Final Report

During the 2001–2004 quadrennial, Olympic Solidarity, the Continental Associations,
the NOCs and the IFs made an unparalleled effort to implement the various programmes
in favour of athlete development throughout the world.
The evaluation of the programmes offered to the NOCs during the 1997–2000 quadrennial
revealed three principal conclusions that were addressed during the 2001–2004
quadrennial and which formed the primary rationale behind the objectives of the athlete
programmes. First of all, athlete development and preparation is the primary task of
the NOCs. For this reason, the Olympic Solidarity Commission decided to invest an unprecedented
US$ 43,500,000 in the five programmes for athletes that Olympic Solidarity
offered to the NOCs. Secondly, the results from Atlanta and Sydney showed that the Olympic
scholarships for athletes programme had a real impact on the participation figures
of the smaller NOCs and went some way to guaranteeing the universality of the Olympic
Games. Additional funds were therefore allocated to the Athens edition of the scholarship
programme, allowing Olympic Solidarity to increase the opportunities available to the
NOCs and athletes in their specific preparation for the Olympic qualification competitions
and the Games themselves. Finally, the NOCs had clearly identified the need for Olympic
Solidarity to offer assistance to their continental level elite athletes, their teams
preparing for the Olympic Games and with the implementation of talent identification
programmes. The Olympic Solidarity Commission took these suggestions into
account and consequently offered new programmes to the NOCs in all these areas.
At the end of the 2001–2004 quadrennial, Olympic Solidarity can be satisfied with the way
in which the traditional and new athlete programmes have been implemented by the
NOCs. The success of the scholarship holders and teams that received Olympic Solidarity
grants at the Athens Games is the most visible proof of the successful implementation
of these programmes. Furthermore, it should be stressed that the NOCs appreciated
the assistance that over 94% of them received for the preparation of their athletes and
teams for their respective Continental and Regional Games. The widespread use of the
Olympic Solidarity programmes for athletes clearly shows that the conclusions drawn from
the 1997–2000 quadrennial were accurate and that their subsequent translation into
practical activities and projects throughout the world helped to reaffirm the Olympic
Movement’s commitment to athlete development.
World Programmes
Athletes