UPDATE: A non-profit organization tries to raise money to help promote sport in the developing world. Initially, the IOC supported the group. But — last week — decided to uninvite them to participate in any way at future Olympics. Apparently paying sponsors feel the publicity and funds that Right to Play generate at the Olympics would somehow detract from their own marketing. You might remember that China did not want Right to Play in Beijing because they were vocal about Chinese companies not doing enough to improve Human Rights in Africa.
Click through to the links if you want to know more.
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Right to Play are the good guys.
Olympic Champions Trent Dimas and Kyle Shewfelt are two of the gymnasts who support this organization. Phoebe Mills is another.
… The IOC confirmed Thursday it has ended its relationship with Right to Play. That will prevent the international humanitarian organization from setting up shop at Olympic venues during the 2010 Vancouver Games, plus the upcoming Olympics in London and Sochi, Russia.
…
International Olympic Committee spokesperson Emmanuelle Moreau said in an e-mail the decision “had nothing to do with sponsorship.” …
She’s a lying liar. (Her job description, I assume.)
The refreshingly straight talking IOC veteran Dick Pound admits the decision was to protect its sponsors during the Games:
… “When you raise a lot of money from people who support your exercise, you can’t have them ambushed by somebody else,” Pound said in an interview. “Right to Play knows that.” …
The IOC are the bad guys. As usual.
The Olympics are all about the money.
Right To Play is an athlete-based international humanitarian organization that emphasizes sports to aid the development of children and youth in underprivileged areas of the world. The organization has its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The organization was founded by Norwegian speedskating star and four times Olympic champion Johann Olav Koss. Other Olympians involved with Right To Play include Canadians Clara Hughes, who has won medals in both the summer and winter games, Praveen Perera, Alexander Ovechkin, Beckie Scott, and American Joey Cheek, who donated his 2006 Winter Games earnings from the medals he won, and Dutch Boxer Arnold Vanderlyde, just to name a few.
Right To Play programs are currently being implemented in 23 countries: Azerbaijan, Benin, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, UAE, and Zambia.
Right To Play uses sports as a way to teach children about teamwork, fair play, conflict resolution, self-esteem, communication, commitment, respect, and integrity. Right To Play is committed to improving the lives of children and to strengthening their communities by translating the best practices of sport and play into opportunities to promote development, health and peace.
You can volunteer or register your support on the official website – Right to Play
UPDATE: TCO did a little more digging on this story. Turns out it was a complaint by Olympic sponsor GM that resulted in the humanitarian group being cut out of future Olympics.
TheStar.com – Shame on IOC for banishing charity group
11 comments ↓
So wait, why where they banned? Maybe I missed it but I don’t get it…
I don’/t get it eigher. fill in the story please
I added a bit more explanation at the top of the post. Better would be to click through to the story links. And do a Google News search if you want to know more.
There are already 500 stories:
http://news.google.com/news?client=opera&rls=en&sourceid=opera&oe=utf-8&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&ncl=1295084778&hl=en
1. I’m not sure that “RTFM” or “Google” is an appropriate answer when you are putting up blog headposts and several people can’t even figure out what controversy you are documenting (not saying they disagree with your side, but your head post does not even explain what war/battle is going on.)
2. I broke down and STFWed (btw, here is a better search than the one you pointed to):
http://news.google.com/news?client=opera&rls=en&sourceid=opera&oe=utf-8&tab=wn&hl=en&nolr=1&q=right+to+play+olympics
Within that, the AP story gives a little clearer post, but still has some of the same vagueness as your headpost (about how there is even a tussle).
This story (I think) shows the real tension: http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/576601
3. When I first read your post, Rick, it wasn’t clear to me if the tension was related to RTP just being anti-capitalism in message. Then I wondered if they are competing for the same sponsors. Finally, I see the issue is that each has specific sponsors and that the IOC’s sponsors feel that RTP sponsors are being given some “Olympic billing” by paying less money and to a non-IOC area.
4. It’s not immediately apparant to me that IOC should let every NGO under their tent. Whether for reasons of sponsor exclusivity or just to have a clean “non political”, non “muddled with every cause type of event”.
5. Yes, I think IOC “is about money” but really so are a lot of charities and non-taxed entities. At least they are very cognizant of fund raising, are competitive and even have some executive “agency effect” (look it up) conflicts related to management. That is still not a reason to have every cat and dog saving club under the official banner.
6. Who knows, maybe you are right and RTP should not have been booted…but your post did not adequately show an argument. Just squawking is not sufficient.
Here’s another good story: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i-jE-jyELrtK7Qdx7JwYK5o9Im-g
And how come my posts are being moderated?
I thought this was the last corner of the Gymternet where I could troll freely. Have even cut the cursing and any sexual allusions out of kindness to the little darlings and parents visiting.
Oh…maybe it was from too many links. Got worried that the last free range in the West was being fenced.
Thanks for the link to the Star story, TCO. I added that to the post.
You did get moderated. I assume it was for too many links. My SPAM filter Akismet is fantastic. It very rarely makes a mistake.
This somewhat complicated story I probably should have skipped completely. But Kyle Shewfelt is a booster. He’s good friends with everyone in Right to Play.
It’s big news in Canada. GM Canada will be feeling the heat this morning.
eh…watch some hockey.
GM as in the car maker GM? Jesus if that’s so, man don’t they have enough money already? Ug if it’s is the car maker, that’s just disgusting.
GM the car company.
The very same company that is trying to encourage us to buy their vehicles.
Ug… I was annoyed with them in Washington DC now here too. I still can’t believe they got bailout money… They need to fix things before that happens…. *head shake* man. that is stupid…
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