NOA Guide

Best Practices

Here are lists of good examples of activities implemented by other NOAs across different areas. NOAs can learn from these examples and replicate them according to their own context. If you would like to receive more information on one of these practices or guidance on how to implement it, please contact the WOA team via info@thewoa.org.

Member Engagement
  • Newsletter

    Japan

    A quarterly newsletter is sent to the Olympians of Japan to provide updates on their latest activities. 

  • Initiatives for Olympians

    During the 2019 World Olympians Forum, four NOAs shared the activities and programmes that they have in their respective countries. Their presentations can be found in the links below

  • Twitter

    India

    Launch: February 2016
    Followers: 41.4K+

  • Twitter

    Germany

    Launch: June 2013
    Followers: 2.3K+

  • Facebook

    Angola

    Launch: February 2008
    Followers: 1.5K+

  • Magazine

    Australia

    Australian Olympian Alumni Annual Magazine
    Circulation: 2500+ Olympians
    Launched: 2014
    Frequency: Yearly
    Distribution: Physical post & online version

  • Newsletter

    Philippines

    Titled "Arete", the POA newsletter is sent to Olympians and shared with their NOC.

  • Newsletter

    USA

    USOPA publishes "The Olympian" newsletter every quarter.

  • Website

    Switzerland

    We, the Swiss Olympians, form a network of a different kind , made up of and for special people. Throughout the years, this network brings together people who share an extraordinary experience: that of having participated in Olympic or Paralympic Games.

  • Website

    India

    Indian Olympians is an alumni association for Indian Olympians. Be the primary support & face of all Indian Olympians globally. Ensure Olympians the recognition, respect and dignity they deserve.

  • Website

    Sri Lanka
  • Website

    Canada
  • WhatsApp

    NOAs Chat Group

    Continental chat groups with representatives from the NOAs in the Asia and Americas, moderated by WOA

  • Newspaper

    Malaysia

    Every month, An Olympian is interviewed and  featured in the local newspaper recounting their time chasing Olympic glory.

WOA Branding
  • OLY presentation

    Malaysia

    A small private ceremony to present the OLY pin and certificate to one of the oldest living Malaysian Olympian was conducted at his home with family and friends in attendance. 

  • OLY presentations

    Germany

    An OLY presentation ceremony is held together with the Annual General Meeting.

  • OLY presentations

    Australia

    15 Olympians from China, USA, Australia, Chile, Italy and Austria were honoured by their peers at VolleyFest 2019 in Sydney. Presentation was a collaboration between FIVB, NOA and the NOC.

  • OLY presentations

    FIVB with Japan NOA

    12 Olympians competing in the beach volleyball test event in Tokyo were awarded their OLY titles by the FIVB, in collaboration with the Olympians Association of Japan, Japanese Volleyball Association and the local Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. 

Service to Olympians / Service to Society Projects
  • Service to Olympians

    Great Britain

    Olympians are invited to dress in their Olympic competition attire to run in the annual Westminster mile that finishes outside the Buckingham Palace in London. 

    Olympians are invited to dress in their Olympic competition attire to run in the annual Westminster mile that finishes outside the Buckingham Palace in London.

  • Service to Olympians

    Canada

    To celebrate the Games Anniversary, Olympians are given two pairs of Team Canada branded mittens. One pair is for the Olympian to keep, and the other to be given to a special someone that has impacted their sporting career. 

  • Service to Olympians

    Singapore

    The NOA established formal partnerships with corporate sponsors to provide free services to the Olympians. For example, free gym membership. 

  • Service to society - school workshop

    Ghana

    Through a multi-year partnership, Ghana Olympians carried out an athletics theme workshop for teachers and students at St. Nicholas school focusing on learning creative ways to enhance mastery of fundamental sports related movement skills while promoting core values of Olympism

  • Service to society - sports for elderly

    Lithuania

    Titled “Olympian Life Mentoring”, Lithuanian Olympians organised multiple physical activity sessions for senior citizens and the sight-impaired to improve their functional movement abilities. 

  • Service to society – Sports Initiation Caravan

    Japan

    Children across Japan are learning the true meaning of Olympism and being introduced to new sports by a group of 18 Olympians who are travelling and teaching in a Sports Initiation Caravan.

  • Service to society – Olympics for youth

    Chile

    Chilean Olympians use sport as a tool to ensure that vulnerable children in Santiago were kept off the streets, offering them a safe space where they would be encouraged to dream big and lead a life true to the Olympic values of friendship, respect and pride.   

  • Service to society – prisoners rehabilitation

    Chinese Taipei

    Twice a month, Olympians in Taiwan visit reform schools across the country to promote Olympism and broaden prisoners’ understanding of the benefits of balancing body, mind and spirit.

  • Service to society - Granting wishes

    USA

    US Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom OLY and his Wish of a Lifetime foundation is helping elderly people across the country fulfil their lifelong dreams, fight loneliness and enjoy vibrant life experiences once more.

  • Service to Olympians – Athlete career transition

    Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe Olympians & elite athletes are training for a bright future as sports administrators thanks to a professional development programme run by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee & supported by the National Olympians Association.

Leadership & Governance
  • Networking events

    Australia

    Women in Business Network

  • Strengthening regional ties

    Asian NOAs

    The 2nd Olympians Associations of Asia Meeting in Jakarta provided a unique and powerful opportunity for Asian NOA leaders to unite, share best practice and work together to help shape the future of the Olympic Movement in their continent.

  • Strengthening regional ties

    Nordic NOAs

    National Olympians Associations (NOAs) from Sweden, Norway and Iceland gathered in Reykjavik to share ideas and develop best practice approaches to enhance support pathways for the region’s Olympians.

  • Terms of Reference

    New Zealand

    The NOA is set-up as a Commission and their Terms of Reference for both the Olympians' Commission and Athletes' Commission can be found here. 

Finance Management
  • Charity dinner

    Malaysia

    Partnering with charities in Malaysia, the NOA co-organised a fund-raising dinner where members of the public purchased seats at a higher price generating a profit that is donated to the charities.

  • Membership fees

    Japan, Switzerland

    Members contribute to the annual running of the NOA, & receive a level of service in return i.e. annual reunion, newsletters, discounts

  • Private donations

    USA

    US Olympians donate to fund programmes that help Olympians in need.

  • Corporate partnerships

    India

    Tata Foundation is a partner of the India NOA as part of their corporate social responsibility. They fund the programmes and activities of the NOA.

  • Membership fees

    Malaysia

    Members contribute a one-time registration fee to join their NOA

  • Social Enterprise

    Zimbabwe

    The NOA opened an Olympian-run chicken farm that provides jobs for the local community and is helping fund life transition projects for the country’s Olympians.

  • Social Enterprise

    Chinese Taipei

    30 members of the public signed up with the NOA for their week-long overseas ski camp taught by Chinese Taipei Winter Olympians. The 1500 USD funds raised from the camp are used to improve services and support to their Olympians.

Stakeholder Engagement
  • Shared resources with NOC

    Japan, Canada, New Zealand

    The NOC provides the office and staff for the NOA administration.

  • Collaboration with NOC AC

    Colombia

    The NOA and NOC AC jointly applied for the WOA grant which provided access to sport for children and youths to help them overcome obstacles and develop self-confidence.

  • Shared resources with NOC

    Namibia, Singapore

    The NOC And NOA shares the same office and postal address. NOA chairperson is co-opted into the NOC AC and vice-versa.

  • Shared resources with NOC

    Great Britain

    The NOC supports the communications and delivery of the annual GB Olympians run.

  • Collaboration with NOC AC

    Singapore

    The NOA’s AGM was held at the same venue of the Athletes’ Forum organised by the Athletes’ Commission. This helped with logistics arrangements & costs, as well as provided the opportunity for the Olympians & athletes to mingle.

  • Collaboration with Government

    Zambia

    Working with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the NOA provided opportunities for refugee children to participate in sport, while also using the Olympic values to educate them and help them develop life skills.

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Slovenia

    Olympians gathered at the Slovenian Olympic Education Centre for a special reception to discuss the future projects and activities of the NOA as part of their partnership with the NOC. This was followed by a group swim and photo taking to honour the special status Olympians hold in society.  

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Cape Verde

    More than 6000 people across the nine islands had the opportunity to participate in  activities including a football tournament, bike rides and taster sessions in basketball, handball, rowing, swimming, sailing, equestrian, beach volleyball, karate, taekwondo and athletics. Environmental sustainability was also a key focus with tree planting, beach tidying and rubbishing collection.

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Australia

    Australian Olympians were out and about connecting with students in schools and sharing their personal stories to inspire the next generation of Australian athletes. Olympians also visited children’s hospitals across the country to bring joy to kids who are suffering from illness and injury.

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Georgia

    Olympian-led sport, cultural & educational activities took place to encourage young people to get active & adopt a healthy lifestyle, while showcasing the role of sport as a tool for development & social harmony

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Lithuania

    The festivities began with the lighting of the Olympic Day torch before Olympians led the traditional Olympic Day run. The day-long celebration also marked the culmination of Lithuania‘s school sports competitions. Around 600 school children from the top teams throughout the country competed in Volleyball, Handball, Basketball, Table Tennis and Shooting finals with winning teams and athletes receiving medals and prizes from Olympians

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Japan

    Olympian-led sport, cultural & educational activities took place to encourage young people to get active & adopt a healthy lifestyle, while showcasing the role of sport as a tool for development & social harmony.

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Philippines

    2000 people joined celebrations at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Booths were set up promoting accessible and adapted sports, including Arnis, athletics, chess and skateboarding, to allow the public to experience how a para-athlete might take part. During the torch relay 1,000 seedlings were distributed to participants to plant as a way to encourage everyone to respect the environment we live in. The NOA donated eight native Palawan cherry blossom trees to the university to plant on its campus. 

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Chinese Taipei

    The Chinese Taipei Olympians Association teamed up with the National Olympic Committee to deliver a sports fun day in Taiwan last Sunday, bringing together more than 600 people to share in the Olympic spirit. 25 Olympians helped promote the Olympic values at the event by encouraging people to get active and experience new sports,

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Poland

    Olympian-led sport, cultural & educational activities took place to encourage young people to get active & adopt a healthy lifestyle, while showcasing the role of sport as a tool for development & social harmony

  • NOA & NOC - Olympic Day

    Singapore

    Olympians Singapore contributed to the Garden City Fund and joined over 100 participants in planting 50 trees at Woodlands Waterfront Park as part of a Plant-A-Tree initiative. In addition to planting trees, Olympians Singapore teamed up with the National Olympic Council and joined over 1,500 participants on the Olympic Day Walk. Olympians read the Olympic Day Message and lit the torch and led the participants through the course. 

  • NOA & NOC collaboration

    Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia

    Joint delivery of Mentoring programmes

Updated on 15 April 2019