What is the Alberta Youth Olympic Symposium?
The Alberta Youth Olympic Symposium
(AYOS) is an biennial event that invites high school students from across the province to participate in a sport leadership development conference. The program teaches leadership skills and values through an examination of the Olympic Movement and its values. Delegates are given a great opportunity to meet peers and establish life-long friendships.
AYOS is organized by a
volunteer committee. Meetings begin in the fall prior to the
symposium and continue throughout the following months to
plan the best youth leadership conference possible for all delegates.
The AYOS was first held in 1987. It was organized by Olympic speed skier, Vince Poscente. Vince now speaks about peak performance in the corporate world and in personal pursuits. He is also the author of “The Ant and the Elephant”, and “Invinceable Principles”.
The youth sports conference has been held in both
Calgary and Edmonton. Hundreds of Alberta high school
students have participated! 2012 will be the 19th session of
AYOS.
Many of the organizers of
AYOS have attended the Olympic Academy of Canada, a former
program of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Provincial and Territorial Olympic
academies, such as AYOS, have been organized across the country
by alumni of the Olympic Academy of Canada. The
International Olympic Academy
in Olympia, Greece holds a variety of annual programs for
youth and sport leaders from around the world.