A gift of Olympic proportions

It is heartwarming to see that the olympic spirit still exists. Koss has inspired other athletes with his Toronto-based organization.
Perhaps all is not lost; the olympic ideal might show up here and there amongst the greed and the drugs.
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A gift of Olympic proportions
US speed skater Joey Cheek is giving his gold medal award money to children in need.

For capturing the gold medal, he earned a $25,000 bonus awarded to American champions at Turin by the American Olympic Committee.

He immediately gave it to an organization that promotes recreation programs for underprivileged children in 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

A few days before his run for gold in the 500-meter speed-skating event, he talked with the Norwegian speed-skating legend, Johann Olav Koss. In the aftermath of a career crowned by four Olympic gold medals in speed-skating, Koss has dedicated his life to uplifting poor children of the world.

Joey Cheek calls Koss his idol both as a competitor and as a human being who understands a higher ethic that should bind the athlete to the fame and rewards that Olympian champions acquire.

http://csmonitor.com/2006/0215/p09s01-coop.html

http://www.unicef.org/people/people_johann_olav_koss.html

btw. Koss was married to Belinda Stronach at one time, lol.