Olympism, Culture & Legacy

Overview
As the Olympic charter states, 'the goal of the Olympic movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.'

Blending sports with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a new way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good examples and respect for universal fundamental ethical principals.

One of the great issues confronting mankind today -- one that will only become more predominant in next 12 years -- is the need to reconcile the beauty and sanctity of diverse peoples and cultures with increased globalization. How do we enable people to reap the benefits of technology without endangering their cultural identity?

America is known as the 'melting pot' of the world, alluding to the people from many countries and cultural backgrounds who settled in the 'new world' and learned to transcend their differences to live as one nation. The theme of diversity and globalization, while inherent in the Olympic Games, has also become the defining characteristic of the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Francisco Bay Area is among the most ethnically diverse places in America and the world and reflects the culture, languages, arts and sciences of the world.

Even without a common world language, history or culture, modern technology can enable people from around the world to share experiences as never before. The San Francisco Bay Area 2012 Games will unite the world around Olympic ideals and values. Communitas, the Latin word for 'community' – where people come together in a common spirit – will be the theme we carry forward to the 2012 Olympic Games.

The 2012 Olympic Games will honor the values of Olympism, diverse peoples and cultures of the San Francisco Bay Area and the spirit of communitas through:

• An extensive program of cultural and arts activities at free celebration sites throughout the region, accessible via technology throughout the world. The Cultural Festival of the 2012 Olympic Games will be overseen by a Cultural Advisory Board that includes artists and arts organizations. The cultural events will begin in 2009, years before the Olympic Games begin and close after the Paralympic Games are complete in 2012, and will include a global arts village, the We Dream of Glory musical production, a Festival of World Talent, an Electronic Arts Festival and more.
  
• Opening and Closing Ceremonies for athletes and spectators that showcase young performers from across America and the world and continue the 2012 Olympic Games' showcase of technology by allowing interactive participation from viewers around the world. Our Welcome and Medal ceremonies for Olympians will express the dignity and profound achievement of the Olympic Games while inspiring athletes and spectators with sacred traditions of the Olympic Games, strategic backdrops that convey the images and messages of the Olympic Games and appropriate medal presenters.
  
• Our Olympic Torch Relay will begin, of course, with the lighting of the torch in Greece and travel to the U.S. by chartered plane to its first stop, Washington, DC. From there, the torch will wind throughout the U.S., visiting major cities, official bid cities and former sites of the Olympic Games until it reaches its home for the 2012 Olympic Games in Stanford Stadium. While Olympians, Paralympians, model citizens and children will carry the torch, the world can join the relay through the Internet.

The 2012 Olympic Games in the San Francisco Bay Area will promote the Olympic ideals to young people and invest in a legacy of youth sports opportunities, including:

• The Camp of the World 2012, where emerging young leaders from all over the world will come to Treasure Island and discuss the issues facing the world, learn, and envision the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.
  
• The San Francisco Bay Area is home to more than 300 Olympians, and the 2012 Olympic Games will tap the experience and inspiration these Olympians can provide to children across the region through a Bay Area Sports Summit for youth, sports clinics, participation in D.A.R.E. programs in schools and more.
  
• When San Francisco is named the U.S. Candidate City, a percentage of funds raised to support BASOC's bid at the international level will be placed in BASOC's fund, the Legacy Begins Today, -- managed by the foundation BASOC will create, Legacy 2012 – to support youth sports opportunities throughout the region, particularly in underserved communities.

BASOC looks forward to the opportunity to bring the spirit and culture of Olympism to all in the San Francisco Bay Area who will stage, officiate, attend and report on, participate in or witness the 2012 Olympic Games and to improve our collective future by investing in the bearers of hope: our youth.

For more information contact:
Mike Olmstead, 408-734-4944 or michael@opshow.com, Kim Carlisle at 650-529-1170 or literatae@mindspring.com or Anne Cribbs at BASOC at 650-856-3200 or anne@basoc2012.com.