Despite protests from the International Olympic Committee that it has little responsibility for promoting certain political or social developments in host countries for mega-events, The Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 is one of the clearest examples that many people consider sport, politics and the media to be intimately linked. Right, Sverre Wilhelmsen, co-hosting the seminar. (03-MAR-08)

Based on the Rafto Foundation´s press release, this article has been edited and prepared for publication by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz.

This subject will be discussed during a seminar on 7 March at The Norwegian School of Sport Science in Oslo, Norway.

Sports and Reconciliation is a collaboration project between the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Oslo and the Rafto Foundation, Bergen – represented by scholar Andreas Selliaas and project coordinator Sverre Chr. Wilhelmsen respectively. The aim is to gain new knowledge about how, and to which extent sports can be utilised as a means of reconciling people and states in conflict. This project aims to arrange seminars, build networks, do research and analyse different initiatives where sports are used as a means of reconciliation. The project deals with and addresses both Norwegian and international projects and milieus. The results will be presented in a book in connection with the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The seminar will be held in Norwegian. For program and information please view this link .
Admission to the seminar is free. To register, send en e-mail to: Beijing-seminaret@nih.no

Seminar partners: The Norwegian School of Sport Science in cooperation with the Rafto Foundation and Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) – both representing the ongoing project “Sports and Reconciliation”.
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