2009 Program News
10/24/09: Cultural Learning Through ICECP
ICECP has many purposes. It creates better coaches at the national level in countries around the world. It educates participants in a variety of sports science and coaching topics. It gives coaches the power to improve the sport structure in their countries.
It also fosters international cooperation and promotes the ideals of the Olympic movement. ICECP helps coaches from around the world to learn not just about coaching and sport management, but also about each other’s cultures.
The participants of ICECP came to America to learn, but they also did some teaching of their own. Throughout the program, everyone involved gained a great deal of knowledge about sport administration, sport sciences and coaching technique. They also learned a little bit more about the world they live in.
As the participants became close friends, they shared about their homelands and their cultures. Not only did they exchange sport and coaching information, but they educated each other about different parts of the world.
The following is a list of just some of the things that we learned about the nations of the ICECP class of 2009:
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The steering wheel is on the right side of the car in Fiji
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Bars are called rum shops in Barbados, which is top-10 in the world in bars per capita (estimation by Ian Weithers; validity of this statistic is unknown. But I trust him)
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There is only one 50-meter swimming pool in Malta (there are also two 25-meter pools) and the sport of swimming has only been practiced there for about 16 years
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Lions, cheetahs and elephants are common in Zimbabwe. If you ever come across a lion, look it square in the eyes and do not move. Do not turn your back to it, as it will see this as an opportunity to attack (do not try this technique with a cheetah. If you stare down a cheetah, it will attack)
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Pizza and French fries are a universally accepted meal choice, regardless of national background
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In Barbados, it is illegal to wear army fatigues or something resembling an army uniform if you are not in military
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Military service is required for all Egyptian males who have a brother
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The rate of murders in El Salvador is 13 per day (reported)
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Kiribati (pronounced Kirr-i-bas) was the first island landed on in the US’s Pacific island-hopping campaign during World War II. It was also the site where amphibious assault vehicles used during the campaign were first tested
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The national currency in El Salvador is the American dollar
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In Egypt, it is culturally unacceptable to move out of your parents’ house unless you get a job in a different city, you get married or they pass away
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In American Samoa, family elders are highly respected and are taken care of for life by the family. They are never sent to nursing homes
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Per one million people, Peru has four fencers. The US has 74, by comparison
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Kiribati has four political parties, for 110,000 people (by comparison, the US has two parties for greater than 300,000,000). Presidential candidates are selected by the parliament and the president is selected by the people by popular vote
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In Togo, eating is a much more social affair. People usually invite neighbors and friends over whenever they cook and they often eat pot-luck style, with everyone bringing something
ICECP taught each participant how to be a better coach and how to grow their sport at home. It gave them the opportunity and the power to go home and make a difference in their sports’ national structure.
It also created more cultural understanding and allowed 30 people to learn about each other and become friends. The program showed how sport unites people and allows them to learn from one another. Thanks to the class of 2009 for an amazing experience, best of luck implementing your projects!