2008 World Scholar-Athlete Games
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>View discussions about this entry Country: United States
Organization: Institute for International Sport
Sport: Other
Year the initative began (yyyy) 1993
Project URL: http://www.internationalsport.com
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? World Scholar Athlete Games convenes 2,000 high school youth from around the world to build global awareness, leadership skills, and good sporstsmanship.
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? The World Scholar Athlete Games is a weeklong event that harnesses harness the power of arts and sport to do good, and to teach such values as morality, cooperation, honor, and diligence. The Games offer participants a unique educational experience that enables them to integrate academic and extracurricular learning, and in the process forge lasting friendships. At the Games, youth participate in one of 12 sports competitions or choose from among 7 cultural activities, and all attendees take part in day-long educational forums on relevant topics of global significance. These Theme Days feature forums, panel discussions, and town-hall-style meetings that encourage a free exchange of ideas and challenge participants to tackle important issues. Scholar-athletes drive their own learning, working with teammates to win their own successes, creating and performing their own art, and testing their ideas through discussion with others. Past keynote speakers have included Bill Clinton and Rudy Giuliani.
What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change? The absence of world peace; cultural and political conflict; the underutilized potential of youth to serve as leaders and "peace brokers;" and the belief that proficiency in sports and culture should be pursued separately.
Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? The primary delivery model is a weeklong event. The Instutute conducts extensive outreach to ensure that all eligible students are aware of the Games, and solicits nominations with an emphasis on a diverse participant pool. A similar disciplined and strategic approach is taken for selcting coaches and instructors. All components of the Games are designed to the highest standards, and advance preparation is required of all participants. Participants are also strongly encouraged to initiate projects in their home countries and communities, and to remain engaged as alumni/ae.
How do you plan to grow your innovation? Participation in the WSAG has increased significantly since its creation in 1993, and this trend is on pace to continue with the 2008 games. The plan for growth includes replication of regional events around the globe (such events have already taken place in the US, Ireland, and Australia) and the 2011 World Youth Peace Summit, which will bring together alumni/ae from all past WSAG events.
Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. Promote world peace by building understanding among youth around the world.
What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries? WSAG has resulted in countless community projects and other initiatives designed to build cross-cultural understanding and world peace, amd our goal is to see these kinds of projects increase as a result of participation in the Games. The immediate beneficiaries of skills and inspiration the Games provide are the participating youth themselves, but ultimately it is our hope that their home communities and countries see the benefits of their participation as well.
Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation? Number of social entrepreneurship ventures, community projects, and other initiatives launched by alumni/ae as a result of their participation; press coverage; registration in subsquent WSAG events.
What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact? The prevalence and persistence of cultural and political conflict around the globe; rising costs affecting the ability of people to participate; ensuring that participants emerge with what they need to become
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? WSAG has and will continue to be funded by a mix of government grants, foundations support, individual gifts, in-kind partnerships, and event registration.
If known, provide information on your finances and organization. The Institute's core annual budget is roughly $1.5 million. During the preparation for the Games, staff will include 7 interns, and 7 full time employees. Dozens of volunteers help during the event.
What is the potential demand for your innovation? Participation in past WSAG events has grown steadily, largely in response to rising demand. As the number of alumni/ae increases and word spreads, and as we convene still larger events like the World Youth Peace Summit, it is likely that demand will increase further.
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? Rising costs; the scope and scale of the organization's interests; growing interest in the Institute's programs resulting from past successes; the need for more long-term commitments.
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. While traveling oveseas in the late 1970s, IIS founder and Executive Director Dan Doyle saw first-hand the power of sport as a catalyst for friendship and good will and an instrument of peace. Over the coming years, he began to develop the concept of what would become the Institute for International Sport. More than two decades after its founding, the Institute for International Sport remains guided by international leaders in the academic, business, government and athletic communities. The IIS has fostered an extraordinary number of global friendships through sport, culture and education, connecting tens of thousands of people. As the Institute continues to grow in the 21st century, the organization has become a leader in using sports, education, and culture to build understanding among youth around the globe, toward creating a more peaceful world.
To achieve its objectives, the IIS focuses on the youth of the international community. The IIS has this focus because it believes that the world's best hope for peace lies in the hearts, hands and early life experiences of the world's youth. Education and cultural awareness, which enable future world leaders to design workable solutions, are at the core of each IIS program. In combination with educational and cultural pursuits, the IIS recognizes that sport can stimulate communication and can serve as a force for improving relationships among nations. The IIS emphasizes the importance of scholarship, ethics and sportsmanship in all of its projects, believing these ideals should be integral to one’s daily life and actions. Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. Dan Doyle is a former college basketball coach and graduate of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Mr. Doyle established the Institute for International Sport in 1986, a reflection of his realization of the power of sport as a catalyst for friendship and good will and an instrument of peace.
Contact Information:
Dan Doyle
Excecutive Director Institute for International Sport (NGO) Discussions about this entry |
please, i want to know the date and requirement for the 2008 games.
thank you.
john.