Season’s Greetings from WOA

19 | 12 | 2018

A message from World Olympians Association President Joël Bouzou OLY:

As we approach the end of another year, I would like to take the opportunity to recognise the efforts you have made to further the Olympic ideals and share the spirit and practice of Olympism.

I would also like to welcome our newest members, the Olympians from PyeongChang 2018. You are one of 100,000 individuals in a global population of 7.2 billion to compete at an Olympic Games and it is with great pride I welcome you to the WOA family.

In an Olympic year there are always many highlights and this year was no exception for WOA. From bringing together Olympians past and present at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, to launching the first-ever global study into the long-term health of Olympians, the year has been truly special.

2019 promises to be just as special as we continue to build towards the next Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo. As part of our mission to serve the needs of Olympians we are pleased to offer even more benefits in the coming year.

OLY

More than 10,000 Olympians have adopted the OLY title which recognises your achievements on the Olympic stage and beyond. I encourage you to use the OLY letters on official documentation, CVs, business cards, social media and anywhere a name appears.

If you haven’t got it already, you can also register for the Olympian.org email address. It’s a great way to get yourself noticed in people's inboxes. Register HERE.

TOKYO 2020

As an Olympian at Games-time, you and your family and friends, are invited to OLY House. In Tokyo, OLY House will provide a space for all Olympians past and present to catch up with team-mates, meet new friends, grab a drink or a bite to eat and watch Olympic action on the big screen.

Once again, as an Olympian you can also get Free Tickets to Olympic events during the Games and take part in the Olympians Chaperone Programme, which invites Olympians to accompany the Olympic Partners and their client groups to Games events and hospitality. More information and pre-registration will be revealed in the coming months.  

OLYMPIANS HEALTH STUDY

WOA had an amazing response from Olympians around the world and we are grateful to the 5,000 Olympians who took the time to participate in the first-ever global study into Olympians’ long-term health. It will generate new knowledge on the overall general health of Olympians, which will lead to recommendations and protocols that will help all Olympians better manage their post-career bodies. WOA looks forward to sharing the results of this study in 2019.

STAY INVOLVED LOCALLY  

Olympians are the heart of the Olympic movement and the knowledge, skill, and expertise you have will inspire the next generation of Olympians. There are no better Ambassadors for the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Values than you. I encourage you to reach out to your National Olympians Association and get involved in local projects and events. Click here to access the NOA Directory.

There will be plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in 2019. You can keep up to date with all our activities on Olympians.org or via Twitter or Facebook.

As 2018 draws to a close and we look ahead to the coming year, I am proud to call myself an Olympian and be a part of a passionate global community committed to spreading the Olympic values. By working together, we can continue to harness the power of sport to create a better, more harmonious world.

I wish you a happy and peaceful New Year.

Best Olympian regards

Joël Bouzou OLY