ACOLOP

ACOLOP (acronym for _pt. Associação dos Comités Olímpicos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa; _en. Association of the Portuguese Speaking Olympic Committees), is an Olympic-related non-profit organisation officially established on June 8 2004, in Lisbon. It was founded by the national Olympic committees (NOCs) of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Macau (China), Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe; it also includes Equatorial Guinea as an associate member. On April 2006, India (represented by the Goa Olympic Association) and Sri Lanka were admitted also as associate members, based on their common historical past with Portugal.

The Portuguese-speaking countries are spread through four continents and reach a total population of about 250 million people. Portuguese thus occupies a place among the most spoken languages in the world. The purpose of reinforcing the bonds between these nations and promoting unity and cooperation through sport was the main reason for ACOLOP's creation.

Goals and projects

The goals which guide this organisation are: [cite web |url=http://www.comiteolimpicoportugal.pt/conteudo-detalhe.php?id=148 |title=Associação dos Comités Olímpicos de Língua Official Portuguesa (ACOLOP) |publisher=Comité Olímpico de Portugal |accessdate=2006-10-15 |language=Portuguese]

* The spreading of the Olympic ideals on every member country and territory;
* Equality, mutual respect and interest convergence-based cooperation between every member country and territory;
* Cooperation of every member country and territory on the definition of objectives, data exchange and common interests defense;
* Development of Olympic solidarity programs with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) support;
* Cooperation on an Olympic Games mission-chief level;
* Joint-bids for places on the International Olympic Movement structure;
* Staging of the ACOLOP Games (Lusophony Games).

At the 8th general assembly, in Macau (February 2, 2007), the president Manuel Silvério stated the intention of campaigning for the elevation of Portuguese language to official status inside the IOC and Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) structures. On the agenda is also the creation of a "Lusophone Olympic Academy", institution of a "International Lusophony Day", promotion of an annual football tournament and also an annual sporting awards gala. [cite news |url=http://www.comiteolimpicoportugal.pt/detalhe-noticia.php?id_new=514 |title=8.ª Assembleia-Geral da ACOLOP debate futuro |date=2007-02-02 |accessdate=2007-02-09 |publisher=Comité Olímpico de Portugal |language=Portuguese]

On June 8, 2007, precisely three years after the creation of the ACOLOP, the organization's new official portal was launched. Its servers are located on the organization's headquarters in Macau. This portal was established with the purpose of strengthening the communication between the Lusophone world and the ACOLOP. It serves also as a platform to display all news and activities concerning all member associations, especially those that do not have a portal. [cite web |url=http://www.acolop.info/noticia.php?id=28 |title=Site assinala três anos de vida: ACOLOP global |publisher=ACOLOP |date=2007-06-08 |accessdate=2007-06-08 |language=Portuguese and English]

Members

Founding members

*ANG
*BRA
*CPV
*TLS
*GNB
*MAC
*MOZ
*POR
*STP

Associate members

*EQG
*IND
*SRI

Organization structure

The first board was assigned during ACOLOP's creation on June 8, 2004. From January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009, a new board will be led by Manuel Silvério, as result of elections carried on October 12, 2006. [cite news |url=http://www.comiteolimpicoportugal.pt/detalhe-noticia.php?id_new=452 |title=Manuel Silvério eleito presidente da ACOLOP |publisher=Comité Olímpico de Portugal |accessdate = 2006-10-15 |date=2006-10-12 |language=Portuguese] This board's official inauguration will take place in Macau, on 4 February, 2007, site of the ACOLOP's headquarters. [cite news |url=http://www.comiteolimpicoportugal.pt/detalhe-noticia.php?id_new=507 |title=Vicente Moura em Macau para Assembleia da ACOLOP |publisher=Comité Olímpico de Portugal |accessdate=2007-01-26 |date=2007-01-26 |language=Portuguese] As José Vicente de Moura, the 2009 Lusophony Games organizing committee president, is also ACOLOP's honorary president, the vice-president (coming from the Olympic Committee of Portugal) is Manuel Marques da Silva. [cite news |url=http://www.comiteolimpicoportugal.pt/detalhe-noticia.php?id_new=492 |title=Marques da Silva represents the COP on the ACOLOP |publisher=Comité Olímpico de Portugal|accessdate=2006-12-14 |date=2006-12-14 |language=Portuguese]

ee also

* Lusophony Games
* Macau 2006 Lusophony Games
* Lisbon 2009 Lusophony Games

References

External links

* [http://www.acolop.info ACOLOP — Official Website]