This year sees the 30th anniversary ofOlympic Week and although the format mayhave changed considerably over the years, theaim has stayed the same - to promote thevalues of the Olympic movement. The first Olympic Week was organised with the intention of promoting the Olympicvalues to the people in the surrounding regionof Lausanne, Switzerland, site of the IOCheadquarters. The IOC wanted to raiseawareness among the local population that itcould organise not only the Gamesthemselves but also exciting events for thegeneral public. The first edition was targetedat adults with a programme that included anexhibition and a series of talks and film showsabout the Olympic Games and sport ingeneral.In 1984, Olympic Week shifted its focusto a younger audience, in the belief that youngpeople would transmit the Olympic messageto their parents. Talks and film shows,demonstrations by Lausanne sports clubs andfree visits to The Olympic Museum were onoffer as well as activities for school pupils atvarious towns in the canton. This formulacontinued until 1992. In 1994, a few months after theinauguration of The Olympic Museum, thelakeside became the focal point of OlympicWeek. That year, participants could choosefrom 14 activities. In 1998 there were 20events on the programme. In 2000, for the 20th Olympic Week, the number of events rose to 30. Since, it has become an ever-greater success and the number ofparticipants has steadily increased every year.Although The Olympic Museum is still theinstigator, planner and producer of the project,it has brought on board partners whosecontribution is essential to the smooth runningof the week's events. Among them are thesports clubs which supply some 150 voluntaryinstructors whose commitment andenthusiasm, along with close to 150volunteers, ensure the success of OlympicWeek. Logistical support and the generous loan of equipment by theLausanne City Council, also contributesgreatly to that success. OLYMPIC WEEK 2010Despite uncertain weather forecasts andwintery temperatures, 4,000 people signedup for the 40+ events on offer for the 2010edition of Olympic Week. These included theopportunity to try out Olympic and othersports as well as many other popularactivities such as capoeira, cheerleading,climbing, Nordic walking, orienteering,lifesaving and road safety.There were also guided and interactivetours of the temporary exhibition at TheOlympic Museum entitled "Athletes &Science"which continues until 6 March2011, as well as four workshops relating tothe exhibition. Other activities included theSport & Journalismworkshop which hasbeen a hit since it was introduced in 2007.Led by two professionals - a reporter and aphotographer - it was fully booked everyday. "Meet the Athletes"brought togetherVincent Defrasne, Olympic biathlonchampion at the 2006 Olympic WinterGames in Turin and four young athleteslucky enough to have travelled to Singaporefor the first Youth Olympic Games. Left and above Visitors enjoying some of theevents on offer during this year's OlympicWeek at The Olympic Museum24OLYMPIC REVIEWOLYMPICWEEKAT THEMUSEUM