Olympic Solidarity Projects

Projects intended for athletes

Projects intended for athletes are only focused on athletes who are preparing for the participation at specific Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games or other world and continental competitions. Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina has successfully implemented the following projects in the 2017-2020 quadrennial:

Olympic scholarships for athletes – potential participants at Olympic Games “Tokyo 2020”

Programme which is directed towards elite athletes – potential candidates for Olympic Games „Toyko 2020“. This programe offers monthly scholarship to athelets so that they could better prepare for the OG Tokyo.

The time period within which the scholarships are provided is from 1st September 2017 until 31st August 2021 (4 years, with an exception in this case considering the prolongation of the Games in Japan).

OC BiH scholarship holders are:

1. Larisa Cerić- judo
2. Aleksandra Samardžić – judo
3. Ivona Ćavar – karate
4. Tatjana Đekanović – shooting
5. Lejla Tanović - cycling
6. Amina Kajtaz – swimming
7. Amel Tuka – athletics
8. Mesud Pezer – athletics
9. MerisMuhović – karate
10. AdemFetahović–boxing
11. Hamza Alić – athletics
12. MihajloČeprkalo – swimming
13. Abedin Mujezinović – athletics
14. Marija Štetić – taekwondo
15. Dinko Šegedin – taekwondo.

Apart from the scholarships, athelets are entitled to refund costs for air tickets intended for their participaton at qualifiying events.

Olympic scholarships for athletes – potential participants at Olympic Games „Beijing 2022“

Nine best athletes, potential candidates for Winter Olympic Games „Beijing 2022“ are the holders of a two and a half year scholarship, so as to qualify for the Games and prepare for the participation at the Olympic Games, which are to take place in the capital city of Beijing in 2022.  

Scholarship holders for OG Beijing are:

1. Elvedina Muzaferija – alpine skiing
2. Sanja Kusmuk – cross-country
3. Marko Šljivić – alpine skiing
4. Emir Lokmić – alpine skiing
5. Strahinja Erić – cross-country
6. Mirza Nikolajev – luge
7. Edin Branković – speed skating
8. Milos Colić – cross-country
9. Stefan Anić – cross-country

Apart from the scholarship, athelets are entitled to refund costs for air tickets intended for qualifications.

Continental grant for athletes

Continental grant is intended for the preparation of athletes for participating at continental competitions such as EYOF and other competitions which are listed in the calendar of European Olympic Committees, International Committee of Mediterranean Games and International federations. This grant was used for the final preparations of athletes who participated at „EYOF 2019 Sarajevo and East Sarajevo“, and „Baku 2019“.

Programme for additional support to athletes who have a chance to qualify for OG „Tokyo 2020“  

Having in mind that the number of Olympic scholarships is limited, Olympic Committee of BiH, based on the results, has recognised 7 perspective athletes who have within this year been supported by 38.500 Bosnian convertible marks from the Continental grant,  so as to participate the qualifications for Olympic Games.

The following are the athletes, users of the continental grant, who based on their results have proven that they have a good chance to participate at the biggest sport event – the Olympic Games:

1. Abedin Mujezinović - athletics
2. Dejan Mileusnić - athletics
3. Ivan Klepić - karate
4. Mirnesa Bektaš - karate
5. Nedžad Husić - taekwondo
6. Dea Herdželaš - tennis
7. Nefisa Berberović - tennis

Single support was used for the participation at European or World championships, other relevant competitions which fall into the group of qualifying competitions for OG Tokyo 2020 or other competitions which are relevant for the athletes' training programme.

Continental grant for athletes at Youth Olympic Games

The aim of this programme of the Olympic Solidarity is to offer assistance to National Olympic Committee to identify, qualify and prepare young athletes who are to participate the summer and winter Youth Olympic Games.

In the scope of this project OC BiH has so far implemented two projects, the first one was for the final preparations for the participation of athletes who have already qualified for YOG Buenos Aires, while the second project was intended for qualification competitions for YOG  „Lausanne 2020“.

In this sense, Ski Federation of BiH and Skating Federation of BiH were awarded the grant for participation of their athletes at qualification competitions for YOG „ Lausanne 2020“. Thanks to this Grant a great number of athletes’ participation was provided at qualifying competitions, while 9 athletes, who were the beneficiaries of this grant, successfully qualified for YOG Lausanne.

Grant for team sports

Grant for team sports is the Olympic Solidarity programme which is intended to finance national teams in their preparations and participation at regional, continental or world competitions with an aim to qualify for Olympic Games.

In order to apply for the grant, national team must fulfil the following:

Male or female national team whose sport is listed in the next summer or winter Olympic games;

Team which has been recognised at the international level

Rugby Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was awarded a grant in the previous quadrennial, and has successfully organised a series of training camps for the national team, and has participated in international competitions with an aim to qualify for the Olympic Games „Tokyo 2020“.   

In the 2013-2016 quadrennial, the beneficiary of the grant was the Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Projects for coaches

Projects which are intended for coaches are specifically designed to improve the structure of coaches in a certain country. Coaches represent a valuable part of an athlete's career, since their role includes the role of a coach, educator, guide, psychologist, agent, etc. This is precisely why it is important for coaches to have access to regular and high quality training. The aim of this programme is to strengthen the education of coaches throughout the world and in the long-term.

In the scope of this project related group, NOC's have the following programmes at their disposition:

• Technical courses for trainers
• Olympic scholarship for coaches
• Development of national sport structure

Technical courses for coaches

This programme offers the possibilities for national sport federations to provide coaches with access to knowledge at different levels. Olympic Solidarity wishes to support a great number of female coaches and is recommending that each group has at least 20% of female coaches in each of the courses being organised.

Technical courses are being held in accordance with the international federations’ rules so as to set up a standard for all coaches around the world. In this way all NOCs and their sport federations are given the opportunity to access the state of the art knowledge.

In 2017 – 2020 quadrennial, 7 technical courses for coaches have been implemented:

Technical courses for coaches in judo

Technical courses for coaches in volleyball

Technical courses for coaches in rowing

Technical courses for coaches in figure skating

Technical courses for coaches in tennis

Technical courses for coaches in taekwondo

Technical courses for coaches in shooting - ongoing

Olympic scholarship for coaches

This programme offers various possibilities for coaches who have been recognised by their national sport federations and are very active in their own countries. The possibilities entail the participation at high quality education and acquisition of knowledge which they will apply in their sport system.  The selected candidates should:

Belong to the sport federation whose sport is listed in the Olympic Games programme

To have official coaching certificate acknowledged by the state from which they come from and/or by international federation  

To be active and to give an example of practical experience as a national, regional or international coach

To do everything in their power to transfer the knowledge and to continue developing sport in their own country once their complete their education  

It is important to note that Olympic Solidarity demands from all NOCs to provide with the equal number of male and female coaches, to their best possibilities.

In the scope of this programme, coaches Siniša Marčetić, prof.dr Husnija Kaimović, prof.dr Amel Mekić and dr.sci Nedim Čović have participated a prestige educational programme ICECP (International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program). The aim of this education is to develop educational potential within the scope of Olympic Committee through various programmes such as science in sport, talent identification in sport, education of coaches, and development of ethical aspects in sport.

Development of national sport structure

The aim of the development of national sport structure is to enable National Olympic Committee to develop and strengthen global or national sport system by setting up a medium or long-term action plan for one or more sports listed at the Olympic programme. Sport federations can develop an action plan which is supported by international experts, nominated by International federation. A detailed action plan which is delivered to Olympic Solidarity must be coherent and realistic, and must be developed in close cooperation with national federations, after a detailed analysis (strength, weaknesses, aims, etc.). The plan must consist of the following aspects:  

To ensure the training of local coaches or people equipped to continue the work after the end of the project and which was initiated by the expert

If possible, include the training for coaches, judges and administrators

If possible, to improve the programmes for elite sport

If possible to set up a project “sport for all” or a development project intended for schools

If possible to set up a programme for recognition of talented young athletes, to raise the awareness in the fight against doping and match fixing in sport, etc

It is likewise recommended that NOCs invite coaches who have been the beneficiaries of the Olympic Solidarity scholarship to be a part of this project, whether to have their knowledge improved by the presence of international expert, or to personally assist the expert by applying their already acquired knowledge and expertise in regards to the local context (sport federation, training venues, networking, etc).

It is important to highlight that this is a very demanding project which is to be implemented over a long period of time. In the previous quadrennial the beneficiary of this programme was the Volleyball Federation BiH.  

Projects for NOC management

National courses for sport administrators

This programme offers NOCs, and their members, the possibilities to organise educations for sport administrators in sport administration and management. Programme is opened to all NOCs. Courses are intended for volunteers and paid NOC staff, national federations and other responsible bodies for sport development in a country. Olympic solidarity encourages NOCs to promote female sport administrators by offering professional educations. Two levels of courses are available:

Courses for sport administrators – introductory courses which include elements of Olympic movement, sport administration, athlete development, etc

Advanced Courses in Sport management – courses in sport management which cover six fields in sport organisation management: organisation /management, strategic management, human resource management, financial management, marketing and sport event organisation

Advanced courses in sport management  

International Olympic Committee has recognised the values of a systematic improvement of sport organisation professionals, and thus the implementation of this programme was initiated and directed towards the education of staff which work in sport administration at the state level. Through the programme Advanced courses in sport management, the aim is to surpass the lack of national programmes directed towards the education of sport administrators and managers. For this reason, this programme is designed to be delivered to sport organisations as a toll for conducting staff training, with an aim to improve their knowledge and skills, and to create the „knowledgeable society“ which will set up strong bonds between managers of different sports and allow the exchange of experiences, information, knowledge and skills.

ASMC programme follows the basics of managerial education and consists of seven modules. The course programme is completely dictated by the IOC, and is designed in collaboration of over 150 world renowned scientists and experts in the field of sport management. It comprises key competencies necessary for successful governance of sport organisations:  

1. Introduction to Advanced Courses in Sport Management
2. Structure of Olympic Sport Organisation
3. Strategic management
4. Human resource management
5. Financial management
6. Marketing
7. Organisation of sport events

Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020 has continued with the implementation of this project, but this time, due to COVID-19 pandemics, the courses were organised online.  

The participants who successfully pass the education will get a valid IOC diploma which represents a prestigious recommendation for work in the administration of sport organisations throughout the world.

International Executive Masters in Sport Organisations Management

International Executive Masters in Sport Organisations Management programme in the field of sport management offers sport managers access to higher education courses and of international significance. It contributes to the improvement of governing Olympic sport organisation. The programme is available to all NOCs and the applicants nominated by the NOCs, who have been accepted to MEMOS (Executive Masters in Sport Organisations Management). Each course in MEMOS is implemented in the period of one year and consists of modules focused on certain aspects in sport management. Main aim is to improve governing aspect in the organisations from which participants come from. MEMOS is available in three languages, in English, Spanish and French. MEMOS in English is organised each year, while in French and Spanish is organised every other year (French 2018 and 2020, Spanish 2017 and 2019).

Beneficiary of 2019-2020 scholarship is the Secretary General of Ski Federation BiH - Jelena Dojcinovic.

Projects related to the promotion of Olympic Values

The following programmes are available for NOC's within the framework of Olympic Values promotion:

Gender equality and diversity

Olympic education, culture and heritage

Sport for social development

Sport medicine and protection of clean athletes

Sustainability in sport

Gender equality and diversity

The objective of projects in this area is to provide assistance to NOCs towards the development and implementation of strategies, policies and activities promoting gender equality, inclusion and diversity in sports practice and governance. This includes the following programme categories: strategy, seminars, projects and trainings.

Projects related to the strategy development are aimed to encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women. It is important that athletes and other sports people are able to enjoy their rights and freedoms without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, disability, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Hosting a seminar for national sports stakeholders, sharing knowledge is also one of the programme categories. Raising the awareness and engaging the participants in discussions on what action each of them could take to ensure that the values of equality and diversity are integrated into the policies and actions of sporting organisations and that as many resources as possible contribute to making a real difference in this area.

One of the examples of projects in this programme categories is: developing a programme aimed at supporting talented women with the potential to take on operational and board-level sports leadership positions or running a targeted campaign aimed at raising awareness among young people and/or the general public of issues related to gender equality and diversity

The NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015 organized a project aimed to women empowerment – Leadership Seminar for Women in Sport.

Olympic education, culture and heritage

The objective of projects in this area is to provide assistance to NOCs to implement Olympic values-based education and life skills programmes, develop cultural activities, disseminate and acquire knowledge on the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, and preserve the national Olympic and sporting legacy.

Projects in the area of Olympic education, culture and heritage cover four programme categories: strategy, seminars, projects and trainings.

Within the framework of projects in this area it is possible to develop a strategy to ensure that the NOC is an ambassador for the Olympic values in all aspects of organisation, including in policies, actions and communications. It is also important in terms of preserving and celebrating the Olympic Legacy and promoting cultural activities linked to sport, especially among young people.

Hosting a seminar is aimed at engaging national sports stakeholders in a discussion around the history of the Olympic Games, the Olympic values and the important, constructive role that sport, Olympism and its values can play in society today. Work towards activating national federations, civil society and the government to promote sport and the Olympic values, so that as many resources as possible – e.g. athletes, coaches, administrators and teachers – contribute to making a real difference.

It is also possible to run an educational programme of Olympic Values for youth or organize cultural activities or Olympic Legacy promotion within the framework of projects in this area.

The NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2019 and 2020 organized art workshops whose theme was the rich Olympic Legacy or our country.

Sport for Social Development

The objective of projects in this area is to assist NOCs in increasing physical activity in the population, giving access to sport as a right for all, and using sport as a means to promote health, development and peace, improving social cohesion and combining sports practice with education. Projects in the area of Sport for social development cover four programme categories: strategy, seminars, projects and trainings.

Strategy includes the development of documents on how to increase physical activity in the population, give access to sport as a right for all, and use sport as a means to promote health, development and peace, identifying challenges in the NOC’s territory and analysing how sport can help addressing them. Hosting a seminar for national sports stakeholders is one of the examples of projects in this area that aim at sharing knowledge, bringing about awareness and engaging the participants in discussions on what action each of them could take to increase physical activity in the population and use the practice of sport as a tool for social change.

Organising sport for all events, encouraging physical activity and the practice of sport among young people and the general public or stage sports activities – directly or through partnerships – aimed at promoting sport for people with a disability and enhancing understanding of their specific sporting needs are also examples of projects developed in this area.

One of the most successful projects the NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina supported in this are the Youth Sports Games. It includes several competitions for boys and girls from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina in soccer, basketball, handball, beach volleyball, tennis, chess, table tennis, athletics and dodgeball.

The NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina organizes the Olympic Day celebration every year in this area of programme activities. The Olympic Day brings together the pupils of different age who enjoy discovering new sports such as karate, judo, gymnastics, boxing, badminton, chess, archery, sport climbing and other sports.

The NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the special partner of the Organization of 453^rd Edition of Traditional Diving from the Old Bridge in Mostar within the framework of projects in this area. Last year participated 29. divers in the most attractive diving competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Sport Medicine and Protection of Clean Athletes

The objective of projects in this area is to encourage NOCs to disseminate knowledge, upskill the sporting community and run projects in the field of sports medicine, particularly with regard to the protection of the health and integrity of clean athletes and the prevention of injury/illness in sport. Projects in this area include four programme categories: strategy, seminars, projects and trainings.

Development of a strategy aims at ensuring that the NOC fully complies with the Olympic Movement Medical Code; or the sporting community has access to relevant information with regard to the fight against doping/protection of the health and integrity of clean athletes; and ensuring that the sports medicine community can access the latest advances in injury/illness prevention and other sports medicine areas.

It is also possible to host seminars, providing sports medicine specialists such as sports physicians, physiotherapists, nutritionists or psychologists with up-to-date and in-depth insights into their areas of expertise, or upskill the national sporting community or to organize tailor made programmes about e.g. the health benefits of physical activity and balanced nutrition as well as the inherent health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle and abuse of alcohol and drugs.

The NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized two Sport Medicine Seminars. These seminars aimed at the improvement of already existing platform of sport medicine trough education and lectures of professionals in the field of sport training, medicine and physiotherapy.

Within the programmes in this area, the Olympic Solidarity offers scholarships for the prestigious two year diploma course „International Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Diploma Course“. The objective of this course is to standardize the knowledge of doctors who are involved in the work with elite athletes.

The doctors from Bosnia and Herzegovina who have successfully finalized this education are: dr. Semin Bećirbegović, dr. Marko Ostojić i dr Dženan Jahić.

Sustainability in Sport

The objective of projects developed in this area is to encourage NOCs to integrate sustainability principles into their policies and working practices and take leadership in terms of promoting sustainability within their national sporting community. Projects within the framework of sustainability in sport include four programme categories: strategy, seminars, projects and trainings.

It is possible to develop a strategy on how NOC can take leadership in terms of sustainability in sport in areas such as infrastructure and natural sites, supply chain and waste, mobility, workforce, and carbon management, both through the integration of sustainability principles into NOC’s policies and operations, and through efforts to influence other sports stakeholders to adopt sustainability principles or take sustainability action.

Projects in this area also include the possibility to host a seminar for national sports stakeholders, sharing knowledge, bringing about awareness and engaging the participants in discussions on what action each of them could take to ensure that sustainability is reflected in the policies and actions of sporting organisations or running projects aimed at promoting sustainability in sport, if possible through smart partnerships allowing you to increase the impact of your projects and take advantage of the expertise of other organisations. Some of the examples are the launch of an awareness/clean-up campaign with young people and the general public using current and former athletes as ambassadors or development of sustainability standards for sports events and lobby other sports stakeholders to adopt them.

The NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina is implementing the project „Olympic Venues and Sustainable Development“. This project includes the educations and tree planting activities in several locations.

Jahorina Ultra Trail and Skakavac Ultra Trail are the example of projects of successful sustainability supported in this area that the NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina supported in the past years. The Ultra Trails aim at promoting outdoor sport activities, healthy lifestyle and the promotion of natural and touristic beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.