17 June 2004
Sergey Eylanbekov, the Academy’s Sport Artist of the Year 2004 and Gold Medal winner of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Sport Art Competition, was a guest of the IOC at the 2004 World Forum on Education, Culture and Sports 10- 12 June in Barcelona, Spain.
At the Forum, Eylanbekov was presented by Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich, President and CEO of the Academy. The presentation of the Gold Medal was made by Juan Antonio Samaranch, former President of the IOC. Eylanbekov’s three dimensional acrylic sculpture entitled “Five Continents” was the overwhelming winner in the Sculpture Class. In addition to the Gold Medal, Eylanbekov was also presented with a $30,000 stipend.
“Needless to say, we at the Academy are all very proud of Sergey and this monumental accomplishment,” commented Dr. Rosandich. “He is a gifted artist and a unique sculptor. His work lives as a testimony to the relationship between sport and art.”
A major goal of the IOC is to encourage education and culture throughout the world of sport and the Olympics. The IOC World Forum was therefore created as an opportunity to unite men and women from all countries and all cultural backgrounds. The forum allows administrators, artists, sportspeople, educators, researchers, teachers, journalists, trainers, referees, doctors, supporters and fans to come together and to share their viewpoints on education, sport and culture through interaction, participation, equality, equity and collective learning.