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The Olympian Voices Network was conceived to place the tremendous resource of athletes in the Olympic Movement at the service of society. Those Olympic athletes, chosen as volunteers by their NOCs to promote Olympic programmes in their own countries, are known as Olympian Voices. The Olympian Voices Network is a programme established by the IOC in an attempt to raise awareness on matters of global concern. The IOC has always cultivated an involvement in issues that affect modern society, particularly in regard to their relationship to sport. In recent years the Olympic Movement has become increasingly committed to addressing matters that not only have repercussions for sport but also recognising the positive impact that sporting heroes may have when dealing with these issues in society. Within the framework of the IOC's cooperation agreements with the United Nations, National Olympic committees all over the world have taken part in raising awareness about
By using Olympic athletes in their home territories the messages can be conveyed in a more compelling manner, particularly to youth. As role models and volunteers these athletes are given the opportunity to contribute to and promote important issues. Some of the famous athletes involved in the network include Cuban athletes, Teofilo Stevenson and Ana Fidelia Quirot; Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks and Norwegian greats Ingrid Kristiansen and Johann Olav Koss. New Zealand Olympian Voices Network To date the NZOC has appointed three Olympian Voices to our own network: |