REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE OCS EXECUTIVE BOARD IN 2007

 THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF SERBIA

2007 WORK REPORT  

1. Starting points in creation of the programme for 2007

                The OCS programme activities in 2007 were planned and realised in accordance with the following documents:

          The OCS founding document (Statutes, the IOC charter), national and international charters and bylaws...

          The OCS strategic documents (project “Beijing 2008”, project “The OCS programmes in 2007” ...)

          The IOC programme documents (Olympic Solidarity programmes)

          Documents accepting organisation and regulating standards for organisation of the summer EYOF in Belgrade.

The basis for planning and realisation of the programme activities in 2007 was human resources of the Executive Board, General Assembly, Office, commissions, experts and the OCS friends. Activities were planned as an aspiration of the OCS to realise programmes that would cater to the needs and expectations of Serbian sport and athletes in the pre-Olympic year. The Summer EYOF in Belgrade is a competition we have organised successfully and for which we have received praise from all the relevant stakeholders of the IOC, EOC and European NOCs.

An important part of the OCS activities in 2007 was directed towards strengthening of partnership with the state and especially with the Ministry for Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia.

2. Stakeholders and description of their activities in realisation of the OCS programme in 2007

          The OCS project “Beijing 2008”, criteria and conditions for its implementation.

         “The OCS programmes in 2007”.

          Athletes, sports experts and national sports federations.

          Organisation of the Summer EYOF in Belgrade.

          The OCS sponors.

          The OCS missions (Winter EYOF in Jaca, Summer EYOF in Belgrade, Olympic Games in Beijing).

          The International Olympic Committee and its departments.

          Serbian government and ministries.

          Autonomous province of Vojvodina and Belgarde City Council.

          Organising Committee of the Summer Olympic Games “Beijing 2008” (BOCOG).

          Programmes of staff education.

          Programmes for stimulating young experts and students.

          Additional equipping of Institute for Sport of the Republic of Serbia and Provincial Institute for Sport

          Participation in processes of regulating European sports (ENGSO, EPAS)

          Programmes linking Olympic values, culture and sport, sports and Olympic heritage.

          Media.

          The European Olympic Committee.

          Regional sports organisations and sports NGOs.

          The OCS commissions.

          The OCS internet presentation.

          The OCS Office.

2.1 The OCS project “Beijing 2008”

     The OCS is implementing project “Beijing 2008”. This strategic document is directed towards the athletes, individuals and teams who have qualified for the Beijing Olympics. The project details the OCS goals and activities in the current Olympic cycle. The project focuses on conditions affirming the competitive potential of Serbian athletes in Beijing. The realisation of the project is entrusted to the Programme Commission, the OCS technical departments and administration of national sports federations. The project is implemented through partnership with the Ministry for Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia. The level of realisation of the set goals in 2007 is high, which represents a good basis for programme activities in 2008 and participation in Beijing. Serbian athletes have achieved significant result improvements. The mission grows, while the project itself represents an impetus to improve Serbian sport system.

2.2 The OCS programmes in 2007

In August 2006, the OCS nominated 32 programmes for co-funding from Serbian budget. The Ministry for Youth and Sport recognised and co-funded two programmes: “Preparations of Serbian Olympic candidates” and “Preparations of Serbian Olympic hopes”. The first programme included three national teams, twelve individuals and five tennis players.  The programme “Preparations of Serbian Olympic hopes” included individuals and teams that have achieved one of the criteria set by the OCS Programme Commission - a total of 165 athletes. The OCS realised final preparations and participation of Serbia athletes at the Summer EYOF in Belgrade. 

The OCS programmes in 2007 included coaches, programme analysts and statisticians. In order to analyse programme activities in 2007 and make programme for 2008, the OCS Programme Commission organised a “Conference of Olympic coaches and coaches of Serbian Olympic hopes” in late 2007. The conference participants voiced their support for the OCS programme orientation, its focus on athletes and coaches (personal and national) and efforts to provide conditions for application of modern training technology in coaching and preparations of Serbian athletes.

2.3 Serbian athletes and national federations

      The last year may be described as a year in which we made a significant number of contacts with athletes, coaches and sports federation which affirmed the idea of strengthening and furthering partnerships between all stakeholders in sports system. Activities involving athletes included stipends, financing preparation programmes and competitions. The Sports Commission made a proposal of amendments of the OCS Statutes and initiated amendment of the “Basic Rules of the OCS Sports Commission”. Concerning relations with the NFs, apart from daily communications, the Report would like to emphasise that a high level of coordination has been achieved between the NFs, the OCS and the Belgrade EYOF OC. The last year also saw intensive contacts and cooperation between the OCS and the Sports Federation of Serbia.  

2.4 The Summer European Youth Olympic Festival

In December 2003, the EOC General Assembly entrusted the Olympic Committee (Serbia and Montenegro) with organisation of the 9^th EYOF. The competition was held in Belgrade from 21 to 27 July 2007. Following several years of preparations and seven competition days, the Report would like to highlight things left as a “heritage” of the Belgrade EYOF. Amongst other things:

-          Partnership of the OCS and the Belgrade authorities, state authorities, the EOC, the IOC, international and national sports federations from the competition programme, sponsors, media...

-          The EYOF Organising Committee and the EYOF 2007 Ltd.

 -          Postal stamp “EYOF 2007”

-          Promotion of the OCS, Belgrade and the EYOF

-          Jacques Rogge’s visit

-          Competition anthem, mascot, medals

-          The Olympic alley

-          3340 participants from 48 European countries

-          Reconstruction of sports facilities in Belgrade

-          Procurement of measuring equipment

-          Works in the students’ dormitory “Studentski grad”

-          Cultural programme “The Olympic village”

-          Volunteers and manual for volunteers

-          Cooperation with the higher education institutions and the Serbian Army

-          Safety, transport of participants

-          Reports of technical delegates of international sports federations on preparations and      organisation of the competition. The delegates pointed out high organisational standards, hospitability of the host, quality of accommodation and transport, training programme and competition.

-          The EOC Fair play award for the EYOF volunteers

-          The EYOF 2007 as an introduction to the 2009 University Games

-          The OCS as a trustworthy partner of the EOC, the IOC and others. 

2.5 Sponsors of the OCS and Serbian Olympic team

                The Beijing Olympics, Serbian athletes’ preparations, organisation of the Summer EYOF, business policy regarding public relations, relations with sponsors and donors, promoted the OCS as a good partner and a brand in the field of sport. Starting point for the OCS brand is an aspiration towards changes and improvement leading towards an efficient sports organisation focusing on athletes and programmes of their preparations, and also the position of the OCS in affirmation of sport in social dialogue, educations, culture and ecology... This OCS’ focus was recognised by the state and its commercial stakeholders, who invested significant funds in development of the Olympic team and affirmation of programmes encouraging Olympic values and the Olympic Games. Apart from the state, with which the OCS has a partnership in realisation of preparations of Serbian top athletes, the last year saw a number of media, tourist, transport, financial and commercial companies join the Olympic team of sponsors. Promotion of the activities of the OCS and the sponsors’ pool was continuous through written and electronic media, in Serbia and abroad. The organisation of the Summer EYOF in Belgrade also involved companies, the IOC’s top sponsors, operating in the Republic of Serbia.

2.6 The OCS Missions

     Important parts in realisation of strategic goals of the OCS are the missions formed by the OCS Executive Board ahead of major international competitions. In 2007, the Executive Board formed missions for both winter and summer EYOF. The OCS Executive Board discussed and adopted the missions’ reports. The reports detail important facts concerning preparations of Serbia’s young athletes and results, which have been outstanding. This Report would like to point out that the first winter EYOF medal was won alongside nine medals from the Summer EYOF. The missions’ reports are also important as they suggest further activities that would ensure preservation of the 2007 results.

                The OCS Executive Board appointed chef de mission for the Beijing Olympics, who cooperating with the OCS Office and its experts, state bodies, NFs and BOCOG realised an important number of activities facilitating preparation of conditions for Serbian athletes’ appearance in Beijing.

2.7 The International Olympic Committee

The OCS activities concerning the IOC may be described as daily and two-way contacts. Direct contacts have been realised during the EYOF in Belgrade, while indirect are conducted through the activities of the OCS departments and commissions. The closest cooperation is realised through programmes of Olympic Solidarity. In the last year the OCS realised a number of programmes, including:

-          Olympic and sports heritage, within this programme delegation of the OCS and the Museum of Sport visited the Olympic Museum in Lausanne,

-          The OCS programmes intended for athletes, coaches, and enhancement of the NOC’s administrative efficiency,

-          Additional equipping of the Sport Institutes in Belgrade and Novi Sad,  

2.8 The International Olympic Academy (IOA)

A number of young participants, post-graduate students and education staff completed the IOA programmes in 2007. 

2.9 Serbian Government and Ministries

The last year saw intensified contacts with Serbian government and its ministries. These contacts were led by the OCS president, secretary general and chef de mission for the Beijing Games. They contacted with president, prime minister and ministers, ministries’ directors and heads of various departments. The following activities were realised last year:

-          Reception of Serbian athletes following victories at international competitions

-          Defining the place of the OCS and Serbian Olympic sport

 -          Reception of the OCS mission in Beijing

-          Creation of the Ministry for Youth and Sport

-          National recognitions for athletes and coaches

-          Law on Sport and Law on prevention of violence at sports events

-          Strategy of sport of the Republic of Serbia

-          Programmes for athletes’ preparations. 

2.10 Autonomous province of Vojvodina and Belgrade City Council

                The last year of the current Olympic cycle will be remembered by the OCS activities intended to enhance relations with the authorities of Autonomous province of Vojvodina and the Belgrade City Council. The OCS established partnerships with these institutions concerning preparations of athletes for the Beijing Olympics and infrastructure and equipment for better training conditions. The programmes initiated in 2007 will be continued in 2008. The partnership between the OCS and the Belgrade City Council were established through the EYOF 2007 Ltd. and the EYOF Organising Committee.       

2.11 Organising Committee of the Summer Olympic Games “Beijing 2008” (BOCOG)

         The OCS and BOCOG communicate on daily basis about the preparations for arrival and stay of the OCS mission at the Beijing Games. Result of these contacts is visit of delegation of the OCS and the NFs to Beijing (December 2007) and tour of the Olympic village, training facilities and venues.  

2.12 Education and staff development in the field of sports sciences

 Education and staff development in the field of sports sciences is done through the following activities:

-       regular educational programmes (MEMOS), two participants,

-       higher management courses, one participant,

-       conferences of sports medicine, one participant. 

2.13  Programmes for encouragement of young experts

   In the last year, a part of activities was realised with Serbian higher education institutions, whose lecturers and students took part in programmes organised by the OCS, IOA and the OCS partners. The cooperation resulted in study trips for:

-       young researchers (1), students (3), the OCS staff (1),

-       post-graduate students (12), professors of the Faculty of Spot and Physical Culture (4), the OCS staff (1).

2.14 Additional equipping of Sport Institutes and measuring equipment for the OCS programmes

       The IOC had accepted project “Olympic training centre Košutnjak” and so far allocated significant funds for additional procurement of measuring, analytical and applied science equipment. The IOC’s latest donation acquired two psycho-diagnostic systems for Sport Institutes of the Republic of Serbia and Province of Vojvodina. Apart from this equipment, for the needs of the OCS managed project “Identification of sports talents” equipment for measuring biomotoric abilities of children and adults has been acquired.

2.15 European sports

        The engagement in the ENGSO enabled the OCS to be not only directly informed about the current issues, direction and future of European sport, but also to steer its work through the ENGSO office in Belgrade. Through our membership and the ENGSO office we are in position to take part in meetings of group “Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport” formed in the Council of Europe (EPAS). This body, as the Council, coordinates policies in sport in Europe, coordinates relations between government and non-government sector, promotes charters of the Council of Europe, fights against violence and doping in sport...

2.16 Programmes linking Olympic values, culture and sport

        Last year, we realised a large number of activities supporting preservation of Olympic and sports heritage of Serbia, including:

- exhibitions with the Museum of Sport

-  celebration of the OCS Day

- celebration of the IOC Day – Olympic Day Run

- memorial and memorial race in Kosjeriću

- memorial in Čortanovci. 

2.17 Public relations

        The last year can described as the public relations year. Public relations were intensified during preparations and duration of the EYOF, signing of sponsorship contracts and other activities promoting teams and individuals qualified for the Olympic Games, affirmation of visual identity of project “Beijing 2008”. Our public relations in 2007 included:

- contacts with media on regular basis and in accordance with the Media plan adopted by the Executive Board

- information about the OCS, Olympic Games and Olympic values disseminated through the “Olympic Review”, educational leaflets, radio shows, interviews with the OCS officials, athletes and the mission members. 

2.18 European Olympic Committee

       The EOC was our most significant partner in organisation and preparations for the Belgrade EYOF. Apart from technical and logistic help, the OCS utilized the EOC programmes available to the NOCs. Reports of the EYOF OC were adopted at the annual EOC General Assembly.

2.19 Regional sports and non-government sports organisations

        The OCS realised a significant part of its activities through the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, and the International Committee of Central and Southeast European NOCs. This year will see realisation of signed projects such as the “Long-distance learning”. 

2.20 The OCS Commissions

        The majority of technical jobs in 2007 and the entire Olympic cycle was done by the OCS commissions. The OCS Executive Board bases its technical policy on the activities of its commissions and adoption of their suggestions and proposals. The proposals adopted last year refer to different groups of completed jobs, action documents including programmes of top sports international relations, women in sport, ecology and sustainable development...

2.21 The OCS Internet presentation

        The OCS, its departments and collaborators regularly update the OCS internet presentation. The presentation is in Serbian and English. It is structured in such a way as to lead and introduce the OCS activities to a visitor. The presentation describes and announces daily activities, programmes and projects and informs about the qualifications for the Olympic Games. Integral parts of the web presentation are the biographies of athletes who have qualified for the Olympic Games, calendar of qualification tournaments, education of coaches and administrative staff. The web page also details the history of the Olympism in Serbia, sponsors and friends of the Olympic team and the Committee itself. The quality of presentation, design, easy access, bilingualism, scope of information and other factors conditioned record visits to the OCS web page!   

2.22 The OCS Office

        The OCS Office is the backbone of the OSC Executive Board, commissions and overall activity towards the sociaty, guests and friends. In the last year we achieved additional work specialisation of the Office as the financial manager took over the finance sector and the sports director took over technical activities, programmes and projects.