Part 2 - LA84 Foundation

15. Seoul Olympic Youth Camp
15.1
Basic Matters
15.1.1
Origin
—————————————–
and History
The Olympic Youth Camp is based on
Article 71 of the Olympic Charter,
which stipulates that an Olympic
organizer may organize an International
Youth Camp during an Olympic period
under its responsibility. The article
stipulates that those eligible are young
men and women aged 18 to 22 (Chapter
4 of the Olympic Charter Guidelines);
that the number of participants should
be between 500 and 1,500; that participants
shall bear expenses; and that
the camp period should be less than
30 days. It also provides that the camp
site should be one of the Olympic facilities
with comfortable and hygienic
environments, offering separate lodging
for male and female participants.
Other provisions include that camp
programs should involve sports, cultural
and folklore activities, and that the
organizer should arrange for the participants
to have free access to some
Olympic sports and cultural events
and exhibitions.
It was at the fifth Olympic Games in
Stockholm, in 1912, that the first Olympic
Youth Camp was held. With a view
to practicing the Olympic ideals more
broadly, Swedish King Gustav V
arranged a jamboree by setting up
tents around major sports venues,
where about 1,500 Boy Scouts were
invited from European countries. In the
aftermath of the two World Wars,
Olympic Youth Camps were held only
twice, during the 11th Games in Berlin
and the 15th Games in Helsinki, until
the 18th Games in Tokyo in 1964,
when the Youth Camp took a regular
place in Summer Olympic activity.
During the Munich Games in 1972, the
IOC approved the Youth Camp program
as part of major Olympic programs,
enabling the Camp to secure a firm
foothold in the Olympics.
At the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984,
the organizer decided not to stage a
camp and instead organized sports
programs for youths in a policy to
foster a pre-games boom among
young citizens. However, an unofficial
camp was held at strong urging from
major youth organizations of West Germany
and some other European countries.
Korea has been sending participants
to all camps since the Tokyo
Olympics.
15.1.2
Concept and Goals
—————————————–
The goal of the Olympic Youth Camp
is to provide an opportunity for world
youths to gather together during the
Olympic period to promote international
goodwill and better understand the
traditional culture of the host country,
thereby contributing to a peaceful
world, which is the objective of the
Olympic Movement.
The SLOOC designed the camp programs
for participating foreign youths
to refresh their understanding of Korea
and its culture, and for Korean youths
to acquire self-confidence through personal
contacts with foreign youths.
To achieve this goal, the SLOOC prepared
a more colorful and substantial
program than at any previous camp,
and trained thoroughly the operation
personnel. It was also decided to train
the Korean participants so as to solicit
their assistance in camp operations.
As for the scope of participation, it was
decided to open the door to those
countries with which Korea has no
diplomatic relations, and to other
developing countries. Camp offerings,
too, were to be developed colorfully in
a way that complemented the features
of the Seoul Olympics, so that both
performers and audience could mingle
together, and participants could
choose programs according to their
1988
January — Quota allocated to NOCs, a
management firm for lodging facilities
selected, the access control and security
plan finalized, and performance programs
completed.
February — Suppliers of kitchen-ware and
foods selected.
March — Letters of invitation mailed.
April-Korean participants selected, and
operations personnel trained.
May — Mailing of the letters of invitation
completed.
June — Final entries received, and bus
routes readjusted.
July — Lodging facilities allocated to
NOCs, and the Lodging Information Center
opened.
August — Mobilization exercise of operation
personnel, a clinic set up, and hygienic
conditions checked.
September — Accreditation Center
opened.
15.1.4
Organization and Manpower
individual preference. —————————————–
The camp operation personnel were
recruited mainly from among the staff
15.1.3
of the Boy Scouts of Korea under a
Implementation
—————————————– policy to use experienced manpower
It was in July 1983 that an officer in of international youth organizations.
charge of the Youth Camp was first The Operation Headquarters was
appointed at the SLOOC. The Youth headed by a commissioner, under
Camp section was made independent whom there were a secretary general,
as the Youth Camp Division under the a director, four department managers
Culture and Arts Department in January and 21 officers. The director concur-
1987, and seven staff members set out rently served as the chief of the
to promote camp programs.
Situation Room assisted by the situa-
A guidebook to the Seoul Olympic tion and security officers.
Youth Camp was produced in March Programs, events, performances, cul-
1987. In April the same year, the Unifiture and sports officers belonged to
cation Hall was finally chosen as the the First Programs Department. They
camp site, and a contract for the lease were responsible for program
of its facilities was concluded. On May implementation, opening ceremony,
1,1987, an agreement was concluded performances, Nations' Day Celebra-
with the Boy Scouts of Korea under tions and the management of program
which the federation was entrusted with personnel. They also arranged the
the operation of the Seoul Olympic camp participants' attendance in the
Youth Camp. The Youth Camp Opera- Olympic Opening and Closing
tion Headquarters was inaugurated on Ceremonies and at competitions.
May 27 with the president of the Boy At the Second Programs Department,
Scouts of Korea as its commissioner. interpretation, home hospitality and
tour officers took care of the manage-
Chronology of major preparatory works: ment of interpreter-guides, home
—————————————– hospitality and tours in and outside
1987
Seoul.
February — Plan worked out for preparation
of the camp.
Seven officers worked for the press,
March — Production and overseas mailing housing quarters, food services, medi-
of information booklets.
care, access control, transportation
April — Contract concluded on the use of and technology at the Support Depart-
camp facilities.
ment. Managerial duties were per-
May-Operation Headquarters inaugurated, formed by the general affairs, finance,
a plan for securing the required manpower logistics, facilities and amenities
and goods prepared, and a basic plan on
officers at the Management
camp programs devised.
Department.
June — Receipt of preliminary entries.
July — Operations personnel recruited, a Operation manpower totalled 457,
plan for the renovation or repair of facilities including eight from the SLOOC staff
determined and order placed for such members, 314 volunteers, 107 support
works, and a bus route plan mapped out. personnel and 28 temporary
August — Information for foreign participants employees.
prepared. September — Securing and
placement of necessary goods.
October — Vehicles secured, and management
firms of convenience and amusement
facilities selected.
November — Detailed operational programs
developed and their
implementation plans prepared.
December — Performance programs
developed.
1. Emblem of the Seoul Olympic Youth
Camp, an official function associated with
the Seoul Olympic Games.
1