- How do you feel about being appointed as a member of the IOC’s Olympism 365 Committee? When were you appointed?
On December 4, 2023, I received an official letter from Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), appointing me as a member of the IOC’s Olympism 365 Committee. The Olympism 365 initiative was created to spread the spirit and values of sports and the Olympics every day, while contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is an honor to be able to contribute to the dissemination of sports and Olympism and the achievement of the UN SDGs through the Olympism 365 Committee.
- In what areas do you wish to play a role and contribute?
First, as a member of the Olympism 365 Committee, I intend to deeply consider what is necessary to promote sustainable development around the world through sports. The world is currently at the peak of uncertainty due to the climate crisis, economic and social polarization, AI-based digital transformation, US-China conflicts, and so on. The UN SDGs specify common global issues that are necessary to solve global problems. As the Director of the DTM program, striving for a balanced global sports ecosystem through the development of sports in developing countries, I believe it is very meaningful to work towards achieving UN SDGs through Olympism 365. I want to promote Olympism and strive to make sports a force for a better future for humanity.
- What is the relationship between the IOC and DTM?
The relationship between the IOC and DTM is very deep. The IOC maintains and spreads the Olympism to promote individual growth, social development, and peace between nations through sport, thereby creating a better world. As I have mentioned before, DTM pursues sustainable development and balanced global sports development through sports in developing countries. Thus, the IOC and DTM share similar goals and values, and I believe that through cooperation, we can contribute to the sustainable development of the world as pursued by the UN SDGs.
- Are there any plans for cooperation between Olympism 365 and DTM in the future?
We are looking to explore a cooperative relationship in the future. Auvita RAPILLA, the Chair of the Olympism 365 Committee, is not only well-informed about DTM but also has a high interest in it. As soon as I was appointed as a member, she sent me an email expressing her desire to discuss areas of cooperation with the DTM program. Cooperation between Olympism 365 and DTM can be attempted in various ways, and there might be two possible approaches I have in mind. One is a top-down approach where Olympism 365 and DTM discuss and proceed with a collaborative project, and the other is a bottom-up approach where the proposals from DTM graduates, students, or individual countries are reviewed by DTM and then proposed again to the Olympism 365 Committee.
By DTM & DTM Director Joon-ho Kang
