Successful World Olympians Forum empowers Olympians worldwide

14 | 5 | 2019

More than 150 participants from 107 National Olympians Associations (NOAs) came together in Lausanne for the World Olympians Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland last week.

Under the theme Olympians for Life, the Forum reinforced the special status of Olympians as the ambassadors at the heart of the Olympic Movement, while driving forward World Olympians Association’s mandate to strengthen and grow our global network of NOAs to support the needs of Olympians and empower them to spread the Olympic ideals.

WATCH the highlights video from World Olympians Forum

“The World Olympians Forum has been an outstanding success, bringing together Olympians from around the world to share ideas on how we can best support and empower our global community and secure the legacy of Olympians as the enduring ambassadors of the Olympic Movement,” said WOA President, Jöel Bouzou OLY. 

Through a series of high level workshops and plenary sessions, the Forum focussed on boosting the capabilities of NOAs so that they can better connect and engage with Olympians at a national level, and deliver programmes and initiatives that meet their needs and align with WOA’s mission.

Olympians can get in touch with their NOA via the NOA Directory HERE. NOAs offer a range of services and events for Olympians, help run community-based projects and promote activities around Olympic Day on 23 June.

Stronger Together

WOA’s close partnership with the International Olympic Committee was further underlined this week during a joint working day with participants of the International Athletes’ Forum, which took place ahead of the World Olympians Forum. This included a renewed ambition for WOA and the IOC Athletes’ Commission to work collaboratively on initiatives that support the welfare, development and engagement of Olympians at a global level, as well as greater cooperation between NOAs and National Olympic Committees locally.

“I would like to thank President Thomas Bach and the International Olympic Committee for its support and all participants for the enthusiasm and commitment they have shown over the past three days,” added WOA President Bouzou. “I look forward to continuing to work together in strong partnership as we seek to create even more programmes to serve Olympians in the future.”

WOA 2019 Grants Programme

World Olympians Association was also pleased to announce the launch of its 2019 Grants Programme at the World Olympians Forum.

The WOA Grants Programme empowers Olympians to deliver projects that serve Olympians and helps them to spread the spirit of Olympism in their countries, in line with WOA’s core mission.

Applications for 2019 funding are now open for the following categories:

  • Service to Olympians
  • Service to Society
  • NOA Development

Grants of up to $5,000 USD each are available to support Olympian-led projects that benefit Olympians or local communities. CLICK HERE to find out more about this.

Since 2016, WOA has given more than 120 grants to support NOAs worldwide. Projects have ranged from drowning prevention programmes in India and Lithuania, an Olympian-run community chicken farm in Zimbabwe, bringing sport to orphaned children in Malaysia and those affected by conflict in Colombia.

Applications are open until 30 June 2019 so if you have a great idea for a project, get in touch with your NOA to apply.