A great opportunity

The initiative has got a name: "More than gold". And a purpose: to humanize the Olympics through a large-scale evangelization and a strong social commitment aimed at fighting poverty and the plague of human trafficking and exploitation. These are situations which the Olympic games often promote. "More than gold" is promoted by 15 churches belonging to 15 Christian denominations, the longest and most important ecumenical activity ever experienced in England. In Anchor House, a centre providing shelter to the homeless, located near the Olympic village, where next July 27 will convene thousand of athletes, James Parker and Msgr. John Armitage, parish priest of East London, Vicar General of the diocese of Brentwood, coordinate the commitment of the Catholic Church in the Games. They explained to SIR Europe the meaning of this involvement and how the Church is preparing for the Olympics that will take place in the English capital from July 27 to August 12.The Catholic Church has never invested as much in the Olympic Games… "It’s true. We were contacted by the International Olympics Committee, tasked with assuring spiritual assistance during the games to the faithful of the five most important religions, namely, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. We already have ecumenical structures in this country like the organization "Churches together in Britain and Ireland". Thanks to these contacts in 2007 we launched, "More than gold", (www.morethangold.org.uk), a charity that sees the contribution of fifteen different Christian denominations, including the Orthodox Church and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. After the Pope’s visit I was asked to coordinate this… Olympic commitment". It’s a commitment with an evident ecumenical connotation. Is it the first time that British Christian cooperate so closely? "It can be said that it’s the longest and most significant ecumenical initiative we have ever experienced. Since each of the Churches could rely on resources and staff, cooperation came easily, and over the past years 2.000.000 pounds have been invested in this endeavour, amounting to approximately 2.400.000 euro". How are you preparing for the request of the IOC? "In the Olympic village and in the churches nearby, such as Westminster’s Cathedral, the churches of St. Frances in Stratford and St. Catherine in Bow, and the churches of the West End, chaplains will be available 24 hours running, with the celebration of Mass and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament also 24 hours a day. We will also be distributing bottles of water, with the help of the Salvation Army". Will volunteers be cooperating as well? "The Joshua camp" will be set up in Brentwood, London, to prepare the volunteers that will approach locals and tourists to tell them of Jesus. We confide that at least 400 will arrive from various countries. Registration has just begun, but we already received requests from USA, Canada, India. Africa Holland, Portugal, Germany and the Czech Republic. In the first three days we will provide spiritual formation for the volunteers who will then be sent to hospitality centres and churches, where the Eucharistic Adoration will take place. We intend to avail ourselves of a model of evangelization that delivered positive results in the West End of London, "Night fever", i.e. speaking to people on the street and near the churches where will be offered adoration, confession and prayers".Often alongside with major sports events there is talk of trafficking and exploitation of human beings. Have you thought of specific initiatives to this regard? "The Olympics are a good opportunity to raise awareness on this issue, since the representatives of 200 countries will attend the event, and also because perhaps, also during the Games, there could be exploitation. Some 500 volunteers will distribute leaflets with a toll-free number to report such cases. Anyone can call and ask for help. We hope to encourage all those who are victims of such trafficking, a rapidly developing industry. We will collaborate with the police". Olympic games are presented as an opportunity for the recovery of this area of London… "Recovery would have taken place all the same, but it should be said that thanks to the Games there will be 1100 new houses, a new park, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park, and sports centres. Approximately 6000 were employed, albeit for a short period, in the Olympic Park. The press centre created for 25000 journalists will be eventually be used for commercial purposes, but investments will be needed to boost small enterprises".What will be left of this work at the end of the Games? "We have a foundation, the "John Paul II Foundation for sport" that will continue promoting sport in parishes and schools, as an opportunity of growth for individuals, and we hope that unique ecumenical cooperation that we have undertaken may continue".