Education and volunteerism
In the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games Torino 2006, the Olympic Education Programme was designed to embed Olympic education activities in the curricula of primary and middle schools across Italy.
In 2003, the Organising Committee signed a memorandum of understanding with the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. It contained a blueprint for implementing and coordinating the Olympic Education Programme. The aims of the programme were to promote a healthy sports culture, spread awareness of the Olympic values and generate interest and enthusiasm for the Olympic Games among young people, through active commitment and direct involvement.
In all, 25 “Olympic rings initiatives” were implemented, involving more than 600,000 Italian school children. This educational programme consisted of a diverse set of projects, the content of which was associated with the five Olympic rings: red (sport and sports culture), green (sport and the environment), yellow (sport, science and technology), blue (sport and health education) and black (sport, human rights, legality and multiculturalism).
The activities of the Olympic Education Programme were implemented through multimedia educational kits, a dedicated website and Olympic Education Projects.
After the Games, the TOP 2006 School Project gave schoolchildren the chance to try winter sports in the venues where champions had performed during the Olympic Winter Games. The project reached more than 10,000 youngsters in 2008 and 7,600 in 2009.
Regarding higher education, a training initiative was launched aimed at students, working alongside technicians, cameramen, journalists, specialists in broadcast signal archiving and sound technicians during the Olympic Games. The project involved TV production and broadcasting degree programmes, providing training to 515 students, 400 of whom worked as volunteers during the Games.
Additionally, an agreement between the Organising Committee and the University of Turin fostered and promoted the recruitment of volunteers (about 4,400 students). Most university degree courses and faculties awarded educational credits for voluntary work during the Olympic Winter Games.