sep.26.2006
Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) Secretary General Brian Lewis has successfully completed post graduate studies in Sports Organization Management.
Lewis was among participants from around the sporting world who traveled to Lausanne,Switzerland recently to present their respective thesis study presentations to the MEMOS examination board .
Following an additional ten minute public presentation of their thesis. Graduates were presented with their degree certificate on 15 September at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne .The Executive Masters in Sport Organization management(MEMOS)degree is conferred by the University of Lyon,France,Claude Bernard Sport Science faculty.
Lewis the recipient of an IOC(Olympic Solidarity scholarship focused his thesis on governance in Trinidad and Tobago Sport described the twelve month program as intense and demanding but "tremendously beneficial and invaluable".
According to International Olympic Committee(IOC) Director for Olympic Solidarity and National Olympic Committee(NOC)relations Pere Miro the intensive and internationally recognised twelve month post graduate programme targets current and future global sport leaders and managers with the specific aim to provide graduates with the competences and skills that are decisive in leading modern sports organizations .
"One of the greatest challenges for Olympic sport organisations is of ensuring that current and future managers have the necessary skills to lead their organisations in the 21st century.Sport leaders are required to have greater comprehension of international sport issues,in addition to those of strategic management and governance,marketing and human resources ,all of which are inherent to every sport organisation" .At the IOC we are confident of the benefit that this training can offer as we are placing greater emphasis on NOC Management and supporting the management structures of NOCs"said Miro.
The IOC through Olympic Solidarity provides scholarships for admitted students.To pursue the European based programme."The structure of the course allows participants to continue their professional responsibilities,as well as the unique experience of being able to exchange information and expertise from around the world" added Miro.
MEMOS was founded in Europe in 1995 upon the initiatives of several National Olympic Committees(NOCs),the European Network of Sport Sciences in Higher Education,several European Universities and with the financial support of Olympic Solidarity and the European Union Socrates programme.
The original aim of the programme was to provide post graduate training and a degree for European sport managers.In 2002,the MEMOS Steering Committee voted to allow for global participation.