Making friends, open to new experiences

Volunteering at an international event provides unique opportunities to make new friends from many countries. Korean-style accommodations are unfamiliar to some of our group, sleeping several per room atop pallets. Borrowing from ancient technology, heated floors keep winter temps at bay.



We share communal meals and trade tasty snacks during down time, like shrimp crackers, dried seaweed, jujube, Italian biscuits, cinnamon and blueberry candies, even PopTarts! Exchanging stories about history and life in our countries, family members, types of employment and hobbies build bonds of commonality among our group. This is one purpose of the Olympic experience, to build understanding and peace!

I particularly enjoy visiting local attractions, like historic temples, food and fabric markets, and walking adventures in local neighborhoods. We laugh at those in our group who ask many questions before trying unfamiliar dishes, like anchovy and walnut salad, pickled radish, black peanuts and fish cake. The best approach is to try everything and you may be pleasantly surprised as I have been!

Learn about the Passion Crew, volunteers at PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games

For this southerner, it takes some time to adapt to extreme cold temperatures. I am learning to layer top and bottom, especially since cold wind blows wet snow everywhere. During dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies, we watched snow illuminated by colorful laser lights and fireworkds, which was a magical sight! Only one more day before we welcome the World to PyeongChang and the Paralympic Winter Games! I look forward to meeting athletes and watching competitions.

'All Too Human' - merits consideration as conflict increases

Documentary journalist Euna Lee previously spoke at TedX at Indiana University about finding common humanity in her captors while being held prisoner in North Korea. Learn how this South Korean native and U.S. Citizen survived her ordeal until President Clinton secured her release. 

Watch YouTube video of Euna Lee

Olympic Games Promote Peaceful Relations Among People of the World

 

Support#OlympicPeace

When faced with turmoil and conflict across the Globe, the Olympic Movement reminds us of our shared humanity. Despite differences in geography, appearance, culture and norms, we have much in common.

Support#Olympic Peace - The Olympic Movement is releasing special "messengers," doves to spread peace in hopes of resolving conflict. The dove is a universal symbol of peace and set against an Olympic color, we consider the 2016 Summer Games as a time to celebrate freedom and spirit of friendly competition.







Choose your dove and special message to share with the World via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  A few sample messages, "Peace does not keep score,"  "Together we are one," and "Peace always finishes first."

Further, read special peace stories of outstanding athletes, who overcame great odds to succeed and become images of hope. One inspirational story is that of Derartu Tulu and Elana Meyer,

"At the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992, two women gave the world an undying symbol of unity, peace and hope. Elana Meyer was the first South African to win an individual medal in her nation’s return to the Olympic family after being excluded since 1960 over its apartheid system. In the same race, Ethiopia’s Derartu Tulu won her country its first ever gold medal. Meyer ran up to Tulu and planted a kiss on each of her cheeks. The two women took a victory lap hand in hand. It was a sight almost impossible to imagine at the time. The Olympic Games helped welcome South Africa back into the Olympic family and the athletes provided a symbol of unity for the whole of Africa in a moment that will live on forever."




19 Days to the Opening Ceremony in Rio!

United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace

En route to Brazil during the spring, the Olympic torch for the 2016 Summer Games stopped in Geneva.  The spirit of the Summer Games was touted at the United Nations Office during a special "Celebrating the Olympic Spirit" Program. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the Olympic Cup to the U.N., recognizing its continuing efforts to promote peace and sustainable development through friendly sport.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commented, "I sincerely thank you for this powerful recognition of the talented, dedicated and selfless women and men of our Organization...I thank all the United Nations bodies that are leveraging the power of sport. We are collaborating with athletes to inspire children. We are making the Games more green. We are joining forces to use this massive, global celebration of the human spirit as a reminder of our common humanity." (Source: https://www.un.org/sport/)

[Photo: www.un.org/sport/]

Within the U.N., its Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) promotes exchange of ideas, information and new partnerships to enhance education, health, development and peace. Youth may participate in Leadership Camps, learning to work on social and development projects benefiting their communities.

UNOSDP partnership examples include 1) strengthening access for girls to sport and promoting women's rights through the Tajikistan National Taekwondo Federation supported by U.N. Women, and 2) increasing disability sport and physical activity in Haiti through a partnership with BlazeSports, a non-governmental organization.  Other organizations working with the UNOSDP include International Paralympic Committee, International Judo Federation,  Gwangju Universiade 2015 Organizing Committee, International Volleyball Federation, Union of European Football Associations, SportAccord, Peace and Sport and Korean Air.

We look forward to recognition of sport and development projects by the UNOSDP during the Rio2016 Summer Games!