36 Years of the International Children's Games
On the 5th of June 1968, the first International Children's Games took place in Celje, Slovenia.
On the initiative of physical education teacher, Profesor Metod Klemenc, young male and female children between the age of 12 and 15 meet from Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro), Brno (Chech Republic), Celje (Slovenia), Graz (Austria), Kranj (Slovenia), Lausanne (Swiss), Trbovlje (Slovenia), Udine (Italy) and Zagreb (Croatia) meet at that time for an Track and Field competition.
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On the basis of the realization that a happy future for children is in a great degree dependent on the understanding, tolerance and respect they have for each other, and because of the realization that sports especially represent a significant function where the fellowship of children of different nationalities is concerned, the sports officals from that time: Prof. Metod Klemenc from Celje, as President and Prof. Ovido Bernes from Udine, Dr. Josef List from Graz, Dr. Robert Sander from Munich, Emmanuel Braunschweig from Lausanne, and Zoran Naprudnik from Ljubljana, as members meet together and decided to establish an International Committee of the Children's Games - with the basic goal and task being - through the encouragement of sports meets and competitions to enable the children of different countries, with their different languages, origins and outlooks, to meet at different types of sports, to practice friendship and understanding and to help to secure world peace and follow the Olympic ideals.
And so the international Children's Games were born...
Since then (until the present day), in 26 cities of 19 countries, already 41 games (38 summer and 3 winter games) have taken place: 10 in Slovenia, 5 in Switzerland, 3 in Germany, 3 in Austria, 2 in Slovakia, 2 in Spain, 3 in Hungary, 1 in Andorra, 1 in France, 2 in Greece, 1 in Italy, 2 in Canada, 1 in the USA, 1 in Taiwan, 1 in Poland, 1 in Rumania, 1 in Czech Republic and 1 in the Ukraine. 26,500 children from 332 cities in 74 countries from the continents of Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe have participated!.
These numbers clearly reflect the great significance of the International Children's Games movement.
However, it is not just sports that are important in the meets of children, they are getting acquainted with other cultures and life styles, with sightseeing tours, excursions, common events and free-time activities that are the essential part of inter-cultural learning and fellowship of the young athletes.
For this reason, our special thanks and recognition go to the cities and the responsible representatives, who, during this time, in a totally outstanding way, have organized and carried out the games. Every city has, with its citizens, lived with the games and has demonstrated a highly positive example of hospitality for the greater well-being of the athletes. Every game in every city was and remains, something special - a unique and unforgettable experience for the respective children and their chaperones.
With each new presentation of the International Children's Games, the organization of the games is strengthened, without which we cannot imagine the successful development of the International Children's Games. It should not be forgotten that our movement has experienced some bad times as well and that many sports enthusiasts from many cities and countries have sufficiently and during the long-term voluntarily sacrificed their time and energy for the ideals of the games and for the well-being of the children, thus strengthening the movement of the International Children's Games and thereby sustaining it.
Your work is securely imbedded in the International Children's Games. Please accept my apologies for not mentioning all the names, but be assured that the work you achieved within the Committee of the International Children's Games is appreciated and highly valued. We thank you for your concrete contribution and hereby express our sincerest thanks.
I must, however, name a few whose contribution toward the development and strengthening of the International Children's Games in the past 36 years should be especially emphasized: First of all, Professor Metod Klemenc, the founder of the Games and President of the Committee until the year 1972. Then, sadly, the deceased Emmanuel Braunschweig, who, first as the secretary and then from 1972 to 1987 as the President of the Committee of the International Children's Games over and above his regular commitments endeavored that our organization should be recognized by the International Olympic Committee. He was followed by the town councilman Fritz Glenz, who from 1972 as the secretary, later as the vice-president, and from June 1987 until his death in February of the year 1996, succeeded in, among other things, bringing the International Children's Games across the big Pond, and through a good and intensive co-operation, availed himself of the recognition of the International Olympic Committee. Joze Robert Sater from Ravne na Koroskem, Slovenia lead the organization in a very excemplary way from 1996 until his tragic death, on a business trip for the ICG, in 2003. Outside of the unique "Millenium-Festival" 2000 in Hamilton, Cananda, also lead the ICG, for the first time to Taipei, Taiwan in Asia. Since June 2003 the presidency has been passed onto Torsten Rasch from Darmstadt, Germany, whom for many years accompanied the office of Secretary and Vice-President.
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During this time, the International Children's Games have continually developed their by-laws which in turn leads to a strengthened presentation of our organization, and with clear organizational guidelines advertises the games and their symbols. Its own flag, the logo and the hymn are essential external and symbolic signs of this significant youth organization which is the only youth organization that is recognized by the International Olympic Committee!.
The chronology of the games carried out, elucidates with its statistics, very precisely the terrific achievement and success of the International Children's Games in their entire dimension and scope. Even so, it is necessary here to accentuate again the most important main points in the development of the International Children's Games:
- The founding year of the International Children's Games - 1968 in Celje, Slovenia.
- Recognition of the International Children's Games by the International Olympic Committee at the meeting of the "Commission Executive du Comite International Olympique" on the 10th, 11th and 12th of December, 1990 in Lillehammer, Norway.
- The 1st Winter Games which were carried out from February 10 - 13, 1994 in Ravne na Koroskem, Slovenia.
- The 23rd Summer Games which took place for the first time outside of Europe from June 15 - 19, 1994 in Hamilton, Canada.
- The establishment of the first National Committee of the International Children's Games in Slovenia, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Summer Games in Celje on June 17, 1995.
- The 28th Summer Games from June 10-14, 1998 in Logrono, Spain where for the first time the President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch participated in the closing ceremonies of the International Children's Games.
- The 32nd Summer Games held in Hamilton, Canada, the "Millennium Festival" from 01 - 07 June, 2000 where athletes from 69 cities and 29 countries participated in 9 different sports.
- The 35th Summer Games were held for the first time in Asia from August 30 - September 9, 2002 in Taipei, Taiwan.
- The 38th Summer Games were held for the first time in the United States of America, with President Bush greeting the more than 3,000 participants from 130 cities out of 53 countries. 10 different sports were offered in Cleveland, Ohio from July 28 - August 2, 2004.
It would be difficult to imagine the work of the International Children's Games Committee without the help and support of the International Olympic Committee. It is because of this that we would like to express to the International Olympic Committee, especially to the esteemed former President, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch, the Sport Director, Mr. Gilbert Felli and the esteemed Secretary General, Mrs. Francoise Zweifel, with great recognition our sincere thanks for their splendid support and help with the organization of our General Assembly, the yearly financial support and the financing of our rememberance certificates for all the participants of the International Children's Games. We sincerely hope that the help and support of our work will, in the interest and advancement of children and youth's sport, be upheld in the future by the new IOC president Dr. Jaques Rogge.
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I would like to thank all active Committee members for their effort and work and hope that in the future committed, critical and positive support.
36 years have passed since our founding and the unique and great success are proof of the 36 years of International Children's Games. For this reason, high praise, respect and recognition are due!.
However, we must always look toward the future:
Based on the solid foundation of the work already achieved, there should be no worry that in the future the idea and ideals of the Children's Games will continue to have stability and continue to develop.
In 2005 The Games will be held for the first time in Great Britian, Coventry, England will be hosting the Games.
The Games in 2006 have been already awarded to Bangkok, Thailand where they will also be held for the first time.
All these Games will give our youth movement a whole new dimension for the future and will be recorded as special events, positively effecting the history of the International Children's Games.
With this future development, I have no worries about the International Children's Games, and in the mutual ambition for the realization of successful games, we must work in solidarity to strengthen and develop the organization of our movement. It must be the goal of the different countries to establish National Committees and, with the help of the National Olympic Committee, to set up solid and successful working contacts. We must not lose the sight of our objective, the establishment Regional Committees in the future. We must strive towards professionalism of our structure so that the tasks can be managed.
The International Children's Games are already well known around the world. Everybody, who wants to collaborate in the future towards continuation and spreading of this idea and ideals, is warmly invited into our big family of the International Children's Games.
Finally, it should be emphasized that we work on behalf of children around the world and that is how it will remain in future.
Torsten Rasch
President