Day with the Olympians comes to the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY

15 | 8 | 2016

The 2016 edition of Day with the Olympians, an initiative that gives students the opportunity to meet with Olympians at the Olympic Games, has taken place at the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY in Rio.

The project, led by two-time Sierra Leone Olympian Francis Dove-Edwin and supported by the World Olympians Association was first staged at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Since then it has been held at every Games to share the Olympic values and the transformative power of sport with participants.

This year 12 international students studying for a career in sports management from a range of different nations were invited to Rio de Janeiro to take part with Olympians, who have found success in business since retiring from competitive sport, including Dove-Edwin, Frida Nicholls (Athletics, Barbados) and Rob Stull (Modern Pentathlon, USA). The Olympians led the students in discussions around the themes of determination, teamwork and legacy and also spent time sharing their own experiences of how they got to where they are, seeking to inspire the students into dreaming big and offering insight into what goes into staging a major event like the Olympic Games.

While here the students volunteered and visited a number of the Rio 2016 sporting venues to gain a broader understanding of the how the Games function.

Also this year for the first time, WOA partner EY, an Official Supporter of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, lent their valuable expertise to the event offering support and guidance to the sports management students. EY Brasil Advisory Partner, Alexandre Rangel spoke to the students about the important role sponsors play in major events and how, through their sponsorship and legacy programme, EY are helping the communities of Rio directly and indirectly.

Sierra Leone Olympian, Francis Dove-Edwin, said:

“Day with the Olympians gives student the opportunity to spend time with Olympians and find out what it means to compete at the Olympic Games. They learn about Olympism and the Olympic values and develop an understanding of the inner workings of a major sporting event such as the Olympic Games.

“It is also about Olympians having the opportunity to give back and make a difference to the careers of the students who are just starting out in sports management. I am grateful to the World Olympians Association and EY for their support of the initiative and for allowing us to host the event at the Rio 2016 Olympians Reunion Centre.”

EY Brasil Advisory Partner, Alexandre Rangel

“EY Brasil was pleased to be involved in this initiative and enjoyed passing on our knowledge and experience to the students present. One of our core aims, as an Official Supporter of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and proud partner of the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY, is to leave a positive and lasting legacy and through outreach projects like this we can further establish that legacy.”