WHAT IS A COMMUNITY OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CODP) DESIGNATION?
A community initiative to create a clear pathway of athlete development to impact athlete performance while maximizing participation in the community. The foundation of the program is two-fold, one focus can be to provide year-round, sport specific, skill-based training programs focusing on long term development directed by high quality coaches, while the other focus can be concentrating on outreach and increasing participation.
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States. U.S. Figure Skating is a member of the International Skating Union (ISU), the international federation for figure skating, and is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC).
EduSkating (ES8), Proud Nation’s premier program is an officially registered program of U.S. Figure Skating’s Basic Skills program.
Basic Skills is designed to serve the needs of both recreational and competitive skaters. The curriculum keeps skaters enthusiastic about learning from the time they begin lessons until the time they reach their goals. Whether they want Olympic fame or to simply enjoy the recreational benefits of skating, the Basic Skills Program is the place to start!
EduSkating (ES8), Proud Nation’s premier program is a fusion of sport and education by partnering with schools and youth organizations to teach and encourage participation in individual and team on-ice sports. ES8 aims to provide challenging, fun programs on and off the ice that build Olympic-awareness, healthy life style, self-esteem and life-long academic, fitness and social skills in pre-K through 12th grade students. ES8 includes 5 levels and 4 tracks based on U.S. Figure Skating’s pipeline that takes skaters from beginner all the way to world and Olympic level.
U.S. Olympic Committee designates EduSkating as Community Olympic Development Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 13, 2014
HARTFORD, Conn. – The United States Olympic Committee and EduSkating (ES8) announced today that ES8 – the premier program of Proud Nation Inc. – has been officially certified as a Community Olympic Development Program for the sport of figure skating in Connecticut. The CODP is designed to partner with National Governing Bodies and community sports groups to provide opportunities for youth to participate in Olympic and Paralympic sport. ES8 is the 11th program in the U.S. to achieve CODP status.
Developed and managed by four-time U.S. ice dance silver medalists and 2006 Olympians Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, ES8 integrates sport and education to encourage participation in on-ice sports through fun, challenging programs that promote Olympism, self-esteem, and life-long academic, fitness and social skills.
“We are thrilled and excited to be recognized and to work with the U.S. Olympic Committee and U.S. Figure Skating on this endeavor,” said Gregory. “From the very beginning, our goal for EduSkating has been to fill students’ needs to be active, social and have fun with their peers, while learning and applying new skills and concepts. This designation will help us serve and reach more young people.”
“We are pleased to welcome EduSkating formally into the Olympic family,” said Alicia McConnell, USOC director of training sites and community partnerships. “The program has done amazing work to promote figure skating in Connecticut and hopefully this partnership will provide even more opportunities for continued growth.”
Designed for pre-K through 12th-grade students, ES8 features five levels that support U.S. Figure Skating’s athlete pipeline, helping progress skaters from the beginning stages of development to the elite level.
“EduSkating is truly an innovative program,” said Susi Wehrli-McLaughlin, U.S. Figure Skating’s senior director of membership. “In addition to skating, Melissa and Denis teach life lessons and science, and instill a sense of community in their students. We are very proud that EduSkating is now a Community Olympic Development Program.”
In 2010, Gregory received the USOC’s Rings of Gold award for her work with ES8 Fever on Ice. The award annually recognizes individuals and programs that are dedicated to helping children develop their Olympic or Paralympic dreams, and reach their highest athletic and personal potential.
“We are delighted to offer our students the support of the U.S. Olympic Committee while fostering the Olympic ideals of excellence,” Petukhov said.
For more information about ES8, visit Proud-nation.org.
About Proud Nation
Proud Nation Inc. is a 501(c)3 sports-based youth development initiative that provides public and private schools, recreation departments, skating clubs and other ice arenas and sports facilities with the curricula and tools necessary to increase youth participation in ice skating programs and competitions; improve fitness, social, emotional and academic achievement; and develop greater awareness of the Olympic movement.
About Founders Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov
Gregory and Petukhov are two of the world’s premier ice dancers with several top-three finishes in both national and international competition. The pair represented the United States at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games in ice dancing and toured as Champions on Ice performers. They have been featured on ABC’s Skating with the Stars, and in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Time Magazine.