Through the Olympic Academic Experience, I was able to specifically study the organization of the Olympic games. Upon acceptance, my departure date was circled on my calendar and inched closer as the days went by. I followed official accounts on Twitter and searched for relevant articles regarding the London games to pass the time. My understanding of the organization of the Olympics grew and the Olympic Academic Experience enhanced my professional development throughout the program.
Before the class started, I read press releases and articles regarding the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) preparations and strategy. From the bid stage, LOCOG set out to plan and execute the most sustainable Olympic games ever held. From the slogan, to the design of the Olympic park, it’s stadiums and legacy plans, many detailed plans were put into these sustainability strategy. The organizers first worked to establish compliance amongst its suppliers through the BS8901 event management framework. Associating with the London Olympic games enabled businesses to adapt sustainable practices and improve their brand image. Executing unique, positive change focused social programs helped to offset negative environmental impacts. In the years leading up to the games, funding was provided for help programs promote the positive aspects of physical activity. The slogan of ‘inspire a generation’ was the perfect message for the event’s sustainability, an approach that meets the needs of the present and to improve conditions for the future. But to pull all these efforts off, LOCOG needed to develop working relationships with a wide array of non-government organizations, the Mayor of London, sponsors, countries, the United Nations Environmental Program and the IOC. The extremely complex set of stakeholders that the Olympics needs requires constant communication and high levels of trust that plans will be carried out and issues reported. The delivery of Olympic games also puts an absolute deadline on plans, which is fundamentally different from other development projects. A legacy that LOCOG will leave the international sporting community is the ISO 20121 framework. Utilizing the BS8901 framework as a rough draft of sorts, this event management tool allowed for weak event aspects to be identified and enabled action items to be carried out. The London games served as a catalyst for development in an economically distressed area of town. By the time I got to London, I was a walking reference guide to the London Olympics sustainability strategy.
Once the class opened up, I learned about the organizational structure and purpose of the International Olympic Committee, National Olympic Committee’s and International Federations. The Olympic Charter serves as a guiding document for the IOC and the organizations it works with. The IOC works to spread the Olympic spirit throughout the world by ensuring the annual games are held, assist needy NOCs and to determine access to the Olympic intellectual properties. The IOC is a non-profit organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland and has the status of a legal person. The IOC has reserved the right to control other legal entities such as foundations and corporations. The IOC serves to place the Olympic games at the harmonious development of mankind so they make sure companies are in compliance with their rules and traditions. Membership guidelines also stipulate that there must only be one representative from a country on the committee. The IOC meets in a general session once a year and must meet quorum of half the membership plus one. The next level of organization below the IOC is an International Federation, abbreviated as IF. IF’s serve to administer a respective sport. To be recognized by the IOC, an IF must be in compliance with the Olympic Charter and the Olympic spirit. An IF must ensure that it’s sport is being developed throughout the world, control their sports competition at the Olympics and express it’s opinion on sport related matters in an Olympic bid. The reach of these organizations is tremendous. The IF sits at the top of the pyramid of their sport. The authority and impact an IF has is large when you consider the amount of participants of every sport in the Olympics. Below the IF’s is the National Olympic Committee (NOC). Each competing nation must have a NOC to participate in the Olympics. A NOC is responsible for providing Olympic educational programs in schools, encourage the development of high performance athletes while ensuring sport opportunities for everyone and compliance with the Olympic Charter. Within the NOC there is the foundation for National Federations to form. A National Federation must be affiliated with an Olympic recognized IF but can operate as a member of an NOC. Notable National Federation’s in the U.S.A are U.S. Soccer and U.S.A. Basketball. The study of the basic organizational structure of the Olympic movement reveals a level tremendous reach. Some Ifs can have less than 5 officials but can impact hundreds of thousands of participants and this is the power of the Olympic movement.
Being able to experience, watch and interact with the London 2012 Olympic games provided for reflection and experiential learning opportunities. Mega sport events require two things, amongst many others, to be successful and they are sponsor and volunteer support. The city of London opened itself up to the world for three weeks. Volunteers played in an important role in the daily operations of facilities and in the city. Official volunteers filled various roles at Olympic events and Ambassadors served as guides to help visitors travel around town and answer questions. The travel ambassadors were in bright pink and stationed all over town. They provided a sense of welcome and were empowered to respond to security issues. Official volunteers had many roles, from running security checkpoints to fetching tennis balls at Wimbledon. They had to apply for the opportunity and were decked out in an Adidas volunteer uniform. Thus, assistance from official sponsors, partners and providers supported the organization and operation of London 2012. The IOC signs a handful of worldwide partners but leave the local organizing committees to sign partners in many categories. Partners such as BMW, Adidas, EDF, BP, British Airways, Lloyds TSB and others all provided support through their products, services and/or cash payments. Partnering with the Olympics is an exciting opportunity for businesses to advance their brands value proposition. London got help with sports equipment, energy production, food and drink and for the International Broadcasting Center. All the efforts of the Local Organizing Committee, legacy corporations, stakeholders, sponsors and volunteers all come together to execute the largest peace focused event this world sees.
When senior year begins in September 2012, the experience and lessons that the Olympic Academic Experience provided advanced my professional development in many ways. Focusing on the Olympic games prior to the class allowed me to dive into the intersect of sustainability and sports. This emerging discipline coupled with studies of the Olympic Charter once the class began further solidified my desire to use my career as an opportunity to improve the livability and conditions of our planet. Getting to travel to the London Olympic Games brought it all together.
Before the class started, I read press releases and articles regarding the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) preparations and strategy. From the bid stage, LOCOG set out to plan and execute the most sustainable Olympic games ever held. From the slogan, to the design of the Olympic park, it’s stadiums and legacy plans, many detailed plans were put into these sustainability strategy. The organizers first worked to establish compliance amongst its suppliers through the BS8901 event management framework. Associating with the London Olympic games enabled businesses to adapt sustainable practices and improve their brand image. Executing unique, positive change focused social programs helped to offset negative environmental impacts. In the years leading up to the games, funding was provided for help programs promote the positive aspects of physical activity. The slogan of ‘inspire a generation’ was the perfect message for the event’s sustainability, an approach that meets the needs of the present and to improve conditions for the future. But to pull all these efforts off, LOCOG needed to develop working relationships with a wide array of non-government organizations, the Mayor of London, sponsors, countries, the United Nations Environmental Program and the IOC. The extremely complex set of stakeholders that the Olympics needs requires constant communication and high levels of trust that plans will be carried out and issues reported. The delivery of Olympic games also puts an absolute deadline on plans, which is fundamentally different from other development projects. A legacy that LOCOG will leave the international sporting community is the ISO 20121 framework. Utilizing the BS8901 framework as a rough draft of sorts, this event management tool allowed for weak event aspects to be identified and enabled action items to be carried out. The London games served as a catalyst for development in an economically distressed area of town. By the time I got to London, I was a walking reference guide to the London Olympics sustainability strategy.
Once the class opened up, I learned about the organizational structure and purpose of the International Olympic Committee, National Olympic Committee’s and International Federations. The Olympic Charter serves as a guiding document for the IOC and the organizations it works with. The IOC works to spread the Olympic spirit throughout the world by ensuring the annual games are held, assist needy NOCs and to determine access to the Olympic intellectual properties. The IOC is a non-profit organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland and has the status of a legal person. The IOC has reserved the right to control other legal entities such as foundations and corporations. The IOC serves to place the Olympic games at the harmonious development of mankind so they make sure companies are in compliance with their rules and traditions. Membership guidelines also stipulate that there must only be one representative from a country on the committee. The IOC meets in a general session once a year and must meet quorum of half the membership plus one. The next level of organization below the IOC is an International Federation, abbreviated as IF. IF’s serve to administer a respective sport. To be recognized by the IOC, an IF must be in compliance with the Olympic Charter and the Olympic spirit. An IF must ensure that it’s sport is being developed throughout the world, control their sports competition at the Olympics and express it’s opinion on sport related matters in an Olympic bid. The reach of these organizations is tremendous. The IF sits at the top of the pyramid of their sport. The authority and impact an IF has is large when you consider the amount of participants of every sport in the Olympics. Below the IF’s is the National Olympic Committee (NOC). Each competing nation must have a NOC to participate in the Olympics. A NOC is responsible for providing Olympic educational programs in schools, encourage the development of high performance athletes while ensuring sport opportunities for everyone and compliance with the Olympic Charter. Within the NOC there is the foundation for National Federations to form. A National Federation must be affiliated with an Olympic recognized IF but can operate as a member of an NOC. Notable National Federation’s in the U.S.A are U.S. Soccer and U.S.A. Basketball. The study of the basic organizational structure of the Olympic movement reveals a level tremendous reach. Some Ifs can have less than 5 officials but can impact hundreds of thousands of participants and this is the power of the Olympic movement.
Being able to experience, watch and interact with the London 2012 Olympic games provided for reflection and experiential learning opportunities. Mega sport events require two things, amongst many others, to be successful and they are sponsor and volunteer support. The city of London opened itself up to the world for three weeks. Volunteers played in an important role in the daily operations of facilities and in the city. Official volunteers filled various roles at Olympic events and Ambassadors served as guides to help visitors travel around town and answer questions. The travel ambassadors were in bright pink and stationed all over town. They provided a sense of welcome and were empowered to respond to security issues. Official volunteers had many roles, from running security checkpoints to fetching tennis balls at Wimbledon. They had to apply for the opportunity and were decked out in an Adidas volunteer uniform. Thus, assistance from official sponsors, partners and providers supported the organization and operation of London 2012. The IOC signs a handful of worldwide partners but leave the local organizing committees to sign partners in many categories. Partners such as BMW, Adidas, EDF, BP, British Airways, Lloyds TSB and others all provided support through their products, services and/or cash payments. Partnering with the Olympics is an exciting opportunity for businesses to advance their brands value proposition. London got help with sports equipment, energy production, food and drink and for the International Broadcasting Center. All the efforts of the Local Organizing Committee, legacy corporations, stakeholders, sponsors and volunteers all come together to execute the largest peace focused event this world sees.
When senior year begins in September 2012, the experience and lessons that the Olympic Academic Experience provided advanced my professional development in many ways. Focusing on the Olympic games prior to the class allowed me to dive into the intersect of sustainability and sports. This emerging discipline coupled with studies of the Olympic Charter once the class began further solidified my desire to use my career as an opportunity to improve the livability and conditions of our planet. Getting to travel to the London Olympic Games brought it all together.
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