The School Olympics, the main initiative for the dissemination of youth sports in Brazil, will be one the projects presented at the IOC supported XII World Sport for All Congress, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) project, which is a partnership with the Ministry of Sports, was selected among several other social sporting programs of National Olympic Committees from all over the world.  Edgar Hubner, General Director of the School Olympics and COB Event Manager, and Patrícia Kowalewski, COB Event Supervisor, will travel to the Malaysian capital.  In Kuala Lumpur, members of the COB will showcase the biggest Brazilian student sporting event and study projects from other nations until the end of the congress.

“As a professor, it is a great honor to share positive experiences with representatives from other countries.  School Olympics are an example of a successful Brazilian initiative.  The Olympic Spirit finds an ally to promote integration and social inclusion.  Education will also be one of the event’s main topics, with support for physical education teachers, distribution of material about doping, raising awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, being some of the key issues”, Hubner declared.  “Our selection shows that COB is in tune with the IOC vision of renewing the Olympic Movement by encouraging sporting events for youth”.

During the event, which takes place every two years, COB representatives will present “School Olympics – the Olympic future of Brazil through Olympic transformation”.  In order to merit such a distinguished space at the Congress, School Olympics was approved in the subcategory “How school physical education programs can meet youth’s needs?”  Besides the subcategory, there are 19 others, divided into 5 main categories:  “Physical Activity for Youth” (where the COB project was entered), “The Role of Sports for All in a technological world”, “Sport for All and Social Justice”,  “Sport for All initiatives for the Olympic and sport Movement”.  The previous edition of the event, held in 2006, was also attended by COB members, since Edgar Hubner and Event Supervisor Ana Paula Ferreira were in Cuba.

Among the highlights of the Brazilian project are themes such as accommodation, facilities, food provision, transportation and the bid dossier of the host city.  Another factor which interested the Olympic community is the organizational structure of the School Olympics which is a joint effort between COB, the Federal Government – through the Ministry of Sports – and an important media group, the Globo Organization, an original formula on the international scene.

After the presentation at the Sports for All Congress, Edgar Hubner and Patrícia Kowaleski will leave Malaysia for João Pessoa, the  Paraíba state capital which will host the final stage of the 2008 School Olympics; the event will witness a record participation of 3.300 children (2.850 athletes), aged 15 to 17.  The biggest school sporting event in Brazil will reunite participants from 22 states and 825 public and private schools.  The first cycle of the School Olympics will end after 10 days of competition in 9 sports (track and field, basketball, futsal, handball, judo, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and chess) and some intense cultural programming.

Created in 2005, the School Olympics provide a high standard of services (accommodation, transportation, facilities) for the participants.  Physical education teachers will also have a highlighted role since sports play an important part in education in public and private schools around the country.