OLYMPIC REVIEW45CASE STUDIESLocated 11km off the northern coast of Colombia,Isla Fuerte is a small island with just 3,000inhabitants and, until recently, no electricity. Whilethe island, which lies just south of the Gulf ofMorrosquillo in the Colombian Caribbean, enjoysoccasional visits from tourists eager to experiencethe superb scuba diving on offer, the facilities onthe island remain very basic, with just one schoolto cater for all of the island's children. TheColombian National Olympic Committee, under itsformer President Andrés Botero Phillipsbourne, hadalready targeted Isla Fuerte as part of its owndevelopment projects and had been sponsoringsports competitions for the island's community,while also encouraging children to attend schooland provide opportunities for the most talentedyoung athletes, some of whom have gone on tobecome national and regional champions.In order to continue this work and further aid IslaFuerte's development, the Colombian NOCapproached the IOC to collaborate on a project toprovide sports and community development facilitiesfor the island. Working in partnership with theInternational Basketball Federation (FIBA), theInternational Boxing Association (AIBA) and theInternational Softball Federation (ISF), the IOC fundedthe building of an indoor hall for sports and culturalactivities, as well as the upgrading of outdoorfacilities for football, basketball and softball on theisland. The International Federations (IFs) contributedto the project by providing sports equipment for thehundreds of young people on the island.The project was swiftly completed and wasofficially opened in September 2009, in time forthe island's annual sports festival, which issponsored by the Colombian NOC and sees othercommunities from the mainland travelling to IslaFuerte to take part. The Colombian governmentalso decided to install electricity on the island atthe same time, giving the celebrations evengreater significance. The opening of the IOC-funded project and the installation of electricityhave vastly improved the quality of life for theislanders and again demonstrated how sport canbe used as a tool for development. The Isla Fuerteproject has proved so successful, that it is likely tobe extended to other disadvantaged communities,such as La Rada, on the Colombian mainland. ISLA FUERTE, COLOMBIAAboveInpartnership withIFs, the IOC's IslaFuerte projecthas funded thebuilding of anindoor sports hallas well as theimprovement ofoutdoor facilities

SPREADINGTHEWORDAS 3,600 YOUNG ATHLETES FROM AROUND THE WORLD GATHERED INSINGAPORE FOR THE INAUGURAL YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES, THE IOC AND ITS PARTNER ORGANISATIONS USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH THEM ABOUT A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT GLOBAL ISSUES46OLYMPIC REVIEWOLYMPISM IN ACTION