What is Olympic Solidarity?
A roundtable conference focused on the participation of the national sports federations entering the Confederation of Combat and Strength Sports in the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity Program was held in Astana on July 3. Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan Timur Dossymbetov, Director General of the Confederation Saken Mussaibekov, representatives of the federations of judo, wrestling, taekwondo, weightlifting and the boxing federation of Kazakhstan took part in the event.
The Olympic Solidarity is a program of the International Olympic Committee for coordination of the activities of the national Olympic committees aimed at development of the Olympic movement. The program embraces different spheres: holding of international courses for professional development of coaches training future participants of the Olympic Games, paying scholarships to coaches and athletes, supply of necessary sport equipment, etc.
Speaking at the conference, Timur Dossymbetov told about the process of receiving support from the Olympic Committee. “In order to take part in the program, the national federations should submit lists of athletes recommended for scholarships. However, the federations usually don’t have time for making such lists. We have to remind them of it again and again. Meanwhile, everything should be done quickly and efficiently. We collect all necessary information and submit it tothe director of the program in the International Olympic Committee's headquarters in Lausanne. The IOC has specialists in different sports who make a decision who of the recommended athletes have enough potential to take part in the Olympics and are able to live up the expectations and funds invested in them and win medals. In respond to our letter, we receive a list of athletes approved by the IOC specialists for scholarships. Our weightlifters, for example, have been receiving such scholarships for 15 years already,” he said.
According to Timur Dossymbetov, about 150-200 thousand dollars was allocated to Kazakhstan wihtin the program prior to the Olympic Games – 2012 in London.
Dinara Baikadamova
0 comments