Phnom Penh, Cambodia, October 4, 2022: The Olympic Council of Asia in collaboration with Olympic Solidarity will include the development of winter sports in its special projects programme targeting coaches, referees and athletes across the region.
Tony Tarraf, OCA Head of Athletes Development Department and Special Projects, in a presentation to delegates at the 41st OCA General Assembly, disclosed that winter sports will be on the radar for the first time at the newly-established Asian Youth Camp project.
“For the first time we had an Asian Diving Youth Camp for athletes and coaches in Kuala Lumpur in August this year. It was very successful and now we hope to expand this, and next year we will hold a similar event for figure skating at a venue to be decided,” Tarraf revealed.
In a bold move to get hands-on and involved in the development of coaches and referees, the OCA initiated a special project for nine sports from 12 National Olympic Committees in West Asia in Kuwait.
A total of 520 coaches and referees benefited from top instructors provided by International Federations and Asian Federations. The next stage of this project will be held from November 3-7 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for NOCs from Central Asia and South Asia.
“We have received an encouraging response with 200 coaches and referees from 14 NOCs having registered for the four sports in the programme – boxing, judo, swimming and weightlifting,” Tarraf said.
“This is a great initiative and it has been well-received by everyone involved, from instructors to the coaches and referees, and the plan is next year to hold similar programmes for NOCs in Southeast Asia and East Asia,” Tarraf added.
Tarraf also urged the Presidents and Secretary Generals of all 44 Asian NOCs present at the General Assembly to make full use of the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity budget given to NOCs Athletes Commissions for the development of athletes.
“The budget is there for you. Don’t hesitate to contact us as this is a great opportunity to learn and develop our athletes, coaches and referees,” Tarraf concluded.
