The
Solidarity Camp is designed to help athletes from
around the world in their pursuit of excellence and
to identify potential Olympic athletes. This year's
camp is a pre-World Championships training camp so
lectures and racing skills will be emphasized.
The
Philippines, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, and the Ukraine are
just a few of the countries that will have athletes
represented at the 2001 Camp. This year, because of
the overwhelming number of applications received,
there will be another camp running concurrently to
the Solidarity Camp. Athletes who were not chosen
to attend the IOC camp can choose to attend this Development
Camp. The two camps will join together for most meals,
evening lectures and social activities allowing for
true camaradarie and solidarity. However, by restricting
the numbers to the IOC-ITU and Development camps training
sessions, we can improve the coach-athlete ratio to
make sure that all the athletes are getting the best
training and coaching experience possible.
The
camps are being organized by the Edmonton 2001 World
Triathlon Championship Organizing Committee. In addition
to athletes, countries are allowed to send national
level coaches who can learn and coach at the same
time. Coaches from Costa Rica, Argentina and South
Africa have already expressed interest in attending
the camp. This is a very rewarding time for the coaches
as they get to work with some of the finest young
athletes in the world. They share their experiences
and techniques with the other coaches at the camp
and then take back what they have learned to share
with the athletes in their home country.
The
IOC-ITU Solidarity Camps have proven very successful
in the past. Many athletes who have attended camps
in the past represented their country at the Sydney
Olympic Games. These athletes include Simon Whitfield,
Matias Brain and Reto Hug. Will there be a future
Olympic champion at the camp in Edmonton? This remains
to be seen but if past camps are any indication, then
there is a good chance.
Camp
Manager: Leslie Beckerman (CAN)
