School for Human Rights and Human Rights Education Associates partner with Sport in Society to Organize SHR Olympics focusing on Sport and Human Right

February 17, 2006 � From February 15 � 17, 2006, the School for Human Rights (SHR) and Human Rights Education Associates (HREA), in partnership with the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University, held a three-day SHR Olympics focusing on Sport and Human Rights at the School in Brooklyn, New York. The School for Human Rights and HREA worked with Sport in Society's new Athletes for Human Rights initiative to develop workshops, sports activities and speakers to address human rights in and through sport.

The event promoted Olympism as the human rights and social justice philosophy of the Olympic Movement. Students learned that being an Olympian is a way of life and that each person can lead a life rooted in the Olympic ideals of human rights, peace, non-discrimination and fair play.

�HREA�s work at the School for Human Rights is to making the Human Rights framework relevant to all students. Sport in Society helped to develop a new way of presenting Human Rights to students�through sport. It worked wonderfully! The majority of students were engrossed in activity for 3-days,� said Jessamyn Waldman, HREA Program Associate and representative at the School.

The SHR Olympics included students organized in multi-grade teams with a country name, the development of a flag and also a cheer. Teams also had a sport and human rights theme, including Munich Massacre, Wheelchair Basketball, 1968 Olympic Protest, and the Negro Leagues, as examples. Teams prepared skits and learned about their topic area in depth. Teachers organized workshops including Women and Sport, Cooperation and Sport, Math and the Olympics, and Olympic History as examples.

A highlight of the event included facilitated discussion with three Olympic athletes -- Chris Jarvis, 2004 Canadian Rowing; Nathaniel Mills, 1992, 1994, 1998 USA Speedskating; and Eli Wolff, 1996 and 2004 USA Soccer. These athlete discussants led workshops about Olympism and sport as a human right. Mary Dixon, the Director of Right to Play USA also attended to facilitate a workshop on the rights of children to sport and play.

"The SHR Olympics is an ideal model of promoting and embracing the values of sport and an excellent forum for students to learn about past, present and future issues related to human rights in and through sport," said Eli Wolff, Project Director of the Athletes for Human Rights Initiative.

The SHR Olympics concluded with a fantastic Closing Ceremony including team performances and an award ceremony. Representatives of UNICEF and UN Sport served as the distinguished presenters at the Award Ceremony.

Marcos Robinson, in 9th grade said, �I learned that we have more rights than we think. During that week we practiced one: the Right to Play.� Karra Ransom, a 9th grade student at the school said, �I learned that no matter how old you are and if have disabilities, you should be encouraged to play sports.� Brandon Allen, a 6th grader, simply said, �I learned that we have to treat each other with respect and honor.�