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Committee Process for London 2012 is building upon these efforts. Results- based M& E is well established within the Olympic Movement. It is clear to this researcher that the Olympic Movement makes significant contributions to societies around the world, through the activities of sport, the staging of Games and the myriad of innovations that are stimulated as a result, in urban planning, architecture, communications, technology, event organisation, security, volunteering, etc. But it is also clear that the extent, quality and context of those contributions are inadequately known, especially in the area Coubertin valued most, namely sport as education. If we are to learn from our experiences and incorporate them into policy and practice, we need better information. As the Olympic Movement strengthens its commitment to youth sport, it is time that it implemented a rigorous strategy of monitoring and evaluation. I would hope that the endorsement of such a strategy would be one of the outcomes of the Olympic Congress in Copenhagen. ¦ Bruce Kidd is Professor and Dean, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto. He competed in track and field in the 1964 Olympic Games, and was the founding chair of the Olympic Academy of Canada. OLYMPIC REVIEW65 Drawing upon Agenda 21, the IOC's 1999 statement of principles for sustainable development, the Vancouver Winter Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee ( VANOC) has set ambitious social objectives for itself under various headings - Environmental Stewardship and Impact Reduction; Social Inclusion and Responsibility; Aboriginal Participation and Collaboration; Economic Benefits; Sport for Sustainable Living and Accountability - and has committed to reporting annually on its performance. In addition, it is working with local researchers and the IOC on the Olympic Games Impact ( OGI) study, tracking and analysing some 400 metrics relating to the effect of the 2010 Games. The Organising A combination of G- Force, labyrinths and omegas - and a highly competitive field - on the impressive Whistler track should make for some thrilling quality racing in Vancouver. At the Olympic Games the men take part in the two- man and four- man events while the women - who made their Olympic debut at Salt Lake City in 2002 - only compete in a two- person event. In all three events medals are awarded to the team which posts the lowest combined time from the four heats, which are held over two days of competition. The aim of getting from start to finish as quickly as possible looks simple, but on the 1,450- metre iced track with steep banking, vicious turns and speedy straightaways, it can often be a treacherous affair. Key to success in bobsleigh is a rapid start, hence the modern day emergence of former athletes and even American footballers among bobsleigh's eclectic field of competitors. Sleds run on four highly- polished steel runners, the front two which can be controlled by the driver. Although a fast start is crucial, the driver's skill in finding his " right line" down the track is as equally important; sleds can often reach speeds in excess of 140km/ h. The reputedly unforgiving track at the Whistler Sliding Centre features 16 turns, with the maximum slope gradient, of 20 percent, at turn two. The skeleton sees a single rider travelling head first down the track on a sled and features men's and women's events. There are no steering or braking mechanisms and the sled must be steered by movements of the athlete's body. 66OLYMPIC REVIEW FORMAT Below: The Whistler Sliding Centre will host the bobsleigh and skeleton events |