OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY

The aim of Olympic Solidarity is to organise assistance to NOCs, in particular those which have the greatest need of it. (Rule 5, Olympic Charter)

This assistance takes the form of programmes elaborated jointly by the IOC and the NOCs, with the technical assistance of the IFs, if necessary. The programmes cover the main areas of sports development: athletes, coaches, administrators, promotion of the Olympic values, knowledge-sharing and participation in the Games.

Owing to restrictions, there was minimal Solidarity activities last quadrennial. Starting from December 2017 onwards, there have been resurgent efforts by the Indian Olympic Association to gain maximum benefit of funding and participation in activities of Olympic Solidarity.

Olympic Solidarity has arrangements with stakeholders to conduct such activities across regions.

A. ATHLETES

Team Support Grant

The Team Support Grant offers financial support to the national teams to prepare with a view of attempting to qualify for the Olympic Games. Generally, financial assistance is granted towards the preparation of one national team per NOC for the Olympic Games on a fixed budget for the full term.

Continental Athlete Support Grant

The Continental Athlete Support Grant programme offers NOCs technical and financial assistance focused on the preparation of athletes from more developing sports, who aim to take part in multi-sport Games.

Olympic Scholarship Grants for Athletes

The Olympic Scholarship Grant for Athletes aids elite athletes in training and participation in qualification events for the different editions of the Olympic Games.

B. COACHES

Olympic Scholarship Grants for Athletes

The Olympic Scholarship Grant for Athletes aids elite athletes in training and participation in qualification events for the different editions of the Olympic Games.

Olympic Scholarship for Coaches

The Olympic Scholarship for Coaches programme gives coaches who are recognised by their National Federation, an opportunity to receive further training at a high-level training centre, university or IF-run establishment.

C. PROMOTION OF OLYMPIC VALUES

Olympic Solidarity continues to offer NOCs opportunities to bring Olympism and Olympic values to life, in line with International Olympic Committee policies and in fields as diverse as:

Olympic Education, Culture & Legacy - International Olympic Academy

Sport for Social Development – Olympic Day

Sport Medicine and Protection of Clean Athletes

Olympic Solidarity also aids various projects based on different requirements of the sports organisations.



A. ATHLETES

1. Team Support Grant

As a first, Olympic Solidarity approved financial assistance as Team Support Grant for the preparation of both Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams, which were to be held in 2018-19.

SPECIAL COACHING CAMP - INDIAN WOMEN’S TEAM

In 2018 Hockey India started with 1 specialized coaching camp for the National Women’s Team. The Special Coaching camp for goal conversion skills, was headed by two-time World Cup-winning Australian forward Glenn Turner and attended by 14 forwards from the Women’s team at SAI centre, Bangalore from 1 to 8 December 2018.

2. Continental Athlete Support Grant

Olympic Solidarity processed the Quadrennial Plan application of the Indian Olympic Association for Continental Athlete Support Grant towards the preparation and training of the Indian Women’s Epee Fencing team. The training of the Epee fencers who ranked 6th in 18th Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang 2018, begins in 2019.

3. Youth Olympic Games – Athlete Support

i. The International Judo Federation, in cooperation with Olympic Solidarity, organised the IJF Youth Training Camp in Tunis, Tunisia, from 19 to 25 August 2018. Ms. Tababi Devi Thanjam, young judoka from India was selected for the Training Camp. She went on to win a Silver medal in the individual Women’s under 44 kg event and also a Silver medal in team event at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

ii. On request, Olympic Solidarity granted support for conducting Preparatory Session for the benefit of all the athletes and officials representing India at the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games, Buenos Aires 2018. The Indian contingent of 68 members, including 46 young athletes attended the Preparatory Session organised by the Indian Olympic Association on 1 October 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Delhi. The interactive session, organised for the benefit of the young athletes was led by Sports Psychologist Dr Divya Jain, Sports Nutritionist Ms Avni Kaul, Olympic Educationist Dr Tarun Rauthan and veteran Sports Journalist Mr G. Rajaraman. 2008 Beijing Olympic medallist Vijender Singh also joined the session to cheer up the young squad en route to Buenos Aires. All pre-departure formalities were completed by IOA, with the aid extended by Olympic Solidarity.

4. Athlete Career Transition

The Indian Olympic Association availed Olympic Solidarity aid to conduct the first IOC Athlete Career Outreach workshop in New Delhi. As many as 32 athletes aged between 16 - 22 years attended the first edition of the IOC Athletes Career Programme organized by the IOC Athletes Commission in New Delhi on 9 December 2018, with support from International Olympic Committee, IOA and the Adecco Group.

The Workshop was conducted by IOC educated ACP Educators and Olympians, Ms. Anjali Bhagwat and Ms. Jovina Choo. A team of Adecco officials also guided the athletes on interview skills, CV, etc. Athletes from Boxing, Wrestling, Shooting, Cycling, Football, Fencing, Judo, Athletics, Lawn Bowl and Archery attended the Workshop.

B. COACHES

1. Technical Course for Coaches

i. Rugby: The Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) held the World Rugby Level 2 Coaching Course from 21 to 25 October 2018. International experts Mr. Thomas Browne and Mr. Mitchell Ross led the Course attended by 48 participants.

ii. Weightlifting: The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) held the International Weightlifting Federation Level 1 Coaching Course from 4 to 12 December 2018. The course conducted by Mr. Tamas Feher, was attended by 30 coaches

2. Olympic Scholarship for Coaches

Indian Olympic Association got three scholarships in 2018; one in sport specific training and two in sports science training. The International Federation directly calls the applications for sports specific training.

i. Ms. Seema Rani (Cycling Federation of India)

Ms. Seema Rani, nominated by the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), attended and successfully passed the "Women’s Specific Coaching Course” organised by International Cycling Union (UCI) in partnership with Olympic Solidarity, at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle Switzerland, from 3 to 17 March 2018.

ii. Mr. Jasbir Singh (Handball Federation of India)

Mr. Jasbir Singh won Scholarship to attend the International Coaching Course (ICC) held at the University of Physical Education in Budapest, Hungary from 19 March to 8 June 2018. Olympic Solidarity covered all the expenses of this three months full-time course. Mr. Singh successfully completed the course with high grades.

iii. Mr. P. Radhakrishnan (Athletics Federation of India)

Mr. Prabhakaran Radhakrishnan won Scholarship to attend 11th edition of the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP) 2018-2019 held in partnership with University of Delaware, United States Olympic Committee and Olympic Solidarity. He successfully completed two out of the four modules scheduled for the year 2018.

C. PROMOTION OF OLYMPIC VALUES

1. Olympic Education, Culture & Legacy - International Olympic Academy

Dr. Tarun Routhan got the opportunity and aid to attend the 58th International Session for Young Participants, held from 16 to 30 June 2018, at the International Olympic Academy in Greece. It was after long years that IOA was able to directly send a candidate for this session.

2. Sport for Social Development – Olympic Day

Indian Olympic Association extensively celebrated Olympic Day along with its members in 2018. Certificates were printed and made available to all State Olympic Associations holding Olympic Day activities.

3. Sport Medicine and Protection of Clean Athletes

i. IOC Diploma in Sports Medicine – Dr. Sachin Jain

Dr. Sachin Jain who served as Team Doctor of the Indian contingent for 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games won scholarship to study IOC Diploma in Sports Medicine. Olympic Solidarity meets all expenses of the 2-year postgraduate world level programme. Written examination of Part I were scheduled to be held in April 2019.

ii. IOC Advanced Team Physician Course – Dr. Brajesh Koushle (Athletics Federation of India)

Dr. Brajesh Koushle was granted Scholarship to attend the 2018 IOC Advanced Team Physician Course (ATPC) held in Marrakech, Morocco from 25 to 27 September 2018. However, due to other commitments he withdrew from the Course later.

A. ATHLETES

1. "Tokyo 2020" Olympic Scholarship Grants for Athletes

12 aspiring Team India athletes were selected to receive the “Tokyo 2020” Olympic Scholarships Grant for Athletes of USD 670 per month, towards their preparations for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad. The 12 athletes are:

1. M. Archana Girish Kamath (Table Tennis)

2. Mr. Manav Vikas Thakkar (Table Tennis)

3. Ms. Vismaya Velluva Koroth (Athletics)

4. Mr. Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Athletics)

5. Mr. Dharun Ayyasamy (Athletics)

6. Mr. Arpinder Singh (Athletics)

7. Ms. Manisha Keer (Shooting)

8. Ms. Gaayathri Nithyanandam (Shooting)

9. Ms. Yashaswini Singh Deswal (Shooting)

10. Ms. Heena Sidhu (Shooting)

11. Mr. Jitu Rai (Shooting)

12. Mr. Shazar Rizvi (Shooting)

Nominations received from the National Sports Federations were sent to the International Olympic Committee, thereafter the IOC forwarded the nominations to the respective International Federations. IF confirmed scholarship were granted to the selected athletes. Since the principal objective of this Programme is the participation of the Olympic scholarship holders in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Olympic Solidarity also offers each athlete additional fixed travel subsidy beyond the grant, on application.

2. Team Support Grant

In continuation to the preparatory camp held in 2018 under the Team Support Grant, Hockey India held 5 specialized coaching camps in 2019.

EXPERT TRAINING CAMP - INDIAN MEN’S TEAM

Indian Men’s team strikers and forward players participated in an Expert Training camp led by former Australian forward, Mr. Kieran Govers at SAI centre, Bangalore from 8 to 15 April 2019.

SPECIAL GOALKEEPING COACHING CAMP - INDIAN MEN’S TEAM

Senior and Junior goalkeepers of the Indian Men’s Hockey team underwent a Special Goalkeeping camp led by specialist coach Mr. Dennis Van De Pol. The camp was held from 1 to 7 July 2019 at the SAI Centre in Bangalore.

SPECIAL DEFENDER COACHING CAMP - INDIAN MEN’S TEAM

A Special Defender Coaching camp was conducted for the Indian Men’s Senior team defenders under foreign specialist coach Mr. Fergus Kavanagh from 8 to 14 July 2019 at the SAI Centre, Bangalore. A total of 14 athletes participated in the camp.

SPECIAL GOALKEEPING COACHING CAMP - INDIAN WOMEN’S TEAM

11 athletes from the Indian Women’s team participated in the Special Goalkeeping Coaching camp conducted by foreign specialist coach Mr. Martijn Drijver at the SAI Centre, Bangalore from 8 to 14 July 2019.

SPECIAL DEFENDER COACHING CAMP - INDIAN WOMEN’S TEAM

A Special Defender Coaching Camp for Indian Women’s team was conducted from 15 to 21 July 2019 at SAI Centre, Bangalore under foreign specialist coach Fergus Kavanagh. A total of 14 athletes participated.

B. COACHES

1. Olympic Scholarship for Coaches

i. Mr. P. Radhakrishnan (Athletics Federation of India)

Mr. Prabhakaran Radhakrishnan, nominee of AFI who had enrolled in the 11th edition of the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP) 2018-2019 successfully completed his remaining two modules in 2019. Mr. Radhakrishnan presented his final papers in Lausanne, Switzerland and graduated with Honours.

ii. Mr. Vikram Jamwal (Fencing Association of India)

Mr. Vikram Jamwal, nominated by FAI won scholarship to attend 12th edition of the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP) 2019-2020 held in partnership with University of Delaware, United States Olympic Committee and Olympic Solidarity. The ICECP will begin in August 2019 with 4 Modules and the final paper presentation scheduled to progress till 2020.

C. PROMOTION OF OLYMPIC VALUES

1. Olympic Education, Culture & Legacy - International Olympic Academy

Dr. Minu Tadang and Mr. Chetan Gulati participated and successfully completed the 59th International Session for Young Participants, held from 2 to 14 June 2019, at the International Olympic Academy in Greece. This was the second consecutive representation from IOA at the annual session.

2. Sport for Social Development – Olympic Day

Indian Olympic Association celebrated Olympic Day along with its members in 2019. Certificates were printed and made available to all State Olympic Associations holding Olympic Day activities.

3. Sport Medicine and Protection of Clean Athletes

i. IOC Diploma in Sports Medicine – Dr. Sachin Jain

Dr. Sachin Jain who had enrolled in 2018 to study the 2-year IOC Diploma in Sports Medicine, successfully appeared for and passed the Part I written examination of the Diploma in April 2019.

ii. IOC Course on Cardiovascular Evaluation of Olympic Athletes – Dr. Amol Patil

Dr. Amol Patil who served as Team Doctor of the Indian Boxing contingent for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games won scholarship to study IOC Course on Cardiovascular Evaluation of Olympic Athletes held from 4 to 5 July in Tokyo.