British Olympic Association
Encyclopedia
The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the national Olympic committee (NOC) for Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing, athletics, rugby, football and archery. The BOA now includes as its members the thirty-three national governing bodies of each Olympic sport, both summer and winter.
Great Britain is one of only five countries which have never failed to be represented at the Summer Olympic Games since 1896. Great Britain, France and Switzerland are the only countries to have been present at all Olympic Winter Games. Great Britain has also played host to two Olympic Games in London: in 1908 and 1948. In 2005, London was selected as the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games.
The BOA is one of 205 NOCs currently recognised by the International Olympic Committee
(IOC). The IOC’s role is to lead the promotion of Olympism in accordance with the Olympic Charter. The Charter details the philosophy, aims and traditions of the Olympic Movement. The IOC co-opts and elects its members from among such persons as it considers qualified. Members of the IOC are its representatives in their respective countries and not delegates of their countries within the IOC.
A representative of each of the Olympic sports makes up the NOC, the BOA's decision and policy-making body. The NOC elects four officers: a President, Chairman and two Vice-Chairman, each for a four-year term. Six members of the NOC are also elected to the Board. This Board is involved in more detailed work of the BOA and will also put forward specific proposals for decision by the NOC.
The mission of the BOA is to "transform British lives through the power of the Olympic values and the success of Team GB". The BOA’s principal role is to prepare and lead the United Kingdom's athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. Working with the national governing bodies, the BOA selects Team GB's members to compete in all sports at the summer and winter Olympics.
The BOA is independent and privately funded. It receives no funding from the lottery or government and has no political interests. The success of its mission is entirely dependent upon the income it receives from fundraising and events. It is the primary organisation responsible for promoting the Olympic movement throughout the United Kingdom
.
.
It traces its roots back to the National Olympian Association (NOA), which held its inaugural meeting at the Liverpool Gymnasium, Myrtle Street, Liverpool
in November 1865. It promoted an annual series of sporting events across Britain, with the aim of encouraging participation in Physical Education
through Olympian festivals.
It came about mainly through the efforts of John Hulley of Liverpool (Chairman), Dr. William Penny Brookes
(of Much Wenlock
) and E G Ravenstein
(president of the German Gymnastic Society
of London).
It took the existing Olympian Games of Much Wenlock
as its example, thus the NOA Games "were open to all comers", and not just the products of Britain's public schools. After the NOA closed in 1883 its motto and ethos were inherited by the National Physical Recreation Society (NPRS) which was founded in 1885. From 1902 the President and Treasurer of the NPRS were members of the Olympic "Comite Brittanique", and the NPRS was a founding body of the British Olympic Association in 1905.
(The Barbarians) at Wembley Stadium
on 6 December 2008. The proposed match would have formed part of the BOA's programme of events to celebrate the centenary of the first London Olympic Games
where Australia defeated a Great Britain (Cornwall
) side in the final 32-3.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing, athletics, rugby, football and archery. The BOA now includes as its members the thirty-three national governing bodies of each Olympic sport, both summer and winter.
Great Britain is one of only five countries which have never failed to be represented at the Summer Olympic Games since 1896. Great Britain, France and Switzerland are the only countries to have been present at all Olympic Winter Games. Great Britain has also played host to two Olympic Games in London: in 1908 and 1948. In 2005, London was selected as the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games.
The BOA is one of 205 NOCs currently recognised by the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC). The IOC’s role is to lead the promotion of Olympism in accordance with the Olympic Charter. The Charter details the philosophy, aims and traditions of the Olympic Movement. The IOC co-opts and elects its members from among such persons as it considers qualified. Members of the IOC are its representatives in their respective countries and not delegates of their countries within the IOC.
A representative of each of the Olympic sports makes up the NOC, the BOA's decision and policy-making body. The NOC elects four officers: a President, Chairman and two Vice-Chairman, each for a four-year term. Six members of the NOC are also elected to the Board. This Board is involved in more detailed work of the BOA and will also put forward specific proposals for decision by the NOC.
The mission of the BOA is to "transform British lives through the power of the Olympic values and the success of Team GB". The BOA’s principal role is to prepare and lead the United Kingdom's athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. Working with the national governing bodies, the BOA selects Team GB's members to compete in all sports at the summer and winter Olympics.
The BOA is independent and privately funded. It receives no funding from the lottery or government and has no political interests. The success of its mission is entirely dependent upon the income it receives from fundraising and events. It is the primary organisation responsible for promoting the Olympic movement throughout the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Structure
- President: HRH The Princess RoyalAnne, Princess RoyalPrincess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
- Chairman: Lord MoynihanColin MoynihanColin Berkeley Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan PC is a former Olympic coxswain who became a businessman, politician and sports administrator.-Early life:...
- CEO: Andy HuntAndy HuntAndy or Andrew Hunt is the name of:*Andy Hunt , author and publisher of books on software*Andy Hunt , former English football player*Andrew Hunt , history professor at the University of Waterloo...
- Vice Chairmen: Albert Woods, David Hemery
Founding
The BOA's origins pre-date the International Olympic movement and its governing body, the International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
.
It traces its roots back to the National Olympian Association (NOA), which held its inaugural meeting at the Liverpool Gymnasium, Myrtle Street, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in November 1865. It promoted an annual series of sporting events across Britain, with the aim of encouraging participation in Physical Education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
through Olympian festivals.
It came about mainly through the efforts of John Hulley of Liverpool (Chairman), Dr. William Penny Brookes
William Penny Brookes
Dr. William Penny Brookes was an English surgeon, magistrate, botanist, and educationalist especially known for his promotion of physical education and personal betterment...
(of Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
) and E G Ravenstein
Ernst Georg Ravenstein
Ernst Georg Ravenstein was a German-English geographer cartographer and promoter of physical exercise...
(president of the German Gymnastic Society
German Gymnasium, London
The German Gymnasium is in Pancras Road, London close to the new international railway station of St Pancras. It was constructed in 1864-65 for the German Gymnastics Society, a sporting association established in London in 1861 by Ernst Ravenstein...
of London).
It took the existing Olympian Games of Much Wenlock
Wenlock Olympian Society Annual Games
The Wenlock Olympian Society Annual Games, dating from 1850, are a forerunner of the modern Olympic Games. They are held each year in Much Wenlock in Shropshire, England.-Overview:...
as its example, thus the NOA Games "were open to all comers", and not just the products of Britain's public schools. After the NOA closed in 1883 its motto and ethos were inherited by the National Physical Recreation Society (NPRS) which was founded in 1885. From 1902 the President and Treasurer of the NPRS were members of the Olympic "Comite Brittanique", and the NPRS was a founding body of the British Olympic Association in 1905.
1908 Olympic rugby union centenary celebration match
Australia were also approached by the British Olympic Association to play Barbarian F.C.Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
(The Barbarians) at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 6 December 2008. The proposed match would have formed part of the BOA's programme of events to celebrate the centenary of the first London Olympic Games
Rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics. The event was summarised under the "Football" heading along with association football. The host Great Britain was represented by Cornwall, the 1908 county champion...
where Australia defeated a Great Britain (Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
) side in the final 32-3.
See also
- British Paralympic AssociationBritish Paralympic AssociationThe British Paralympic Association is responsible for the United Kingdom's participation in the Paralympic Games.-Structure:* President: Tim Reddish, OBE* Chairman: Tim Reddish, OBE* Vice Chairman: Ann Cutcliffe-External links:*...
- Great Britain at the 2010 Summer Youth OlympicsGreat Britain at the 2010 Summer Youth OlympicsGreat Britain will participate in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics Games in Singapore.The British squad will consist of 40 athletes competing in 16 sports: aquatics , archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, table tennis,...
Games (YOG)