Supporting Small NOCs Paramount for Panam Sports

(ATR) The Panam Sports Organization’s commitment to sport development throughout the region with an orientation towards smaller NOCs was a predominant theme on the opening day of its general assembly in Lima.

Panam Sports president Neven Ilic and secretary general Ivar Sisniega dedicated a majority of their reports detailing how the organization is financing new facilities, athlete programs and the construction of various NOC headquarters. Grenada and the Cayman Islands were highlighted in upbeat videos, with both opening new NOC offices with the help of Panam Sports solidarity funding.

Panam Sports secretary general Ivar Sisniega declared the events a "historic moment".

"Both of these National Olympic Committees took advantage of the funds from Panam Sports and now they have their own national headquarters," Sisniega said.

"We are a great family, a big family with many countries and we understand that some countries really need more support from Panam Sports," Ilic said of the 41-country organization, responding to a question from Around the Rings. "For this reason we are focused on different plans for each of them."

Grenada NOC president Royston La Hee said that he is grateful for the financial assistance.

"Certainly, Panam Sports made a big contribution in us finishing the building," said La Hee, noting that Grenada’s government has also been instrumental in the project. "This is a building that we’ve been saving money for since 1994 knowing that we’d be proud of it and it would be there for posterity."

Ilic informed that approximately 40 meetings were conducted with the National Olympic Committees to identify specific needs and challenges.

"We tried to understand what is the real situation," said the Chilean sport leader and IOC member. "I think we have to do special plans for each of the different realities if you compare the countries.

"I was to the islands and I’ve seen how proud all these people are having their new headquarters," Ilic added. "I feel very good when we are able to help these small countries proving that we can grow step-by-step with them."

The Panam Solidarity programs are divided into three categories: athlete preparation, infrastructure and Olympamerica, the latter entailing social development through sport. National Olympic Committees receive $120,000 annually over a quadrennial for athlete preparation, $200,000 over four years toward NOC infrastructure and the same amount for the Olympamerica social program.

Colombia, Costa Rica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines also have recently moved into new offices, while athletes from the Dominican Republic are training at a new multisport complex and Venezuela now has a facility dedicated to improving beach sports.

Argentine Mario Moccia is the chair of the Panam Sports Solidarity Commission.

"The Pan American Olympic Solidarity commission is working to maximize the use of the programs," Moccia said. "There is a lot of money planned to help the NOCs to compliment the programs for athletes, coaches and sport development that sometimes is not requested in the least way."

Moccia is optimistic the programs will only improve and provide greater benefits ultimately to the athletes.

"Success can be maintained by working intensively with these countries to support them and what they are achieving can be transferred to specific programs to help athletes and coaches," he said.

Moccia added that the most important aspect to give continuity to the programs is to "monitor the resources and prepare trained people".

Implementing improved coaching and training programs for the smaller nations is another objective and focus of Panam Sports.

"The idea is to provide training camps for the smaller nations that don’t have the capacity to do this on their own," Sisniega said. "We find the right training facilities working with the National Federations to help athletes to qualify for the Pan Am Games."

Seven camps have been held focusing on seven sports that Pan Am athletes have had success in, including boxing, swimming, archery and Judo.

"We think it has been successful – we’re able to bring these athletes up with exposure to top coaches," added the Mexican secretary general.

"Hiring of coaches and developing camps allows athletes to train at a higher level," Ilic said. "It can be difficult for athletes from these countries to train at a higher level and I think it is important for Panam Sports to be the bridge.

"Panam Sports is at the service of every Olympic Committee and we are trying to connect people with those who will benefit greatly receiving this help."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelliin Lima.

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