By Marianne Onsrud Jawanda/Norway Times
Right To Play is an international athlete-driven humanitarian organization that uses sports and play as tools for development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Founded by the Norwegian champion, the organization has 40 projects in 23 countries, reaches over 539,000 children on a weekly basis and has trained more than 6,000 local coaches.
Eclipsed by his efforts
The CEO and President of this organization is Johann Olav Koss a four-time Olympic Gold Medalist in speed skating who made world headlines when he won four gold medals at the 1994 Lillehammer games. Over the course of his career, he broke a total of 11 world records, won three World All-Round Championships, and numerous World Cups and National Championships. Koss' achievements on the ice have since been eclipsed by his efforts on behalf of Right To Play.
Johann first became involved with Right To Play (then known as Olympic Aid) in 1993 when he visited the African country of Eritrea. Looking at poverty through the eyes of children living under gruesome conditions, Koss was profoundly moved. At Lillehammer, Johann donated the prize money from his 1500m victory to Olympic Aid and challenged other athletes to do the same.
Focusing on basic needs
“I started Right To Play five years ago after being a UNICEF Ambassador worked with UNICEF and the Olympic aid," said Koss. " We have been working together to raise money for children in disadvantages areas, focusing on their basic needs such as food and clean water, vaccinations, protection, education, and prevention of HIV."
"Working with this, I realized there was one incredibly powerful tool that was not being used: sports,” Koss said.
Inspired by Koss
Inspired by this Norwegian athlete, was a young American skating sensation, Joey Cheek. Watching Koss on TV during the Lillehammer Olympics, the then 16-year-old skater told his mother “If I win a gold medal one day, I too want to be like Koss and make a difference.” 10 years later he came through on his promise.
Pressing his teeth into his first gold medal at the Torino Olympics last month, the young American interrupted his own press conference and announced, “I always felt like if I ever did something big like this, I wanted to be prepared to give something back. I have a pretty unique opportunity here so I'm going to take advantage if it while I can,” Cheek said.
Introducing Joey Cheek, Koss referred to the American skater as “a man who truly represents the Olympic spirit,” and as “someone who has become a great friend over a short period of time.”
Catch them while they're young
“Howdy,” the very down-to-earth Cheek said and triggered a chuckle from the audience. “I have never been able to say this before, but I was talking to a Nobel Price winner in economics this morning,” Cheek announced triggering another chuckle from the audience before adding, “He said something really telling, the only time you can really make a major difference in a person's life is when you get them when they are children. A few weeks ago, I was just another anonymous Olympian going to do my best in a sport that I had been training for about 16 years and one that I love doing,” he said.
“Now it's my turn to give something back.”
Skating does not make the world a better place
In a modest manner Cheek said “In the grand scheme of things this medal is inconsequential. While declaring that he loves competing he explained that skating in and of itself does not make the world a better place. But, explained that the moment a gold medal is draped around your neck, you have the world's attention.
“The best use of that time would be spent talking about somebody else who could very easily have been me or you. So, I decided to make the donation to Right to Play hoping that people would follow,” Cheek said. People followed. Cheek's $40,000 donation sparked a giving frenzy not only within the US, but in China and Canada as well. Many individuals, small companies, the US ski team as well as large corporations followed suit and matched Cheek's donation to Right to Play.
In the aftermath of the Olympics and Cheek's donation, it was an excited Koss who stood in front of a large audience at Chelsea Pier last week. The opening of the American Headquarters at Chelsea Piers will help Koss' organization drive for a grass root movement in the US.
No better place to be
“There is no better place for us to be,” a beaming Koss said, adding, “This is an opportunity to reach more children around the US.” Referring to the millions of children who are currently living under inhumane conditions around the world, Koss reiterated that “There is nothing more important that we can do than to reach out to children who have have been devastated by war, poverty and disease and help them to grow physically and psychologically.” Even though the organization is currently reaching more than 540,000 children a week our goal is to reach many, many more, Koss said and added that Right to Play is hoping to reach over 5 million children over the course of the next five years.
Watching Koss talk about children's rights, and violations thereof, his eyebrows furrow into a serious, sincere expression. “Children have the right to feel safe,” he pleaded and added that children living in war torn areas and desperate poverty need to learn to protect themselves from abuse, local violence and learn how they can come out of their situation and create a future for themselves,” Koss urged.
Further values of American sports
Koss explained that with the opening of the office in Manhattan, Right to Play will further the values of American sports to create responsible global citizens. The Norwegian Olympian also took a moment to congratulate the women of the world a “Happy Woman's Day.”
“The largest number of HIV infected children are girls between 14 and 25 years of age; they need to learn how to protect themselves because they are the most vulnerable,” Koss announced and added, “We need to create women leaders, it is critical for saving this world.” Next month American Olympic Champion Jenny Thompson and Joey Cheek are traveling to Zambia where they will immerse themselves in the HIV prevention program.
“The values we have learned through sports I want to share with all the kids in the word,” Thompson said. “Being part of a team, having a coach, receiving guidance and leadership creates confident children, that's why I founded Right to Play and I am proud to start this movement in the US,” Koss said before taking to the ice with fellow Olympians and a large group of young children from inner New York City schools.