Tracy Organizes United Nations 2010 Vancouver Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

Vancouver Tourism CEO Rick Antonson, Tracy Mattes, Dick Fosbury and Ambassador Dho Young Shim
on the panel of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

On the evening of February 14, as the world focused on the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the World Olympians Association (WOA) took a break from the action and shifted the spotlight to humanitarian causes.

The WOA and its partner, the United Nations World Tourism Organization ST-EP Foundation hosted the 4th 2010 Vancouver Olympics Sport, Tourism & Development Forum.

WOA Director of Global Programs, Tracy Mattes who organized and co-moderated the event in Vancouver said, "its encouraging to see the commitment of the leaders here to work together, share best practices and to find solutions to many of the issues organizations face when supporting development and humanitarian needs in different parts of the world." This is the 4th Sport, Tourism & Development Forum Tracy has organized.

The Round Table of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

This unique event held in conjunction with the Olympic Games, brings together individuals and organizations using the entities of sport and tourism to impact social change and transform communities across the world, targeting the poorest parts of the planet.

ANOCA President General Lasanna Palenfo speaks at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

A host of influential leaders took part in the forum. UNWTO ST-EP Foundation Chairman Ambassador Dho Young Shim discussed the impact of the "Thank You Small Library Program," an education program which builds small libraries in many of the poorest countries of the world, offering children a chance learn to read. The program has had a substantial impact on literacy rates in the villages where the libraries have been established.

UNWTO ST-EP Foundation Chairman Ambassador Dho Young Shim speaks at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

WOA President Dick Fosbury explained the partnership with UNWTO ST-EP, and the positive role the Olympians can play, by acting as mentors and educators to the young people in these communities.

Ambassador Dho confirmed, "Thanks to the flourishing growth that the project has received there are now over 74 libraries in 11 countries and another five are being set up in Senegal."

Tracy Mattes speaks at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

Mattes, who is also a special representative of the UNWTO ST-EP Foundation, brought together the partnership between UNWO ST-EP and the WOA saying, "The 'Thank You Small Library' program uses education to promote a positive life for children, while the WOA uses sport to achieve the same goal. Together we want to go out into the most disadvantaged areas in the world and provide sport and education programs for their basic life skills training."

Participants of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

The Forum provided a platform for global leaders to share best practice models and their ability to trigger policy change and pave the way for major sport development projects.

The panel listens to Sporting Goods to Go Chairman Don Porter speak about overcoming the challenges of
shipping sporting goods to Africa at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

One of the major topics addressed by ANOCA President General Lassana Palenfo and "Sporting Goods to Go" Chairman Don Porter, was steps to improve the process of getting educational materials and sporting equipment shipped to Africa.

Other topics discussed were the role of the media in promoting the social humanitarian causes, addressed by Around the Rings Editor Ed Hula and Sports Features Communications Editor Keir Radnedge; and the roles of local governments in ensuring the sustainability of the projects, addressed by South Korean Culture Minister Yu In-Chon and Michele McKenzie, President, CEO Canadian Tourism Commission.

Participants of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum

The Olympics provide an opportunity bring these leaders together in a informal, round table environment. The legacy which started in Monaco under the Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II in 2005, then sparked the Olympic Forum in Torino 2006 and continued in Beijing 2008.

These events have triggered dozens of successful sport, development and peace projects throughout the world. The Forum in Vancouver once again achieved the goal of WOA and UNWTO ST-EP to drive positive change through sport, tourism and development.

Tracy Mattes, Dick Fosbury, Ambassador Dho Young Shim, General Lasanna Palenfo and Rick Antonson
at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Sport, Tourism & Development Forum