Categories: Canada

Interview: Johann Olav Koss

The Right to Play CEO on how the charity is dealing with its banishment from the Games

by Jonathon Gatehouse on Thursday, February 25, 2010 8:00am - 8 Comments

Q: With a story like that, springing from the Olympics and giving birth to a charity that has been driven by Olympians, what does it say about the Olympic movement that such a charity isn’t allowed to be here?
A: You should ask them that question. But if you read the writings of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, you realize that it’s all about the inspiration of physical activity and play and sport. It’s about education more than anything. Pierre de Coubertin was a phys-ed teacher, literally. And of course, the ancient Olympic Games were a way to break down barriers and stop the fighting. And those two elements are what we have been building our organization upon. It’s very, very similar to the Olympics. That has been my call to the Olympic movement.

Q: Are you personally disappointed at the way things have worked out?
A: Of course.

Q: Has it changed the way you view the Olympics?
A: The Olympics are huge. The ideals of the Olympics haven’t changed because they kicked us out. I mean, come on! But I wish that the people within the Olympic movement who are responsible for managing its values and principles could have seen a benefit in us working together. That’s what I’m disappointed about.

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  • OnTheJob

    Right To Play seeks to impose a radical feminist agenda on developing countries, and I am uncomfortable with the (mis)use of .the word right in their name, given the propensity of leftists to view rights like rabbits one pulls out of a top hat at one's convenience. Essentially, they want to force boys and girls to play together rather than let nature take its course. Sports for kids: yes. Forcing radical feminism on them: no.

    • Leftist's rabbit

      That might be the most uniformed thing I have ever heard, OnTheJob. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for trying to sound intelligent when you have clearly not informed yourself as to how Right To Play operates. RTP always operates within the rules of a society and works closely with local governments to ensure societal norms are respected.
      Yours is a very trite, petty and blind way of viewing the world in general. Good Luck in life.

    • Don C.

      No, seriously OnTheJob, tell us you're just being a tactless troll here.

      As someone with the capacity to hit a button that says 'comment', you should also have have the ability to do a simple internet search and learn a bit more before you spew. Take a few minutes to learn about Right To Play and how they operate. Each host community shapes and is responsible for a RTP project. The community determine how the power of sport can lead to a healthier, happier community within local social norms. Some RTP projects have enabled communities to develop spaces where girls play on their own as a group. Other RTP projects have been focused on boys by using sport to encourage boys to take part in school education.

      As for use of the word 'right', it takes Google just a few seconds to find you the whole text to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Read article 31. It is short so you should be able to handle it, and it is part of the inspiration for the organization's name.

    • groundhogday

      You have successfully demonstrated that: a) you have virtually no understanding of Right To Play's values, principles and methodologies, and b) you have virtually no understanding of radical feminism. The right to play is actually no trompe l'oeil – it's a fait accompli. That is as long as you subscribe to international frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (see Article 31). Indeed, the CRC has been ratified by all countries in the world save 2 (still waiting on United States and Somolia). Do we have a long way to go? Yes. Is Right To Play helping? Absolutely. Ask any of the 700,000 children they are reaching each week.

  • Louise

    @OnTheJob: you had me ROFL with your statement! You are very funny.
    Johann Olav Koss is great. Hope to see more of him in the years to come.

  • Jeff

    How did such a balanced, generous guy end up with Stronach? The mind boggles.

  • http://www.nygoldcashers.com New York Gold Buyers

    Thanks for sharing this Jonathon. No doubt that he really knows what he's saying.

  • http://www.spartanmoving.com/ san jose movers

    Great info.To be frank the interview section really rocks.Thanks for sharing.

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