Olympic Journal Short Essay Contest Winners Announced
It is our pleasure to announce the results of Rights & Democracy’s Olympic Journal website short essay contest, which was launched in August 2008 as part of our coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games.
The goal of this contest, which was to encourage reflection on the link between human rights and the Olympic Games, seems to have been achieved. The jury was made up of Charles Vallerand, Director of Communications, Jean-François Lesage, China Regional Officer, Elana Wright, Liaison Officer, Rights & Democracy Student Network, and Sophie Rondeau, Coordinator of the Rights & Democracy Student Network. This jury had the difficult task of selecting the essay that would earn its author a bursary and publication on Rights & Democracy’s Olympic Journal web site. The discussions were animated and the decision-making process was not the easiest! Consensus was finally achieved after heated debates about editorial style, the concision and density of the text, the commitment shown towards the spirit of human rights, and the factual support for the arguments of the essay!
Ann Dominique Morin has earned a bursary of $500 for her essay “Hosting the Olympic Games – A Privilege Accompanied by Obligations ”, which illustrates her commitment to human rights. Ann Dominique Morin is working towards her Master’s in International Law at the Université de Montréal.
Two essays received honourable mention from the jury. “The Olympics and Human Rights” written by Bethany Deshpande, a student at York University’s Glendon College, was a favourite of the jury’s. “The Moral Pole Vault” by Srinivas Murthy of Boston, Massachusetts, was honoured for its editorial style.
Our warm congratulations go to the winners and to all those who submitted an essay for the contest. The challenge of summarizing one’s thoughts on human rights and the Olympic Games in only 300 words is no easy task!
Olympic Journal Short Essay Contest
The Summer Olympics in Beijing are a source of immense concern for those who see the Games as a vehicle for the celebration of human dignity. Is China’s record on human rights something to celebrate? Are claims that the Games would serve as a catalyst for improvements proving empty? Does China have much to gain and the Olympic movement much to lose?
We hope that you’ll be inspired to participate in our coverage of the Olympics by submitting a short essay on the connection between the Olympics and human rights to our Olympic Journal Short Essay Contest. The winning author will receive a $500 scholarship grant for qualified students or $300 in cash if the winner is not a student. The best three essays will be published on the Rights & Democracy website after the Games.
The contest is open to youth aged 18-30. The essay must be no more than 300 words, and may be written in English, French, or Chinese. Submit your essay by September 24, 2008 by email to: network@dd-rd.ca, along with your name, address, and phone number. This contest is not open to the staff of Rights & Democracy, nor their immediate family members.
