The World Olympians Association (WOA) is an association of former olympic athletes ("Olympians") from all over the world, to promote the dissemination of Olympic ideals and fair play, advance environmental protection, educate against doping and drug use, supply educational resources, work against violence and intolerance, support diversity and equality, contribute to sport-related charities, host special hospitality centres, involve Olympians in social support, display positive role models, advance sport management and promote a culture of which sport is an important part.
An Olympian is any athlete who was once accredited to participate at a Summer or Winter Olympic Games. Olympians are WOA members through their local National Olympians Associations. Globally, there are over 100,000 Olympians.
IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch created the World Olympians Association following the Centennial Olympic Congress, Congress of Unity, held in Paris in 1994. Formally, the WOA was established during a meeting held in the Olympic Museum on 21 November 1995 by 25 founder members.
In November 2011, Joël Bouzou, an Olympic medalist from France, was elected President of the Association. Joël is the founder of Peace and Sport and the Secretary General of the International Modern Pentathlon Federation (UIPM).
In January 2012, Prince Albert II of Monaco was announced as Patron of the Association. Both the Prince and his wife Princess Charlene of Monaco are former Olympians.
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