Olympians for Life Project Debuts in Rio

(ATR) An exhibition highlighting the lives beyond sport of five Olympians has launched the latest project by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to preserve the history of its athletes.

The exhibition is on display at the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY in Rio, and is designed to kick-start the project, which will be an ongoing commitment of the IOC.

"The idea is that we have one photo of them when they’re competing and one of them in their later life," said Mike Miller, CEO of the World Olympians Association (WOA).

"It is an ongoing project between the WOA and the IOC Culture and Heritage department. We have kicked it off here in Rio with a physical exhibition of five individual Olympians – one from each continent to tell their stories."

The concept of Olympians for Life is for Olympians to tell their stories in order for people to understand what the impact of being involved in the Olympic Movement has on athletes, not just at the time but throughout the rest of their lives.

At the conclusion of the 2016 Olympics, the project will go online with the WOA and the IOC looking to capture and tell as many stories as possible.

The stories on display at the Olympians Reunion Centre:

Jackie Silva (BRA) – Brazil’s first female Olympic gold medalist is now using volleyball to make a difference in the lives of the poor.

"The neighborhood where this school is located is tough. What volleyball does for the kids is magical. They feel that they belong to something important, and it helps them stay out of trouble. They start to believe that they can have a better life. My experience as an Olympian has given me the courage to do things like this."

James D. Wolfensohn (AUS) – An Australian fencer from the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, James D. Wolfensohn went on to forge a successful global business career as President of the World Bank.

"Walking into the Olympic Stadium I realized literally for the first time that I was part of a global community. I felt empowered and wanted to empower people everywhere. That led me to try to tackle major global challenges such as peace, education, social injustice, corruption, health and the environment, and guided my work in life and as President of the World Bank."

Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom (IND) – Mary Kom, a London 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in boxing, is now teaching children in India to follow their dreams.

"When I reached the Olympic podium, I gained confidence and started to dream bigger. The Academy was established for young people from poor and remote areas. We offer free world-class training, expert mentoring, and also send the students to school, bearing all expenses, to make sure they grow in all aspects and follow their dreams."

Tegla Loroupe (KEN) – Kenyan long distance runner Tegla Loroupe competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and is now bringing together divided communities, promoting peace and progress.

"I grew up in a conflict zone. I lost relatives. Becoming an Olympian meant overcoming difficulties, hard work and having respect. Without peace, the children don’t have time for education; there is no hope for progress. Disarming one bad person saves many lives. As an Olympian, I have an obligation to speak out and to give back."

Micheline Ostermeyer (FRA) - Proved that sport and the arts go hand in hand.

An Olympic gold medalist and an accomplished concert pianist, Micheline excelled on two distinct stages that many deemed incompatible. She practiced the piano five hours daily during her preparation for the track and field competition at the 1948 London Olympics and lived the Olympic values well beyond the sports arena.

Written by Alice Wheelerin Rio de Janeiro

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