Olympian Artists to Lead New WOA Arts Committee

World Olympians Association has announced the formation of a new OLY Arts Committee. The Committee will support the framework of Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, which aims to "further strengthen the blending of sport and culture at the Olympic Games and in-between".

Dual Olympian Roald Bradstock OLY has been appointed Chair of the OLY Arts Committee. Bradstock, who competed in javelin for Great Britain in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games, is internationally renowned for his unique artistic style and skill and the innovative techniques used in his drawings, paintings and collages. Since competing, he has spent many years supporting and promoting Olympian artists around the world.

Joining Bradstock on the Committee is WOA President Joël Bouzou OLY, WOA Executive Committee Member Natalie Cook OLY and Olympian artists Emanuela Pierantozzi OLY (sculpture), Shane Gould OLY (photographer), Pat Burgener OLY (musician) and Takahiro Fujimoto OLY (actor), as well as Diane de Coubertin - granddaughter of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games - and Francis Gabet, Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage.

The Committee will develop Olympian led art projects that will take place during the Olympic and Youth Olympic Games. The projects will aim to promote the Olympic values and the power of sport to make the world a better place.

The establishment of the Committee follows the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Art Project, where Olympians who are also artists were invited to PyeongChang 2018 to use their talents to share a different view on the Games. One of the projects, which was supported by WOA, recruited Olympians competing at the Games to produce 15 paintings - one for each winter sport - which, when placed together, revealed the Olympic values.

The Committee will also promote the importance of artistic endeavours for Olympians and the benefits of developing skills and passions outside of sport.

WOA President, Joël Bouzou OLY, said:

"Olympism is built on a philosophy that recognises the value of balancing mind, body and spirit. The OLY Arts Committee will further strengthen this ideal by exploring future opportunities to blend sport and culture at the Olympic Games and beyond, in line with Olympic Agenda 2020."

Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, Francis Gabet, said:

"Art, culture and the sharing of ideas play a significant part at each Olympic Games and within the wider Olympic Movement. I am pleased that WOA has taken this important step to support the essential role Olympian artists play in promoting the Olympic values worldwide."

Pat Burgener OLY, a professional musician who made his Olympic debut for Switzerland in the Snowboard Half Pipe at PyeongChang 2018, added:

"When I ride or play music I go into another world. My concentration kicks in and everything else disappears. These two passions fuel my energy, creativity and focus. Having this balance, these dual passions are crucial to enjoying my life which ultimately will make me the best athlete I can be."

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