Hey folks,
A couple of days ago, I wrote about the fantastic Athlete Role Model Program (ARM) at the Innsbruck 2012 Games. Short update: Vincent is very happy and excited to be part of the program, as he is sharing on his Facebook page.
As I mentioned back then, the ARM is part of another CEP activity, which I would like to outline for you today: The Youth Olympic Competence Program.
I think I already wrote about the fact that - for being a successful athlete - there is so much you have to keep in mind: What food you should eat, how much rest you should get, how you can stay focused and the like. However, as a young athlete, there are some other very important questions. One of the most crucial ones, which I think athletes around the globe are confronted by, is how to combine your athletic with your educational career. Because even for the most talented athletes out there, it's always good to have a Plan B if things don't go as well as you intended them to go.
The Youth Olympic Competence Program is aiming at just those questions. I really like the name of the program, since it is spot on: It gives the athletes the competences to themselves take care of their lives and tackle the challenges ahead. Because the easy way to answer all those questions would be: "Don't you worry, what do they have a coach/nutritionist/personal trainer for?". Personally, I am a strong fan of personal responsibility, so if they have the competences at hand to take care of their own life, it sounds like a much better deal to me.
The activities and topics covered in the Competence Program are quite diverse. The ARM Program is one of them, where athletes can get information from people that know it first-hand. There will also be discussions, "Chat with Champions" as they were called in Singapore, were the athletes can discuss a wide array of different topics. There will be a great career plan workshop, led by the IOC Athlete Career Program's Patrick Glennon. Patrick was already on-board in Singapore and he is an important source of guidance for the athletes. What I really like about his approach is that, rather giving them a "one size fits all" solution for their individual career choices, he tries to empower the athletes to find a satisfying solution themselves. I just hope that he does not bring his puzzle...I still got nightmares thinking about it :).
So far for the "practical" side of aspiring elite athletes. However, there are also plenty of activities "on the lighter side". For instance, one of my favorites, will be the "Be your own Chef!", where athletes can learn how to cook delicious and nutritious meals for themselves. (I wish that would have existed when I was young...if I got a dime every time we had pasta during competition, I could possibly buy an Ipad ;)). Another funny and very important workshop will deal with intercultural experiences. After all, there will be more than 65 different countries represented in Innsbruck. Personally, I just love how sport can transcend cultural boundaries, so making the kids aware of different stereotypes that might exist will definitely be a big plus for everyone. Right now, they are putting finishing touches on that workshop, so I am sure it will be a very enriching experience by the time January comes around.
The Youth Olympic Competence Program will arguably be the CEP's key element. Because the athletes that are going to compete in Innsbruck 2012, will most likely be the athletes competing in 2014, 2018 and so on. So the least we can do is give them today the knowledge they need to have successful and fulfilling careers in sports. After all, it's not only about making them win plenty of medals, but also making them enjoy their lives as athletes and being happy what they are doing.
So long,
Flo
A couple of days ago, I wrote about the fantastic Athlete Role Model Program (ARM) at the Innsbruck 2012 Games. Short update: Vincent is very happy and excited to be part of the program, as he is sharing on his Facebook page.As I mentioned back then, the ARM is part of another CEP activity, which I would like to outline for you today: The Youth Olympic Competence Program.
I think I already wrote about the fact that - for being a successful athlete - there is so much you have to keep in mind: What food you should eat, how much rest you should get, how you can stay focused and the like. However, as a young athlete, there are some other very important questions. One of the most crucial ones, which I think athletes around the globe are confronted by, is how to combine your athletic with your educational career. Because even for the most talented athletes out there, it's always good to have a Plan B if things don't go as well as you intended them to go.
The Youth Olympic Competence Program is aiming at just those questions. I really like the name of the program, since it is spot on: It gives the athletes the competences to themselves take care of their lives and tackle the challenges ahead. Because the easy way to answer all those questions would be: "Don't you worry, what do they have a coach/nutritionist/personal trainer for?". Personally, I am a strong fan of personal responsibility, so if they have the competences at hand to take care of their own life, it sounds like a much better deal to me.
The activities and topics covered in the Competence Program are quite diverse. The ARM Program is one of them, where athletes can get information from people that know it first-hand. There will also be discussions, "Chat with Champions" as they were called in Singapore, were the athletes can discuss a wide array of different topics. There will be a great career plan workshop, led by the IOC Athlete Career Program's Patrick Glennon. Patrick was already on-board in Singapore and he is an important source of guidance for the athletes. What I really like about his approach is that, rather giving them a "one size fits all" solution for their individual career choices, he tries to empower the athletes to find a satisfying solution themselves. I just hope that he does not bring his puzzle...I still got nightmares thinking about it :).
So far for the "practical" side of aspiring elite athletes. However, there are also plenty of activities "on the lighter side". For instance, one of my favorites, will be the "Be your own Chef!", where athletes can learn how to cook delicious and nutritious meals for themselves. (I wish that would have existed when I was young...if I got a dime every time we had pasta during competition, I could possibly buy an Ipad ;)). Another funny and very important workshop will deal with intercultural experiences. After all, there will be more than 65 different countries represented in Innsbruck. Personally, I just love how sport can transcend cultural boundaries, so making the kids aware of different stereotypes that might exist will definitely be a big plus for everyone. Right now, they are putting finishing touches on that workshop, so I am sure it will be a very enriching experience by the time January comes around.The Youth Olympic Competence Program will arguably be the CEP's key element. Because the athletes that are going to compete in Innsbruck 2012, will most likely be the athletes competing in 2014, 2018 and so on. So the least we can do is give them today the knowledge they need to have successful and fulfilling careers in sports. After all, it's not only about making them win plenty of medals, but also making them enjoy their lives as athletes and being happy what they are doing.
So long,
Flo
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