced in the celebration
of the human spirit. These elements represent people of all origins coming together for the observance
of the Truce.
Taking into account the global context in which sport and the Olympic Games exist, in 1992, the IOC decided
to revive the ancient concept of the Olympic Truce to encourage the search for peaceful and diplomatic
solutions to conflicts around the world.
The IOC undertakings for the Olympic Truce extend beyond the period of the Olympic Games and have
led to the implementation of a series of sport for peace activities.
B. IOC INITIATIVES
Cooperation with the United Nations
The first IOC peace initiative was launched in 1992 in
collaboration with the United Nations (UN), allowing
athletes of the former Republic of Yugoslavia to
participate in the Barcelona Olympic Games. Since
1993, one year before each edition of the Olympic
Games, the UN General Assembly has repeatedly
expressed its support by unanimously adopting a
resolution entitled Building a peaceful and better
world through sport and the Olympic ideal. Through
this symbolic resolution, the UN invites its member
states to observe the Olympic Truce individually or
collectively, and to seek, in conformity with the goals
and principles of the United Nations Charter, the
peaceful settling of all international conflicts through
peaceful and diplomatic means. IOC/Richard Julliart
In addition, the IOC and the United Nations have committed to use the power of sport to promote dialogue
and mutual understanding between communities, and as a way of resolving conflicts. In this regard, the
IOC has initiated peace and sport activities in cooperation with United Nations peacekeeping missions in
countries in conflict.
NOCs are also encouraged to collaborate with the United Nations and other international and national
organisations to promote peace through sport.
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International Olympic Truce Foundation (IOTF)
In order to promote peace through sport and the Olympic ideal, the IOC established an International Olympic
Truce Foundation (IOTF) in July 2000. The IOTF is administered by a Board composed of personalities from
the worlds of sport and politics, and meets once a year. As a non-governmental organisation belonging to
the Olympic Movement, the IOTF undertakes:
to promote the Olympic ideals to serve peace, friendship and understanding in the world, and in
particular, to promote the ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic Truce; and
to initiate conflict prevention and resolution through sport, culture and the Olympic ideals by
cooperating with all inter- and non-governmental organisations specialised in this field, by developing
educational and research programmes, and by launching communications campaigns to promote
the Olympic Truce.
The Centre cooperates with all intergovernmental organisations and with national and international institutions
specialised in peace and conflict prevention and resolution. It develops educational and research programmes
related to the Olympic Truce and peace projects and disseminates studies and research results or any
relevant material to promote the Olympic Truce.
Conferences, forums, meetings and congresses on sport and peace are organised, where NOCs of different
countries present their projects using sport as a tool to promote peace between countries in conflict.
IOC/John Huet
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 129
C. QUESTIONS
1. Is your sport organisation interested in becoming involved in the sport and peace initiatives of the
Olympic Movement?
2. If so, how might it do so and how could these ideas be implemented?
3. W hat benefits to your sport organisation and community would result from such involvement?
References
Sport for Development and Peace: Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Report from the United Nations
Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace, United Nations, 2003, www.un.org/themes/sport
Olympic Truce Peace Inspired by Sport, International Olympic Truce Centre, 2008, www.olympictruce.org
Report on the First International Forum on Sport, Peace and Development, IOC, 2009, www.olympic.org
130
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UNIT 23
OLYMPIC CULTURE
AND EDUCATION
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
B. IOC culture and education programmes . . . . . . 132
C. Others involved in Olympic education . . . . . . . . 134
D. Olympic museums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 131
A. INTRODUCTION
Education and culture are at the heart of the Olympic Movement. The Olympic Charter (2010) clearly
stipulates that The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world
by educating youth through sport practised in accordance with Olympism and its values. The Olympic
Charter (2010) refers to the cultural elements of Olympism and the Olympic Movement as follows in Rule
28 (2) - Mission and Role of the NOCs.
2.1 to promote the fundamental principles and values of Olympism in their countries, in particular, in the
fields of sport and education, by promoting Olympic educational programmes in all levels of schools, sports
and physical education institutions and universities, as well as by encouraging the creation of institutions
dedicated to Olympic education, such as National Olympic Academies, Olympic Museums and other
programmes, including cultural, related to the Olympic Movement.
3.1 regularly organise if possible each year an Olympic Day or Week intended to promote the Olympic
Movement;
3.2 include in their activities the promotion of culture and arts in the fields of sport and Olympism.
The aim of these Forums is to regularly assess the progress made in the field of education, culture and
sport by the Olympic Movement, give an opportunity to provide new knowledge on these issues by
sharing experiences and expertise from different sectors of society, and encourage cooperation and
further development of policies in these matters.
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Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP)
The Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) is based on Olympic values and targeted at young
people. OVEP forms part of the Olympic Movements education through sport programme that aims to
mentor young people, using sport to instil human values and attracting youngsters to physical activity at
an early age. An Olympic Education Toolkit has been developed in order to help educators, coaches and
youth group leaders teach the educational values of the Olympic Movement.
The IOC Department of International Cooperation and Development organises Train the Trainers workshops
on a regular basis. The purpose of the workshops are to educate educators with respect to the contents
and methodologies of the IOCs OVEP Toolkit.
IOC contests
The purpose of the IOC contests is to encourage cultural exchanges and promote the diversity of cultures
between editions of the Olympic Games. Information on the contests and participation procedures are
communicated to all the NOCs by the respective IOC departments.
Olympiart Award Launched in 1991 and awarded every four years, the Olympiart Award was the first
Culture and Education Commission contest aimed at strengthening the link between the arts and the
celebration of the Olympiad. Since 2004, the award has been given to an artist from the host country of
the Games of the Olympiad. Olympiart is a symbolic award that serves to remind the Olympic Movement
of the place art has in its midst.
Sport and Art Contest The IOC Sport and Art Contest is held every four
years and considers graphic works and sculptures. It provides an opportunity
for NOCs to organise a national contest in cooperation with art schools and to
foster an active synergy between art and sport. The best works from the national
competitions are entered in the international contest and the winning works are
exhibited at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne and at the Olympic Games, as
well as printed in a brochure.
Olympic Sport and Literature Competition The IOC Sport and Literature
Competition was created in 2001 and recognises the best works related to the
Olympic spirit or Olympic values in three age categories (under 12, 12 to 18
and over 19). Competitions in some countries are held at a number of schools,
thanks to cooperation with ministries of education. Creating works in their
respective languages, contributors illustrate the Olympic values. The winners
in each category, in the language of each country and region, are chosen by
national juries. The winning texts from each NOC are published in a brochure
in their original language. IOC/Daniel Stucki
Sport and Photography Competition The IOC Sport and Photography Competition is organised for amateur
photographers. An international jury composed of IOC members, Culture and Education Commission members
and professional photographers, with the assistance of the World Press Photo Foundation, selects three winners
for each of the three categories, who are invited to an award ceremony held at the International Olympic
Academy in Olympia. Their work is published in a brochure, which is the first time that many of these young
photographers have their work in print.
Sport and Singing Competition Launched in November 2007, the IOC Sport and Singing Competition
is the most recently introduced contest. Although the contest is new, the association of art and music
stretches back to the early modern Olympics, when competitions were held to find an Olympic anthem.
All NOCs are invited to organise a national singing contest inspired by the idea of sport and to submit a
song on DVD, composed of original lyrics, music and choreography, for the international competition. The
winning singers are invited to perform their song at the Olympic Games.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 133
Olympic Solidarity
Olympic Solidarity encourages NOCs and their National Olympic Academies to be actively involved in the
field of Olympic culture and education. For example, it supports the participation of certain NOCs delegates
in the IOC World Forums on Education, Culture and Sport, and can assist NOCs with organisational costs
to stage the national phase of the IOC contests. It also helps NOCs to set up and carry out initiatives
nationally, by means of programmes and / or specific activities such as the creation of National Olympic
Academies, establishment of Olympic education programmes in schools and universities, and assistance
for exhibitions or other cultural activities linked to sport.
The International Olympic Academy (IOA) has grown from just one annual session, with participants camping
in tents and the site of ancient Olympia serving as the backdrop for lectures, to what is today a permanent
site where a series of sessions, seminars and other activities are held each year. The Academy facilities
now include two conference halls, one with 450 seats equipped with the latest technology, a library,
accommodation for 250 people, sport facilities, a restaurant and administrative buildings.
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Today, the mission of the IOA is to:
function as an international academic centre for Olympic studies, education and research and act
as an international forum for free expression and the exchange of ideas;
bring together members of the Olympic family, academics, athletes, sport administrators and young
people from around the world in a spirit of friendship and cooperation;
motivate the participants to use the experiences and knowledge gained at the IOA to productively
promote the Olympic ideals in their respective countries;
serve and promote the Olympic ideals and the fundamental principles of Olympism and further
explore and enhance the contributions of Olympism to humanity; and
cooperate with and assist the National Olympic Academies and any other institutions devoted to
Olympic education.
The IOA meets its mission through its organisation of a series of sessions, seminars and other
activities which include:
an annual International Session for Young Participants;
an International Seminar on Olympic Studies for Postgraduate Students;
a variety of international sessions targeting specific participant groups such as educators and
directors of higher institutes of physical education, directors of National Olympic Academies and
National Olympic Committee staff, sport journalists and Olympic medallists;
special sessions for institutions indirectly linked with Olympism, whose goal is to promote the
Olympic values;
conferences on sport science; and
visits from researchers on Olympic subjects.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 135
D. OLYMPIC MUSEUMS
The Olympic Museum is for everyone who is keen on sport and the Olympic Movement; all those who take
an interest in history, culture and art; and all those who care about the future of our society. Juan Antonio
Samaranch, IOC President, 1980 2001
Creating an Olympic Museum is responding to a need and a duty, as Olympism is clearly defined by the
Olympic Charter (see Fundamental Principles 1 and 2) as an educational and cultural project through sport.
The mission of an Olympic Museum is to preserve sport artefacts and to make its general audience (visitors,
schools, Olympic family, cultural and educational institutions) aware of the breadth and importance of the
Olympic ideals. By means of images, exhibitions, and educational and cultural programmes, it gives a
dynamic image of Olympism and Olympic values to fulfill the educational role of the Olympic Movement.
With this in mind, a survey conducted through the NOCs by The Olympic Museum in Lausanne revealed
the existence of 86 such institutions linked to NOCs throughout the world. For all these institutions,
which share more or less the same subject matter, one objective would be to grow together towards more
efficient management and thereby create a greater impact on the target public. The Olympic Museum is
providing expertise on specific museological requests and is trying to define programmes of collaboration
and know-how transfer with the different members of the Olympic family eager to contribute to projects
such as collections, exhibitions, educational services and cultural development.
A group of 16 museums (12 members and four associated members) led by The Olympic Museum is already
working together on synergies and joint projects with the idea of creating a future platform of cooperation
under the name of the Olympic Museums Network.
E. QUESTIONS
1. What are some of the cultural and educational programmes promoting the Olympic Movement in your country?
2. How could you use the Olympic Day to further promote Olympic cultural and educational programmes?
3. H ow would you organise Olympic cultural or education programmes? What partnerships would you
need to develop to do so?
4. D o you take sufficient care of your Olympic legacy? If so, how?
5. How could the Olympic legacy be enhanced?
6. How do you make the Olympic legacy available to the public?
References
Sport, Culture and Education: The Meeting Point, IOC, 2008, www.olympic.org
Teaching Values: An Olympic Education Toolkit, IOC, 2007, www.olympic.org
5th World Forum on Sport, Education and Culture - Sport and a World of Harmony: The role of Olympic Education and
Culture, 2006, www.olympic.org
6th World Forum on Sport, Education and Culture Sport and Education for the Now Generation, 2009, www.olympic.org
International Olympic Academy website: www.ioa.org.gr
International Pierre de Coubertin Committee website: www.coubertin.ch
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UNIT 24
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
B. IOC policy and programme initiatives . . . . . . . . . 138
C. Games that respect the environment . . . . . . . . . 139
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Kishimoto
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 137
A. INTRODUCTION
Recognising its responsibility to promote sustainable development, the IOC considers the environment as an
integral dimension of Olympism, alongside sport and culture. In 1995, it created its Sport and Environment
Commission to advise it on the promotion of sustainable development and environmental responsibility.
Sustainable development satisfies the needs of the present generation without compromising the chance
for future generations to satisfy theirs. Brundtland Report (1987)
The starting point of sustainable development is the idea that the long-term preservation of our environment,
our habitat as well as its biodiversity and natural resources and the environment will only be possible
if combined simultaneously with economic, social and political development particularly geared to the
benefit of the poorest members of society. It finds expression in the integrated concept of environment
and development. Olympic Movements Agenda 21
The IOC has influenced the development of the sport and environment agenda at national, regional and
international levels. It strives to promote Olympic Games which respect the environment and meet the standards
of sustainable development. It also aims to promote awareness among the members of the Olympic family
and sport practitioners of the importance of a healthy environment and sustainable development.
The Olympic Charter (2010) refers to environmental protection in Rule 2, paragraph 13.
[The IOCs role with respect to environment is]: to encourage and support a responsible concern for
environmental issues, to promote sustainable development in sport and to require that the Olympic Games
are held accordingly.
Agenda 21
Taking into consideration the decisions adopted in 1992 by the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro regarding
Agenda 21, the Olympic Movement decided to establish its own Agenda 21. Adopted by the IOC Session
in 1999, the aim of Agenda 21 is to encourage members to participate actively in sustainable development.
It presents fundamental concepts and the general actions to be undertaken to attain this objective.
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The Manual is structured around five chapters:
1. current knowledge on environment and sustainable development
2. environmental and sustainable development issues related to the world of sport
3. application of these precepts in the organisation of a sport event
4. issues in relation to each individual Olympic sport
5. motivations to take action Think globally, act locally
Olympic Solidarity
Olympic Solidarity assists in the promotion of sustainable development through its Sport and Environment
programme, which encourages NOCs to undertake, implement and promote programmes and initiatives
using sport as a tool for sustainable development.
For example, Olympic Solidarity helps NOCs to send delegates to the IOC World Conferences and Regional
Seminars on Sport and Environment, and helps them to set up and carry out individual initiatives on a
national basis. These might include national seminars, targeted awareness campaigns, educational activities
and study projects.
The winners were chosen from among individuals, groups and organisations nominated by NOCs, IFs and
Continental Associations, taking into account the following basic evaluation criteria: impact of the initiative
on the promotion of sustainable sport; ability of the initiative to be carried on and to serve as a catalyst for
sustainable sport practice worldwide; voluntary contributions and innovative approaches.
The Applicant and Candidate City procedure and questionnaire documentation includes environmental
and sustainable development guiding principles and requirements in many areas. Statements provided
by Candidate Cities are verified by an Evaluation Commission, which includes an environmental advisor.
Once elected, the host city is assisted and guided in its preparations by the IOC Coordination Commission,
which also includes an environmental advisor.
The IOCs objective is that, during the staging of the Games, environmental risks are avoided and reduced
where possible and that the positive impacts and opportunities of the event are maximised. The ultimate
objective is to bequeath a positive Olympic Games legacy to the host city, its region and country.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 139
Vancouver 2010
During the Vancouver bid for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the not-for-profit
society 2010 Legacies Now was created. The societys mission is to work in partnership
with community organisations, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and all
levels of government to develop sustainable legacies in sport and recreation, arts, literacy and
volunteerism. The programme helps communities to discover and create unique and inclusive
social and economic opportunities leading up to and beyond the Games.
As part of its environmental stewardship and impact reduction commitments, Vancouver 2010
is addressing the current pressing issues of climate change, environmental conservation,
labour shortages, ethical sourcing, global economic uncertainty and the need to develop
opportunities and benefits for people who might not typically benefit from a mega-event
such as the Games.
London 2012
One example of an Organising Committee putting enormous energy into using the Games
to enhance the environment and create sustainable communities is the multi-billion pound
rehabilitation of east London between the River Thames and Stratford, all based on hosting
the 2012 Games and the requirement to provide Olympic venues, green spaces and new
infrastructure.
The London 2012 Sustainability Plan Towards One Planet 2010 has been developed
as a framework for how London 2012 and its partners intend to address the issues of
environmental protection and sustainability. The five priority themes are climate change,
waste, biodiversity, inclusion and healthy living.
Sochi 2014
The Russian Federation will host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Its bid document
promised specific environmental achievements, including carbon neutrality and ISO 14001
certification. In February 2008, the Russian Federation invited UNEP to discuss supporting
efforts to green the 2014 Games. UNEP focused its attention on the sensitive environmental
locations of some mountain venues which are to be built in areas of the Sochi National
Park and close to the Caucasus Biosphere Nature Reserve.
Kishimoto
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The Olympic Games Impact Study: OGI
The hosting of an Olympic Games has a significant impact on the host city and its community. From
tangible infrastructure construction such as competition venues and transport improvements, through to
the evolution of the image of a host city, the event acts as a vehicle and catalyst which leaves a lasting
mark through its economic, urban, social or historic influence. To what extent, with what results, and with
what benefits, has been a long-lasting debate.
To answer these questions, and to assist the needs of the OCOG in this area, the IOC created the Olympic
Games Impact (OGI) study. The principal objectives of OGI are: to measure the overall impact of the Olympic
Games; to assist bidding cities and future OCOGs through the transfer of strategic directions obtained
from past and present Olympic Games; and to identify potential legacies, thereby maximising the benefits
of their Olympic Games.
In order to measure the impact of the Olympic Games, concrete measurement tools were needed. More
than 100 research indicators were created and grouped into the three internationally recognised spheres of
sustainable development: economic, socio-cultural, and environmental. The OGI indicators cover a vast range
of activities, from those that are a direct result of the staging of the Olympic Games such as the construction
of competition venues or the Olympic Village, to others that are a more indirect consequence, such as
the evolution of transport and accommodation infrastructure. Other indicators facilitate the monitoring of
contextual data within a host city and its region, such as crime rates, sport participation and water quality.
At present, the Beijing, Vancouver, London and Sochi OCOGs are conducting the study.
D. QUESTIONS
1. W hat environmental and sustainable development programmes does your sport organisation support
or participate in?
2. W hat are some of the opportunities to do so?
3. Are there projects in which athletes can participate, such as Olympic Day activities or partnerships with
schools?
References
Olympic Movements Agenda 21 Sport for sustainable
development, www.olympic.org
Report on the 8th World Conference on Sport and the
Environment, IOC, 2009, www.olympic.org
IOC Guide on Sport, Environment and Sustainable
Development, 2006, www.olympic.org
Independent Environmental Assessment: Beijing
2008 Olympic Games United Nations Environment
Programme, 2009, www.unep.org
Kishimoto
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 141
Management is a process that occurs within organisations in order to
structure and direct resources to meet stated objectives. Management
is an important concept in all sport organisations, no matter how small
they are, or whether they are staffed by volunteers, paid employees or
both. This section will refer to managers and management and has four
main themes: management skills, management of the environment,
management of resources, and management of activities. Key aspects
of these four themes will be discussed in detail and tools that may assist
you with the management of your organisation will also be provided
where appropriate.
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III
Management
THEME 1: MANAGEMENT SKILLS
A number of key management skills are required to manage and administer a sport organisation.
Seven of these are discussed in this part of Section III.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 143
144
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UNIT 25
COMMUNICATION
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
B. Effective communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
C. Types of communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
D. Methods of communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
E. Barriers to effective communication . . . . . . . . . . 149
F. Tools to help with communication . . . . . . . . . . . 149
G. The media conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
H. Report-writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
I. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Kishimoto
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 145
A. INTRODUCTION
Communication is basically the transmission of information by any means. We communicate in order to
influence or affect the understanding, attitudes and behaviour of others. This allows us to manage people,
make decisions, plan and solve problems.
Communication must be clear, frequent and involve everyone. In the world of sport, communication between
athletes, coaches and administrators is essential if excellence is to be achieved.
The ability to communicate is arguably the most important skill we need in order to manage our organisations,
as an organisations growth and success depend to a large extent on how well its communication systems
work. Fortunately, effective communication is a skill that everyone can learn.
B. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
There are several ways of communicating information. How best to communicate will depend on three
main factors:
1. The target audience needs to be considered. For example, while it is appropriate to carry out staff
briefings orally, communication to members should be written, such as in the form of a newsletter.
In addition, information needs to be delivered in a style appropriate to the target audience. For
example, this may mean using large print or even pictures in order to communicate with children.
2. The purpose of the communication will affect the way the information should be delivered. Written
information tends to be more formal than oral communication. For example, a sponsorship contract
will be written, while a team could be announced orally.
3. The length of the communication is important. Short messages can be communicated orally, while
lengthy and complex information is better disseminated in writing so that people can return to it
to assist with understanding.
Target audience
It is important to recognise whom you are communicating with in order to improve your ability to communicate
well. You may need to communicate with the following broad categories of groups:
Sport colleagues athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, teachers and spectators. It is likely that
the majority of communication will be aimed at this group;
Community recreation departments, sport club administrators, community club supervisors and
media should be advised of the ongoing activities of your organisation;
District district sport organisations, sponsors, universities or colleges, media. Effective
communication with this group provides a wider support base for your programmes;
Regional (provincial) regional government ministries, provincial governing bodies, amateur sport
bodies, coaching and officiating federations, departments of youth and recreation, media;
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National national sport governing bodies, government departments, national coaching and
officiating bodies, professional bodies; and
International International Federations, IOC, Olympic Solidarity and other international
organisations.
C. TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
Communication can occur in a number of ways:
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 147
D. METHODS OF COMMUNICATION
There are a number of ways we can communicate with our target audience and a few of the main methods
are set out below:
Written This form of communication is the most accessible and effective in terms of resources
and the groups to be reached. Typical examples of written communication are:
Memos normally confined to the office or at least those intimately involved with the workings
of the organisation;
Letters used to communicate on a more personal basis outside the office environment;
Bulletins and newsletters used to communicate information simultaneously to a large target
group;
Media releases used to present information to the media; and
Electronic mail (e-mail) or fax used to distribute written and visual material quickly to a broad
audience and with a sense of urgency.
IOC/John Gichigi
Visual presentation This is an effective means of communicating but requires a great deal more
time or resources to implement. Types of visual presentation include:
Posters relatively inexpensive but effective;
Presentations require planning and personnel and are generally very effective but demanding
in terms of time and personnel;
PowerPoint presentations take time to create but the impact of a slide show with text and
images, sometimes with video, can be very useful; it is inexpensive to use and very portable on
a laptop;
Overhead projectors inexpensive to use and materials can be created quickly;
TV, video or movie presentations require substantial human, technical and financial resources;
and
CD / DVD / USB sticks very useful data storage devices for transporting or saving large quantities
of text and visual material.
Oral This type of communication is often preferred to other methods because of the instant
feedback and the ability to clarify or explain issues or procedures. Face-to-face communication
can be broadly categorised into:
Meetings basically a gathering of two or more people to discuss or explain a variety of issues;
and
Conferences, workshops, seminars there is usually an educational or instructional aspect to
these types of gatherings.
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E. BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that hamper effective communication. Some of these include:
Physical such as noise distractions;
Language jargon, technical terms, clichs;
Anxiety, threat, fear, suspicion and uncertainty communication breaks down when these are
present;
Status, power, authority and rank influence peoples receptiveness to communications;
Personal hostilities and needs old feuds and habitual fixed positions on issues;
Nervousness shyness, feelings of inadequacy;
Style of participation too much, too loud, too little, irrelevant;
Condescension patronising manner, speaking from a great height;
Defensiveness protectiveness, adamant about some ideas even though obsolete in light of new
data; and
Arrogance, haughtiness presumptuousness, an overbearing manner.
It is necessary to be aware of these behaviours and find ways of overcoming them. Improving communication
is the quickest and surest way to improve the success and effectiveness of your organisation. Therefore,
an ongoing evaluation of communication methods should be a priority.
Media releases
A media release is, in essence, a news story written by a publicist rather than a journalist. It informs the
media of what is about to happen, is happening or has happened.
Media releases are viewed by the media both positively and negatively. A real news story sent through a
media release makes the medias job easier. Erroneous, misdirected or irrelevant material in a release creates
a great deal of work for the journalist, a negative reaction towards the sender and a lot of wasted paper.
A successful media release must attract the medias attention to the event and give background information
about it. It must be presented in a format that allows immediate use of the material and it must be a
newsworthy item. The following guidelines will aid the creation of successful releases.
The most important part of the news story is the beginning or lead, which should contain the essence
of the story. It should involve the six elements of a news item, the five Ws and the H.
Who is involved?
What is happening?
When is the time of the event?
Where does the action take place?
Why - possible reasons for the action or event?
How did it happen?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 149
The lead should be as concise as possible. One sentence is preferable, two paragraphs are the maximum.
Once the lead is written, clarify the relevant details in descending order of importance. This allows the
editor to cut the story to fit any space limitations and the reader to absorb the essence of the story by
reading as little as the first paragraph.
News-writing
Once the lead is written, the rest of the release should support and clarify it. The following guidelines
should be followed:
Identify the main objective; know the objective of the story from the start and keep the story
focused on it.
Use simple active sentences; this is best achieved through consistent use of the active voice.
Avoid dead and wasted words - be simple and explicit.
Avoid obscure jargon; any jargon specific to the sport should be explained and / or written out;
jargon that is not understood gets in the way of communication.
Lists, charts or tables should be used whenever there is a large block of similar data; statistics
and results are almost always best presented in tabular form.
Fewer sentences per paragraph make the text easier on the eye and easier to read.
Publication style
Publication style does not refer to writing style but to the particular publications rules regarding spelling,
punctuation, capitalisation, forms of address and so on. It is best to research the style of the intended
publication and follow it.
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G. THE MEDIA CONFERENCE
A media conference is a routine matter for the working media. Unless the story is newsworthy, a media conference
is a waste of time for journalists. The general rule for media conferences is simple: use them sparingly. If you
have any doubt about whether to call a media conference, do not call it. Media conferences should be called
only for extraordinary events. Routine announcements are best handled using media releases.
There are two basic types of media conference: those called to announce a special news item and those
that are used to give the media access to particularly newsworthy personalities. The publicists job in both
these cases is to facilitate communication between the primary source, i.e. the authority on the issue to
be announced or the personality, and the media.
The size of the community determines to a great extent what is big news and worthy of a media conference.
The media conference should be called the day before a light news day if your main target is newspapers or
on a light news day if the main target is television. Determine media times and electronic media deadlines
before setting a time for the conference. The best time is usually before noon.
Facilities Consider the electrical requirements of television. Allow enough space for photographers,
cameramen and radio equipment. Arrange a physical set-up that allows all media access to the authority
or personality. A simple head table set before a seated audience is good.
Media kits It is a good idea to provide media kits for any major announcement or event. The media folder
or briefcase can be plain or branded with your organisation logo. What is really important is that the kit
provides useful information. This information inside the kit should include:
the text of prepared speeches that you wish to be distributed;
a covering media release summarising the highlights of the speech;
a fact sheet biographical data on all featured persons or events;
photographs of personalities or action shots;
a schedule of events and locations;
the identity and involvement of any sponsor; and
general information.
Audiovisual aids Make sure these are available and functioning properly. Audiovisual materials certainly
help to promote a message but generally do not take the place of personalities.
Duration Keep introductions and speeches to a minimum. Allow the media to ask questions. When questions
begin to wane or become repetitive, bring the formal part of the media conference to a smart conclusion.
Show some flair Be imaginative, catch the medias attention - give them something they want to report.
Dealing with difficult media It is always important to try to work positively with all media, no matter
how biased, opinionated or cynical. Providing information accurately, honestly and on time, and providing
useful material for them will help. Keeping your key spokespersons well informed will also help to ensure
that the media receive the information that your organisation wants to convey. Providing access to athletes
and good stories will also strengthen trust and relationships. If a particular media source or reporter is
unfairly critical, then speak directly to them about your concerns.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 151
H. REPORT-WRITING
Reports are very important ways of recording information and presenting it at meetings. You can save a
great deal of time by sending reports to committee members prior to meetings. Report-writing is a skill,
and the golden rule is to write reports that are accurate and to the point.
I. QUESTIONS
1. What prevents good communication in your organisation?
2. How will you improve future communication?
152
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UNIT 26
LEADERSHIP
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
B. The nature of leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
C. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
IOC/Ian Jones
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 153
A. INTRODUCTION
Leadership must be provided in any situation in order to make things happen. Leaders provide direction and
help everyone to move towards agreed goals. Although there are various explanations of the differences
between management and leadership, there is a general consensus that leadership is about the ability to
influence others in the pursuit of organisational goals. This means that, although all managers should be
able to lead, not all leaders will be managers, as leadership is not necessarily related to a specific position
in the organisation.
Experience, trial and error, personal growth and development all contribute to the process of becoming
a leader; it does not just happen overnight. Sport provides countless opportunities to use and develop
leadership abilities - as athletes, spectators, judges, technicians, organisers, health professionals, educators
and coaches.
Effective leaders are those whose group members feel their needs are being met and who themselves feel
their own needs are being met, i.e. there is an equitable exchange. In order to achieve this, you will need
to develop the skills specific to your particular responsibilities in sport and to feel comfortable applying
those skills in difficult as well as pleasant situations.
This means that, to be effective as a leader, you will need to be task-oriented, i.e. able to get the job
done, as well as process-oriented, i.e. focused on creating healthy interpersonal relationships. Task-
oriented leaders focus on what is required to do the task, such as the resources needed and the activities
that have to be completed. Process-oriented leaders focus on how the task is done and how the group
works together. You need to treat people decently while successfully motivating them to perform well in
their work. One does not happen without the other.
Unfortunately, being a proven leader in one situation does not necessarily guarantee success in another.
The situation itself has a direct relationship to the type of leader that will emerge and the success they
will experience. Leadership effectiveness appears to be the result of at least three complex factors: the
individual, the needs of those being led and the conditions of the immediate environment.
The individual
Individual qualities that have a direct impact on leader effectiveness are:
Age and experience Greater skill is often associated with age and experience and, in some
cultures, simply being older will cause people to think you are a good leader.
Technical skills If the task requires technical skills, those with these skills will often be considered
as leaders.
Style A good leader will be able to adapt their leadership style to the situation, moving between
being task-oriented and process-oriented as appropriate.
Position of control within organisation People in powerful positions are often assumed to be
leaders. It is certainly much easier to influence people if you are at the top of the organisation
rather than the bottom.
Personal qualities Good leaders are consistent, patient, empathetic, fair and equitable and
communicate well.
154
SECTION III
The needs of those being led
The ability to be a good leader will require you to understand the needs of those you are going to lead.
The personalities, characteristics, dispositions and behaviours of those being led have a great impact on
their leaders effectiveness. The following characteristics have an impact on leadership:
Need to affiliate People will differ in their need to be in a group. You will need to work differently
with different people.
Need to achieve People will differ in how much they need to complete the required task, or how
much they need to be successful. You may need to take this into account when allocating work.
Preferred rewards Individuals are motivated by different things and, as a leader, you will need
to know what motivates each person you are leading.
Need for independence Some individuals will not need your assistance beyond regular feedback
and perhaps some assurance. Others will want to check every detail with you.
Acceptance of authority - Some individuals do not like being managed, while others will want you
to keep a close eye on them and their work.
Tolerance of ambiguity - You will need to give clear and concise instructions to some individuals,
while others will work happily in a constantly changing situation.
The relationship between the characteristics of those being led and your effectiveness as a leader is
partially determined by the fact that certain types of individuals will respond to certain leadership styles.
For example, a person with the following characteristics would be better led by a task-oriented leader:
low affiliation needs high need for independence
high achievement needs high acceptance of authority
preference for material rewards low tolerance of ambiguity
Meanwhile, someone with the following characteristics would be better led by a process-oriented leader:
high affiliation needs low acceptance of authority
low achievement needs high tolerance of ambiguity
preference for intrinsic rewards
low need for independence
In reality, most people require a mixture of both, depending on the task and the situation.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 155
A task-oriented leader will excel when the nature of the task is structured, the degree of stress is high,
the role is clearly defined, the group is large and time constraints are tight. A process-oriented leader will
excel as these characteristics approach the other end of the spectrum.
Your primary responsibility as leader is to manage the human resources of the group in light of the situational
constraints. This requires sound communication and a climate of honesty and trust. You must also be
aware of your personal qualities and those of the group. People are motivated because of the satisfaction
and feelings of achievement they derive from the activity. Recognising which individuals will function best
in each situation before delegating accordingly is the easiest way to successful leadership.
Leadership qualities
There is no checklist of leadership behaviours appropriate to defined situations. The following suggestions
may help to enhance your leadership capabilities:
Be aware of your own capabilities and motives which affect your leadership.
Be aware of the characteristics and interests of the people you are leading.
Be flexible; change your style to suit the situation.
Step aside; allow others to emerge when the situation demands.
Recognise that it is not necessarily your efforts but the acceptance of your group and the particular
situation that has contributed to your success.
Giving orders and having them carried out is not leadership. It ignores the important dimension
called influence.
Delegation is important for others involvement and motivation is required to retain those you want to lead.
Try to identify the key factors in any situation that will affect your attempts to influence people.
Develop a master plan approach to leadership for consistency in achieving goals and objectives.
Provide experience and training for future leaders.
C. TOOLS
When developing your leadership qualities, ask yourself the following:
What are the privileges related to being in a leadership position in your organisation?
What are the responsibilities that come with this position?
What skills does a person need to be an effective leader in your organisation?
What characteristics do you think are important for someone in this position?
D. QUESTIONS
1. Who do you consider to be a good leader in your organisation?
2. Why are they a good leader?
156
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UNIT 27
SOLVING PROBLEMS
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
B. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Kishimoto
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 157
A. INTRODUCTION
There is a saying that a problem or crisis is a dangerous opportunity: it is something that has its own tension,
but it also produces the potential for a creative and helpful solution. Much of the work in an organisation is
related to problem-solving and having a structured approach to this will help you to work more effectively.
This is clearly a lengthy process and is not likely to occur for all problem-solving; indeed, it is not appropriate
to all problems. It is important, however, to take a structured approach when the problems are so significant
that they can fundamentally affect the organisation or the people working within it.
158
SECTION III
B. TOOLS
The outline that follows provides an opportunity for you to analyse a problem in sport. Keep in mind
that a positive attitude, which sees problem-solving as an opportunity, goes a long way to ensuring a
successful solution.
A good way to generate ideas for solutions is simply to brainstorm or think off the top of your head. Be
as outlandish as you want in listing the first things that come to mind. Sometimes ideas which seem far-
out can trigger other useful approaches.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 159
When you have completed the brainstorming session, spend a few minutes choosing your top three ideas
from the list. Be specific.
List the major action steps that you are going to take. Describe these steps in the order you expect them
to occur.
What authority do you require to proceed with your solution?
What key groups of individuals will you have to involve to provide resources and support?
What are the major stumbling blocks or obstacles that need to be overcome?
What are the first steps that need to be taken in the next few weeks?
Who will initiate action?
Who needs to be kept informed?
C. QUESTIONS
1. How do you solve problems at work?
2. How can this be improved?
3. How will the process outlined above help you?
160
SECTION III
UNIT 28
MAKING DECISIONS
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
B. Making decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
C. Decision-making methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
D. Guidelines for consensus in a group . . . . . . . . . 164
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
IOC/John Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 161
A. INTRODUCTION
Management is all about making decisions. To make rational decisions, we go through a process very
similar to that suggested above for problem-solving. We need to:
be clear about the choices available and the criteria against which the choice should be made;
obtain sufficient information in order to assess the choices; and
come to a decision.
B. MAKING DECISIONS
Decision-making rarely follows the process set out above as we tend to make decisions based on:
past experience;
knowledge of other organisations;
recent training;
judgement;
creativity; and
personal abilities.
We make decisions under time constraints and often without comprehensive information. Therefore,
decision-making is rarely rational. In fact, we generally aim to make the best possible or most satisfactory
decision under the circumstances. We try out solutions that have worked in the past or that have been
successful for other organisations, colleagues or departments. Although this type of decision-making is
arguably less effective than the decision-making process set out above, it does allow us to make the best
of limited time and to deal with as many issues as possible.
However, in order to make your decision-making as effective as possible, be sure you know the following:
What exactly are you trying to decide? e.g. Which stage of problem-solving are you in?
Who needs to be involved? (What authority is required?)
How should they be involved? (directly, consulted, informed)
When must you decide?
C. DECISION-MAKING METHODS
There are a number of ways of making a decision. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of five
decision-making methods that commonly occur in organisations.1
1
dapted from: Johnson, D.W. and Johnson, F. P., Joining Together. Group Theory and Group Skills. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs,
A
New Jersey. 1975. pp. 80-81.
162
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Decision by authority, without group discussion
This occurs when you make a decision without consulting anyone else. This might happen when you choose
a stationery supplier, for example.
Advantages Disadvantages
U seful for simple, routine decisions or when little time is O ne person is a limited resource for decision-making.
available to make a decision. T he advantages of group interaction are lost and the
Useful when there is a lack of skills and information resources of other members are not used.
among group members to make decisions any other N o commitment is developed for implementing the
way. decision by other group members and resentment and
Convenient for administration. disagreement may sabotage any action.
Advantages Disadvantages
Some use is made of the resources of group members. N o commitment is developed for implementing the
The benefits of group discussion are included. decision.
C onflicts and disagreements among members are not
resolved.
S ituations are created in which group members may
compete to impress the leader.
Advantages Disadvantages
T his is useful when not everyone can meet to make a P eople feel rail-roaded into going along with the
decision. decision.
This can be appropriate when there is a lot of time S ilence is often misinterpreted to mean consent and
pressure and a committee. this causes problems later.
D oes not use the resources of many group members
and therefore does not encourage involvement in
implementation.
Advantages Disadvantages
It resembles the democratic process used in many A n alienated minority is often left, which may damage
societies. future group effectiveness.
Useful when sufficient time is lacking to reach a R elevant resources of many group members may be
decision by consensus or when the decision is lost.
not crucial or does not require complete member C ommitment to implementing the decision is not totally
commitment. present, although group members may just go along
Discussion of extraneous or relatively unimportant with it.
issues is reduced.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 163
Decision by consensus
When using this method, a decision is arrived at after discussion among interested parties. This may
occur when discussing changing the format of your General Assembly or whether to hold a major event,
for example.
Advantages Disadvantages
A n innovative, creative and high-quality decision is A great deal of time and energy is required.
usually produced. T he leader requires interpersonal skills and
The resources of all the members are used. must understand the dynamics of participation,
Future decision-making of the group is enhanced. communication and controversy in groups.
Useful for making important and complex decisions
where it is important to have all members committed to
the outcome.
E. QUESTIONS
1. How good do you feel you are at making decisions? What makes you say this?
2. How could you improve your decision-making?
164
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UNIT 29
MANAGING TIME
A. Managing time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
B. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
IOC/Richard Juilliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 165
A. MANAGING TIME
Managing time is one of the challenges of being a successful manager. If time is not managed properly,
you run the risk of being unable to work as well as you would like. Alternatively, you may end up with so
much work that you cannot complete all that you need to.
Time-wasting activities
In order to have the time to do the work required, you will need a time-management strategy. First, however,
it is important to know what might lead you to waste time. These activities include:
not spending enough time prioritising tasks or being clear about what has to be achieved;
putting off tasks that have to be achieved because they are too difficult or boring;
working on tasks that are simple rather than important;
responding to the person who shouts the loudest rather than doing the most important task;
trying to do everything, rather than getting someone to assist;
giving out incorrect or poorly expressed information so that time is wasted by having to provide
more information or correcting errors; and
unnecessarily lengthy phone calls, meetings or conversations.
Time-management strategies
Once time-wasting activities have been identified, a time-management strategy should be formed, based
on five principles:
1. You need to record all commitments, including meetings, tasks to be completed and deadlines,
and carry out regular work planning.
2. You need to be clear about what it is you HAVE to achieve. This will allow you to prioritise your
work. It is easy to get sidetracked and to waste time on things that are interesting but not essential.
3. You need to structure your time. Divide your time into blocks and allocate these blocks to certain
activities. Tasks requiring concentration and research should be allocated to the time when you
feel most alert. Alternatively, responding to phone calls, paperwork and email can be left for times
when concentrated work is less possible.
4. You need to identify time periods when you can and cannot be disturbed by those who work with you.
5. You need to learn to say no. Rather than making you appear lazy, the ability to turn down requests
for work when overloaded will make you appear efficient and the work that you do will be better.
You may have, or will develop, different time-management strategies that work best for you. Different
techniques, such as using a to do list or working from home, will suit different occupations, management
styles and organisations. The key point is that, once time has been lost, it is impossible to make it up.
B. QUESTIONS
1. Do you have difficulty fitting in all that you have to do most days?
2. Which strategies listed above would be helpful?
166
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UNIT 30
MANAGING MEETINGS
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
B. Tips for good meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
C. Minutes of meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
IOC/Jonh Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 167
A. INTRODUCTION
All sport organisations hold meetings for one purpose or another, such as committee meetings or General
Assemblies as well as informal, internal meetings with volunteers, coaches and athletes. How your meetings
are run will depend on the purpose and to some extent, on the degree of formality. Formal meetings are
likely to have an established structure and process, while informal meetings may be more of a conversation
among the participants.
Getty/Brian Bahr
168
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C. MINUTES OF MEETINGS
It is important to have a good record of what has happened in the meeting. Minutes are important because:
they are an authenticated record of the proceedings;
they form the basis for any actions arising from decisions taken at the meeting;
they are important points of reference for an organisation; and
they form an important historical and archival record for the organisation.
The minutes should be checked and approved by the person who chaired the meeting prior to circulation.
These should then be circulated to everyone who should have access to the information.
It is important to adequately file minutes and all documentation related to meetings, in order to be able to
track any information when needed and to ensure continuity and adequate transfer of information.
D. QUESTIONS
1. How effective are the meetings that you have within your organisation?
2. How can these be improved?
IOC/Richard Juilliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 169
170
SECTION III
UNIT 31
MANAGING CONFLICT
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
B. Dealing with conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
IOC/Hlne Tobler
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 171
A. Introduction
Conflict between individuals and teams is a part of every organisation as we sometimes compete for
financial resources, managers time, equipment and even athletes. Conflict within organisations is not
always a bad thing and constructive conflict can serve a variety of functions. It can:
encourage people to work together to fight a common problem. For example, a reduction in funding
may encourage all coaches to work together to convince funding bodies to increase resources;
help define roles and increase understanding of others feelings. For example, debate over who
should be captain of a national team will highlight what is important to those having the debate
and the skills of those under consideration; and
help others understand the problem, since conflict usually arises when individuals are not aware
of the concerns of all involved.
Thus, constructive conflict is to be welcomed. However, since destructive conflict tends to be based
on personality differences or concerned with the preservation of power, you need to have a strategy for
dealing with it.
If you ignore conflict, there are likely to be negative consequences for the organisation. The best strategy is
to be aware of where conflict may arise and prevent it from arising. This will be helped by the fair allocation
of resources, and equitable and fair treatment of all involved with the organisation. Preventing conflict is not
always possible, however, and once conflict is identified, it needs to be managed efficiently and effectively.
C. QUESTIONS
1. What causes conflict within your organisation?
2. How is it dealt with?
3. How could you improve the way conflict is dealt with?
172
SECTION
III
THEME 2: MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT
The internal and external environments in which an organisation operates will affect how successful
your organisation can be.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 173
174
SECTION III
UNIT 32
THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
OF SPORT ORGANISATIONS
A. Your sport system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
B. Understanding your sport environment . . . . . . . 177
C. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
VANOC
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 175
A. YOUR SPORT SYSTEM
To manage your organisation effectively, you need to understand your operating environments, both internal
and external. This includes having an understanding of where your organisation fits within the Olympic
Movement. It is also important to know where your organisation fits into your countrys sport system. This
will tell you whom you need to work with in order to be successful.
The sport system of a country is made up of the various organisations that have an impact on sport, either
through policy, funding or programme delivery. The system will consist of organisations that are directly
related to sport, such as clubs and leagues, and organisations that are not directly related to sport, but
have an impact on sport, such as sponsors and government departments.
Stakeholders
A stakeholder is anyone who has a stake or interest in your organisation. That interest may not be material
or financial. It could be emotional, such as the interest that the general public has in the performance of
athletes from their country at the Olympic Games. For example, the stakeholders of a sports club could be:
members, athletes and officials
parents
schools
the national federation
sponsors
volunteers
Board members
paid staff (if applicable)
government
You need to know who your stakeholders are as these people will have expectations of your organisation.
They may affect your strategy or provide opportunities for partnerships (Unit 33). You need to know which
of your stakeholders are the most important so that you can focus on their expectations and needs.
Impact of government
Your countrys government is a key player in your sport system, in developing policy, delivering programmes
and providing funding. All of these will affect your organisation, no matter how small it is.
In particular, the attitude of politicians towards sport, the prominence of sport as a policy or political tool
and the relationships amongst the organisations responsible for sport in your country will all have a major
impact on your organisation. For example, if government policy values sport as a means of increasing health
or reducing juvenile crime, it is likely to be easier to access funds where sport can help implement these
services. If the relationship between sport organisations and government departments is poor, you may
find it more difficult to promote and support your sport. The stability of governments and key politicians
will also affect your ability to plan and fund activities. Perhaps most crucially, the value that government
policies place on physical education for children will dictate whether the country values sport or not.
The impact of government can be significant for many sport organisations, since governments dictate
which policies are important and this determines where funding goes. Therefore, you have a responsibility
to understand your governments approach to sport, its impact on you and what you might do, if anything,
to help shape policy.
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B. UNDERSTANDING YOUR SPORT ENVIRONMENT
Evaluating the external environment
Although you are operating within your countrys sport system, each organisation in this system operates
in a unique environment. A number of factors within the external environment will offer opportunities, but
will also pose challenges for your organisation. Therefore, you need to be aware that the following areas
of the operating environment may influence your management:
Political factors include legislation and policies, such as those issued by the IOC or the World
Anti-Doping Agency;
Socio-cultural factors the way that a society is structured and behaves, such as an aging
population, and a trend towards watching sport rather than taking part;
Economic factors such as the strength of the economy and the allocation of resources to specific
projects meeting government policy objectives; and
Legal factors sport organisations do not operate separately from the rest of society and therefore
your organisation will be affected by the legal rules of your country. As a result, you should have
some knowledge of laws that might have an impact on the organisation.
Within these areas, you need to examine and evaluate past performance in order to account for the reasons
behind your organisations past successes and failures. You must be able to explain these in order to learn
from the past. Next, you should evaluate current practices within the organisation. This should focus on
what is actually happening, not what policies or strategic documents say should happen. This will ensure
that the evaluation actually reflects the existing internal environment.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 177
C. TOOLS
You should regularly ask yourself the following questions to ensure that your organisation is being managed
as effectively as possible. These questions will also provide you with information for strategy development:
What importance does the government place on sport?
How important is my organisation to sport in my country?
How does the way that sport is structured in my country affect the delivery of sport? What would
improve this?
Do stakeholders value the work of my organisation?
Is the policy regarding physical education in schools supportive of participation?
Do people value sport in my country?
In particular, do parents value the participation of children in sport?
How is sport funded in my country?
What do I have to do to get funding?
Can I increase my funding or have it taken away?
What do I have to do to prove that my organisation is effective?
What activities draw people away from my organisation? Can I do anything about this?
What sports are the major competitors of my sport? What can I do about these?
What are the legal responsibilities of the organisation?
What are the legal responsibilities of the Board?
What risks are associated with my sport? How do I manage these?
What is considered to be negligent activity in sport in my countrys legal system?
Are there health and safety concerns that affect my organisation?
How easy is it to get volunteers? Will it continue to be this way?
D. QUESTIONS
1. How does your organisation fit into the countrys sport system?
2. Who are your main stakeholders?
3. What impact do they have on your organisation?
4. How well do you work with them?
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UNIT 33
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
B. Creating effective partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
IOC/Yo Nagaya
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 179
A. INTRODUCTION
Much of the work that you and your organisation do will require you to work in partnership with other
organisations. Partnerships will allow you to offer services that you may not have the capacity to provide
on your own. For example, by working in partnership with a university, you may be able to offer sports
science support to your athletes that would not be possible from your own resources. The concept of
synergy is important here. This is the idea that, by working in partnership, two organisations can deliver
more than they could on their own.
Establishing and maintaining partnerships is hard work. It requires you to identify a willing partner and then
for both of you to commit to the partnership fully. Partnerships will work effectively if there are:
clear objectives for the partnership. Without these, it may not be clear why the partnership
is necessary. Indeed, if you cannot set clear objectives, you should question the rationale for
the partnership;
clearly allocated work roles. These will set out what has to be achieved and who is responsible
for what;
agreed performance indicators and targets. These will allow progress and performance to be
monitored and will show whether the partnership is working effectively or not;
agreed resources. The resources required to meet the partnerships objectives do not have to be
shared equally, but they must be agreed. Whatever is agreed must then be made available;
strong interpersonal relationships based on trust and honesty. These are often more important
than the points above as, without them, the partnership will not work; and
a method of dealing with disputes. Inevitably, there will be disagreement about the way the
partnership operates, what it is to achieve and how it should be resourced. You need to anticipate
this and have a mechanism for dealing with it.
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membership:
Who should be part of the partnership?
Who should be the main partner?
management of the partnership:
How will decisions be made?
What are the main issues to be addressed and how will they be handled?
What ground rules should the partnership have?
How will partnership responsibilities be shared?
How and when will performance be reviewed?
How will conflict be dealt with?
resources:
How will the partnership be resourced?
As resourcing becomes more difficult and members expectations of what you will provide become greater,
the need to work in partnership with other organisations will increase. To make this easier, you might like to
consider non-traditional partners such as health organisations, as well as more traditional partners such as
schools. The key is to identify which organisations may help to add value to what your organisation offers.
Kishimoto
C. QUESTIONS
1. A re there areas for creating potential partnerships in the work that your organisation does?
2. W hat do you need to do to create these partnerships?
3. H ow effective are your existing partnerships?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 181
182
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UNIT 34
GOVERNANCE OF SPORT
ORGANISATIONS
A. What is governance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
B. Key principles of good governance . . . . . . . . . . 185
C. Universal principles of good governance of the
Olympic and sport movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Kishimoto
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 183
A. WHAT IS GOVERNANCE?
Because sport is based on ethics and fair competition, the governance of sport should fulfil the highest
standards in terms of transparency, democracy and accountability Jacques Rogge, IOC President
[Governance is] the systems and processes concerned with ensuring the overall direction, effectiveness,
supervision and accountability of an organisation The National Hub of Expertise in Governance (UK).
As sport becomes increasingly dependent on government funding and on sponsorship by private companies
and individuals, those responsible for running sport have a duty to ensure that sport is managed in an
appropriate manner. This begs the questions: who in a sport organisation is ultimately responsible?
The day-to-day business of an organisation is carried out by volunteers or by a paid Executive Director or
Chief Executive Officer. These people have overall responsibility for the management of the organisation,
while the Board has overall responsibility for its governance.
This therefore sets the tone for the Boards conduct, integrity, objectivity and responsibilities, and makes
it clear that you, as a manager, have a critical role in ensuring that the Board can discharge its duties
effectively by providing appropriate and timely information on which the Board bases its decisions.
The Board can discharge its duties by ensuring that the organisation makes use of modern management
techniques and utilises those tools to understand and monitor the business of the organisation. These can
be summarised as follows:
Values, mission, aims and objectives of the organisation You and your Board should periodically
review the values, mission, aims and objectives of the organisation. For example, an NOC may do
this at the beginning of the Olympiad. What is important is that these are communicated throughout
the organisation and that everyone abides by them.
Developing strategy (Unit 39) All effective organisations have a clear strategic plan and the
development and implementation of that plan is a role for the Board and management, working
in partnership. In most organisations, the strategic plan will be initiated by the management and
then placed before the Board for discussion, amendment if necessary and, finally, approval. The
management will then develop appropriate operational plans, budgets and business plans. However,
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the task of the Board is by no means over, for it needs to monitor progress of the operational plans,
using performance indicators, and to ensure that budgets, having been set, are adhered to.
Managing and monitoring risk (Unit 48) The Board must also ensure that it carefully monitors the
risks facing the organisation. This is achieved by ensuring that there is a robust risk management
process in place so that all possible risks are anticipated.
Management structure The Board has a responsibility to ensure that there is an effective and
efficient management structure in place and this entails appointing people to key positions, fixing
appropriate remuneration for them and ensuring that their performance is kept under review.
Succession planning There should also be a policy in place to plan for succession not only of
key executives but also of the Board itself.
Compliance The Board must ensure the compliance of the organisation in areas where this is
appropriate, such as compliance with:
local and national laws;
the Olympic Charter if the organisation is an NOC, or the statutes of an International Federation
if a national federation;
the organisations own constitution;
best practice, such as with regard to the conduct of the Board and management, or conflicts of
interest.
Integrity of accounting systems The Board must ensure the integrity of the organisations
accounting system and regular, transparent reporting on the state of the organisations accounts.
This will include independent, annual auditing of the organisations accounts, taking note of any
recommendations by the auditors, tight budgetary control, ensuring value for money for expenditures,
and establishing clear, transparent financial practices throughout the organisation. There should
be regular, up-to-date and clearly presented financial reporting.
Monitoring and evaluating performance (Unit 45) The Board should monitor its own performance
on a regular (annual or biannual basis), reviewing how it has handled the business over a period
and setting standards for future performance.
As far as strategic direction is concerned, the Board should set its focus on this and avoid day-to-day
operational aspects. There should be a clear distinction between the responsibilities of the Board and
those of the managers. It should be noted, however, that in small organisations, it may be necessary for
Board members to become involved operationally. In these cases, effort should be made to ensure clarity
and distance between the Boards oversight and its operational responsibilities.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 185
The Board in control
Your Board should be collectively responsible and accountable for ensuring that the organisation is
performing well, is solvent and complies with its obligations. It must conduct its affairs so that it complies
with its legal obligations and other requirements of its environment, e.g. Olympic Movement, governmental
priorities, sponsor values, contractual obligations, etc.
As mentioned earlier, the management of risk is a responsibility of the Board and those who manage your
organisation. A culture of good risk management should pervade the organisation, as should mechanisms
to confront and mitigate those risks in a timely and appropriate manner.
The Board should have clear responsibilities and functions and should compose and organise itself to
discharge them effectively. In addition, individual Board member duties and responsibilities should be clear.
Members should receive appropriate induction, training and on-going support (if necessary from outside
agencies) in order to carry out their duties.
Renewing the composition of the Board is often a delicate and difficult issue, but a critical one. Discussions
and the use of expert facilitators are methods used by many organisations. It is important that lessons
which emerge are acted upon by all parties.
Many organisations have statutes which require election to the Board. Thus, the recruitment of new members
to ensure a skill-based Board is often a matter of delicate discussion and decision. Furthermore, Board
members may be reluctant to give up their position on the Board. However, where there is an awareness of
the organisations needs in terms of the skills of its Board members, there is often a willingness to recruit
such persons onto the Board. Many organisations also have a clause in their statutes, allowing the Board
to co-opt a certain number of members, thus circumventing the election process to some extent. If you
do not have this in your constitution, you may wish to include it.
Board delegation
The Board should set out the role and function of sub-committees, the officers of the organisation (Chair,
Secretary General, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer), the CEO and other staff and agents and should monitor
their performance. This should entail:
setting out clear and discrete roles;
effective delegation and empowerment of responsibilities;
setting out clear, unambiguous terms of reference wherever appropriate; and
monitoring performance of the organisation as a whole, the Board, staff members and its
sub-committees.
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Board openness
Your Board should be open, responsive and accountable to stakeholders, beneficiaries, partners and
others with an interest in its work. There should be a culture of communication and consultation not only
by the Board members between meetings, but also by other means with other interested parties. Modern
technology can play a major role in achieving this (Unit 44).
The organisation must be open, accountable, and wherever possible, involve stakeholders. For example,
more and more organisations these days form athlete commissions to ensure that the views of these
important stakeholders are taken into account by the decision-makers. This is encouraged by the IOC.
Adherence to statutes
The adage You cannot get lost on a straight road applies to the statutes of an organisation. If they are
out of date, they should be reviewed. However, once agreed, they should be strictly observed.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 187
C. UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE OF
THE OLYMPIC AND SPORT MOVEMENT
In 2008, the IOC defined the universal principles of good governance for the Olympic and sport movement
and these were fully endorsed at the 2009 Olympic Congress in Copenhagen. The following are the endorsed
principles of good governance.
1.1 Vision
The vision and overall goals of the organisations have to be clearly defined and communicated.
1.2 Mission
The mission should include:
development and promotion of sport through non-profit organisations;
promotion of the values of sport;
organisation of competitions;
ensuring a fair sporting contest at all times;
protection of the members and particularly the athletes;
solidarity; and
respect for the environment.
1.3 Strategy
The strategy is to be aligned with the vision and regularly adapted to the environment.
The strategy of sport organisations should be elaborated at the highest level of the organisation.
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2.3 Governing bodies
The size of the governing bodies should be adequate and consistent with the size of the sport
organisations.
The tasks and responsibilities of the governing bodies should be clearly defined in the applicable
regulations and should be adapted and reviewed as necessary.
Governing bodies should be entitled to create standing or ad hoc committees with specific
responsibilities, in order to help them in their tasks.
The organisation should set out and adopt reliable and appropriate criteria for the election or
appointment of members of the governing bodies so as to ensure a high level of competence,
quality and good governance.
2.7 Decision-making
All members of the sport organisations shall have the right to express their opinion on the issues
on the agenda through appropriate channels.
Members shall have the right to vote and be able to exercise that right in appropriate form as
defined in the regulations of the governing body.
Decision-making bodies should be fully aware of all relevant information before taking a decision.
Bodies of the organisation should meet on a regular basis taking into consideration their specific duties
and obligations (e.g. the holding of an annual General Assembly is recommended where possible).
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 189
2.10 Decisions and appeals
Any member affected by a decision of a disciplinary nature taken by any sport organisation should be
offered the possibility to submit an appeal to an independent body within the sports jurisdictions.
When decisions are taken against a member, special attention should be paid to the appropriate
balance between transparency and protection of privacy.
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4. Accountability, transparency and control
4.1 Accountability
All bodies, whether elected or appointed, shall be accountable to the members of the organisation
and, in certain cases, to their stakeholders.
In particular, the executive body shall be accountable to the General Assembly of the organisation.
Management shall be accountable to the executive body.
All employees shall be accountable to management.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 191
Ongoing education and training of executives, volunteers and employees should be integral to operations.
The promotion of self-education and regular training within the sport organisations should be
encouraged.
5.2 Equity
Resources should be distributed equitably.
The equity in sport should be reinforced.
The right to participate in competitions should be encouraged and secured for those at an appropriate
level for the athletes concerned.
The opportunity to organise large sports events should be open.
The criteria for choosing venues for events should be fair and transparent.
5.3 Development
The development of partnership relations between different sport organisations in developing
countries should be encouraged.
The expansion of sports facilities in developing countries should be promoted.
6.1 Right to participate and involvement of the athletes in the Olympic and Sports Movement
and governing bodies
The right of athletes to participate in sports competitions at an appropriate level should be protected.
Sport organisations must refrain from any discrimination.
The voice of the athletes should be heard in sport organisations.
IOC/Hlne Tobler
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6.2 Protection of athletes
Measures should be taken to prohibit exploitation of young athletes.
Athletes should be protected from unscrupulous recruiters and agents.
Cooperation with the government of the countries concerned should be developed.
Codes of conduct should be signed by all sport organisations.
6.3 Health
Sport organisation shall adopt rules for the protection of the athletes health and to limit the risk of
endangering the athletes health (medical supervision, number of days of competition, pollution).
6.5 Insurance
Insurance in case of death or serious injury is to be recommended for all athletes and should be
mandatory for young / junior athletes.
Whenever and wherever possible, athletes should be provided with social security coverage.
Special insurance policies should be available for professional athletes.
The organisers of sports events should obtain adequate insurance coverage.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 193
7.2 Complementary missions
Governments, constituents of the Olympic Movement, other sport organisations and stakeholders
have a complementary mission and should work together towards the same goals.
D. QUESTIONS
1. Is there a clear division of roles and responsibilities between governance and management in your
organisation?
2. Does your Board carry out the roles set out above?
3. What aspects of governance do you need to improve?
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UNIT 35
KEY ROLES IN SPORT
ORGANISATIONS
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
B. Key roles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
C. Key committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Fritz Behrendt
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 195
A. INTRODUCTION
Sport organisations have a number of key roles that must be carried out in order for them to be governed
and to function effectively. Often these roles are referred to or set out in the constitution or statutes and
therefore cannot be altered without the agreement of the members of the organisation. In addition, a
number of committees (or commissions) are common to sport organisations. These usually address the
main functions of the organisation, although not all are established in all sport organisations.
Most sport organisations are structured in a similar manner. They have a membership that creates the
General Assembly, from which the Executive Board is elected. The General Assembly meets regularly
usually annually - under the Chair / President or Secretary General. The General Assembly is the ultimate
decision-making body of most sport organisations and debates and ratifies the major decisions proposed
by the Executive Board.
The Executive Board is usually made up of elected representatives from the General Assembly. It may also
contain members appointed on the basis of skills that they have, such as financial or legal skills, as long as
it is in accordance with the organisations statutes. The Board may also contain ex officio members, i.e.
members by virtue of another function, such as IOC members on NOC Boards. In addition, it is recommended
that at least one athletes representative (in this capacity) is elected to the Board. The Executive Board is
responsible for setting and monitoring the strategic direction of the organisation (Unit 39).
Finally, an organisation usually has an administration or management group responsible for the day-to-
day running of its operations. Organisations with paid staff usually have an Executive Director or Chief
Executive Officer who, in turn, is answerable to the Executive Board. Alternatively, the administration may
be simple and volunteer-led, consisting of few, if any, paid employees. In this instance, the administration
is likely to be answerable to the Secretary General (a volunteer), who will report back to the Board. In small
organisations, there may only be the Executive Board and no administration. In this case, the administrative
roles will be assumed by the Board members.
B. KEY ROLES
Role of the President (or Chair)
The main responsibilities of the President may include:
acting on behalf of the organisation between meetings;
implementing decisions made in meetings;
representing the organisations views to outside groups, agencies and individuals;
resolving conflicts or clarifying issues in preparation for meetings; and
providing leadership, direction, planning strategy and thoughtfulness for the organisation.
In many organisations, the President chairs meetings and is thus responsible for:
opening the meeting;
managing the agenda;
ensuring people have the opportunity to speak;
seeing that decisions are made and agreed;
conducting votes on resolutions; and
upholding the rules and constitution.
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It is worth noting that the Chair must remain neutral and is in charge. To control meetings, the Chair should
be aware that:
there should be a formality about procedure;
there is a skill in selecting speakers;
it is important to keep a good tone;
speakers should be encouraged to be short and to the point; and
the importance of extracting and recording decisions cannot be overestimated.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 197
C. COMMITTEES
Committees or commissions are appointed by the Executive Board in order to carry out key functions within
the organisation. They are responsible for overseeing operations within their remit, setting and revising
policy and procedure in this area and then reporting back to the Board. The structure and mandates of
the Board and each of its committees should be documented in order to help ensure that Board members
and management clearly understand the committees roles.
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assesses the effectiveness and adequacy of the organisations marketing resources and makes
recommendations regarding resources as required; and
assists the organisations marketing agent(s) as required, such as by helping with presentations,
generating contacts and other activities.
environmental standards.
A sport organisation may have numerous other committees, covering areas such as nominations, culture
and education, sport for all, legal matters, etc.
D. QUESTIONS
1. Is the committee structure of your organisation appropriate to the work it does?
2. How can your structures be more effective?
3. H ow often should you review committee structure and functioning within your organisation?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 199
200
SECTION III
UNIT 36
CONSTITUTION OF
AN ORGANISATION
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
B. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
IOC/Richard Julliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 201
A. INTRODUCTION
Most sport organisations are based on a constitution, often
referred to as the rules or statutes. The constitution sets out
the aims and objectives of the organisation and lays down the
manner in which it should conduct its business.
The Olympic Charter is the rulebook for the IOC and the Olympic
Movement. There are many references to the NOCs in the
Olympic Charter (specifically Chapter 4), including the notion
that each NOC must have its own constitution and how that
relates to the IOC.
Further advice should be obtained from a legal specialist(s) in your country. NOCs should ensure that their
statutes comply with the Olympic Charter, while National Federations should refer to their respective NOC
and IF, and clubs to their relevant national federations.
B. TOOLS
Sample constitution
The following is a sample constitution for a national sport governing body. The terms suggested can be
changed or modified to better suit particular wishes or circumstances.
Title
The name of the organisation shall be the - (country) - (sport) - organisation - hereinafter called the (name).
Objectives
to encourage the development of - (sport) - in - (country)
to organise championships at national and regional levels
to participate in such international events as shall from time to time be decided
to organise national and regional teams
Membership
Membership shall comprise those clubs accepted into membership at a general meeting of the organisation
and that are fully paid-up members of the organisation. Each member shall be entitled to one vote at the
annual general meeting (AGM).
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Finance
All clubs shall pay an annual subscription which shall be determined from time to time by the AGM.
The financial year shall start on (date) and end on the following (date).
Subscriptions shall be due on (date) each year.
The officers
An Executive Board of the organisation shall be elected.
The officers may be ex-officio members of all committees with voting powers. They shall be elected by
the membership at the AGM and shall be eligible for re-election. A vacancy caused by death, illness or
resignation may be filled at the discretion of the Executive Board.
Each club shall be entitled to attend the annual general meeting and may only have one vote. The officers
shall be entitled to one vote. The President (chairperson) shall be entitled to vote and additionally, has a
second and deciding vote in case of a tie.
Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of the officers (with voting powers) and one representative from each region.
The Executive Board shall meet at least once every (number) weeks / months and be responsible for the
day-to-day running of the organisation. It shall establish policy and procedures to ensure the efficient
management and continued development of the organisation in all its aspects.
Committees
Committees shall be established by the Executive Board when needed.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 203
Conduct of meetings
The place and date of the next meeting of all committees shall be decided at each meeting.
The quorum for each meeting shall be 50% of the membership plus one.
A special general meeting may be called at the written request of (number) clubs to consider such
matters as are referred to on the letter of request. Such a meeting shall be called within (period)
of the receipt of such a request.
Items for the agenda must be received by the Secretary (number) weeks prior to the meeting.
The agenda for a meeting shall be circulated at least (number) weeks prior to the meeting.
C. QUESTIONS
1. Do you need to review your constitution to make sure it reflects what members want?
2. Is your constitution adequate to allow the Board to run the organisation effectively?
3. Does your constitution cover the key aspects of the organisation in enough detail?
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UNIT 37
HEALTH AND SAFETY
A. Health and safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
B. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 205
A. HEALTH AND SAFETY
Sport is inherently risky. Some sports are risky in themselves and some use equipment that could be
dangerous. All involve physical activity which offers the potential for injury.
This means you have a responsibility to be concerned with the health and safety of your participants and
members. This is often included in the laws of your country, in particular within tort law. Tort is a breach of
duty - other than under contract - leading to liability for damages. Neglect and breach of duty could have
severe financial consequences for your organisation. It is here where legal experts can be most helpful.
Sport administrators are in the management business, which includes the management of risk. These legal
considerations place a considerable responsibility on administrators to behave in a proper and prudent
manner. In the matter of the health and safety of athletes, prudence is essential and this, of course, involves
the avoidance of risk. Indeed, everyone involved in sport has this duty of care, including coaches, officials,
parents, managers and participants.
It is essential that the people who deliver the services of your organisation are aware of their responsibilities
in this area. Ignorance of the law is no excuse!
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B. TOOLS
When auditing the health and safety of your organisation, ask yourself the following questions:
Is the sport conducted in an ordered, structured manner. Is it properly supervised?
Are instructors, educators, coaches and others who teach and supervise sport properly qualified
for the task at hand?
Are the equipment and facilities safe? What about ancillary facilities, such as changing rooms?
Do we make people aware of dangers and of proper conduct?
Do we obtain informed consent? Are participants clearly aware of the risks involved in a sports
activity? This applies, for example, to parents allowing children to take part in certain sports, such
as rock climbing, rugby football or skiing.
Do we manage injuries properly? Do we take appropriate medical precautions at events?
Are our transportation arrangements safe?
What are our responsibilities in terms of fan violence against athletes, officials and each other?
IOC/John Huet
C. QUESTIONS
1. Who has overall responsibility for health and safety in the organisation?
2. How do you ensure that you stay up to date with legislative changes?
3. What changes do you need to make to your health and safety practices?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 207
208
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UNIT 38
PROTECTION
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
B. Indemnification and waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
C. Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
IOC/John Huet
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 209
A. INTRODUCTION
As suggested above, sport is risky and includes risks that vary from minor legal disputes to death. It is
therefore good management to accept these risks and take prudent measures to control them.
Waivers of liability are often used to reduce the possibility of a lawsuit in the event of injury or death as a
result of participation in an activity of the organisation. Typically, a waiver asks the member to acknowledge
the risk of injury and death and release the organisation from any legal responsibility should such injury or
death occur. Signing waivers of this nature is often a condition for an athletes participation in an event.
C. INSURANCE
The following information is adapted from the work of the Australian Society of Sport Administrators, as
prepared for their Sport Administration course.
Being incorporated and having a formal constitution in place are clearly recommended as prerequisites for
a well-run club which offers protection to its members against internal complaints and external litigation.
However, the club itself also needs protection against claims by other parties. It is therefore important that
the club should put in place a portfolio of insurance cover.
All individuals involved in a club, whether as a supervisor, coach, player or organiser, should be protected
with appropriate insurance. Many sport organisations provide insurance for public liability, professional
indemnity and / or personal accident for all members. Members should check with their organisation to
ensure that adequate cover is provided, and if it is not, take out insurance individually through their club.
There are a number of ways in which sport produces a need for insurance. First, there is the broad area of cover
against physical injury to the insured, which extends to trainers, referees, coaches, officials and spectators.
Secondly, there is a need for cover against injury to someone else. The insured may be a player held
liable for injury to another player or a spectator. The insured may be vicariously liable for the players
acts. Increasingly, the insured may have some responsibility for the safety of players, other participants
or spectators through the provision of sports facilities, control of the venue or control of the game either
generally or on a particular occasion.
Sport is business. Rain insurance may save the promoter of a sports event from disaster and any sport
organisation exposed to business interruption from material damage would wish to be covered against it.
Liability for economic loss may be incurred in connection with a sports activity.
Insurers today have a real interest in the way sports are played and managed because they have an interest:
in seeing rules which reduce the risk of injury and the risk of liability;
in seeing safer equipment used by the participants; and
in sports facilities, wishing them to be constructed and controlled so as to reduce the risk of injury
to players, participants and spectators.
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The following types of insurance should be considered where appropriate.
It is recommended that a sport organisation take out professional indemnity insurance to cover coaches,
medical officers and trainers, or any other persons giving professional advice or imparting skills.
Public liability insurance is an important form of insurance, since it protects volunteers, employees and
members of the organisation. This insurance provides indemnity to your organisation against its legal liability
to pay damages arising from accidental injury (including death) and accidental damage to property. This
covers claims arising from negligence of the organisation or one of its employees, or from the condition
of the premises. It also provides for payment of legal costs related to such claims. The policy must be
written specifically for the organisation which it is meant to protect against loss. It is prudent to define the
insured as all the members of the organisation. It may also be extended to provide cover for goods sold
or supplied to customers and claims by one member against another. Details of extended cover can be
obtained from an insurance broker.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 211
Property insurance
The insurance plans set out above are designed to protect an organisation and its members against liability
claims. However, insurance that protects the organisations assets should also be taken out. These include:
Fire A fire insurance policy is advisable if the organisation owns buildings or flammable equipment.
Burglary This covers against the stealing of sports equipment and saleable goods.
Money Since large sums of money are not generally covered under a burglary (contents) policy,
separate cover is often required.
Consequential loss This covers loss of income suffered by a commercially operating organisation
as a result of fire damage to its premises. It also compensates for the increased operating costs
following a fire.
Pluvius (rain) This generally relates to the cancellation of events as a result of adverse weather
conditions.
Fidelity This relates to the risk of members stealing the organisations funds.
Motor vehicle Any motor vehicle owned and operated by the organisation will require insurance to
protect both its own value and that of vehicles owned by other drivers, in the case of an accident.
Cash-in-transit All gate receipts from events and functions organised by the organisation may
need to be insured. There are many examples of situations where funds are collected at an event
during the weekend and cannot be banked until the following Monday. In such cases, a cash-in-
transit insurance policy can provide protection from theft or other causes of loss until the money
reaches the bank.
Insurers may influence the way your sport can be played. Nobody would be concerned if an insurer said
that it would not accept a risk unless the fire safety of the grandstand at a sport venue was upgraded or
the goal posts padded. However, what about an insurer which refused to cover a school for liability in
respect of pupils on a sport ground unless the school changed from rugby to soccer? In this way, insurers
can affect the way our sport is played.
D. QUESTIONS
1. Is your organisation protected properly against risk and accidents?
2. Do you review your protection policies regularly?
3. Are you adequately insured for all of your activities?
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III
THEME 3: MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES
A resource is an aid or support that you can draw on to help you to achieve something.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 213
214
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UNIT 39
STRATEGIC PLANNING
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
B. Elements of a strategic plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
C. Creating a strategic plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
IOC
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 215
A. INTRODUCTION
In order to use your resources most effectively, you will need a relevant and current strategic plan to provide
direction for your organisation.
A plan is the core discipline of preparation which frees us to do what is necessary to create change and
to adapt to change, with agility. Preparation equips us to manage the velocity, uncertainty, complexity and
diversity of change to personal and collective advantage. Our plan takes us from where we are to where
we want and need to be. In this respect, it is a route map to reach a destination. It has purpose, direction
and a timetable why, where and when. It must cover what is to be done, who is to do it, and in linking
values to vision, how to do it. Frank Dick, former British national athletics coach
Developing a plan or strategy is, in theory, a relatively straightforward process. It is made up of five
components:
1. Investigate the internal and external operating environments to decide what the organisations
strengths and weaknesses are, and what opportunities and threats exist that might affect your
capacity to meet your objectives.
2. Decide what your organisation should achieve (its objectives).
3. Develop strategies that take account of your investigations and that allow you to meet your objectives.
4. Put these strategies into operation.
5. Evaluate strategies against the intended objectives and feed back into future strategy development.
There are a number of reasons for developing a strategy for your organisation:
A strategy will provide a framework for decision-making as it will identify priorities for the organisation.
The setting of objectives will force you to ask and answer important questions, such as what the
future opportunities are for the organisation.
The process of environmental auditing will make you aware of key issues, internal strengths and
weaknesses and external opportunities and threats.
A strategy will help clarify staff roles, allow the allocation of resources and encourage consultation
with staff.
In many organisations, this process will lead to the development of two types of plans:
A strategic plan defines the mission, visions, values and objectives, and the strategies by which
they will be achieved and evaluated. This is usually only developed every four years.
An operational or business plan sets out how to move the strategic plan forward, the risks,
challenges, specific actions and programmes, the costs of various actions, timelines and
responsibilities. The operational or business plan should be reviewed annually.
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For example: We will achieve our dominance as a swimming club by hiring the best coaches to operate
an intensive daily training programme.
Action plans - These are the ways of making sure that your vision, values, mission and objectives are
achieved. Action plans cover the organisations major products and services, such as coaching development,
athlete support, Games missions and Olympic Day. They describe how your organisation will use its
resources to meet its objectives. Each action plan should describe:
what will occur;
how it will occur;
who will do it;
by when it has to take place; and
what resources are needed.
For example: In order to celebrate Olympic Day on 23 June, our NOC will organise volunteers from the
public schools by 15 May and they will involve students to assist.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) Key performance indicators are the quantifiable measures that evaluate
whether you have achieved your objectives. For example, indicators might be athlete results, number
of athletes to be selected, expanded programmes in support of athletes and coaches, or increases in
membership. A key performance indicator may be to have 10 athletes win medals at a national championship.
The accuracy of the audit and the subsequent strategy will only be as good as the information on which the audit
is based. It is therefore important that you can access up-to-date and relevant information on trends and changes
in both internal and external environments. Obtaining information on the internal environment should be relatively
straightforward, as internal data should be readily accessible. The external environment is more complex and
you will need to identify sources of information about this. The key point is that information needs to be actively
sought - you cannot assume that you know what is going on in your environment.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 217
Attainable The organisation must be able to achieve the objective with its resources.
Ranked Objectives should be prioritised. Although you would hope to achieve all you set out to
do, in some cases this may not be possible and you need to decide what has to be achieved.
Time-constrained A time period should be set in which the objective must be achieved.
Once an objective has been set, targets can be associated with these to help focus the ensuing strategy.
For example, a targeted, SMART objective could be to increase overall membership of our organisation
by 5% within two years. This provides a clear goal and a target for the development of strategies.
D. QUESTIONS
1. How do you make sure that you know what is going on in your external environment?
2. How well does your operational plan contribute to your strategic objectives?
3. How could your planning process be improved?
218
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UNIT 40
MANAGING PEOPLE
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
B. Managing people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
C. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
IOC/John Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 219
A. INTRODUCTION
Without doubt, people paid staff and volunteers are the greatest resource that your organisation will
have. Often, they are the resource that is managed most badly, and the expertise, time and enthusiasm
they bring to sport can be wasted.
To make sure that you manage this resource properly, you need to do the following:
Recruit the best people possible, using a range of sources from both within and outside the sport.
This can be done by advertising, word of mouth or headhunting.
Place these people in roles that make the best use of their skills and expertise, which means
you need to be clear about what the job entails, and what skills and abilities the recruited
person possesses.
Provide training to overcome any gaps (Unit 41).
Keep them interested, enthusiastic and, most of all, motivated. To do this, you will need to understand
why they chose to work for the organisation and what they are interested in, and find a way of
rewarding them appropriately.
If you manage your people resource properly, your organisation will have a greater chance of achieving its
objectives, since well-managed people deliver high-quality services, make fewer mistakes and therefore
save the organisation money.
B. MANAGING PEOPLE
Managing experts
Experts can add significant value to your organisation, particularly if they are managed effectively and you
are open to what they have to say. The use of experts is common in sport organisations and they tend to
fall into two categories: expert technical staff, such as coaches, and other consultants.
As experts can often be expensive, it is important that you make the best use of their expertise and the
time that they have with your organisation. The following will help you to do this:
Be very clear about why you need an expert and what it is you expect them to achieve.
Create a clear scope of work for the project and use this to recruit your expert.
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Look for the best help possible. Ask others whom they have used in the past or seek advice from
funding bodies on who they would recommend.
Decide how you will recruit: will you use a tender process or will you approach someone on the
basis of information you have been given?
Consider setting up a contractual relationship with the expert you choose. This is essential if you
are intending to pay for their expertise.
Have an agreed and set budget for the project and make sure this is communicated to your expert.
Agree what the final output should be and the form it should take, e.g. a marketing plan or a series
of training sessions for specific athletes.
Manage your expert to agreed deadlines and make sure that you provide all agreed information
and resources.
Managing volunteers
There is an ever-increasing need for volunteers to assist within sport organisations. Volunteers help with
coaching, team management, the administration of clubs and leagues, events, governance and policy.
However, at the same time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find volunteers due to pressures of time
and income. This means that volunteers need to be managed as effectively as paid staff. Although volunteers
are a relatively inexpensive resource, they do create some costs for the organisation.
You need to recognise these motives, consider them in light of programme requirements and place the
volunteer in a situation that is beneficial to both the individual and the programme. It is important that
volunteers are asked why they participate in order to help determine how well their needs are being met.
Consider your volunteer requirements on a regular basis, taking account of what needs to be done in your
organisation, including future events or activities. Your organisation should establish a yearly plan for the
recruitment and use of volunteers. Before you begin to recruit volunteers, you must decide where you need
help. To do this, it might be helpful to classify volunteers into three categories:
1. Administrative leadership Volunteers may serve as Executive Board members, Secretaries,
Treasurers, or as committee members. The volunteers you recruit for these positions must have
the skills and abilities necessary for this type of work, as well as the time required. Depending on
your organisations constitution, they may need to be elected and the ratio of member organisations
may have to be observed.
2. Sport technical leadership Coaches, officials, medical and training specialists must possess real
knowledge and qualifications in the areas for which they are volunteering. Volunteers who meet
these general requirements include experienced former athletes and coaches, physical education
students and people attending other professional training courses.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 221
3. Non-leadership services There is always a need for volunteers in a non-leadership capacity,
whether to handle registration, help with fundraising or provide transportation. Volunteers who
could fill these roles are those who do not have technical qualifications or the time for a prolonged
commitment.
Try to match your volunteers with the specific requirements of the work to be done. Some criteria to
consider are:
Short term vs. long term How long do you need your volunteers to commit for?
Intense vs. relaxed Does the job allow the individual to work at a leisurely pace or does it involve
tough decisions, tight deadlines or constant attention?
Responsible vs. non-responsible Does the job require an individual who will be highly accountable
or responsible (for the people or programme) or does it involve little accountability?
No matter how you plan to use volunteers, they should all understand and promote the objectives of the
programme. This will involve specific effort on your part to communicate the programmes objectives
before a volunteer commits to it.
Sources of volunteers
Here are a few ideas of where you might begin looking for volunteers:
individuals who have benefited from your programme, e.g. former athlete participants, coaches;
students;
parents and relatives;
spectators; and
military or government employees.
Once you have located sources of volunteers, individual personal contact is the best approach. This provides
an opportunity to discuss the programmes needs, create interest and communicate aims, objectives and
philosophy. It is important to interview applicants in order to determine their interest and abilities and to
analyse their motives. Check character references and, if possible, ask the police if there is any cause for
concern. Spend some time ascertaining their willingness to accept supervision or responsibility.
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Provide your volunteers with training in their prospective jobs. Give them time to learn before
actually doing the work.
Encourage people to grow in their jobs, to try new procedures as long as the objectives of the
programme are being met.
Give the volunteer the opportunity to suggest new ideas or procedures.
Build in incentives. Give the volunteer credit and recognition for work accomplished, and some
tangible form of reward if appropriate.
Once you recognise the volunteers motivation, encourage self-development to further motivate
the volunteer and to improve your organisation.
Thus, for every organisation that depends on volunteers, it is extremely helpful if the employees, volunteers
and Board are clear about their roles and responsibilities and to whom they should report. Most importantly,
success depends on everyone being prepared to work cooperatively for the good of sport, to support and
encourage each others efforts and to recognise each persons contribution. You have an important role
to play to ensure that this happens.
IOC/Hlne Tobler
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 223
C. TOOLS
Evaluating your volunteer strategy
Consider the following questions when evaluating your use of volunteers:
What tasks are performed by volunteers?
Is there a coordinator to whom all volunteers report and who assumes full responsibility for them?
Are the goals, purposes and policies of the volunteer programme stated in writing (e.g. job
descriptions)?
Is the volunteer programme regularly planned, organised and revised with participation from the
Board, staff, user and community groups, as necessary?
Are volunteers given a formal introduction to the organisation as well as to their own roles as
volunteers?
On the basis of what criteria are volunteers recruited and placed?
What training is provided to volunteers?
Does the organisation maintain records on each volunteer?
What expenses does the organisation cover for volunteers (e.g. transportation, child care)?
Are volunteers given individual performance evaluations? By whom, when?
Do volunteers receive clerical support? Are work space and equipment allotted to them?
D. QUESTIONS
1. How good is your organisations recruitment process?
2. Do you know if people are doing the jobs best suited to their skills?
3. How can the way you manage your people resource be improved?
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UNIT 41
ASSESSING STAFF AND
VOLUNTEER TRAINING NEEDS
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
B. Training needs analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
C. Training plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
IOC/John Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 225
A. INTRODUCTION
Training needs must be assessed in order to ensure that you are helping staff and volunteers to do their
jobs well. You should do this when people first start work or volunteer for your organisation, when their
job or technology changes or when there is a change in priorities in your organisation.
Problems that arise in the organisation may be the result of skill shortages. For example, your team may fail
to qualify for the finals of a competition because the head coach has not prepared it properly. Therefore,
when trying to solve performance problems, you should ask yourself the following questions:
Has a shortage of skills contributed to this problem?
What are the reasons for this skills shortage?
Can the shortage be addressed with training?
This will provide the information that you need to create a training plan that will address gaps that you and
the person involved have identified, and that cause problems in the organisation.
IOC/John Huet
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It is important that you sell the benefits of training. You can usually ensure that paid staff receive the
training they need, but this is much harder when volunteers need training. Volunteers may not have the
time to devote to training or they may perceive that they are skilled enough. This means that you will need
to promote the benefits of training, such as for personal self-development.
C. TRAINING PLAN
Training could be formal, such as an organised course carried out by an expert, or informal, which relies on
practical experience, such as on-the-job experience. We often think that formal training is more valuable as
it is delivered by an expert. However, this type of training tends to deliver information, but not practical
skills. In order to get the most out of training, you should try and make it as practical as possible. For
example, an organisation could hold briefing sessions on various topics led by different people working
in the organisation.
The training plan needs to be evaluated against the established objectives. Without this evaluation, the
effectiveness of training cannot be assessed. There are three levels at which evaluation can be carried out:
1. Acquired skills and knowledge Have the required skills been learnt?
2. Applied practice Have the skills been put into practice?
3. Impact on the organisation Have the acquired skills made the organisation function more
effectively?
The success of training should be demonstrated by improvements in both individual and organisational
performance.
D. QUESTIONS
1. How do you identify skill shortages in your organisation?
2. What are the opportunities for informal training in your organisation?
3. What do you need to do to make this better?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 227
228
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UNIT 42
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
AND BUDGETING
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
B. Financial management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
C. Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
D. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
IOC/Yo Nagaya
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 229
A. INTRODUCTION
Financial management is the prudent monitoring and communication of your organisations financial affairs
in accordance with approved accounting practices and the law. Managing funds transparently, efficiently
and effectively is essential to helping your organisation plan for continued income and growth.
All Board members and staff of your organisation are responsible for its financial management. From the
boardroom to a team in the field, everyone has to be ethical and responsible in their use of funds. Few
people are more important in the process than the person who is managerially responsible for finance,
usually known as the Treasurer or Financial Director. This person plays a crucial role in establishing realistic
budgets and keeping them under control. Control is absolutely vital for good financial management. You
should know how much you have to spend, what it will be spent on and then record and account for how
it has been spent. Without this control, you may mismanage your finances.
Although the Board and staff must work together to run the organisation effectively, a good Treasurer will
ensure that the organisation stays solvent, grows the assets and effectively manages the organisations
annual cash flow. Financial management is the responsibility of the entire organisation; however, ultimate
responsibility lies in the hands of the Treasurer and associated financial staff.
B. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Key financial definitions
Some of the following definitions will be well known to you. However, one of the main steps towards good
financial management is for all to have a clear understanding of what is being discussed when finances are
being reviewed. It is therefore important to ensure that everyone with financial responsibility understands
the following terms:
Assets Something of value that your organisation owns or has the use of. These can be current
assets, which are only owned for a short time, such as cash, or fixed or long-term assets, such
as a building.
Liability Something owed to someone else; liabilities are the debts of the organisation. Again,
these can be current liabilities, which must be paid within a fairly short time, such as the money
owed to travel agencies, or long-term liabilities, such as the money owed to a bank for a mortgage
on the organisations headquarters.
Running costs Costs needed to run daily operations. These include the cost of heating, electricity
and staff.
Surplus An excess of income over expenditure.
Deficit An excess of expenditure over income.
Liquidity The amount of money you can access immediately to pay your debts.
Reserves The amount of unspent funds at any given point.
Balance sheet A list of all assets owned and liabilities owed by the organisation at a given date.
Income and expenditure statement A record of income generated and expenditure incurred over
a given period. This account shows whether you have a surplus or a deficit.
Capital expenditure Expenditure that results in the acquisition of or improvements to fixed assets,
such as a building.
Operating expenditure Expenditure incurred on the operations of the organisation or on maintaining
the earning capacity of fixed assets, such as maintenance on a building.
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Keeping accounts
Accounting is the process of tracking and cataloguing income and expenditure. It is also a key tool for
financial control. The Treasurer or person responsible for the finances needs to be able to keep clear records
and accounts. Most organisations have a Treasurer who handles all financial matters; larger ones have a
finance committee that assists with financial management. You will need to keep accounts that show daily
transactions as well as an overall picture of the financial workings of the organisation. Accounts should
show income and expenditure and keep track of assets and liabilities.
As this is such an important area of your organisations operations, you may seek help in setting up a financial
accounting system for the organisation. There are also several computer-based accounting packages appropriate
for small organisations that will significantly simplify the management of financial records.
The Executive Board of an organisation may also set limits for expenditure that can be made by appropriate
officers, so that Board approval is necessary to authorise expenditure beyond these levels. It is also good
practice to require two signatures by officers on all payments to ensure additional control. You will eventually
need access to a chartered accountant to verify and audit your records.
Petty cash
Most organisations need actual cash at one time or another. Control of cash is clearly of vital concern and
you should have clear procedures for obtaining and accounting for cash. To account for the actual cash
kept by the organisation, a petty cash account is opened and kept separately. You should record expenses
carefully using a cash book and keep all the corresponding receipts. The petty cash needs to be kept in
a safe place. In addition, you should carry out periodical cash balance controls.
Financial statements
The two main documents that need to be presented to the membership of the organisation are the balance sheet
and the income and expenditure statement (or profit and loss account). In addition, complementary documents
may be required, depending on the laws specific to each country. These documents will give members a feel
for the financial stability of the organisation and, as stated above, are tools for financial control.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 231
Balance sheet
Your balance sheet is the list of assets and liabilities your organisation has at a given time. It sets out the
fullest financial picture of your organisation at a particular time and reading, interpreting and explaining a
balance sheet is therefore the responsibility of everyone involved with the governance and management
of your organisation. The purpose of a balance sheet is to put a value on the net worth of an organisation.
To do this requires a list of those things of value (assets) that the organisation owns, such as buildings
and cash, and a list of those things that the organisation owes to others (liabilities), such as loans. The
difference between these two figures is the net worth, or equity, of the organisation. The balance sheet
must contain the following:
the final balances of the preceding financial year;
breakdown of the capital employed;
details of freeholds and leases;
value of patents and trademarks;
valuation of fixed assets and how the figures were arrived at;
details of any investments and their value;
loans;
cash and debts;
stock and the basis of its valuation; and
total bank loans and overdrafts.
Since each organisation has different needs, each will also have different financial practices. However,
it is important that finances are controlled carefully and the use of accounts demonstrates this control.
Problems can occur when there is too much variation in the reporting of finances as it makes it impossible
to evaluate past performance against current performance. Variation suggests a lack of control and possible
misuse or abuse. This is why financial statements need to be audited by an external body.
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C. Budget
A budget is the plan for your programme expressed in financial terms. It is an estimate of income and
expenditure, usually for a one-year period. Most organisations develop both a one-year budget for short-
term plans and a four-year budget to cover quadrennial or strategic plans.
Once you have this information, you can develop a budget, outlining areas where revenue will be spent.
When calculating expenditure, remember to consider inflation or increases in costs, such as fuel increases
or annual salary increases. Be careful not to overestimate income and underestimate expenditure. The last
step is to get approval for your budget. In many sport organisations, this comes from the Board, as does
subsequent approval of requests for changes. You should avoid:
spending resources without a budget;
starting initiatives for which there is no budget allotted in the respective calendar year;
reallocating budget resources from one item to another because this shows a lack of financial control;
asking funding sources for more resources because you did not estimate your budget accurately;
multiplying charges to seek additional revenue by having more than one funding source cover any
expenditure, such as charging travel costs to both the club and the federation;
large price tags on miscellaneous / other items; and
large overhead budgets, which include high salaries or unnecessarily high rent.
You should control expenditure of the budget with regular reporting on the differences between actual
and budgeted results. The differences are usually called variances and are categorised as favourable or
unfavourable. This analysis helps you to:
identify quickly whether things are going as expected;
identify where corrective action is required;
review plans, policies and decisions in light of performance;
revise budgets if necessary;
plan and coordinate the use of resources; and
predict potential problems.
A budget and its control are effective management tools. The key to making them effective is to ensure
that everyone who has financial responsibilities is involved in the process and that the right amount of
information is presented, in the right amount of detail, at the right time.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 233
D. TOOLS
The following questions can help you to understand whether you are managing the finances of your
organisation in a prudent and sensible manner.
Where is your organisations money kept?
What interest are you earning on it?
Is this the best place for your money?
Who has authority to withdraw money, how much, and for what reasons?
What policy statements exist to guide levels and items of expenditure?
How do you report what was spent?
Who keeps the records?
Who checks the records? Who audits your accounts?
What financial controls are in place in your organisation?
How do you save on projected expenditure? For example:
travel - look for discounts, group rates;
accommodation - seek volume discounts, make arrangements with one hotel to use it whenever
needed;
seek donations of resources - e.g. office space, office equipment, vehicles, fuel, insurance and
clothing. Are there others?
How successful have your money management practices been in the past?
What do you need to improve?
E. QUESTIONS
1. ow do you go about creating a budget for your organisation?
H
2. W hat do you need to improve?
3. D o people understand the need to stick to a budget?
4. H ow do you evaluate your global financial management system?
5. D o you have adequate control procedures in place?
6. D o you systematically produce the necessary financial documents?
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UNIT 43
SOURCES OF FUNDS
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
B. Sources of funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 235
A. INTRODUCTION
One of the most important activities a sport organisation undertakes is fundraising. Generating your own
revenue is necessary for development, effective planning and maintaining independence. However, few
organisations are as successful as they would like. Fundraising is usually difficult and time-consuming
and, as such, must be well conceived and implemented. It is an ongoing necessity, and your fundraising
plans should be developed to cover each quadrennial.
B. SOURCES OF FUNDS
It is likely that you will have to raise funds from a number of sources in order to get all of the resources that
you need to run the services and programmes that you want to. You should consider all the possibilities
that are open to you and then put in place a plan to take advantage of these. Funds can be obtained from:
Membership Some sport organisations have members who pay fees. Additional revenue can be
raised by increasing either the membership fee or the membership base.
Funding agencies In many countries, sport programmes are supported by an external funding
agency such as the government, NOC, schools or a national sport federation. It is important that
you know exactly what you can expect and what you need to do to increase funds from these
organisations.
Fundraising activities See below.
Grants See below.
Sponsorship (Unit 47) You may need expert assistance with this.
Licensing As the owner of certain properties, you can grant to another the right to use the property
in conjunction with a product for a limited period. This is only successful if you own the rights to
something that a company may wish to pay for, such as your organisations emblem or the images
of your athletes or sport. This is a commercial process and, like sponsorship, will require expert help.
Fundraising activities
There are many activities that will raise funds for your organisation:
selling a product;
social events (dances, picnics, dinners, receptions);
bazaars, auctions, craft sales;
gambling (bingos, lotteries, casino nights);
celebrity shows (concerts);
sports events (runs, tennis tournaments;)
providing services (gardening, car washing).
When considering which to explore, you should consider the following points:
The commitment of the fundraiser Activities are only successful if those who are responsible
for them are committed and motivated. For example, there is little point in holding a club raffle if
club members are not willing to sell tickets.
The novelty of the activity A general rule of thumb is that the more novel the activity, the more
interest it will create.
The estimated net profit Some activities raise funds, but if these have to be spent on staging
the activity, there may be no point. For example, the costs of a formal dinner may be so high that
the extra you can add to the entry fee to generate revenue is so small it is not worth it.
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Resources needed You need to make sure that you have the equipment, facilities and, most
importantly, people to carry out your activity to a high standard. Otherwise, you are likely to have
to pay for these, which will decrease your profit.
Timing of the activity You need enough time to organise an event properly and to run the activity
when it faces the least competition. Trying to sell expensive raffle tickets just before festive
celebrations is bad timing as people often have little spare money.
Assessment of risk and legal implications (Unit 48) You should consider what might go wrong
and how you will deal with this. You should also be aware of any permits or licences you may need
to hold.
Kishimoto
Careful consideration must be given to ensuring that the right event is chosen, one that has appeal to
the public and that will encourage participation. The following is a checklist to guide your decision:
You are a worthwhile cause that will be supported.
The project leader has been established.
Prospective volunteers have been identified.
Committees and their chairpersons have been identified (where appropriate).
Initial publicity plans have been formulated.
You have a financial goal for the project.
You know how you will use the funds.
Your financial and human resources have been determined.
A project budget has been drawn up.
Your target market has been established.
A decision has been made regarding the special event to be organised.
The timing of your event has been determined.
A plan for acknowledging those individuals who helped make your event a success has been
developed.
A meeting has been planned to evaluate the fundraising event.
A post-event party has been planned to thank the workers for their efforts.
No matter how you decide to raise funds, it is important that the activity is well managed to make the best
use of resources and the goodwill of those who attend the event. This will help to maximise the amount
of money raised.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 237
Grants
One source of funds that is often overlooked is that offered by a granting agency. In many countries, the
economic situation does not support local fundraising from companies or individuals. It might therefore
be worth exploring the options available through international foundations or foreign government funding
agencies. These organisations have guidelines to help with the application process. In addition, the internet
provides a wealth of information and guidance on how to write successful grant applications. Just carry out
a search on any search engine, using key words such as sport, funding, grants and development.
C. QUESTIONS
1. Where do most of your funds come from?
2. Do you regularly explore other sources of funds?
3. Does your organisation have a strategy for fundraising?
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UNIT 44
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
B. Use of information technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
C. Information networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
D. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
IOC/John Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 239
A. INTRODUCTION
Information is vital for managers of sport organisations. It allows you to manage your resources effectively
and to communicate with stakeholders. It is particularly important that you share information with those
who deliver services, namely the paid staff and volunteers at all levels of the organisation. This information
is increasingly coming from electronic sources. Indeed, there is a danger that you might receive too much
information, some of which may be of dubious value. Good information has the following characteristics:
Completeness The more complete information is, the better. You should collect information from
a variety of sources when making decisions.
Relevance Information must be relevant to the problem or decision under consideration, otherwise
it may divert attention away from the problem or lead to incorrect decisions.
Timeliness Information can only be useful if it is available at the right time. You should be aware
that information can be produced too frequently, as well as too infrequently.
Accuracy This is the most important characteristic of good information. Information needs to be
as accurate as possible for its intended purpose.
Clarity Information that is easy to understand is useful because you often do not have the time
to try to interpret it. Thus, information that assumes prior knowledge that users may not have, or
that contains jargon, is not helpful in decision-making.
Your organisation is likely to have a diverse range of information needs. The integrated use of several forms
of information technology allows these different needs to be met in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
You need to consider how these can best be used in your organisation. For example, you may wish to
develop a website that can be used to communicate information about the organisation to those inside
and outside the organisation. It is, however, important that you have a clear purpose for your website and
the resources available to update it.
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You can also use information technology to develop
various services for your members, such as e-newsletters,
blogs, Facebook groups and online applications for
merchandise or competition entries. For example, the
Oceania National Olympic Committees provide Oceania
Sport, a web-based, interactive information system
that links all the National Olympic Committees of the
region. Oceania Sport includes competition management
software that enables sport organisations to generate
sport competition draws and fixtures and to print results
and statistics, and a membership database system.
C. INFORMATION NETWORKS
There are a number of networks that can help you manage your organisation:
The internet It has become a communication medium and information repository providing access
to millions of resources around the globe. The internet itself has thousands of references to sport
and contains hundreds of websites for different organisations, including the IOC, International
Federations and many National Olympic Committees.
An intranet It is an internal electronic communication network available only to those who work
within an organisation. Developing an intranet will speed up knowledge transfer and the efficiency of
communication within an organisation. For example, if policy documents and operating procedures are
posted on the intranet, people who work for the organisation will have access to these at all times.
An extranet This which can be created by an organisation and which can be accessed with a
secure password, allows you to create a private communication vehicle for your members, clubs,
major stakeholders and even suppliers. Furthermore, it is possible to customise access for each
target group, even for individuals, thus limiting sections of your network to certain groups. Making
minutes, technical requirements, athletes progress and coaching instructions available via the
extranet stimulates knowledge transfer among stakeholders.
Information networks and information technology will certainly help with the management of your organisation.
There are, however, a number of factors that you should consider before investing a great deal in these
technologies:
Organisational culture, attitude and expertise These all have an impact on the effectiveness
of information technology and its use. There are many examples of information technology being
poorly used, not because of poor design or functionality, but because people within the organisation
did not adopt it.
Training New information technology requires training and specific skills must be provided.
External factors These include factors such as internet access and broadband availability in a
country. It would be pointless to develop a system that nobody can access or that is too slow to
operate effectively.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 241
D. GLOSSARY
Browser Software used to access and navigate the World Wide Web, such as MS Internet Explorer
and Mozilla Firefox.
E-mail Electronic mail allows people to exchange text and pictures in messages. Examples of
e-mail software include applications such as Outlook and various internet e-mail services such as
Googles Gmail and Microsofts Hotmail.
File server This is a networked server with a very large amount of storage space which permits
organisations to store data which can be shared by others within the organisation.
FTP File transfer protocol: allows the transfer of files between two computers connected to the
internet. FTP is used to upload or download very large files.
Home page This is the first page that users see when they visit a website.
Internet Explorer This is a popular browser developed by the Microsoft Corporation.
Internet Protocol (IP) This is a protocol used for transferring data across the internet.
IP address This is the numerical address assigned to a computer, used to communicate with
other computers via their IP address.
LAN (Local Area Network) This is a data communication structure that allows users in the same
geographical location to share software, data and resources such as printers.
Modem A modem allows you to connect to a remote computer, often on the internet, using a
telephone line. This method is most often used to connect to the internet from home.
Search engine This allows users to search an index of websites. Examples include Google and
Yahoo.
Short Message Service (SMS) Text message - A form of text messaging from mobile phones.
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Like SMS, MMS is a way to send a message from one mobile to
another. The difference is that MMS can include not just text, but also sound, images and video.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) A URL in a unique address for resources on the internet,
consisting of three parts: a protocol://host name/ and an optional path to the file. For example,
for the IOC home page, www.olympic.org.
Virus A virus is a man-made computer code that attaches itself to a file for permanent storage
but will copy itself into the computers memory where it will also corrupt other peoples work. If
you move work between computers, there is a risk of a computer virus being transferred.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Phone calls or voice transmissions made over the internet,
e.g. Skype.
WWW - World Wide Web A global hypermedia information retrieval system. The WWW is a massive
network of computers on the internet, tied together by hypertext links.
Software applications
The following is a list of software that may be useful for your organisation. Your choice of software should
be determined by who within the organisation has the necessary skills to use it and the financial resources
you have.
Word processing software Word processing software enables you to create a document, store
it electronically, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the
keyboard, and print it on a printer. The most commonly used word processing package is Microsoft
Word. Also popular is Adobe Acrobat and Reader. These applications are widely used as a way of
presenting information with a fixed layout similar to a paper publication.
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Spreadsheet software On most computers, the programme Microsoft Excel is a computer application
that allows you to create a worksheet. It displays multiple cells that together make up a grid consisting
of rows and columns and text or numeric values can be added to each cell. The most valuable feature
is that a spreadsheet cell can contain a formula that defines how the contents of that cell are to be
calculated from the contents of any other cell (or combination of cells) whenever any cell is updated.
This makes spreadsheets particularly useful for financial information.
Presentation software There are a number of software packages that allow you to create electronic
presentations. The most well known of these is Microsoft PowerPoint, which allows presentations
to be created, printed, displayed live on a computer or navigated through at the command of the
presenter. For larger audiences, the computer display is often projected using a video projector.
Database software A database is a collection of related computer records or files that are
organised so that they can easily be accessed, managed and updated. This is managed by software
that allows easy data storage, searching and updating. This is particularly helpful for managing
membership records. An example of a database package is Microsoft Access.
Financial / accounting software This software is an effective tool for keeping track of the finances
of the organisation. It allows you to record financial transactions, keep clear and precise accounts
and produce financial statements in an automated way.
Anti-virus software This software is used to prevent, detect and remove malware, including
computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Such programs may also prevent and remove adware,
spyware, and other forms of malware from your computer. If you are accessing the internet or
sharing information from other computers, you should make sure that you have a virus checker
operating on your computer system.
Communication (VoIP and instant messaging) software VoIP software is used to conduct
telephone-like voice conversations across the internet and allows you to make cheap or even free
(in the case of Skype) voice calls via your computer. Instant messaging is a form of text-based
real-time communication between two or more people. The text is conveyed via devices connected
over a network such as the internet. Examples of communication software are Skype, Microsoft
Messenger and iChat.
E. QUESTIONS
1. How often do you review the information technology that your organisation has?
2. How often do you update it?
3. How could your use of information technology be improved?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 243
244
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UNIT 45
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
AND EVALUATION
A. Performance management and evaluation . . . . . 246
B. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Getty/Julian Finney
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 245
A. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION
Performance management can be defined as managing and monitoring the organisations activities to
make them as effective as possible. It is a process that makes use of the systems and procedures that
your organisation has, in order to meet both the requirements of stakeholders and the objectives set out
in the strategic plan.
The process of performance management is simple and underpins the implementation of the operational
plans. You should start with the objectives from your operational plan, making sure that they are expressed
in SMART terms (Unit 39), and the plans that you developed to meet the objectives. Plans set out the
activities that are to be delivered, how they are to be delivered and the resources required, such as time,
equipment, athletes and coaches.
These plans are then put into operation, which are the services offered to members and other stakeholders.
The operational phase needs careful management and will need resources that are appropriate, well planned,
in the right place and delivered in the right manner. You then need to evaluate these operations using the
key performance indicators that you established during the strategy development process. This evaluation
may lead to changes in the plan or operations, or as a last resort, a review of objectives.
This evaluation phase should be carried out at regular intervals in order to make sure that the final goal is
achieved. For example, in the figure below, which shows a performance management process for qualifying
a team for the Olympic Games, the evaluation of plans would need to be carried out after each competition
in which the team participates in order to assess whether qualification for the Olympics is on track.
1
Objectives: To
qualify your team
for the Olympics
4 2
Plans for training,
Evaluation
competition,
Did the team
sport science
qualify?
and technology
3
Operations
Carry out plan
Test in competitions
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Benefits of performance management
Performance management helps managers in a number
of ways:
It helps with planning, as it:
provides a structure for controlling the
implementation of plans to meet objectives;
provides information on how the organisation
is performing against targets; and
generates information that can be fed into future
planning. IOC/John Huet
It allows you to evaluate and then communicate the success of the organisation in achieving
strategies. This will make your organisation operate in a more transparent and accountable way.
Performance management helps you to meet stakeholder expectations. If you set performance
targets that are agreed by stakeholders, you can then manage the service to meet these targets.
It will help you to focus on key aspects of the service, such as participation or elite performance,
as the information produced from this process allows you to evaluate how you are doing against
objectives set in targeted areas.
Performance evaluation
Evaluation usually involves a comparison between what is and what ought to be. For your organisation,
you have set goals and objectives, and discussed what your priorities should be and how you would like
to see sport in your country. Evaluation looks at how well you have followed through on these plans; it
measures whether the work you have done will have the intended impact.
In order to evaluate performance, it needs to be measured. All aspects of operations should be evaluated
in order to inform the management. As mentioned in Unit 39, performance evaluation is usually carried out
through the use of key performance indicators (KPIs). In order to make KPIs more useful for management,
they are usually associated with a target that managers need to achieve. For example, a finance goal might
be to put in place a monthly financial reporting system, for which the KPI would be the achievement of
this by a specific date.
Several factors need to be considered to make performance indicators (KPIs) valuable for evaluation:
The data on which KPIs are based must be trustworthy, particularly if the data is being used for
external comparison. For example, if you are measuring financial performance, your financial
records must be accurate.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 247
The data used to form KPIs must be collected from the same sources and in the same manner.
This will ensure that performance is evaluated accurately and allows comparisons. For example,
if you are reporting on the success of an event encouraging children to join your sport, you need
to decide whether the numbers attending the event or the numbers joining clubs is the measure
of success.
KPIs also need to measure what they are considered to measure, otherwise they may lead you to
make mistakes in decision-making. For example, the number of members is not always an accurate
reflection of participants in a sport. Membership numbers do not include non-members who play
the sport and often include people who are no longer active.
KPIs should only be used as a guide, as they do not provide an explanation for performance. For
example, a KPI will show that your athletes qualified for the finals, but will not explain why they
did not win a medal. You and the Board need to provide an explanation for the performance.
Performance indicators are meaningless unless they are evaluated against objectives. For example,
you may be successful in increasing member numbers but may have done this by offering free
membership. In this case, you have been effective from a membership perspective, but ineffective
financially. Actual performance evaluation must take into account the context of what you are trying
to achieve.
B. QUESTIONS
1. W
hat processes and procedures do you have in place that help you to manage the performance of your
organisation?
2. What additional information do you need?
3. How will you obtain it?
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III
THEME 4: MANAGEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
As a manager, there are several activities that you will need to consider or implement in order to
run your organisation well.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 249
250
SECTION III
UNIT 46
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
B. Managing a project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
C. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
IOC/John Huet
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 251
A. INTRODUCTION
A project is a group of interrelated activities that are planned and then carried out in a certain sequence
to create a unique service within a specified timeframe. An example of a project is the staging of an event.
Project management is necessary to deliver the required output by a certain time, to a specified level of
quality, with a given level of resources. The characteristics of a project are:
definable and measurable outcomes such as an event;
a start and end date;
a balance between time, cost and quality the event should be the best it can be within these
constraints;
a governance structure such as an organising committee;
a well defined multidisciplinary project team with the skills necessary to make the event a success;
involvement of stakeholders such as athletes and sponsors; and
criteria to measure project performance, such as satisfied athletes and officials or money raised.
B. MANAGING A PROJECT
The management of a project involves the following elements.
Governance
The management structure of a project is known as the governance of the project. The structure identifies
the specific players, their roles and responsibilities and the way in which they interact, i.e. who does what.
Stakeholder management
Stakeholders are the people or organisations who have an interest in the project process, outputs or
outcomes and will be involved in ensuring the projects success. They need to be involved early and
communicated with regularly, and their involvement must be carefully planned and managed.
Risk management
Risk management involves identifying, analysing and planning a response to potential threats to the project.
You need to know:
what risks could occur, such as a spectator getting hurt or a sponsor withdrawing;
the likelihood of this happening;
what can be done to prevent it from happening; and
what could be done to recover if risks did materialise.
Issues management
Issues and concerns will arise throughout the life of a project, such as difficulties in raising funds. These
problems will be raised by those responsible for delivering the project, as well as stakeholders. A structured
approach to dealing with issues needs to be established, taking into account:
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the size of the issue;
the importance of the issue; and
who raised the issue.
Resource management
This is more than simply managing money. It involves:
managing what people need to do;
how and when they do their tasks through scheduling;
managing information between stakeholders;
working to an agreed budget; and
meeting deadlines.
Quality management
It is important to agree on the level of quality expected by the project owner, such as an NOC, as this will
have an effect on the budget. Quality can be managed by:
engaging staff and volunteers with appropriate skills;
sticking to the project brief;
resolving issues as fast as possible and to the satisfaction of stakeholders;
monitoring progress against an agreed schedule;
delivering a project that meets requirements; and
completing the project within budget and on time.
Status reporting
Status reports should be given on a regular basis and include details about:
Milestones Major activities and tasks that have been achieved, moving the project towards
completion.
Budget Performance against the agreed budget, especially any overspend.
Issues Concerns that have arisen and been dealt with or that need to be dealt with.
Risks Risks that have arisen and been dealt with or that need to be dealt with.
Evaluation
A measurement against well defined criteria is necessary for all projects so that you can demonstrate how
successful you have been. Evaluation will help to determine:
whether the project is on time, on track and within budget;
the level of adherence to the documented plan and standards; and
the level of achievement of outcomes.
Closure
The formality of the closure process will be determined by the project itself. It may involve:
a review of the project outputs and outcomes against the plan;
completion or reassignment of outstanding tasks;
finalising records and documentation;
deciding what to do with staff and volunteers who have worked on the project; and
loose ends, i.e. anything else that may be left to do!
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 253
C. TOOLS
Project planning tools
The essential concept behind project planning is the notion that some activities are dependent on other
activities being completed first. For example, it is not a good idea to start building a sport stadium before
you have designed it! These dependent activities need to be completed in sequence. Other activities are
not dependent on completion of any other tasks. These may be carried out at any time before or after a
particular stage is reached.
There are a number of project planning tools that can help to deliver your project on time with the highest
possible level of quality. The most helpful of these is a Gantt chart, which is a tool for helping you plan
and monitor all aspects of your project. Gantt charts can be created by simply using post-it notes or on
a whiteboard. Basic word processing software using a table format can also be used. If you are going to
manage a medium- to large-scale project, you should become familiar with the process of creating and
using a Gantt chart, such as the following simple example.
0
1
00
/0
/0
/0
01
01
01
/0
/0
02
02
02
/1
/1
/1
/2
/2
1/
2/
2/
2/
1/
3/
3/
10
12
31
10
12
8/
4/
6/
8/
2/
4/
6/
TASK 1
TASK 2
TASK 3
TASK 4
TASK 5
Completed Remaining
D. QUESTIONS
1. How do you currently manage major projects in your organisation?
2. How could this be improved?
254
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UNIT 47
PROMOTION AND SPONSORSHIP
A. Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
B. Sponsorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
C. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
IOC/John Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 255
A. PROMOTION
Promotion is a marketing technique that is used to communicate what our organisations do. The purpose
of promotion is to sell the features and benefits of our organisations to those who might be interested.
Promotion has three main objectives:
1. To raise awareness that a sport, team or players exist, and explain what is being offered; for
example, to increase knowledge of your sport so as to increase participation.
2. To create a favourable attitude to encourage support; for example, promoting the healthy nature
of sport to sponsors and funding agencies.
3. To reinforce support and to build loyalty; for example, promoting the benefits of membership to
members and existing sponsors.
Public relations
Public relations (PR) comprises a number of methods which you can use to communicate messages about
the services you offer and the overall image of your organisation to stakeholders and other interested
members of the community. Public relations are not just about publicity, they are primarily concerned with
creating a good image of the organisation and, if necessary, overcoming any negative information.
As part of your marketing activities, you should create a public relations strategy in order to improve or
enhance your organisations image in the eyes of your key stakeholders. The point of public relations
is to make the public think favourably about your organisation and what it does. It requires two-way
communication between your organisation and your stakeholders in order to understand their behaviour
and attitudes towards you.
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Public relations has three main goals:
1. To create, maintain and protect the organisations reputation, enhance its prestige and present a
favourable image.
2. To create goodwill for the organisation.
3. To educate certain audiences about the organisation.
B. SPONSORSHIP
Sponsorship is an activity that creates a direct association between your organisation and what it has
to offer, and another organisation. There must be benefits for both parties for the sponsorship to work.
Sponsors can provide cash, goods and services known as value-in-kind (VIK) or a combination of these.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 257
Internet Do you have your own website? Can you offer sponsors exposure on your website?
Event tickets Can sponsors have access to purchase tickets to the Olympic Games or other
events of regional or national significance? Will you provide tickets free of charge?
Hospitality Do you stage any events in your country at which you can offer hospitality?
Other activities Look carefully at all the activities you run, particularly high-profile events, such
as Olympic Day celebrations. Could any be an opportunity for a sponsor?
The above should provide some ideas from which you can develop a package of benefits and opportunities.
This should be developed into a written proposal, outlining each benefit and how it can be used. This
proposal then usually forms the basis of a contractual agreement.
Look at companies that have similar values to the Olympic Movement and choose them carefully. Financial
institutions, car manufacturers, airlines and telecommunications companies are all good targets, although
there are many others. For example, the Amateur Swimming Association in England has received substantial
sponsorship from British Gas, a utility company.
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Arrange a meeting with a prospective client to make a presentation.
Ensure sponsorship agreements guarantee you a specific sum of money, regardless of the success
of the companys promotion.
Once a sponsor has expressed an interest, the major hurdle is to get them to sign a contract between you
and them. The contract must be legally binding on both sides and should be drafted by legal advisors. As
an organisation, do not commit to anything you cannot deliver.
IOC/John Gichigi
How much?
The cost of sponsorship will vary greatly from country to country. It may be an idea to talk to some friendly
companies and ask them whether they think the sponsorship is pitched at the right level. Try to identify the
cost of other sponsorships in your country and be aware of what your competitors could offer the sponsor.
When negotiating the value of the sponsorship, you should take into account how much you can receive
as cash and the amount contributed as VIK. Although cash is always useful, it is often easier for sponsors
to provide services and equipment, such as team uniforms and travel. Also remember to consider what
the actual cost of running each sponsorship is likely to be. You may have to buy tickets or accreditation
to events that you can give to sponsors, or employ a sponsorship agent who will take a percentage of
all income.
Keeping a sponsor
Having signed a sponsor, your aim must be to develop a long-term relationship with them. This servicing
of the sponsor is crucial and poor servicing is the main reason why many sponsorships fail. Maintain
communication with the sponsor, and provide new initiatives and opportunities for them to exploit their
sponsorship. Update them regularly on all your activities and give them exposure whenever you can.
Demonstrate to the sponsor how the sponsorship has benefited them, e.g. how many copies of your
magazine with the sponsors ad were sold or how many people watched your TV programme in which your
sponsor was mentioned.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 259
C. TOOLS
Making a presentation to sponsors
Once the benefits and opportunities have been defined, it is essential to prepare yourself to present these
to sponsors. How will you present these benefits to a company? Will you do it yourself or through an
agency? This must be carefully considered, as an agency would claim commission or a fee. Always read
the small print and never sign away your rights. For the presentation, there are numerous options, such as:
a written proposal;
a projector presentation;
a flip chart presentation; and
a computer-based (multimedia) presentation.
Much will depend on the budget available. However, whichever route is taken, it must be done professionally
and be well set out. Rehearse it. Write a script and test it on companies with whom you have dealt with in
the past. Keep it concise and no more than 30 minutes long so that the audience does not lose interest.
The content of a presentation to sponsors could include the following:
Introduction to your organisation What is the role of the organisation and the work?
The sponsorship package What are the benefits and opportunities available?
How it benefits the sponsor What they will get from it?
Summary Reinforce the key points and outline the benefits again. Then, lead into investment,
i.e. the amount of money required. Focus on partnership and being part of a team.
D. QUESTIONS
1. Why might your organisation be attractive to a sponsor?
2. Is your approach to sponsors effective?
3. How could it be improved?
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UNIT 48
RISK MANAGEMENT
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
B. Assessment of risks facing the organisation . . . 262
C. Managing risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Getty/Harry How
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 261
A. INTRODUCTION
The management of risk is integral to the good management of your organisation. Everyone involved with
the organisation has a responsibility to take well-judged, sensible risks to develop the organisation. As
your Board has ultimate responsibility for the organisations performance, it also has to take responsibility
for risk management. In some countries, this may make them legally liable for accidents to spectators,
financial failures and negative publicity for sponsors.
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that all contracts that you enter into are reviewed by a legal expert to ensure that legal risks are
properly identified. Contracts, even of low value, may carry a large potential legal risk exposure,
so it is not sufficient to adopt crude thresholds for contract review; instead, a proper assessment
of the risk should be carried out. You must also, of course, ensure that the organisation complies
with all applicable legislation, such as employment law, data protection law, and health and safety
law. You might ask yourself the following. Is the organisation an unincorporated association in
which the individual members have personal liability, or is it a partnership or perhaps a corporation
with liability limited by guarantee? Are Board members aware of the extent of their personal legal
liability? Are contracts reviewed for legal risk? Are the organisations assets properly protected by
law (this is especially important in relation to intellectual property protection for your brand and
merchandising or sponsorship rights)?
Any other identifiable risks These may be risks to do with the sport itself - for example, judo
is likely to have more inherent risks (injury) than badminton. There may be risks to do with the
activities of your organisation, such as financial responsibility for major events. Finally, there may
be systems, such as computer systems, on which the organisation is dependent and whose failure
could cause major difficulties. Is there appropriate data backup and disaster recovery? What are
the IT maintenance and support service levels?
In order to identify potential risks, you should review the past history of the organisation. This will highlight
areas where things have or might have gone wrong if they had not been identified as problem areas. The
experiences of other similar organisations may also highlight potential areas of risk for your organisation. For
example, if you are aware that funding has been cut to sport organisations that have not achieved Olympic
success, then you can be fairly certain that yours is at risk if your athletes performance is not considered
to be successful. Finally, brainstorming sessions with the Board and management and seeking the views
of external consultants and auditors will also allow you to establish a detailed picture of potential risks.
C. MANAGING RISK
In order to determine the degree of risk, you could use the following
equation:
Once a review of risk (see above) has been carried out, each risk
needs to be quantified. Managing the risk then involves selecting
tools from the risk management armoury to prevent or minimise the
risk by reducing the likelihood of it happening or its impact. Insurance
is one tool to reduce the impact of a risk. Of course, another option
is to accept the risk, but this decision should always be taken after
careful assessment of the risk and the possible consequences of
accepting it.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 263
Risk register
Risk Likelihood Potential Control procedure Monitoring Ownership Further Date of
of risk impact process action review
Reduction Low High Setting and Using You, Board Report on Every 3
in funding achieving required performance performance months
from performance. indicators to the Board
government every month
Loss of High Low Regular Senior Volunteers Review 12
volunteers communication with management manager plans for months
with volunteers to to monitor succession from
specific reinforce their process in 6 months start of
expertise commitment. procedure
Succession planning
to ensure skills are
not lost.
There are a number of ways of reducing the risks that affect an organisation:
The risk management process itself makes it possible to avoid some risks and to manage others properly.
Changes in the way the organisation is governed may also mitigate potential risks. If the organisation
is governed in a transparent and accountable way, many risks associated with public image, funding
and stakeholder satisfaction can be avoided.
If necessary, change the strategic direction of the organisation. For example, if government policy is
turning towards elite sport rather than grassroots sport and your organisation supports grassroots
sport, you may wish to reconsider the organisations objectives. At the very least, you should
consider how to manage the risk associated with the change in policy.
Reduce or expand services and change their way of operating to reduce risk. For example,
introducing the evaluation and control procedures outlined in Unit 45 will assist greatly with the
management of risk.
If the sport is inherently risky, or if there are significant risks facing the organisation, it may be
possible to take out insurance to cover the risk. For example, most officials are insured against
liability for injuries that occur to athletes under their control.
As with all aspects of governance, the process of risk management should be transparent and communicated
throughout the organisation. The annual report should include an acknowledgement of the Boards
responsibilities, the process followed and a confirmation of the systems in place to control areas of major
risk. This allows all stakeholders to be comfortable with the risk management of the organisation.
D. QUESTIONS
1. Do you have a risk management process in your organisation? Should you?
2. Is your review of the risks that your organisation faces appropriate?
3. Does the Board lead on risk management?
4. How might your risk management strategy be improved?
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UNIT 49
PLANNING A SPORT TRIP
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
B. Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
C. Travel arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
D. What else to take . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
E. The trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
F. Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
G. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
IOC/Richard Juilliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 265
A. INTRODUCTION
Travel can be an inspiring, enjoyable and educational experience. However, competing away from home
can also be an upsetting experience if the tour members are not prepared for all the adjustments that they
must face. Therefore, it is important to plan ahead, to try to anticipate all problems and eliminate them in
order to minimise disruption to the athletes performance.
Most aspects of a sport tour can be organised and planned for in advance, especially if you start early.
However, there will always be unexpected occurrences and many things you will learn only through
experience. It is very important that when things do go wrong, you remain calm, use your resources and,
above all else, keep a sense of humour.
B. PLANNING
Your preparation for a trip will often make the difference between the trip going smoothly and a number
of difficulties and problems arising.
In the words of one Team Manager: Coaches coach, players play and the managers do everything else.
If the competition you are entering is very significant and if the country to which you are travelling requires
major cultural and climate changes that will affect the performance of your athletes, you should probably
send one person on a pre-visit to review the situation. Alternatively, you may wish to set up contact with
a reliable person in that country to inform you of all you need to know. The role of Olympic Attach was
established because of such needs.
You will want to know about everything that will affect your trip, such as food, accommodation, facilities,
transportation, training and competition schedules and facilities, certain customs and laws of the country,
geography, language, exchange rates, banking and medical services. Be sure you know where your nearest
embassy is and whom to contact, and let them know you are coming before you leave your home country.
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C. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Depending on the trip, travel is often the most expensive item on the trip budget. It is essential that you
plan this well.
Travel
Contact a reliable travel agency or deal directly with the organisation providing the transport, such as an
international airline. You want to find the best method of travel to suit your needs and the best available
rates. So, you must know:
the size of your group (athletes, coaches, trainers, medical personnel, managers);
your travel budget;
the dates of departure and return (remember to account for acclimatisation and jet lag if appropriate)
and the location of the nearest airport / railway station / coach terminal to where you will be staying;
any baggage limits, including the number of bags allowed per person;
any weight restrictions and extra baggage charges; and
the special arrangements for equipment that is to be shipped separately:
how long it will take;
how much it will cost;
how to transport it;
where and when to pick it up;
what arrangements you will have to make with customs.
Documents
There are a number of documents that you should make sure you have and carry with you:
Passport In order to enter most foreign countries, each person travelling will need a current
passport. Contact your travel agent, foreign affairs department or passport office to find out about
applying and leave plenty of time for passport approval. Check the expiry dates, as passports may
need to be valid for six months following departure from the foreign country. The manager should
record all passport numbers and names and keep them separately from the passports - take three
or four copies as these are useful for hotels. Should a passport be lost or stolen, contact your
embassy immediately and inform the police.
Entry visa Some foreign countries require you to have an entry visa. Check with your travel agent,
foreign affairs department or embassy in the country concerned to see if this is a requirement. The
internet is also a good source of information. Find out how long the visa is valid for, and if it will
allow you to bring in any medication required for the team and all your special equipment. Make
sure to start processing visa requests far enough in advance to avoid last-minute problems. Avoid
the risk of having to cancel a trip because of the late delivery of a visa.
Insurance Always have adequate travel insurance to cover all possible medical needs and
replace anything lost or stolen. If you are flying, check what the airline policy covers, but you are
likely to have to take out additional cover so that your insurance covers you, your athletes and
your equipment.
Competition documents Take all documents required to compete, such as team registration lists,
forms for registering those who are taking prescription medicines and copies of entry forms.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 267
Vaccinations
Vaccinations may be required when entering or returning from the country to which you are travelling. Find
out what is necessary and what is recommended (taking into account the effect on your athletes) and plan
to have vaccinations given to all those travelling, ensuring plenty of time for adjustment and recovery.
Customs regulations
The country to which you are travelling may restrict what you can bring into the country. Find out what
restrictions are in place. Also, find out what restrictions exist in relation to bringing items back. Do not take
letters or gifts with unknown contents to people in the country you are visiting. You will be held responsible
for the contents and, if they are illegal in that country, you will be punished according to their regulations.
In addition, be sure to record serial numbers of all equipment and valuables, such as cameras, with your
customs office before or when you are leaving so that, when you return with them, you will have proof that
you took them with you. Check specific regulations on importing your sport equipment, such as firearms,
into the foreign country.
Documents
personal details of all your athletes. The tools section contains a format that you might like to use
to make sure you have all necessary details;
all documents required for competition;
complete travel itinerary;
complete schedule of events and timing;
copies of insurance documentation and details on how to access help if necessary;
prescriptions:
take the full amount required for use during the trip;
take a typed document showing the full generic name;
take a doctors certificate describing the medication and its purpose and dosage;
register medication with officials in charge of the competition;
obtain medical clearance to bring medications into the country, if necessary.
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Clothing and equipment
The following should be included:
full medical kit;
team uniform;
training clothing, anticipating extreme weather conditions;
leisure and formal wear, meeting dress standards of the
host country;
toiletries and other personal supplies to last the full trip;
own special equipment - do not assume it will be provided;
video equipment to record team performance;
mobile phone for emergencies;
those wearing glasses should bring an extra pair.
alarm clock;
long extension cord;
gifts for hosts and other teams;
your countrys flag and tape recording of national anthem;
international drivers licence;
maps of city and area;
extra non-perishable food.
Finances
Try to pay for as much of the trip in advance as possible. This will reduce the amount of currency you have
to carry. In addition, the following could be useful:
Find out the exchange rate and be aware of any money-changing regulations, such as limits on
the amount you can exchange and where.
Take some small currency for use on arrival for items such as taxis and tips.
Carry an internationally recognised credit card for use in emergencies. You can often withdraw
cash from cash machines, although this may have a cost.
Be aware that some states will not allow you to purchase their currency until you arrive in the
country or to take their currency out of that country. Exchanging currency with private citizens
could result in arrest.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 269
E. THE TRIP
In order to make the trip as smooth as possible, you need to do the following:
Hold a briefing
Before you go, hold a briefing session with athletes and coaches. Explain the:
Itinerary Provide a day-by-day overview of what to expect.
Accommodation and food expectations Provide accommodation details so that family members
have a point of contact. In addition, make sure that the official mobile number is known by all.
Host country customs Know the religious, political and economic situation.
Adjustments Time zone, climate, altitude, food and water, insects, animals, medical.
Expected code of conduct - Sportsmanship, friendship, kindness and the fact you are representing
your country.
Security Identify safety precautions, including safeguarding of personal belongings.
Team rules Explain any team rules, including curfew rules. Explain how discipline will be handled.
Public relations Learn a few phrases in the foreign language; dress smartly; respect the host
countrys laws and customs; be discreet in expressing and exchanging political, economic and
religious views.
Media interviews Identify questions to expect and how to respond to the media.
Miscellaneous aspects Identify any technical matters concerning training and competition that
should be known before arrival.
Manage finances
Make sure you know how much you have to spend while you are away.
Keep copies of all receipts and keep a note of what they are for.
Keep credit card slips.
Keep a record of what is spent and balance this at the end of each day with the receipts that
you have.
Balance the total at the end of the trip and return any unspent money or claim back your expenses.
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Follow necessary protocol
Attend all meetings, receptions and ceremonies given in your honour.
Remember you are representing your country.
Helpful hints
Expect to be self-reliant and plan accordingly.
Other countries may operate at a faster or slower pace of life.
Keep your sense of humour, be forewarned and attempt to adapt.
Make sure that you stand up for the rights of your athletes if you think they are being taken
advantage of.
Relationships and goals are important - remember everyone is there to help the athletes.
Have shared goals so you can focus on the objectives of the trip rather than its distracting elements.
Standardise routines before competition so the athletes have some familiarity and security, even
in a foreign country. You may need an interpreter but one may not always be with you. Try to learn
a few key phrases. People from the host country will probably be more responsive because you
have made an effort.
F. TOOLS
The following questions will help you to plan for your trip. Ask about the following:
Food:
What kind of food will be served (foreign, own country, etc.)?
How will it be served? Main dining room, cafeteria, buffet, sit-down meal?
Is there adequate food?
Is food available at appropriate times for training and competition?
Are meals served only at one location (e.g. hotel)?
Can packed lunches be obtained?
Are snacks available? What will these be? Where can you arrange them?
Are special meals available, e.g. for diabetics, vegetarians?
What type of fluids are available - water, juice, carbonated drinks, tea? Are the beverages safe to
drink? Where can you find them in rooms, accommodation and competition venues? When are
drinks available?
What are the arrangements for paying for meals? What is included or excluded in the price?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 271
Accommodation:
Where is it located?
For whom - athletes, trainers, coaches, managers?
How many per room?
Are rooms all together in one unit?
Is a common meeting room available?
Toilets and showers - shared or private?
Is headquarter office space or equipment available?
Is medical and physiotherapy space available? Will there be doctors and physiotherapists available
to visiting teams? At what cost?
Are there equipment storage areas? Where? Can you lock them?
What are the arrangements for receiving and sending mail?
Who pays for what?
Is there available accommodation for family and friends?
Transportation:
What is available - charter buses, personal vans, taxis, rental cars?
How will the team travel from the airport to the accommodation site? Will the team be met by
someone from the Organising Committee?
How will the team travel from its accommodation to the practice and competition venues?
Is transport available for leisure-time activities - buses, cars, subways, taxis?
What costs will be incurred for transportation?
Competition:
What are the competition schedules and venues?
Is an organisational meeting scheduled to inform all teams about how the competition will be run?
How will the Organising Committee communicate with each team?
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Geography:
What will the climate be like? When is the wet and dry season? What will be the range of temperatures
and humidity?
Is there a problem with altitude?
Are there time zone considerations?
Language:
What are the spoken languages?
In what language will the sports event be conducted?
Will an interpreter be provided or must they be arranged? At what cost?
Customs:
What are the major religions? Can the religious needs of your team be fulfilled?
Are there any political issues or sensitivities that should be known?
What are the acceptable dress customs?
What are the common courtesy or acceptable social customs (e.g. tipping)?
Will there be cultural events that your team will observe or participate in?
Laws:
Are you aware of the important and applicable laws of the country concerning use of drugs, alcohol
and offensive behaviour?
Where is your countrys consulate or embassy? Do you have their phone number? Are they aware
of your arrival?
Whom do you contact in case of trouble?
Can your medical staff practise in the foreign country?
Banking:
How will you pay your expenses?
What are the exchange rates? What is the best way of exchanging money?
Do you have to make advance arrangements to use foreign banks?
Leisure time:
What leisure activities can you plan for your team?
Are there sightseeing tours or cultural events?
Can you arrange team meals away from your hotel?
G. QUESTIONS
1. How carefully do you evaluate whether your sport trips are appropriate?
2. Do you have a checklist that you follow when planning trips?
3. How well do you evaluate the trip once it is over?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 273
Information on athletes
Below is a pro forma for information you may need from athletes:
Home address:________________________________________________________________________________
If different from above:
List any medications the athlete is currently taking (use generic names):______________________________
Emergency contact: Name two people and their addresses and contact numbers where they can be
reached should there be an emergency of any sort.
1. Name:______________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________________________________________
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UNIT 50
ORGANISING AN EVENT
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
B. Bidding phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
C. Planning phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
D. Organisation of the event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
IOC/Richard Juilliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 275
A. INTRODUCTION
Successful events do not just happen. They take a great deal of planning and forethought, with attention
to the smallest details as well as larger considerations such as transportation and accommodation. An
event consists of four phases, which all need careful planning:
1. Bidding deciding whether the organisation wants or has the capacity to organise an event;
2. Planning deciding what the event will be, what it might look like and what activities will be
involved, carrying out the tasks and activities for the event to take place;
3. Operational running the event; and
4. Closing tidying up all details after the event is over.
B. BIDDING PHASE
Before applying for or taking on an event
There are a number of questions that you need to consider before wasting time and resources on bidding
for an event that you have little chance of winning, or staging an event that might be unsuccessful:
Can the facilities be made available?
Can we accumulate the finance to carry the project through?
Do we have the necessary manpower and leadership?
Do we have the necessary willpower?
Do we have the necessary expertise?
Do we have the necessary time?
Are there willing partners to assist us?
Is there an interest in the community for the event?
What do we expect to achieve from hosting the event?
Acceptability:
Is my organisation in favour of organising the event? Are there any personalities or other problems
within my organisation that would inhibit the success of the event?
Is the governments sports department aware that we have applied to bid for the event and will
they support it if we are successful?
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C. PLANNING PHASE
Having been awarded the event
If you win the right to host the event, the first thing you need to do is appoint a person who will make sure
that the event happens. This person may be appointed Organising Committee president, project chairperson
or tournament convener. Then create an Organising Committee to begin the planning process and oversee
the major operational areas. These areas could be:
facilities and equipment;
technical aspects referees, umpires,
training, draw, schedule of events;
liaison with sports bodies and participants -
entry forms, information sheets, registration
forms, eligibility;
transportation;
accommodation;
media and publicity;
protocol ceremonies, VIPs;
hospitality;
finance and financial control;
social programme; All rights reserved
For minor events, it is possible for one person to perform more than one function. It is quite feasible, for
example, for the accommodation and transportation functions to be combined. You can determine the
combination of areas by thinking about the size of the event and the amount of time that the helpers have
at their disposal.
Once the areas to be covered have been identified and key people are in place, it is time to do the actual
planning. Set up timelines using a Gantt Chart (or flow chart) that outlines activities and meetings. This is
essential for proper groundwork. You should think about following the project planning process that was
outlined in Unit 46. The following list is an example of general timelines prior to a national championship.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 277
Five months prior to an event:
Review all committee budgets and consolidate them into one.
Each committee chairperson presents a flow chart outlining tasks to be carried out, who will do
so, and by when.
Book facilities and equipment as necessary.
Begin promotional plans.
Set up registration procedures.
Set up bi-weekly meetings with each chairperson to check the progress of their planning.
Complete all tasks that require lead time, e.g. promotion, printing, financing, attracting volunteers.
Other activities
Special events by themselves are often only interesting to those who are directly involved in or have a
special commitment to the event itself. However, if you add some extras, you can broaden your appeal
and, therefore, peoples participation in the event. Each country has its own unique cultural advantages that
can make sport events special for large groups of people. Whether through photography, music, dance,
the visual arts, food or clothing, your country or community can contribute a great deal towards adding
something extra to a sports event. To help plan these activities, consider the following:
Think about your particular country or region. What local, national or special cultural aspects could
be linked to special events related to sport?
Which of the above would it be financially feasible to include with a sports event?
At which particular age groups would you like to aim your special events? Why this group
in particular?
Think of special people in your country who are linked to sport through cultural activities e.g. media
personalities, photographers and caterers. Would it be feasible to have any of these individuals
involved in your programme? If so, who might attend?
Think about people who have played a role in your countrys sport history. How might they be
involved in your programme?
What other ideas come to mind related to how you might add a few extras to this special event?
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All rights reserved
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 279
Prepare specific written guidelines on how to record expenses, receipts and invoices.
Use clear, well organised registration forms that are easily organised and filed.
Be optimistic and realistic. Stay calm no matter what happens.
Each team should be required to complete the entry form and send it back by the appropriate date. This
entry form should include:
names of participants;
playing standards (if required for seeding);
the signature of participants, agreeing to abide by the terms of competition;
the name of the team, club and individual contact person, as well as addresses and business and
home telephone numbers; and
any entry fees.
Greet your guests! At the airport, try to make the arrival and departure easy for visitors. Meet the visitors.
Have information kiosks readily visible and staffed with friendly, helpful volunteers. Give assistance with
customs and immigration if possible. Ensure transportation options are clear and make visitors trips to
and from the airport as easy as possible.
E. QUESTIONS
1. Consider the last event you organised. What could you have improved?
2. How will you change what you do for the next event?
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SECTION III
UNIT 51
MANAGING AND OPERATING
FACILITIES
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
B. Managing and operating facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
C. Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
VANOC
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 281
A. INTRODUCTION
Sport facilities can be complex to manage and operate because there are so many parts - the maintenance,
operation and supervision of the actual facilities, implementation of programmes, and management of
all the personnel, systems and policies associated with these. Many of the skills and activities that are
discussed in this manual are important when running facilities.
Purchase high-quality, durable equipment. Again, it may not be the cheapest option initially, but
it will save maintenance and replacement costs and will be much more reliable.
Use detailed operations manuals and revise them when needed. These should outline the operating
policies and be accessible to all employees. These manuals should include items such as job
descriptions, floor plans, event protocols, sport equipment policies and inventory, machinery and
general equipment policies and inventory, general duties for staff, emergency response protocols
and administration requirements, such as time sheets and how to handle cash.
Ensure good business practice, such as proper financial controls and reporting, insurance,
emergency protocols and well-trained staff.
Manage the accounts, keeping in mind the fixed assets; when a facility is acquired, make sure you
take into account not only how much it will cost to buy it, but also the cost of operating it.
Promote the facility and the programmes to the community, using newsletters, a bulletin board at
the entrance of the facility and local media advertisements.
There should be a replacement fund as part of the ongoing operational costs so that there are
resources to undertake major improvements or purchase major equipment, such as scoreboards,
timing systems and the roof of the facility.
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C. PROGRAMMING
Perhaps the most important factor for a successful facility is the range of services and activities it provides.
You need to identify possible user groups (schools, children, adults, sport groups, etc.) and their needs.
You need to offer activities that encourage people to use your facility on a regular basis. This will help with
income, but more importantly will increase physical activity in your local population. There are a number
of ways of deciding what to programme in your facilities:
Traditional What has gone on in the past continues to happen.
Expressed desires Ask people what they want to do and programme these activities.
Authoritarian You, as the manager, decide what people want and programme it.
Policy Programmes are delivered to meet policy objectives, such as focusing on childrens
programmes.
External requirements The programme for your facility may be determined by an external body.
Variety The programme offers a diverse range of activities for people to select from.
Demand Offer what people want.
Often you will use a mix of approaches. The key thing is to be sure that you are offering what people want
and that you review your programmes regularly.
D. QUESTIONS
1. How do you decide what to offer at your facility?
2. How do you obtain information from your user groups?
3. Do you know if you are meeting their needs?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 283
It is generally the responsibility of national sport organisations to
develop athletes and coaches, although in reality they cannot do this
alone and rely on good support from many sources. They need financial
resources to operate programmes and to pay staff, whether acquired
from governments, corporations or their own fund-raising initiatives.
They need the best coaches they can find and the vast majority need
ways to train them and resources to support them. Coaches need
talented athletes to train and to motivate, in order to help them become
the best athletes that they can be. Athletes themselves need various
kinds of personal and programme-based support in order to progress.
Some of this support takes the form of sport science, sport medicine
and performance technology services. Of course, the issue of banned
substances or practices in sport is also present and practical information
is provided to assist with the prevention of and responses to this problem.
All of these matters are discussed in this Section. The ability of an NOC
or other leadership body to help the sport organisations to achieve
their objectives is one of the constant challenges facing sport in every
country. Thus, the more a countrys sport system can weave together
the necessary partnerships to meet these needs, the more successful
its athletes will be.
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IV
DEVELOPING ELITE ATHLETES
Unit 52 Sport medicine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Unit 53 Anti-doping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Unit 54 Sport science. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Unit 55 Technology in sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Unit 56 Developing technical leadership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Unit 57 Developing athletes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Unit 58 Talent identification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 285
286
SECTION IV
UNIT 52
SPORT MEDICINE
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
B. Regional health services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
C. The role of the NOC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
D. Medical services when travelling . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
IOC/Richard Juilliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 287
A. INTRODUCTION
Fitness and good health are terms that can be readily associated with both recreational and highly competitive
sport. For the top-level competitive athlete, it is vital that the body is healthy and in peak condition despite the
high levels of stress that are placed upon it. Therefore, the involvement of medical specialists in competition
preparations is of vital importance. Medical practitioners can contribute to sport as follows.
Athletes become injured either through traumatic incidents or as a result of stress placed on the body
due to the intensity of training or competition. On sustaining an injury, it is vital for the competitor to
have an early and correct diagnosis, and to be rehabilitated in the shortest possible time. The process of
bringing the competitor back to full fitness following an injury is a matter of teamwork involving the doctor,
physiotherapist, coach and athlete.
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C. THE ROLE OF THE NOC
NOCs can contribute to promoting sport medicine by:
providing encouragement for the development of knowledge and skills for medical practitioners;
providing experiences in sport for a variety of physicians wishing to specialise in sport medicine,
specifically by promoting the organisation of IOC sport medicine courses in their country;
encouraging the existence and delivery of coordinated medical / paramedical / scientific services
that maintain a strong focus on health and safety for the athlete; and
keeping up to date with IOC policies and procedures specific to the medical aspects of athletic
performance, e.g. doping control and medical services at the Olympic Games.
Prior to travelling abroad, a team should consult a physician to assist with planning for the trip, even if no
physician will be travelling with the team. The physician should be able to give advice concerning adaptation
to the climate, the required immunisations, health precautions and the medical services and facilities in
the country to be visited. This information may also be obtained during a pre-visit, or by seeking proper
medical information, possibly from the countrys embassy or consular office in your country.
2. Travel tips
a) General
It may not be easy to find necessary medication when travelling. Be sure to take what you need
if you are unsure of availability.
Determine the teams immunisation needs. Ensure vaccinations are current, including polio and
tetanus. You may require vaccines for yellow fever, cholera and typhoid. If prevention of malaria
is a concern, you must take anti-malarial drugs prior to your departure, during the trip and upon
return. Cholera vaccine gives only partial protection against the disease and proper hygiene is
necessary to assist. Gamma globulin provides some protection against hepatitis A. All inoculations
and vaccinations should be completed before departure.
Ensure that each athlete carries a medical passport containing details of specific medical problems,
such as asthma, diabetes, injuries, medication, vaccinations and allergies.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 289
Consider arranging medical insurance for your trip. The policy should cover medical services in the
country you are visiting as well as the cost of flights home following accidents or serious illnesses.
Your team should have a medical kit, including dressings for cuts and abrasions, moleskin to
prevent blisters, antiseptic, aspirin, insect repellent, sunscreen lotion and oral rehydration mixture
(packages of glucose / salt mixtures to add to fluid) for the treatment of diarrhoea.
If team members embark on casual sexual relationships when travelling, use of appropriate protection
is a wise precaution. If it is suspected that a member has contracted a sexually transmitted disease,
a physician must be consulted.
Reduce the risk of insect bites by wearing trousers and long-sleeved shirts and by avoiding wet,
shady areas.
Upon arrival, the physician or manager should visit or obtain information about the local hospital
and its admission procedures and physiotherapy services, contact a local physician to obtain
assistance and determine the location of the nearest pharmacy.
The team physician should establish a specific time in the morning and evening for visits by injured
or sick team members.
b) Diarrhoea
This condition is faced by every traveller but is particularly important to travelling athletes since it causes
large salt and fluid losses from the body as well as depleting energy resources. Diarrhoea may be caused by
emotional stress or anxiety, or by irritation of the gut by micro-organisms. Diarrheal diseases are spread by
infected material entering the mouth. Foods that are most commonly infected are fish and meat (particularly
made-up dishes such as pies, curries, sausages and stews), milk, raw vegetables and fruit that have not
been washed properly, and contaminated water.
c) Diet considerations:
All uncooked food is a potential source of disease.
A change in diet itself can cause intestinal disturbances.
Tomato juice is an excellent source of electrolytes.
Salt should be taken with food.
Carbohydrate input should be high. Carbohydrate-rich snacks such as candy should be available.
A carbohydrate-rich and easily digestible meal three hours before a competition is recommended.
With adequate meals, extra vitamins are not needed. However, if fruits and salads are excluded
from the diet, vitamins should be taken. Iron should also be considered.
Checking an athletes weight daily indicates whether their level of food, caloric or fluid intake must
be increased.
Snacks and fluids should probably be taken from the hotel for refreshment after training or
competition. Do not rely on finding adequate snacks at stadiums. Athletes must be careful not to
miss meals or forget to drink.
d) Jet lag:
Air travel creates certain problems: dehydration from travelling at altitude, changes in body rhythms
(jet lag), lack of mobility (stiffness). During long plane trips, drink at least a cup of fluid every hour,
avoid alcohol and stretch and walk in the plane. Try to prevent athletes from travelling in a tired
state; do not cause them excessive stress once they arrive.
Time-zone changes create added stresses. Symptoms of jet lag are fatigue, distortion of the
senses, upset stomach, constipation or diarrhoea and disturbed sleep. This is because the body
cycles are out of synchrony with the new environment. You can improve this situation by scheduling
arrival for the evening hours or by changing sleep patterns before the trip, to coincide as much as
possible with the sleep-awake pattern you will experience in the new location. Athletes who have
not changed their sleep patterns before travelling should avoid competing in the morning hours
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during the first few days after long eastbound flights and late afternoon hours after westbound
flights. A pre-adapted athlete should not have these concerns since their systems are already
synchronised with the new environment.
An extended sleep (e.g. 12 hours) following a long flight can make up for lost sleep. However, a
nights rest will not bring the bodys biological rhythms into phase with local time. It usually takes
one day for each time zone crossed before the adjustment is complete.
Maximal oxygen consumption, strength, power and coordination are all affected by biological
rhythms. Peak performance cannot be achieved until biological rhythms have adjusted, usually
during the afternoon or early evening. It appears that drops in performance levels are greater when
travelling eastbound than westbound.
e) Heat:
Significant heat injury may occur at all temperatures above 18 degrees C.
Body temperature may rise to 38-39 degrees C during steady exercise in heat.
The average male (68kg) may lose 1.5-2.0 litres of sweat per hour. Frequent fluid intake during
training / competition is absolutely necessary. Runners should consume 200ml of fluid 30 minutes
before competing and 400-500ml of fluid 10-15 minutes before competing.
Heat can cause muscle cramps, joint pains, blisters and fatigue. Symptoms of heat stress are
headache, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, decrease in sweat rate, pale, cold skin or chilling.
Distance runners, football players and others who work continuously over long periods of time are
particularly susceptible to heat stress.
Athletes should wear light athletic clothing and use sunscreen lotion and hats to protect against sunburn.
Getty/Michael Steele
f) Rehydration strategies:
Drink 125-500ml of fluid two hours before exercise.
Drink 125-250ml every 15 minutes or as much as you can tolerate during exercise.
Drink 1 litre of fluid after exercise for every kilogram lost.
Monitor body weight and attempt to restore 80% of the fluid (weight) lost.
Drink plenty of fluids with meals.
Drink water, juices or isotonic mixtures.
Monitor your urine to ensure it is a light straw colour rather than bright yellow.
Thirst is a poor indicator of need for fluid. You need fluid before you become thirsty.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 291
E. QUESTIONS
1. How is sport medicine set up in your country?
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your approach?
3. Who are the qualified sport medicine specialists in your country?
4. W hat specific programmes or activities can your sport organisation undertake to improve medical
services for your athletes?
292
SECTION IV
UNIT 53
ANTI-DOPING
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
B. The World Anti-Doping Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
C. Words to watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
D. Prevention / education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
E. Managing a possible doping offence . . . . . . . . . 298
F. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
IOC/John Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 293
A. INTRODUCTION
Doping is cheating. Doping is akin to death. Death physiologically, by profoundly altering, sometimes
irreversibly, normal processes through unjustified manipulations. Death physically, as certain tragic cases
in recent years have shown. But also death spiritually and intellectually, by agreeing to cheat and conceal
ones capabilities, by recognising ones incapacity or unwillingness to accept oneself, or to transcend ones
limits. And finally death morally, by excluding oneself de facto from the rules of conduct required by all
human society. Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC President, 1980-2001
In 1967, the IOC established a Medical Commission in partnership with the International Cycling Union
(UCI). Its purpose was to put in place a medical control service for the 1968 Olympic Games, and to study
the issue of doping controls and the assistance that could be given to athletes in developing countries
on these matters.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established in 1999 as an international independent agency
to promote and coordinate the fight against doping in sport at the international level. It is composed and
funded equally by the sport movement and governments of the world.
This harmonisation aims to address the problems that previously arose from disjointed and uncoordinated
anti-doping efforts, such as a scarcity and splintering of resources necessary to conduct research and
testing, a lack of knowledge about specific substances and procedures being used and to what degree,
and an inconsistent approach to penalties for athletes found guilty of doping.
Since it entered into force on 1 January 2004, the Code has proven to be a very powerful and effective tool
in the harmonisation of anti-doping efforts worldwide. This has been demonstrated by the overwhelming
support of governments and sports in accepting the Code, and by the growing body of jurisprudence from
the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), upholding the Codes provisions.
Following an open and transparent consultation process that included three phases and the publication
of several preliminary drafts, the revised Code (2009) was unanimously adopted by WADAs Foundation
Board and endorsed by the 1,500 delegates present on 17 November 2007, the final day of the Third
World Conference on Doping in Sport, held in Madrid. The revised Code entered into force on 1 January
2009. The World Conference Resolution as well as information on the Code and related consultation can
be reviewed on the WADA website: www.wada-ama.org.
The Code review process has resulted in an even stronger, more robust tool to ensure that all athletes
benefit from the same anti-doping procedures and protection, whatever their sport, nationality or country.
Prohibited classes of substances include stimulants, narcotics, anabolic agents, diuretics, peptide hormones,
mimetics and analogues, amoung others.
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There are three categories of prohibited methods or practices:
Blood doping is the administration of blood, red blood cells and related blood products to an athlete.
Chemical and physical manipulation is the use of substances and methods which alter or attempt to
alter the integrity and validity of urine samples used in doping controls (e.g. tampering, intra-venous
infusion), including, without limitation, catheterisation, urine substitution and / or tampering, inhibition
of renal excretion such as by probenecid and related compounds and epitestosterone application.
Gene doping is the transfer or use of cells, genetic elements or pharmalogical agents to modulate
expression of endogenous genes with the capacity to enhance athletic performance.
Some drugs are prohibited in competition, others out-of-competition and others in certain sports only.
The ingredients of some supplements and food products are not fully or correctly identified on their labels.
It is the athletes responsibility to ensure that any substances they are taking are free from prohibited
substances. Athletes must seek advice and guidance from knowledgeable sources.
Sanctions
Any competitor who is found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) is excluded from the
current and / or future Olympic Games.
If a competitor is a member of a team and is notified of an ADRV, the competition, event or match
during which the infringement took place may be considered as forfeited by that team, following
the IFs rules.
Following an infringement of the World Anti-Doping Code, a medal and / or diploma may be withdrawn.
All sanctions are proposed by the IOC Disciplinary Commission to the IOC Executive Board, which has the
final authority to decide on the adoption and implementation of sanctions. The IOC rules do not prejudice
any sanctions which the International Federations or the NOCs concerned may take in conformity with
their own rules.
C. WORDS TO WATCH
Terms used to describe doping control procedures can be confusing and ambiguous. The following is a
reference guide describing some key words and terms:
Adverse analytical finding An adverse analytical finding is a report for the laboratory or other
approved testing entity that identifies in a specimen the presence of a prohibited substance or its
metabolites or markers (including elevated quantities of endogenous substances) or evidence of
the use of a prohibited method.
Anti-doping rule violation (ADVR) is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the following:
presence of a prohibited substance in an athletes sample;
use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or method;
refusal to submit to sample collection;
violation of applicable requirements regarding athlete availability for out-of-competition testing;
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 295
tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control;
possession of prohibited substances and use of prohibited methods;
trafficking or attempted trafficking; or
administration or any other kind of complicity involving an anti-doping violation.
Positive test is often used incorrectly to mean that a doping offence has occurred. A laboratory can
report either an adverse analytical finding or an atypical finding that does not necessarily lead to an
anti-doping rule violation. It may be, for example, that a prohibited substance is present in a form or
for a purpose (such as acceptable medical treatment) which does not constitute a doping offence.
Out-of-competition testing refers to tests that can be carried out at any time with no notice.
Tests are primarily focused on athletes or sports where there is a high probability of use. Out-
of-competition testing also enables the organisation or doping agency to target certain athletes
based on evidence of use.
Quality control samples are urine specimens prepared to contain prohibited substances which
are routinely included among other samples sent to laboratories for analysis. These samples are
not identified or known to the laboratories and act as a quality-control check of the laboratorys
routine analytical procedures.
Doping control is the term used to describe all elements of the system designed to detect the
presence of prohibited and restricted substances, practices and methods, from sample collection
to laboratory analysis and the management of results. Doping control also includes a review
process and appeal mechanism to protect the rights of athletes charged with an offence and other
individuals charged with doping-related offences.
A and B samples When the athlete provides a blood or urine sample for testing, the sample is
divided into two parts, sealed and sent to the laboratory for analysis. One part, the A sample, is
tested first and, if it is positive for a banned substance, the relevant anti-doping organisations,
WADA and the athlete are notified. If the athlete wishes to have this result verified, tests are
undertaken on the second part, the B sample, that has been securely stored.
Athlete whereabouts information An effective doping control programme includes a large
component of unannounced testing that can occur at any time and at any place. Athletes who are
required to participate in an anti-doping programme must comply with the whereabouts programme
so they can be easily located for testing in out-of-competition situations. This is a big commitment
but athletes are happy to comply if it helps keep their sport clean and fair. It also only applies to
a small proportion of athletes. Only those in a Registered Testing Pool are required to submit the
requested information.
Therapeutic use exemption (TUE) Some athletes need to use drugs such as insulin to treat
diabetes or salbutamol inhalers for asthma attacks. Athletes who need to use a prohibited substance
or method can apply for a therapeutic use exemption, better known as a TUE. When a TUE is
granted, if the athlete tests positive, it will be known that the athlete is using the medication for
a medically justified reason and not to enhance performance. A TUE might only be considered
under the following circumstances:
The athlete would experience a significant impairment to health if the prohibited substance or
method were to be withheld in the course of treating an acute or chronic medical condition.
The use of the prohibited substance or method would produce no additional enhancement of
performance other than that which might be anticipated by a return to a state of normal health
following the treatment of a legitimate medical condition.
There is no reasonable therapeutic alternative, or any alternative is inefficient.
Athletes should enquire about the TUE application process with their national anti-doping organisation or
International Federation.
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D. PREVENTION / EDUCATION
WADAs initiatives
On 1 January each year, WADA publishes the one and only List of Prohibited
Substances and Methods, adopted by the IOC. NOCs, International and
National Federations and people working with athletes, such as medical
staff and coaches, need to be familiar with this list. Visit the WADA website
to see the current information.
Athletes should also look out for WADAs Athlete Outreach Programme at the Games, providing useful
information and tips about anti-doping.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 297
E. MANAGING A POSSIBLE DOPING OFFENCE
In addition to the Olympic Games Doping Control Programme, testing for prohibited substances can occur
in the run-up to the Games and may be conducted by a number of organisations, including International
Federations, WADA, National Anti-Doping Agencies or national federations.
What can an NOC do to prepare for a doping offence during a Games mission?
Plan how you will track doping control of your athletes during the competition.
Be familiar with your own doping control regulations and have an up-to-date copy at the Games.
Ensure you know where to access your International Federations regulations and have an up-to-
date copy at the Games.
Know how to contact the NOCs medical, media and legal advisers immediately.
If your rules say an athlete may be suspended if the A sample is positive, ensure your governing
body has the review process in place to decide this and to inform the athlete.
If an athlete is not suspended after a positive A sample, establish at what stage he / she might
be suspended and by whom. The rules of some International Federations will allow such athletes
to continue competing after a positive A sample.
Have a media plan ready in advance.
Ensure that an adequate education and guidance programme for the athletes, coaches and team
managers is in place and has been reviewed with your athletes prior to the Games mission. Ask your
Chief Medical Officer to interview each athlete to determine what substances they might be using.
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Remember the rest of the athletes and why you are at the competition:
A positive test can have a devastating effect on the rest of the team.
Ensure you have planned how to help the team carry on in the competition.
Inform the athletes how delicate the situation is and of the need for confidentiality.
There is a need to keep an accurate diary of events, even noting times. This could prove invaluable if you
are asked to recall incidents at a later date.
Respecting the confidentiality requirements of the process, an appropriate NOC representative should:
arrange for the B sample to be tested if required;
agree a strategy for dealing with the media;
make arrangements for the IOC Disciplinary Commission hearing; and
make provisional arrangements for the athlete to leave the village and return home.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 299
Dealing with the media
The media are trained to find out information and to report it. The NOC has a number of responsibilities,
one of the most important being to protect the confidentiality of both the athlete and the issue until the
IOC Desciplinary Commission and the IOC Executive Board have determined the consequences of the
situation and are ready to report these publicly.
F. QUESTIONS
1. Does your NOC have a clearly stated doping control policy?
2. How would you develop one?
3. Is there a doping control service in your country? If not, should there be one and how would this
be established?
4. W hat penalties has the IOC Athletes Commission recommended for those caught using or providing
doping substances?
5. What is the most important measure that you can take to eliminate drug misuse?
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UNIT 54
SPORT SCIENCE
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
B. Importance of sport science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
C. Sport science and medicine support team . . . . . 303
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
IOC/John Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 301
A. INTRODUCTION
Technology, medicine and science are increasingly being used in the preparation of high performance
athletes and the following examples reflect some of the sport science interests of physicians and scientists:
Adaptive physical education Working with athletes with various disabilities such as spinal cord
injuries, amputations, mental retardation and blindness.
Altitude and environmental physiology Training at altitude for performance at altitude or sea
level; exercise in cold or hot weather.
Biomechanics Measuring forces and photographing movements as athletes perform to assess technique.
Exercise physiology Determining various physiological measures such as cardio-pulmonary
capacity; muscle strength; body composition; flexibility; aerobic and anaerobic power; growth and
development patterns in children.
Muscle metabolism Assessment of energy substrates and requirements for different types of
exercise; improving recovery from exercise; muscle glycogen super-compensation.
Nutrition Proper hydration for sport; use of vitamins and supplements; anorexia; establishing
appropriate feeding patterns for maximum benefit; use of special nutrition for carbohydrate, fat
or protein supplementation.
Video analysis Using video cameras to capture athlete technique and to store data on computers,
and using appropriate software to assess performance. Dartfish is one example of commonly
used software.
Sport psychology Relaxation techniques; focusing; mental rehearsal; motivation; and stress reduction.
Results analysis Analysis of training and performance results for individual athletes, and
comparisons with requirements to meet training and competition goals.
However, for those who experienced injury, access to a quality physician and a physiotherapist was
extremely important.
Considering the sport science and medical areas alone, the most useful services were medical (resolving
medical issues), physiotherapy and massage therapy, followed by psychology, nutrition and, to a lesser
extent, physiology, biomechanics and chiropractic. Most athletes had limited access to physiotherapy and
massage therapy, and these ranked highest among their priority needs.
Indeed, if basic needs such as quality coaching, facilities and competition are inadequate, then the application
of science has limited value. No-one denies the value of first-rate medical support in training and at Games.
It is simply a question of what the priorities are in terms of resources that will support athlete development.
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C. SPORT SCIENCE AND MEDICINE SUPPORT TEAM
Sports with adequate financial resources may be able to assemble a support team of sport scientists and
medical personnel that can provide ongoing, comprehensive and specialised services.
Other specialists can be included for specific sports. For example, to assist eye training for shooters, a
vision specialist may be needed, whereas a sailing team might include a meteorologist, a hydrologist and /
or a sail expert.
Specialists can be either full-time members of a team (e.g. physiotherapist) or consultants invited at specific
times as the issues dictate. A key group should be identified to regularly interact with the coaching staff
to discuss athlete needs.
The actual size and composition of the SS/M team depends on several factors. A centralised sport may
require an SS/M team with members who are also centrally located, to increase accessibility and contact.
A sport whose key athletes are in various locations will generally require communication with regional
training groups throughout the country to service their needs with local providers of SS/M services.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 303
Benefits of an SS/M team
The benefits of a comprehensive SS/M team can include (but are not limited to):
establishing a necessary support plan for athletes, identifying specific priorities;
providing best practice medical and scientific advice to coaching staff and service to athletes on
an ongoing basis;
integrating scientific and medical methodologies and techniques into a well structured training
and competition programme;
establishing standardised scientific and / or medical testing protocols adapted specifically to the
priority needs of the sport;
establishing appropriate scientific and medical profiles for athletes over time;
recommending and screening performance technologies designed to improve performance;
determining strategy to service athletes and coaches over the entire year, including sports that
have decentralised training situations; and
recommending direction and proposals for short- and long-term research / innovation initiatives
which would have an impact on athlete performance.
The coach or high performance director must control the SS/M team and the services supplied to the athletes.
This is easier said than done, as there may be many different viewpoints expressed as to how to improve the
health and performance of the athlete, or how to manage daily training. It is therefore essential that trust is
developed between members of the team, and that they each know their roles and support each other.
The readiness of a head coach and coaching staff to embrace a comprehensive SS/M team will vary greatly.
Some sports lend themselves to an immediate relationship based on their culture and environment. Other
sports may have a more guarded approach to the integration of SS/M information.
The development of a successful and effective SS/M team is dependent on the trust the coaching staff has
in them. Since ultimate accountability for team performance rests with the coaching staff, it is important
for SS/M team members to invest the time required for this relationship to be developed.
D. QUESTIONS
1. A re sport science resources available to train your athletes? If so, what are they and where are
they delivered?
2. If certain resources exist, are there any barriers for you to access them?
3. What sports would most benefit from using these resources?
4. How can you establish sport science support for priority sports or athletes?
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UNIT 55
TECHNOLOGY IN SPORT
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
B. Use of performance technology . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
C. Computer technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
D. Technology examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
E. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
IOC/John Gichigi
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 305
A. INTRODUCTION
With an increased focus on winning medals, high performance coaches and athletes are relying more and
more on technology to gain that extra 1/100 th of a second and position themselves ahead of the competition.
This has led to the evolution and growth of a new specialism within high performance sport, known as
performance technology (PT). This application of technology to training and competition provides coaches
and athletes with detailed visual and statistical feedback about themselves and their opponents. PT provides
information that is timely, accurate, factual and in a format that is easily understood. It provides an extra
eye for an experienced coach.
PT incorporates hardware, software, their integration and the training of individuals in the use of the
technologies. The educational aspect of PT includes the development of applied learning materials and
instructional programmes for athletes and coaches.
Rather than inventing new technology (tools), it may be possible to use technology that has already been
developed. For example, a coach could use global positioning systems (GPS), invented for other purposes,
and use them to track the position and velocity of alpine downhill skiers as they train or race on a course.
Be aware, however, that technology can be a distraction from the necessary hard work of training. It can
waste time and money, and give false confidence that the technology is an effective and necessary tool.
It can provide false conclusions.
There are also cost considerations, including purchasing and servicing the technology, employing an
experienced operator to use it in training or competition situations at home or abroad, and the cost and
time required to train technology operators.
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It is critical that the technology specialists work closely with the sport organisation in order to ensure that
they understand the sport and the athletes needs. They must take direction from the coach to ensure the
relevance of technology to training needs.
C. COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Developments in computer technology have opened up many extraordinary opportunities for athlete
training. Computer speed and application scope increase enormously every few months and, fortunately,
costs decrease just as quickly. There are many computer-assisted learning tools and software applications
for coaches, athletes, sport administrators, teachers and others available for use with your computer via
software, CD-ROM or the internet.
Software is available to analyse human movement (including 3-D simulations), to create individualised
fitness programmes (such as nutritional analysis and counselling, flexibility exercises, aerobic or strength
conditioning), to carry out technical analysis of sport movement, to control planning, booking and scheduling
tasks, and to provide interactive multimedia applications for many sports activities and topics.
Thanks to the development of operating systems with sophisticated user interfaces and faster hardware,
easy-to-use application software is improving rapidly. In the near future, developments for sport will include
virtual or artificial reality, and holography. Virtual reality systems use helmets with visual systems, allowing
3-D simulations of the environment and equipment. Holography creates 3-D images without the need for
headgear. Athletes will soon be able to watch their technique not on a two-dimensional video tape, but
with a three-dimensional perspective.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 307
D. TECHNOLOGY EXAMPLES
Laboratories have been adapted to study human performance. Athletes can exercise under controlled
conditions while providing various data for analysis. Altitude chambers and environmental chambers
(temperature, humidity) have been used for training and research. Indoor tanks (flumes) of moving water
are used by rowers, swimmers and canoeists for out-of-season training or testing. Exercise machines
include rowing and bicycle ergometers, and treadmills for running, Nordic skiing or skating. Wind tunnels
are used for assessing body position, equipment design and clothing design for air resistance sports.
Digital cameras and sophisticated force measuring systems are used in biomechanics to measure mechanical
motion, acceleration, velocities and forces. Chromatography, magnetic resonance imaging, spectrometry,
GPS and other sophisticated measuring tools are available to assist sport science and medicine.
Metabolic measurement devices assist analysis of blood, muscle content, metabolism and cardio-
respiratory function.
All this sophistication is most valuable for highly trained athletes who are looking to gain an extra edge by
acquiring knowledge. It requires trained specialists to have access to the equipment, use it properly and
then properly analyse the results.
E. QUESTIONS
1. Identify the types of technology that would assist you in training your athletes.
2. How would you acquire such technology and the expertise to use it?
3. What partners might there be in the community to assist you?
4. How would such technologies improve the performance of your athletes?
5. W hat priority would performance technology have relative to other training needs, such as providing
significant training time, building strength and endurance, proper medical support and nutrition and
better coaching?
6. Do you have the time and funding to use technology?
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UNIT 56
DEVELOPING TECHNICAL
LEADERSHIP
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
B. Challenges facing coaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
C. Professional development of coaches . . . . . . . . 311
D. National coaching certification programme . . . . 313
E. Hiring foreign coaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
F. Should coaches be paid? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
G. Relationships between coaches and others . . . . 314
H. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 309
A. INTRODUCTION
The most essential requirement for developing top-level athletes is the availability of a world-class coach.
If a coach is highly knowledgeable, motivated, sensitive to individual needs and good at solving problems,
the training environment should generate success for athletes.
If the coach has poor technical or theoretical knowledge, lacks experience, is unable to direct a comprehensive
programme, is not motivated or does not have the necessary time, the athlete may not reach their potential.
Of all the roles in sport - whether that of athlete, coach, administrator, official or judge - the role of coach
is probably the most demanding. Some would argue that it is the most lonely and intensive role in sport
and requires the greatest degree of knowledge and skill. Most would agree that it takes several years of
experience to develop a world-class coach.
One of the most difficult challenges for any sport developing athletes to a high level is to acquire first-rate
coaches and a good High Performance Director (HPD) (sometimes called Technical Director or Performance
Director). Even in countries with well developed sport systems, there are often no formal training programmes
in universities or elsewhere to prepare these critical leaders to coach at the highest level. The other options
are to have the coach essentially learn over time or to import expert coaches from elsewhere.
Whereas the role of coaches is familiar to all, the role of the HPD may be less familiar, particularly to sports
with limited resources or small programmes. The HPD is the overall technical strategist, planner and leader
of a sports high performance programme. The individual concerned develops long-term and annual plans
for the high performance programme, manages coaches and ensures the sports training and competition
programmes are well planned, resourced and implemented, and that desired outcomes are achieved.
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limited facilities;
limited programme resources;
limited training partners;
little support from others.
The winning formula is obvious: full-time, well trained, properly supported coaches, working with a small
number of athletes and equipped with adequate programme resources provide a real opportunity to
maximise athletes potential.
2. When you have established your needs and have some idea of your resources, you can begin to
establish a plan to guide your efforts to meet your goals. Coach education is a long-term project
requiring a systematic approach. The plan must also be flexible and sensitive to the ever-changing
needs of the coaches.
3. You must consider the available resources. Can the following funding sources provide opportunities
which, if used wisely, could establish a regular programme to train your prospective coaches?
International Federations;
Olympic Solidarity / NOC;
government or school leaders.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 311
Certification for accomplishing a certain level is sometimes an important way of motivating coaches
to undergo further training and identifying their accomplishments.
Coaching programmes should encourage the development of more and better coaches.
7. The coaching candidates you choose to train should possess most of the following characteristics:
intelligent, highly motivated;
knowledge of the sport, including its physical, technical and other requirements;
interest in long-term involvement with the sport;
possess teaching skills;
excellent interpersonal relationships;
have the necessary time;
practical, problem-solving types;
ideally have training in physical education or extensive experience in sport;
integrity.
8. Determine how you can keep coaches involved and working hard over a long period of time.
Olympic Solidarity, in cooperation with IFs and a network of high-level training centres, offers coach education
opportunities locally or at these training centres. Information on the availability of these programmes can
be obtained from your NOC.
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D. NATIONAL COACHING CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME
A good example for those interested in exploring coach education methods is provided by the Coaching
Association of Canada (CAC), whose National Coaching Certification Programme is a five-level educational
programme for coaches in over 60 different sports. Details of the various CAC programmes can be found
on its website: www.coach.ca.
A second example is the new programme in the UK, led by Sports Coach UK with the support of national
sport governing bodies and the various home country funding agencies. They created a Coaching Framework
as the foundation for the programme and then established strategies and programmes designed to produce
the desired outcomes. The Frameworks aim is to create a world-leading coaching system by 2016. More
information about the programme can be found on the following website: www.sportscoachuk.org.
Could the funds spent on importing foreign coaches be better spent on establishing an ongoing local
training programme?
One of the Olympic Solidarity programmes provides opportunities for an international expert endorsed by
the relevant IF to spend some time in a foreign country working with local coaches to develop a national
sport structure. This approach combines the immediate availability of outside expertise with a long-term
legacy by training local coaches. You can access more information on this and other Olympic Solidarity
programmes through your NOC.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 313
F. SHOULD COACHES BE PAID?
It is true that world-class athletes can be developed by either voluntary or paid coaches. Such coaches,
whether paid or not, should have a number of common characteristics, such as an ability to work long hours,
high levels of motivation and knowledge, and the ability to establish an effective athlete-coach relationship.
Do coaches need to be paid? Some do. Some need to coach on a full- or part-time basis and therefore
must have financial support. Some appreciate or are motivated by being paid. On the other hand, some
coaches have other means of support or another career and are motivated not by money but by their
involvement with sport, young men and women, travel and the numerous challenges involved in attempting
to improve athletes.
As you review your coaches working environment or commitment and responsibilities, ask yourself how
important it is to provide them with honoraria or salaries. Ask the coaches what their greatest difficulties
or frustrations are when trying to develop their programmes. Do they mention the need for a salary, or the
conflict between their coaching and their work or family?
In countries where salaries or honoraria may not be possible, can other financial incentives be offered? For
example, will an employer provide time for the employee to undertake coaching responsibilities without
decreasing their salary? Are there forms of recognition or reward that compensate for lack of financial
support? Are your voluntary coaches recognised and really appreciated by your sport? How do you express
this support?
At the basic levels of sport development, coaches often find themselves doing practically everything that
needs to be done: recruiting and training athletes, organising training and trips to competitions, fund-
raising, counselling athletes, administering the programme, and so on. As the level of athlete training rises,
coaches need greater assistance so that they can concentrate more fully on coaching.
This means that the coach must work with administrators, parents, fund-raisers, club officials, medical
and other experts and organisation officials. These individuals support the athletes and coaches, and
develop their sport. What ties everyone together are common goals, such as the desire to provide good
experiences for youngsters in sport.
H. QUESTIONS
1. D escribe the coaches situation in your sport or national system. What is good and what needs to be
improved?
2. Whose responsibility is it to improve the coaches situation?
3. What are your specific coaching needs? How do you meet these?
4. What are your coaches specific needs? How do you meet these?
5. What can you do to create ideal conditions for coaches to achieve their goals with athletes?
6. D oes your sport need a High Performance Director to lead and manage your sports high performance
technical programmes? If so, how can you achieve this?
7. W hat are the characteristics required of coaches if they are to achieve success with elite athletes?
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UNIT 57
DEVELOPING ATHLETES
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
B. Essential requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
C. Athlete career programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 315
A. INTRODUCTION
We are aware that the majority of medals and records are obtained by athletes who benefit from systematic
and comprehensive training programmes and who receive support adapted to their needs. What are the
essential requirements for athletes to excel, and how do they fit these into their lifestyle and other obligations?
B. ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
A survey was undertaken by an NOC, asking 15 medal-winning athletes and their seven coaches to
comment on their preparation for the Olympic Games and the conditions they faced there. The following
are the conclusions of the survey:
Athletes require greater financial support to meet basic training and personal needs. Those without
access to such financial support are at a disadvantage.
Athletes desire assistance and the opportunity to plan for, or to establish, their future careers during
their training years, and would certainly like some support immediately after retiring from competition.
Successful progress in this area would encourage some to continue training for longer.
Training for world competitions requires 25-35 hours per week for several years in advance of the
Games for those with medal aspirations. Time and commitment are both absolutely essential for
winning medals. Most athletes undertook between 12 and 18 work-outs per week.
There are few high-quality national team athletes in the system, partly as a result of weak
developmental programmes, the time and sacrifice required to excel, and the lack of support or
encouragement to remain involved for a long time.
The system does not provide special incentives and encouragement for the best athletes to continue
competing in future Games, nor to remain in sport in some capacity (e.g. as coaches) after their
careers.
Almost all the athletes interviewed were not motivated by the possibility of financial reward for success,
but were grateful and honoured to have had the opportunity to be part of an Olympic team.
Therefore, what are the essential requirements for developing high-quality athletes?
1. Coaching Without question, the quality of coaching and the athlete-coach relationship are the essential
features of athlete development. No other single factor is as important.
The quality of coaching determines the quality of the training environment. Athletes will not improve
much without high-quality coaches creating and directing an intelligent training plan.
The coachs commitment to excellence and fixing of realistic goals set the tone of training.
The time a coach has available is important for establishing adequate training. The time available
often depends on the extent to which coaches can be paid for their coaching activities.
The number of athletes a coach must train influences the quality of the training the fewer athletes,
the better for those being coached.
The number of responsibilities, other than coaching, that a coach must assume (e.g. fund-raising,
administration) detracts from their ability to coach successfully.
2. Athletes Having special talent, strong motivation and a willingness to work extremely hard are all
characteristics of a successful athlete. Finding such individuals and encouraging them to pursue their talents
to the fullest are often major challenges. Sometimes, for a sport to succeed in developing athletes to a
reasonably high level, a talent identification programme must be implemented, along with developmental
programmes to help them.
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Fritz Wolf
It is obvious that, in countries with limited human resources, facilities, competition opportunities and
financing, there may be little opportunity for youngsters to find a sport in which they can excel. By necessity,
sport administrators may need to concentrate limited resources on only a few sports in order to achieve
some improvement.
It is important for sport administrators to understand what the goals are for a particular sports programme
(whether Olympic competition or only regional competition) in order that they can adopt the right approach
to athlete development.
3. Facilities and equipment A lack of access to appropriate facilities and equipment may be a limiting
factor to sport development. Unless this problem is resolved, it will be difficult to develop athletes to the
highest levels. However, because of their high motivation and commitment to hard work, many Olympic
athletes have been successful despite sub-standard training facilities and equipment. Many examples can
be given where coaches and athletes improvised in order to create an adequate environment. Overcoming
difficult training conditions sometimes strengthens the athletes resolve and provides them with an advantage
during tough competition.
Sport administrators need to help create a positive training environment. Below are some suggestions
which may help to improve facilities and equipment:
Clearly identify your facility or equipment needs. You need to know exactly what you need and its
priority level.
Try to make your sports needs known to school officials, community officials or politicians, the
military, businesses, service groups or government bodies. See if they can help or provide advice.
Work with other sports or community groups to develop a plan or strategy to achieve your needs.
Consider whether corporate support may be available to provide equipment or clothing under
reasonable conditions.
Consider entering sponsorship or licensing agreements for goods or cash, in return for corporations
using your logo or being designated as official sponsors.
Approach specific International Federations to determine if they can assist with designing sport
facilities or providing equipment.
Consider training for periods of the year in existing facilities in other locations in order to improve
the quality of training.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 317
Be sure you are aware of all available training facilities or possibilities in your community. You may
have difficulty gaining access to existing facilities and, if this is the case, you must consider what
kind of approach to the manager of those facilities might be successful.
Staging major Games or competitions often creates an opportunity for governments to provide
new facilities and equipment.
4. Athlete support If an athlete wishes to achieve reasonably high goals, an adequate support system
must be created to provide that opportunity. Besides the obvious requirements of good coaching and
adequate facilities, national-level athletes may need the following:
flexible attitude of a school or employer: top-level athletes may have to spend 35 hours a week
or more in serious training;
adequate rest and diet;
access to medical and physiotherapy support when needed; and
continuous stimulation and encouragement that creates a positive training environment and supports
the aspirations of the athlete.
5. Financial support Raising money for training and competition purposes is an ongoing task. Governments
usually have to provide the bulk of finances required by athletes to:
pay for travel and competition expenses;
cover training and living expenses;
cover educational expenses;
compensate for time off work; and to
provide adequate coaching or access to facilities.
6. Administrative support - In order to develop a well organised training and competition programme, good
planning and a fair degree of administrative support are required. Ideally, the coach should coach, the
athlete should train and the administrators should do everything else. Administrative support could include
handling correspondence and travel arrangements, fund-raising, arranging training facilities, contact with
the media, promotion, meetings and so on. It is extremely important that administrators realise that the
main focal points for their activities are the athlete and the coach.
7. Competition - Competition at the right level and frequency is essential for the development of athletes.
Competition provides a focal point for training goals and an important motivation for daily training.
Competition provides the ultimate test, where all the factors such as skill, physical conditioning, knowledge,
motivation and strategy are tested together. Careful evaluation of competition results can allow a coach
to pinpoint weaknesses or strengths and to adjust training if necessary.
The IOC has implemented an Athlete Career Programme (ACP) to provide athletes with the support
they require during and after their sport career, which focuses on three pillars: education, life skills
and employment.
318
Age 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Psychological &
Childhood Adolescence Adulthood
physical development
Higher education
Academic
Primary education Secondary education Vocational Formal and
development
education informal education
Life skills T
ime management
Livelihood skills (goal-setting)
P
ersonal image and
presentation for athletes
Public speaking
C
ommunication
(interpersonal relations)
Goal-setting Negotiation
Nutritional cooking F
inding/working with
sponsors
Introduction Introduction to budgeting
to budgeting and financial management
(goal-setting)
Working with media
Travel arrangements E mployment preparation
Study skills Transition
Health prevention/drugs in sport
ecision-making & problem-solving
D
Psycho-social skills Creative & critical thinking
C ommunication & interpersonal skills
Self-awareness & empathy
C oping with emotions & stress
Personal development
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 319
Education
Athletes dedicate much of their time to sport and it is important that they do not miss opportunities to
become educated. There are many different modes of delivering education, including traditional (primary /
secondary schooling, university), distance education, e-learning and tutoring. Athletes should be able to
select the method of delivery that best fits in with their sport activities.
Communication with education providers is of the utmost importance to keep them informed of the student /
athletes sporting commitments and to obtain assistance when needed.
Scenario A 17-year old athlete is studying at a secondary school. It is an important year for the athlete
from both a sport and school perspective. The athlete is worried about what is ahead but has the will to
achieve at both school and sport.
You may provide support to the athlete by advising him to meet with his course adviser / teachers at the
beginning of each academic year / semester. At this meeting, he would compare his sporting calendar and
commitments, and negotiate what action needs to be taken if there is a clash of dates. If exams occur at
the same time as a competition, the teacher should encourage the athlete to ask to sit the exam early,
before the competition, or arrange for an approved person from the team to supervise the exam at an
agreed time during the competition.
Life skills
Life skills are used by everybody in one form or another on a daily basis, and include managing ones self,
house or family, doing paid or unpaid work or achieving an education. They may also be seen as transferable
skills or personal skills, because skills developed in one area of life (sport) can be transferred to other
areas (work experience). Life skills education involves helping athletes to recognise which skills they have
and matching them with their life experiences. Topics that might be part of life-skills education include:
health and nutrition;
financial planning;
time management;
media training;
public speaking;
goal-setting;
decision-making and problem-solving;
creative and critical thinking;
communication and interpersonal skills;
self-awareness and empathy;
coping with emotions and stress;
working with sponsors and agents;
entrepreneurial skills.
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Employment
In order to help athletes negotiate their way through the key stages of their employment search, you might
consider the following steps. Each step requires the athlete to work and think about different options.
Identifying Building their personal profile; this step helps the athlete to describe their interests,
likes and experiences.
Exploring Generating career ideas; this step allows the athlete to use their personal profile to
generate career ideas and select the ones corresponding to their favourite careers.
Deciding Sorting their favourite careers; in this step, the athlete can sort, organise and / or compare
their favourites. They can also view information about industries, occupations and courses, and
contact organisations related to their favourite careers.
Summarising Setting their career direction; this step provides the athlete with a summary of their
personal profile and their most preferred favourite careers. They are encouraged to reflect on their
summary, record their thoughts and then use their summary to outline their career direction.
Planning Creating their career pathway plan; in this step, the athlete can read about career
pathways and use a set of activities to set their career goals and action steps.
Doing Implementing their plan; this step provides the athlete with a range of steps that will help
them to put his / her career pathway plan into action.
Contributions to a career can include sport, work experience, community involvement, employment, life
roles, enterprise activities, cultural activities, training, education, interests and volunteer work. Topics that
may help athletes find employment include:
career training;
information on drafting a CV;
job hunting;
interview preparation;
skills mapping.
Scenario You have an 18-year old athlete who is in her final year of secondary study. She has a two-week
break from competition and training, allowing her to explore different work options. The athlete is keen to
do work experience or a work placement.
You may support the athlete by providing her with the following information on the type and benefits of
work experience as well as on how to find a work placement.
Work experience may be paid or unpaid. It may last a few days, a few weeks or a year. It may be a structured
work placement, an internship or voluntary work.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 321
In order to find a work placement, look for industries or occupations that match the athletes strengths
and interests. Students may receive help from their school, college or university. Finding work experience
is similar to finding a job. Try some of the following:
find companies in the phone directory;
research company websites online;
ask friends or relatives;
voluntary work.
Encourage your athletes to use a diary or log to keep a record of their experiences, and to list the skills
that they practise or learn. Encourage them to ask lots of questions. Ensure your athletes check work
experience insurance requirements.
More information on the IOC Athlete Career Programme can be found on www.olympic.org/iocacp
D. QUESTIONS
1. What are the positive and negative conditions facing elite athletes in your sport?
2. For the negative conditions, how can you improve the situation?
3. Is a systematic process in place whereby sport leaders regularly discuss athlete issues? If not, would
this be helpful?
4. D oes your NOC or the sport system in your country have an athlete assistance programme or services
(financial support, counselling, career development, etc.)? Describe the need for one, or the need to
improve the existing programme.
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UNIT 58
TALENT IDENTIFICATION
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
B. Planning talent identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
C. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Fritz Wolf
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 323
A. INTRODUCTION
Most training systems, particularly those in the early stages of development, do not include talent identification
programmes. This could be because all energy is spent on training those who turn up on their own, whether
talented or not, or because there is little depth or tradition to the sport and thus few candidates are available.
However, there are reasons why initiating some form of talent identification programme makes sense:
If the goal is to develop top-class athletes, it is efficient to concentrate development on those
young athletes who possess qualities that are necessary for success.
Athletes confidence is increased if they have been identified as possessing superior capabilities.
It helps to create a larger group of talented athletes and increases competitiveness amongst them in training.
A talent identification programme might involve sport scientists who could also help with the
training and regular evaluation of athletes.
Many youngsters miss opportunities to excel or develop into good athletes because they do not know
what special attributes they possess and are not directed towards sports in which they can excel.
There are some specific principles to consider when looking for talented children:
Physical activity stimulates growth; children need a variety of general movement experiences.
Children with a wide variety of movement patterns in early life will most likely be able to efficiently
master complex movement patterns in sport when they are older.
Structural and functional growth are factors which affect athletic performance.
The intensity, length and frequency of exposure to an activity are essential components of growth
in that activity.
Considering the above principles, often the best sources of potential athletic talent are:
public and private schools with active recreation / sports programmes;
community recreation programmes;
existing sports clubs for children;
areas within society where the population is very active; and
areas within communities where there is an existing keen interest in sports competition and activity.
Performance in competition usually provides an opportunity to evaluate talent. A coach may even have
developed a set of basic tests to help identify and quantify important skills or attributes, e.g. the athlete
can run a test distance in a certain time, has body measurements that suit a particular sport or has certain
physiological attributes, such as natural endurance, that distinguish them from others.
Although a coachs intuition is an important and often crucial element in assessing talent, the above-
mentioned methods may be too crude and not as accurate or discriminating as they could be in helping
the coach to confirm his/her initial impression.
For example, being tall may be an asset for an underdeveloped basketball player, but less important as
the distinguishing feature among world-class players. A young athlete may possess unusual speed as a
runner but, after a few more years of growth and development, may not be exceptional amongst their peers.
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Questions to ask
If a more complete system for identifying talent were to be developed, it would be important to ask certain
basic questions:
What performance criteria are required to excel in a particular sport? For example, in track and
field, running the mens 100m in an Olympic final requires a time of 10 seconds or better.
What attributes must an athlete possess to meet these performance criteria and what should be
their scores in each at different ages?
body measurements - lengths of limbs, trunk, widths, girths, % fat, somatotype;
physiological measures - maximal aerobic capacity, maximal anaerobic capacity, muscle fibre
typing, strength, power, speed, flexibility;
psychological measures - an ability to handle stress, courage, commitment, goal orientation,
willingness to work;
motor learning / perceptual measures - coordination, balance, kinesthetic sense, visual acuity.
What accurate, objective tests measure these attributes? For example, strength can be measured
objectively via various methods, while body measurements can be easily obtained using a tape
measure and scales.
What scores in these tests, at a particular age, can be used to distinguish between those with
potential and those without?
Which of these attributes are the best predictors of future performance?
How do you implement a system of tests on a population or in schools?
How do you evaluate the success of the predictive system you have established?
Before planning a talent identification system, a training system must be in place that will nurture the individuals
who are selected as the best prospects. There is no sense in identifying talented youngsters, only to find there
are inadequate facilities, equipment, coaching, financial support, etc. to develop and support that talent.
C. QUESTIONS
1. Do you need a talent identification system for your sport?
2. How is talent identification currently carried out?
3. What are the best sources of athletic talent in your community?
4. What other potential sources could you investigate further?
5. How could you encourage potential athletes to become involved?
6. What recommendations for change can you make?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 325
The purpose of Section V is to describe the NOCs responsibilities in
selecting its Olympic team, and in providing services to team members at
the Olympic Games. This Section provides an understanding of the issues
a team and mission staff may face at the Games. For those Olympic
Solidarity course participants who will not be part of a Games mission, this
information can be adapted for use for other multi-sport games or regional
or national competitions.
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V
OLYMPIC GAMES SELECTION AND MISSION
Unit 59 Olympic team selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Unit 60 Organising an Olympic Games mission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 327
328
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UNIT 59
OLYMPIC TEAM SELECTION
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
B. Eligibility under the Olympic Charter . . . . . . . . . 330
C. NOC team selection considerations . . . . . . . . . . 330
D. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Getty/Clive Rose
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 329
A. INTRODUCTION
Selecting an Olympic team may be the most important task for an NOC to undertake, and it must therefore
be done openly and in accordance with the clearest and most objective criteria possible. The process
will be closely watched by all, including the media. It must be extremely fair from the perspective of the
athletes, their coaches and their sport organisations.
It is the responsibility of an NOC to determine the selection criteria for that countrys participation in the
Games, ideally in collaboration with their national federations that may participate in the Games. The
application of the selection process should be the responsibility of an NOC Selection Committee which
applies the criteria with fairness, impartiality and adherence to the relevant selection rules.
Bye-Law to Rule 41
1. Each IF establishes its sports own eligibility criteria in accordance with the Olympic Charter. Such
criteria must be submitted to the IOC Executive Board for approval.
2. The application of the eligibility criteria lies with the IFs, their affiliated national federations and
the NOCs in the fields of their respective responsibilities.
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is out of the tournament with a low ranking. It is possible that he was the second-best wrestler
in the competition. Most would agree that the more objective the selection criteria are, the less
confusion or controversy there will be.
3. Are the criteria defined in terms appropriate for each sport? If the criteria are that the athlete must
be ranked in the top 10 in the world to be selected, is the top 10 easily definable?
4. Can one sport use the International Federation criteria for eligibility, and another sport ignore their IF
standards and impose their own (possibly more difficult) standards? Can a sport use only selection
trials for selection of its team, while another sport uses a series of performances or other criteria?
5. Are the criteria published well in advance of the selection process? It is most useful if clear,
objective criteria are announced three years in advance of the Olympic Games, to allow everyone
a full understanding of the challenge ahead.
6. Is there a formal written agreement between the NOC selecting the athletes and the national
federations, outlining the criteria for each sport? This is considered a necessity to ensure mutual
agreement on how the selection criteria will be applied.
7. Do the selectors have discretionary powers and, if so, are these clearly defined? Special cases
will arise and the selectors will need discretionary powers to consider such cases. Discretionary
powers must be used carefully, and only in special circumstances. It may be appropriate, when
such powers are used, for decisions to be confirmed by the organisations Executive Board.
8. Should coaches of athletes being considered be involved in the selection process? In team events,
the answer is usually yes. Coaches of rowing teams are responsible for selecting the team.
However, there may be circumstances where this subjective process may violate an athletes rights
and be biased. In individual sports, fair selection can be achieved by basing selection strictly on
performance in competition. In team sports, it can be achieved by requiring coaches and other
selectors to publish clear statements of the basis for selection.
9. Are athletes protected from bias? What are the guarantees that the sport organisation nominating
athletes or the NOC considering such nominations is unbiased? Each sport organisation must
explain very clearly to their athletes and coaches exactly how the criteria will be applied.
10. Do athletes have an appeal process other than through the courts? There should be only two
grounds for appeal: (1) selection was not made according to the rules; (2) there is a reasonable
suspicion that one or more of the selectors was biased or had a conflict of interest. Since the
existence of an appeal process is the ultimate safeguard, the Selection Committee of the NOC
may be given the final authority for selection, including responsibility for hearing appeals. It is
also possible that a sport court of arbitration might be involved. One serious problem may be
that, if an appeal is considered just prior to the Organising Committee deadline for entries, there
is additional pressure on the process.
11. What considerations are given to a top athlete who is injured? Perhaps the athlete cannot take part
in the Olympic trials or other selected competitions. Or, having previously met selection criteria,
the athlete now has an injury. Some sports feel that if the trial date is well known, an athlete will
make it his business to be in top shape on that day. The trials could also be scheduled close to
the major competition for which the team is selected so the athletes will not lose their fitness.
Whatever the policy, the basis for decision in such an eventuality must be clearly spelled out in
advance, so that all athletes and coaches know how the rule will be applied.
12. What considerations are given to the sport organisation? Some argue that discretion in the selection
process is necessary to protect the best interests of the sport organisation. However, unless these
interests are carefully spelled out, significant unfairness might result. For example, if the winner of
the Olympic trials did not excel in doing so and the selectors decided to replace the athlete with
a very promising young athlete to give them experience, would that decision be unjust?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 331
13. A sport may decide not to enter a national trial winner in an international competition because
the person has failed to meet a performance standard. But if it does so decide, should it then be
allowed to enter someone else who has also not met the performance standard?
14. What are the repercussions when a sport nominates an athlete, but the NOC, for some reason
other than poor performance, does not want to select the athlete?
15. What are the problems associated with selecting athletes months in advance of the Games? What
if the performance level of a pre-selected athlete drops after selection? What if another athlete
subsequently betters a pre-selected athletes performance? In circumstances such as these,
establishing appropriate policies well in advance of final selection deadlines makes these cases
easier to resolve.
16. Should placing in events be as good a selection criterion as best time? For example, two runners
from a country dominated one event. One had broken the Olympic standard in a race but could
never beat her rival. The consistent victor repeatedly failed to meet the standard. Under the
International Federation eligibility rule, a national federation can enter one athlete per event without
condition, and up to a maximum of three if each has broken the standard. Who to send? The one
who met the standard or the one who always wins? The problem is complicated by the fact that the
standard can be met any time during a 12-month period. Also, in outdoor sports, wide variations
in conditions exist from one competition to another.
17. The federation might overcome these difficulties by establishing multiple criteria and a system of
trials. For example, if an athlete meets the standard and wins the first trial, that athlete is assured
of selection. But it still leaves selection in marginal cases to the discretion of a committee. In the
absence of a sudden-death trial, there should be criteria in descending priority. Here, too, fairness
decrees that selectors discretion be eliminated.
18. Should physical, psychological, physiological or other tests be used for selection purposes? Some
sports have tried to predict performance using such tests. A particular physical or physiological
characteristic may suggest an athlete can achieve an outstanding performance. There is no
guarantee, however, an athlete who possesses that characteristic will perform better than someone
who does not.
Selection of coaches
As with athletes, coaches are nominated by the sport federation to the NOC for inclusion in the Olympic
team. The number of accredited coaches that can stay in the Olympic Village will depend on the make-up
of each sport (large or small team, male or female events, whether the coach acts as team manager as
well, etc.). The number is ultimately determined by the quotas for team officials (including coaches) that
are presented in the IOC publications mentioned below.
D. QUESTIONS
1. D oes your sport and NOC have a written team selection policy?
2. C an it be improved and, if so, who is responsible for this task?
3. A re your sports selection criteria and process approved by the NOC? They need to be.
4. W hat is your appeals process for selection? Are there clear rules, and who is the review group for the
appeal? Are these matters appropriately in place, or can they be improved?
References
Entries for Sports Competitions and Accreditation GuideIOC Publication
NOC Games PreparationProven Practices and GuidelinesIOC Publication
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UNIT 60
ORGANISING AN OLYMPIC
GAMES MISSION
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
B. Organising a Games mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
C. Staging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
D. Life in the Olympic Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
E. Challenges in Olympic Village life . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
F. What ifs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
G. Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
IOC/John Huet
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 333
A. INTRODUCTION
Perhaps the most common, and the most important, task for NOCs is the effective organisation of a mission
to support the athletes competing in the Olympic Games. The IOC has created a document (NOC Games
Preparation Proven Practices and Guidelines) that outlines every planning consideration for an Olympic
Games mission. It should be acquired from the IOC if any topic in its Table of Contents (below) is of interest:
Mission goals
The goals for a Games mission might be:
to assemble and support a team that represents its country with distinction;
to provide an environment that will allow the athletes to perform their best;
to provide opportunities for team members to live the Olympic ideals: fair play, respect, friendship,
international understanding, peace and excellence; and
to provide opportunities for team members to enjoy the culture of the host community.
Mission activities
The activities required to prepare for a Games mission might include:
planning for the Games mission;
selection of Games mission staff;
selection of athletes and the sport managers, coaching and other sport staff;
orientation seminars for mission staff, including team leaders;
pre-visits to the organising committee to arrange accreditation, housing, services, etc.;
staging (assembling the team);
initiating the Games mission; and
concluding reports and business.
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Coordinating group
The coordinating group represents the NOCs management team on site at the Games, and could include
the following:
NOC President Director of Marketing and / or
NOC Chief Executive Officer / Secretary Communications
General Team Leader
Chef de Mission IOC member in that country if there is one
Director of Sport and Programmes Olympic Attach
Medical Director
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 335
The following appointments could be made:
Chef de Mission
The Chef de Mission is the leader of the team element of the NOCs Games operation. Prior to the Games,
the Chef de Mission:
oversees the selection of the mission staff;
leads a delegation of NOC representatives in some of the advance visits to the Games site;
in consultation with the President and others, selects an Attach for the team; and
co-chairs the Games orientation seminar.
Post-Games duties include being responsible for the completion of a report on the team at the Games. The
Deputy Chef de Mission supports and complements the Chef de Mission in the duties assigned to him / her.
The Olympic Attach, usually either a citizen of the host country or a national of the NOCs country residing
in the host country, should have the background and ability to represent the NOC in its dealings with
the Organising Committee. The Attach is selected by the Chef de Mission in consultation with the NOC
President and members of the senior executive staff. Choose the right person and the benefits are huge.
Choose the wrong person and there can be little value and possibly frustration.
Attachs, chosen one to two years before the Games, are most useful when they realise that they:
act fully to serve the NOC;
know where decisions are made within the NOC;
willingly solve all problems;
are well connected in the community;
are hospitable and work hard to help the team to have a good time;
are excellent communicators; and
are available, and act efficiently.
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Communications Officer (Media Attach)
The Communications Officer and any assistant:
directs communication team operations;
liaises with the OCOG, IOC, NOC, sponsor and government officials;
liaises with the rights-holder network and accredited media for issues management;
is responsible, with NOC officials, for crisis management;
is a spokesperson for the NOC, along with NOC officials;
manages the media team office in the main press centre;
manages news conference or media release logistics;
manages media assignments and scheduling;
manages the team bulletin board and newsletters on the computerised information system;
champions media relations for assigned sports (facilitates all interview and information requests);
assists in the day-to-day operations of the media team office; and
acts as media liaison officer at all NOC functions when required.
They should be appointed at least 10 months prior to the Games mission. They provide the link between
the NOC and its national federation and liaise between the athletes and coaches of their respective sport /
discipline and the NOC mission staff. They are responsible to the NOC and ultimately to the Chef de
Mission for all activities involving the team they are appointed to lead. This responsibility extends to both
within and outside the competition arena. Team leaders are expected to follow and promote the policies
and values which guide the activities of the NOC and its member national federations. First and foremost,
they must be observant of the needs of the athletes at all times.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 337
The required skills and understanding needed to be an effective team leader include how to:
communicate maintain high morale maintain discipline
motivate handle success and maintain high personal
delegate failure standards
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C. STAGING
Staging is an integral part of Games mission planning and organisation, representing a considerable
financial commitment on the part of the NOC. It occurs prior to the team entering the Olympic Village, at a
site either in your own country or in the Games host country. Experience indicates that teams or individuals
that do not attend staging have difficulty adapting to the multi-sport Games environment when they arrive
in the Olympic Village, compared to those athletes and officials who have attended the staging orientation.
The staging process is designed to take the team members through a checklist of pre-Games preparations
over a period of a few hours, with minimum inconvenience and distraction. It includes the following:
arrivals reception;
introduction of mission staff to team members;
various briefings, including travel arrangements, a description of arrival in the host country, Village
arrangements, activities on arrival in the Village;
medical briefing and introduction of medical staff;
briefing on anti-doping and an opportunity for the medical team to determine what products each
athlete might be taking, and to ensure they are not on the banned list;
outfitting with team clothing and adjustments as needed;
documentation review and accreditation checks;
sport team managers briefing on how they will interact with mission staff;
sport technical matters.
IOC/Richard Juilliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 339
Importantly, the early arrival of the Chef de Mission will allow him / her to confirm accreditation with the
OCOG and to verify:
that the size of the delegation and the ratio of officials has been computed correctly;
the names, sports, events and other details of the athletes;
that access to relevant zones is agreed for the officials; and
any other matters relating to accreditation and access.
It is far better to resolve matters relating to accreditation at this stage. Once accredited, it is difficult for an
athlete or official to change their status. An added advantage is that it will ensure, when the delegation arrives,
often tired after a long journey, that they will go through the accreditation process smoothly and quickly.
Chef de Mission
The Chef de Mission is responsible for ensuring:
that arriving delegation members complete the formalities at the airport and accreditation centre
and arrive (with their luggage) safely at the delegations quarters;
that rooms have been allocated and any issues relating to room allocation are properly resolved
(i.e. two people not wishing to share a room); and
that the sports team managers are aware of their responsibilities and the location of the various
services in the Village, and that they report to the Village sports desk at the earliest opportunity
in order to ascertain:
that the entries for their sport have been duly lodged and that all athletes are correctly entered;
the location of the teams training venue(s) and how the team will be transported there;
the date and time of the technical meeting for the sport.
Invariably, the Organising Committee will assign volunteers (assistants, drivers) from the local community
to work with the delegations. These are a vital part of your administration at the Games.
NOC Assistants
The NOC assistants will be part of your headquarters administration and will be used by the Organising
Committee to convey information to you. They will have local knowledge of the Village, the organisational
structure of the OCOG and the city itself. They may help you with aspects of your administration, such
as answering the telephone. However, the Chef de Mission should be aware that these are volunteers
and consider matters such as the length of a reasonable working day and the provision of some time off
during the month of high activity.
Drivers
Each delegation has a certain number of vehicles (cars, minibuses), depending on its size. These vehicles
come with drivers and operate from 7 a.m until midnight. Therefore, the drivers shifts must be reasonable
(usually not more than eight hours) and they must have time for at least one meal during an eight-hour shift.
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Athletes, coaches and team managers are in their training routine and focusing on their event.
The Chef de Mission will have established a diary of events to prepare for:
the team welcome ceremony for the delegation (usually very soon after arrival in the Village);
possibly a formal visit to the Mayor of the Village;
business meetings with the service and operations managers to resolve problems and to locate
and access services; and
a regular meeting (usually at 7 a.m.) between the Chefs de Mission, the Village authorities, IOC
representatives and relevant members of the Organising Committee. This is a crucially important
meeting and must not be missed. Serious problems experienced the previous day can be brought
to the attention of the IOC.
A week or so prior to the Opening Ceremony, the Chef de Mission will be required to nominate the
delegations flag-bearer for the Opening Ceremony.
At the same time as nominating the flag-bearer, the Chef de Mission should also consider who
will parade in the Opening Ceremony.
Usually two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, the Chef de Mission and the flag-bearer will be
required to attend a rehearsal for the Ceremony. The flag-bearer must realise that the time for the
rehearsal and for media interviews or other matters may detract from competition preparation.
IOC/Richard Juilliart
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 341
The period of the actual Games
The athletes and their support officials will be preparing or competing at different times during the 16-day
Games period. Any difficulties that they may be experiencing must be dealt with as an absolute priority by
the Chef de Mission. The Chef de Mission will wish to take a keen interest in the progress of the athletes
and will, as often as possible, watch them in competition.
The Chef de Mission should not ignore the athletes who have completed their events and should ensure:
that they do not disturb the other athletes in the delegation who are preparing or competing;
that they are able to watch Olympic competition or to take part in the Olympic cultural programme;
that they can see something of the host city; and
that they behave and are a credit to their country at all times.
It is advisable, even on the day after the Opening Ceremony, to verify arrangements for the return home:
Do any members of the delegation wish to return home immediately after their competition or will
they stay for the Closing Ceremony?
Are all airline tickets checked and return flights confirmed?
Is there any freight to return and how will this be handled?
What arrangements are to be made with the Village authorities to return rented equipment and to
verify that the rooms are inspected to confirm that there is no damage?
There are other events that the Chef de Mission will be required to fit in either before or particularly during
the Games:
meeting the press either for briefings (on a daily basis) or in response to a particular event (a
positive drug test being an extreme example which would involve more than the national press -
the whole of the Games media would be interested!);
receiving VIPs in the Village. Many people will wish to enter the Village to meet the delegation, e.g.
your countrys sport minister or IOC member. It is vital that they are made welcome and given due
respect. But remember that these visits can be very time-consuming and proper allowance must
be made for them in planning the schedule; and
attending receptions, meetings and other events outside the Village. An Olympic Games is a great
gathering for the Olympic Family and, as a result, people and organisations take advantage of this
to hold receptions, dinners and events and offer hospitality.
The days prior to the Closing Ceremony and the Closing Ceremony itself
As the Games draw to a close, the Chef de Mission will wish to ensure that the Organising Committee and
those people that have helped the delegation are duly recognised and thanked in an appropriate manner.
These will include the Village Mayor and members of the Organising Committee, together with any members
of the local community who have helped.
During this time, the Chef de Mission will be required to nominate a flag-bearer for the Closing Ceremony.
Invariably, this will be an athlete, often one who has performed most credibly in competition.
This is also a time to ensure that all the bills are paid, whether in the Village or with private contractors in
the host city. As mentioned earlier, the rooms must be signed off and any equipment hired (or loaned by
the Organising Committee) handed back in good order.
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E. CHALLENGES IN Olympic VILLAGE LIFE
The Olympic Village is fraught with tensions in addition to the already incredible pressure of competition.
During the Olympic Games, there is more media interest than normal and the demands placed on athletes
for appearances and interviews can lead to unwanted distractions. In addition, athletes are often expected
to spend time with officials, family and friends wanting to visit them in the Village. These pressures can
result in poor performance in competition. The overwhelming nature of the Olympic Village is a challenge
that athletes and coaches must prepare and plan for well in advance of the Games .
The following is a list of issues that have been identified by athletes who have lived in the Olympic Village.
The NOCs Chef de Mission and team managers must be prepared to deal with these issues if and when
they arise:
AccreditationUpon arrival in the Games host city, usually after a very lengthy international flight, the
team delegation may face the delays and frustration of collecting luggage, loading it onto buses for the
Village, and passing through accreditation.
SleepIt is always important to ensure quiet conditions in the sleeping quarters. This means a plan must
be organised to ensure that those athletes that have finished their competitions do not interfere with others.
SecurityThere is the daily grind as people wait to go through security checks. Some are on edge because
of the presence of police with weapons. What do you do when an accreditation is lost, such as at a critical
time when an athlete is trying to enter a venue for his competition?
ExtravaganzaThe Olympic Games are often overwhelming for first-time athletes. They can become very
distracted by their size, the media and corporate attention, the diverse range of Village entertainment and
the athletes from other countries and sports.
NamesThe presence of well-known superstar athletes in the Village or at the Games can be distracting.
Some inexperienced competitors have actually gone looking for these people in the Village or stayed longer
in the dining hall hoping to see them.
Opening CeremoniesOpening Ceremonies cause a disruption in routine and may be an enormous strain
for the athletes. Following the Opening Ceremony, it can take several hours for the athletes to return to
the Village.
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 343
IOC/John Gichigi
Telephones, texting, blogging, instant messaging and other technologies (e.g. Twitter and Skype)These
activities can disrupt the athlete. Calling family and friends can be difficult and a source of additional
stress. On the other hand, such communication with family and friends may be a valuable stress-reducer
for the athlete.
Selection and bench-warmingAthletes can have considerable difficulty if they are uncertain if or when
they can compete in the Games. In some sports, athletes can go to the Games and never participate.
Once wrapped up in the excitement of the Games, these previously rational and cooperative athletes can
become a disruptive influence.
RomancesThese have a habit of springing up in the Village, and are not contained to the athletes. Some
sensible (perhaps married) athletes may suddenly find comfort in a new partner, perhaps leading to
feelings of guilt and / or distraction.
Life eventsDespite the marvellous conditions that an athlete experiences in the Village, the reality is
that sometimes major personal issues crop up during this time. A wife might have a baby; a father might
have died; a sister might have been in a serious car accident; there might be a loss of job, financial crisis
or required house move. Any one of these, when coupled with a loss of confidence and residual tension,
can have a major influence not only on performance but also on behaviour patterns.
Spare timeWhen athletes have too much spare time, perhaps between or after competitions, they can
be a distraction to others. Many athletes need positive things to do, including seeing as many sights as
they can before returning home.
Team uniforms There are a variety of reasons why team uniforms can pose problems. They may not fit
properly or the athletes might not like them. In some situations, an athlete might even want to wear their
sponsors uniform. The Olympic Charter (2010) Rule 51 identifies the rights of the NOC in determining the
use of clothing by athletes.
MediaThey can have an enormous influence, creating extraordinary pressure on athletes to perform to
others expectations. They can also be devastating in their criticism, or be ever-present and pestering for
your time. Some athletes welcome the media while others can be distracted by their presence.
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F. WHAT IFs
The following events have actually arisen during Olympic Games missions or team tours. Games mission
staff and team managers should carefully review the following examples in their preparations for the Games
and summarise appropriate responses.
Discipline
1. Two members of your team are involved in a fracas at a downtown bar. On being interviewed the
next morning, the two say that they were minding their own business and were set upon. They say
they can produce evidence to support this. There is still a week of the Games remaining, although
both competitors have finished their events. What action do you take? To what extent can discipline
be enforced after the event has finished?
2. Your entire team is attending a social function. You notice that one of your athletes is consuming
far too much alcohol at this event, and this is strangely out of character. What needs to be done -
if anything?
3. You get a message from one of your athletes that another member of the team has been arrested
by police, accused of shoplifting. How should you handle this?
4. An athlete seems to be adopting a very negative attitude towards the Games and you assume
that he will not perform very well when the action starts. But to make matters worse, the athlete
is becoming disruptive to others. This particular athlete insists on playing music in the early hours
of the morning, which results in an argument with other members of the team. What do you do?
5. At a training camp, a highly strung, difficult but very talented athlete is causing a problem. He
has a history of doing his own thing and is unpopular. He is late for a physiotherapy appointment
and the physiotherapist refuses to treat him. The athlete becomes aggressive and abusive. This
is reported back to you as coach / team manager. What do you do?
6. At a final training camp, one of your support staff goes missing in the afternoon, is not in her bed
in the evening, and has not returned by mid-morning. What do you do?
7. A team manager of a different sport reports that one of your male athletes has verbally and physically
assaulted a female athlete in his sport. What do you do?
Medical
1. Early in the Olympic competition, one of your athletes is subject to a random doping test. While
the result is negative, there are suspicions that the athlete may be using prohibited substances.
Should you take action and what should that be?
2. An athlete has arrived in the Olympic Village with a long-standing hamstring injury. He is being
treated with appropriate physiotherapy and is making progress. Without reference to the team
medics, his coach invites an outside medical opinion, leaving the team medics to assume that the
coach lacks confidence in them. The coach has never discussed the athletes situation with any
member of the medical team. How would you respond?
3. The team doctor has examined a muscle injury and decided that the athlete should withdraw from
further competition. The athlete and his coach want to continue and ask the doctor to do what
he can to help. They are prepared to accept the consequences if the injury becomes worse. The
athlete has a chance to be a medallist by winning his next match. The doctor refuses. As team
manager, what do you do?
Team policy
1. Based on medical advice, one of your key athletes who has sustained an injury could be sent
home from the Village. The athlete does not know yet and you anticipate a struggle as the athlete
will want to stay and be part of the Games. What do you do?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 345
2. You are thousands of miles from home and three underage athletes wish to attend the last night
party. Do you let them attend, and if so, under what conditions?
3. One of your coaches is extremely disappointed at his accreditation status, which requires him
to live outside the Village. He is also informed that marching in the Opening Ceremony will not
be possible. You sense a real drop in the coachs motivation. When approached to discuss the
problem, the coach appears cool and claims nothing is wrong. Several athletes have confidentially
reported to you that they are unhappy with the coachs behaviour. What do you do?
4. Your support staff (including coaches) are feeling pressured by athletes to always be available
for consultation. The staff feel that they will provide a more efficient service if they have a regular
relaxation time. The athletes resent the support staff going off and enjoying themselves. Tensions
are mounting and you feel that you must act soon to prevent the disruption of team harmony. What
do you do?
5. You make a decision which proves to be extremely unpopular with both your athletes and coaches.
They appeal to you to change your mind. You are convinced that you have made the right decision
and, on consulting two independent managers from other teams, your feelings are reinforced.
However, your athletes and coaches will not let it drop. What do you do?
6. Midway through the Games, it is revealed (by an unknown source) that a team coach condoned
drug use among athletes several years ago. The press have not yet been alerted to the situation
but it is felt that the story will inevitably break. The rumours suggest that the coach may be in your
sport. Your athletes are appearing tense and concerned about the impact on their own reputations.
What do you do?
7. A delegation of athletes comes to you to express a lack of confidence in the head coach. What
do you do?
Personal
1. An athlete comes to see you in private. She is very nervous and seems reluctant to speak to you.
She eventually tells you that one of the male massage therapists touched her inappropriately on
the treatment table. The athlete cannot be sure about this and hopes that she has got it wrong.
What is to be done?
2. Prior to leaving for the Games, there was friction between two athletes in your team. However,
this problem is greatly magnified under the pressure of the Olympic Village. The problem between
these two athletes now looks as if it might spill over into the rest of the team, with athletes feeling
obliged to take sides. How will you deal with this?
3. A worried athlete confides in you and says that the team physiotherapist is undermining the coach
when he is talking to the athletes during treatment sessions. What needs to be done?
4. One of your athletes forms a relationship with someone from another team. The relationship breaks
down just prior to competition. She is constantly in tears and causing problems for the rest of the
team. What do you do?
5. After a major event, your head coach and top medal prospects get into a heated argument in the
hotel bar. The argument is overheard by the media and ends with one player leaving in tears. The
next morning, the incident is recounted to you by an official who also overheard the argument. You
are cornered by the media, who explain they are going to run a story saying there is a complete
breakdown of trust between the coach and the sport organisations best medal prospects. The
story will include quotes made by the coach indicating that it is now a choice between himself
and the two players involved as to who remains in the team. Rumours are starting which indicate
that other team members are 100% behind the coach. The two players, through their manager,
are demanding an immediate meeting to discuss what action you will take in view of the coachs
(alleged) insulting statements and drunken behaviour. What should you do?
346
SECTION V
6. Two members of the management team begin a relationship midway through the Games. The
relationship matures very quickly and results in the individuals concerned being late for meetings,
generally preoccupied and withdrawing from team activities in order to be alone. What do you do?
Media
1. You are walking over to breakfast in the Village. A journalist, whom you know quite well, comes
over to you and says, Did you know athletes A, B and C from your team were seen in a downtown
nightclub at 3 oclock this morning? Its an interesting way to prepare for the Olympics, dont you
think? What do you do?
2. Your Olympic team has recently been announced to the media. One player then sustains a hamstring
injury and it looks as if it will be four weeks before he will be able to play again, i.e. six weeks
before the Games. How do you deal with the player? When and how do you decide to change the
team?
3. A journalist has interviewed one of your athletes outside the Village. You did not know the interview
had even taken place. Two days later, you receive an email from the sport federations President,
saying how disgusted he was with the interview and asking what, as team manager, you intend
to do about it. What would you do?
IOC/Hlne Tobler
Games-related
1. You feel that there appears to be a definite antipathy among the judges towards the athletes of
your team. This is affecting team morale. What do you do?
2. The first day of competition sees your best medal prospect perform badly. What are your immediate
priorities? What action do you take?
3. During the Games, a parent of one of your athletes dies suddenly. Due to a misunderstanding and
a poor telephone connection, the first person to receive this news is another athlete in your squad.
The person phoning from your country thought they were talking to one of the team officials. This
athlete promptly comes to see you to pass on the bad news. She has not spoken to anyone else
about this and is now very distraught and upset. Both the bereaved athlete and this other athlete
have their first match tomorrow. It is now 10.30 p.m. What will you do?
4. One of your athletes has just produced a performance well below his current ability. As team
manager, you want to know what went wrong. Groping for a question to open the conversation, you
ask, Well, how do you feel that went? The reply is an uncharacteristic one. In a sharp tone, the
athlete replies, Well, thats a bloody stupid question, isnt it? and the athlete carries on packing
his kit. This exchange takes place in a public place in front of the rest of the team. What do you
do?
S P O R T A D M I N I S T R AT I O N M A N U A L 347
5. While in the Village in the days leading up to the Opening Ceremony, you feel that some of your
team members are becoming distracted by the razzmatazz of being at the Olympics. What, if
anything, will you do about this?
6. You are just finishing off a team meeting and in ten minutes time you will leave for the competition
venue. Suddenly, one of your athletes notices that his accreditation pass belongs to another athlete.
Somehow they were exchanged. The athlete is now getting very agitated and some of the other
team members are being affected because training is imminent. What will you do?
7. You are on a bus going to the competition venue and the traffic problems are bad. Some athletes
begin to pester you. They are frightened they will miss the match. What do you do?
G. QUESTIONS
1. What would be the appropriate mission staffing for your NOC?
2. Do you undertake a staging camp before going to the Games? If so, what are its component programmes?
References
Olympic Charter
IOC Anti-Doping Rules
World Anti-Doping Code
WADA Prohibited List
OCOG Medical Guide
OCOG Technical Doping Control Guide
OCOG Drug Formulary
OCOG Chefs De Mission Dossier & Manual OCOG Publication
NOC Games Preparation Proven Practices and Guidelines IOC Publication
348
Sport Administration Manual