THE WORLD OLYMPIANS ASSOCIATION & VISA

 

                                     
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The World Olympians Association and VISA:
Creating a Successful VORC

The Visa Olympians Reunion Center will soon open its doors in Torino 2006 for the fifth rendition since the first VORC of the Centennial Games of 1996 in Atlanta . The VORC was created by Visa, is supported by the IOC and is delivered in partnership with the World Olympians Association (WOA) to offer all Olympians a place to call home upon returning to the Games, this time as spectators. The VISA – WOA partnership is an important one in delivering this benefit to Olympians. But what is the WOA and what is its role in a changing society?

The World Olympians Association unites Olympians from around the world regardless of age, sport, gender or nationality. The WOA promotes Olympic ideals and virtues by promoting fair play, environmental protection, aiding the fight against doping, providing educational resources and working against violence and intolerance while supporting diversity and equality. In addition, the WOA contributes to sport related charities, hosts special hospitality centers and promotes Olympians as positive role models.

An Olympian is any athlete who competed at a Summer or Winter Olympic Games. Currently there are approximately 100,000 Olympians alive today. Olympians are WOA members through their local National Olympians Associations. IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch created the World Olympians Association following the Centennial Olympic Congress, held in Paris in 1994. If you would like to know more about how to contact your local National Olympians Association please contact any WOA Regional office or [email protected] for information.

WOA Vision and Objectives

In order for the WOA to further its purposes, consistent with the aims of the General Assembly of National Olympians Associations and the IOC, the objectives of the WOA are set forth below:

 To encourage contact between Olympians, in support of Olympism and the Olympic Movement, as described in the Olympic Charter.

  • To educate Olympians to become good ambassadors of the Olympic Movement.
     
  • To foster cooperation between National Olympians Associations.
     
  • To support and represent the interests of Olympians and contribute to the enhancement of their quality of life.
     
  • To motivate Olympians towards active leadership in their respective local communities and countries of residence.
     
  • To support the participation of Olympians in activities where they can serve as role models who embody the Olympic ideals.
     
  • To implement development programs as appropriate.

VISA Provides the Opportunity

Many Olympians have had the desire to return to the Games after their competitive careers are over. We can speculate many reasons for this desire. First, Olympians share a love of sport and simply want to witness the greatest display of sporting excellence in the world. There may be a desire to return to, if not the actual site, then the spirit and festival of past glorious and often life-changing experiences. Perhaps, as time moves on, Olympians have the desire to return to the Games and bring with them their families and loved ones – to share in the experience. Or, perhaps it is the opportunity to reunite with old adversaries, who are now friends, or share the current Games with former team mates and Olympians.

There are many reasons to return – but only one partnership which helps make that possible – Visa International and the WOA. By creating the Visa Olympians Reunion Center , Visa provided a place for Olympians of Games past to call home during the Games. Many organizations have always espoused the idea that the Games are about all Olympians – Visa did something about it. The VORC belongs exclusively to Olympians and their guests. Perhaps what is most wonderful is the fact that while Olympian visitors are enjoying free Games hospitality at the VORC – by their very nature these Olympians are supporting the WOA principle function of building a network of Olympians without regard to race, age or gender – based solely on the Olympic ideal. So we look forward to welcoming you soon, next February, at the Visa Olympians Reunion Center in beautiful Torino, Italy ! For more information and to register, go to www.woaolympians.com

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