> Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the project based in France?

To create a resonance in French towns and regions and throughout the world with the words of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics « What counts is taking part ». Because the idea of Human Rights, so dear to the hearts of the French, can offset that of « profit » and can help us move forward to a new phase in globalisation.

Why in Europe?

Because what Europe can contribute to the rest of the world at a time when there is general concern about European development and Europe’s role in globalisation, is the ability to listen and to provide a spring-board for all those who are concerned about developing a more just form of globalisation and about the future of our planet.

Why launch a project in 2008? Why so fast?

Because there is a so-called « window of opportunity » in 2008.Programmed events include the American elections, the re-launch of European construction. In particular, there are a certain number of factors of change, both negative and positive that will impact the current state of affairs. The question of global warming gives us a great starting point for re-examining our economies. The environmental, financial and food crises all lead us to question our economic, social and cultural models. The situation in Iraq and the hyper-conflict produced by terrorism as well as the way in which they are being dealt with are rekindling multilateralism and undermining global governance. The rise to economic power of China, India and Brazil, the new political alliances in Latin America and global public space where the Internet revolution is able to introduce new relationships between governors and the governed modify borders between national and international, local and global as well as produce unforeseeable mass impacts. So why not opt for a fast and positive impact on the contents of what will circulate in this critical period ? Why wait any longer?

Will this be a counter-event?

No. This will not be a head-on confrontation with the official Olympic Games in China, but rather an opportunity to develop a broader reflection on Human Rights everywhere in the world.
This is all about taking advantage of popular interest to propose an approach that is essential to the future of humankind and that will allow a maximum of people to take part in the debates that are everyone’s business. In recent years, most major sports events have adopted a highly publicised approach to sustainable development and peace. So why not do the same in greater depth, and parallel to sports events. We have already been in contact with the 2010 Winter Olympics, who are trying to work on the same ideas as us.

Do the Olympiads for Change aim to become a regular event?

Not necessarily. The objective is for young people to raise awareness of the actors of globalisation and convince them to confront the issues. The objective is most certainly not to hold a meeting or another institution.
But this will require a huge amount of follow-up, and there is no question of stopping until something significant has been accomplished. One of the outcomes of the Olympiads for Change that it is possible to imagine is that the winners might be entitled to a follow-up on certain commitments that have been made, and that the United Nations, who hold their General Assembly every autumn, might hold a « hearing » of the winning projects’ teams. Or that the virtual platform that will be launched for the Olympiads could continue to provide a space for universal exchange and sharing of ideas.

Do they need to start everything from scratch?

No, not at all. On the contrary. The construction process of the Olympiads for Change is based on a will to amplify, to federate and bring together those efforts to develop alternatives that have been under construction for many years with today’s globalisation that is devoid of regulations or solidarity. It does not aim to be a substitute, because it is important that the expertise that has been developed in various places in both civil society and in certain institutions be heard and adopted by as wide a public as possible, be appropriated by citizens, so that all human beings can identify with the messages that are sent out.
The starting point of the dynamics is civil society, for it is supported by Local Authorities. These two categories of actors have a legitimate right to develop global governance, alongside certain established actors (international institutions, governments, companies…) who are looking for popular levers of change.
By working on a multi-stakeholder approach, the Olympiads for Change aim to open a new path. In order to reach this, associative, artistic, educational and cultural and sports’ networks all need to become involved in order to contact young people.

What kind of movement might emerge ?

With little on offer from collectivist and neo-liberal ideologies, how can we propose some hope and coherence? By new stories? How can we help a new approach and new practice to find their resonance? How can we avoid social networks, be they local, national or global, from being reduced to an online connection, or total isolation? We hope, in spite of al the odds, to fill in the gaps as fast as possible. And to do this, we hope to create and duplicate an approach which will lead people to feel that tomorrow’s world is open to all, including those who are excluded, humiliated and abandoned in so many ways today.

Patrice Barrat.
7th June 2008.

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Forewords

" Almost everyone agrees : we cant afford to lose a single minute in taking action to reverse current trends..."Read more

Founding Principles

" Original festive competitions, atypical juries, Internet as the pivot of action, yes to cultural diversity, an examplary and creative process..."Read more

Premices

" We have nothing specific to promote, other than an empowerment exercise through which any of us could feel a meaningful role in the emerging global Future..."Read more