WOA Celebrates Most Successful Olympians Reunion Centre Ever

26 | 8 | 2016

The World Olympians Association is celebrating the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY after two highly successful weeks at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Thousands of Olympians, guests and members of the Olympic Family, from more than 50 countries and representing over 35 Olympic sports, visited the venue across 17 days, making it the most popular edition of an Olympians Reunion Centre since the concept was first established at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Located at Rio’s iconic Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, the destination hub and drop-in centre for Olympians of all ages and nationalities in Rio generated strong support amongst both competing and non-competing Olympians, filling to capacity on numerous occasions.

Supported by presenting partner EY, the Rio 2016 ORC exceeded expectations on visitor numbers. This was helped by a strong pre-Games registration period and fantastic word-of-mouth appeal during Games-time, along with in-venue features such as the Olympians for Life legacy project, the Olympic torch display and the opportunity for Olympians to sign the Olympians wall.

The venue hosted a number of events throughout the Games, including its opening party on 04 August when WOA Patron HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and IOC Vice-President Nawal El Moutawakel were joined by nearly 500 other Olympians, IOC Members, Olympic Family members, Olympic Sponsors and EY dignitaries from Brazil and the rest of the world.  Three hundred people came to the joint WOA EY hosted Women. Fast Forward event on 10 August highlighting the link between female Olympians and leadership, which saw IOC President Thomas Bach as one of the speakers. A number of other Olympic family organisations also made the most of the unique space on the shores of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, with World Rugby, World Masters Games, UIPM, the ANOCA Athletes’ Commission and many others hosting events.

WOA President, Joël Bouzou, said:

“The Rio 2016 Olympians Reunion Centre by EY has been hugely successful with Olympians of all ages visiting the unique venue to make new memories and inspire others through their desire to spread the Olympic ideals. We couldn’t have asked for better support from our community of Olympians attending and competing in the Olympic Games in Rio.

“We would like to thank EY for their excellent partnership of the 2016 Olympians Reunion Centre. Our successful collaboration has created opportunities for our Olympic alumni and helped put the spotlight on athlete transition and the leadership potential of our female Olympians. We are also grateful to the International Olympic Committee for their ongoing support of the WOA and our many initiatives to ensure athletes remain at the heart of the Olympic Games.”

The next edition of the Olympians Reunion Centre will take place in PyeongChang during the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.