Important meetings and events in 2008

In the beginning of the year 2008 Dr. Ali Khalifa invited the Secretary General to the official opening of the regional office of IOV for the Middle East and the Arabic countries of North Africa.  During these days our Sec. General was invited to talk with the Minister of Culture and Information in which further support for IOV was confirmed.

End of February  Sec. General Hans Holz was invited to participate in the conference of the "North American Folk Association" NFO in Orlando, Florida, to introduce IOV in a lecture and power point presentation.  Together with Dr. George Frandsen, regional secretary for North America, he also initiated further cooperation and support for the 1st World Youth Conference of IOV in USA which took place in the summer of 2008.

In March the Presidential Council met first time after the General Assembly in 2007. Following an invitation by VP Emma Chen Höfler this meeting was held  in Beijing.



A lot of matters concerning inner organisation and administration were discussed and beside several other decisions a Commission on Traditional Theatre, headed by Dr. Valery Khasanov, Russia, was founded.



In May a delegation of IOV was invited to Nanjing, China, to discuss the support of the application of „Yunjin Brocade Nanjing“ to become an Intangible Cultural Heritage appointed by UNESCO. 

After a reception hosted by the Mayor of Nanjing, Mr. Zhu Shan Lu, invited Hans J. Holz to represent IOV as one of the very few foreign runners in the Olympic Torch Relay.  This was a proud moment for IOV to be a part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

In July Secretary General, Hans J. Holz represented IOV at the biggest European Folk Art Event in the "Song and Dance Festival of Latvia" in Rega.  During this grand and historic event, which takes place every 5 years, Secretary General, was invited to talk with the leading organizer in the ministry of culture.

15,000 folk dancers from Latvia performed in a fantastic choreography in a stadium.  On another day a huge choir of 20,000 chosen singers performed together in a concert on a tremendous open air stage, singing up to 7 or 8 part harmony pieces from Latvian contemporary composers.

The 1st IOV World Youth Congress took place in Bountiful, Utah, USA in August, 2008.  Thanks to the huge efforts of VP Dr. George Frandsen and his team it was a great success with 120 participants from 29 nations attending.

Events ranged from lectures and presentation on the Intangible Cultural Heritage to performances by more than 300 international folk dancers and musicians from 9 countries and several ethnic groups.  This marked the first time that IOV has organized a congress emphasizing the role youth play in preserving the ICH of humanity.   We anticipate with great excitement the 2nd World Youth Congress, probably in Nanjing, China, in 2010.

In September an IOV delegation was invited as honorary guests to the 2nd World Delphic Games in Saratov, Russia.

Like the Olymipic Games in sports the Delphic Games are an international competitiona in all fields of art, folk art and culture.

More that 1,000 participants from more than 60 countries performed in front of different juries. 
In talks with the organizing committee, IOV was invited to cooperate with the Delphic movement for the future developement of the Delphic Games.



Also in October,  IOV Vice President, Etienne Vankeirsbilck and Secretary General, Hans  Holz, were invited to represent IOV in the International Baoshan Festival in Shanghai.  15 international groups and about 30 Chinese groups made this event an unforgettable experience.

The organizers invited the IOV to have close cooperation for the future festivals and cultural projects in Shanghai.



In December Regional  Secretary Dr. Ali Khalifa invited  the Presidential Council to hold a meeting in Bahrain.
After a short opening ceremony with important representatives of Bahrain as well as diplomats and ambassadors the PC worked intensively for five days to discuss and decide about the Internal Rules and Regulations for the inner organisation and administration of IOV by its officers

Beside this most important matter the PC discussed and confirmed the financial reports from the last two years and the new budget for 2009.
Another important topic was the process to found and lead national sections. An agreement for persons who want to found a national section and start as a kind of representative of IOV in this special country, drafted by George Frandsen, was discussed and confirmed.

Also personal decisions, interim until the next General Assembly, were made to strengthen the work of the IOV-Presidential Council.
Dr. George Frandsen (USA) was confirmed as Vice-President, responsible for Legal Affairs, which is a very important task in the leading board of IOV. Mrs. Jutta Widor (Austria), who was vice-treasurer since May 2007, was confirmed as the new treasurer and Mrs. Emma Chen Höfler, who was treasurer since May 2007, was confirmed as Vice-President, responsible for development.



Dr. Ali Khalifa, who had started a scientific and research-commission in his region Middle East and North Africa, was appointed as new Chair of the Commission for Scientific Research in Traditional Culture.
Many more topics, issues and concerns about the daily and worldwide work of the IOV-officers were discussed in this PC-meeting.
Finally the  next IOV-meetings, congresses and conferences, like the World Peace Congress in Santos, Brazil, in 2009, the next World Youth Congress in Nanjing, China, and a World Folk Congress in Gujarat, India, in 2010 were discussed and the planning was initiated.

Beside the very busy schedule of the daily meetings our host Dr. Ali Khalifa and his IOV-staff offered several free-time and evening programs to the members of the PC.

So the PC visited the IOV-regional office in Bahrain, had a dinner in a Bedouin tent together with the groups, participating in the festival which took place with international folk art groups from Latvia, India and Jordan on the next evening. On the last day the PC was invited for an excellent lunch to Dr. Ali Khalifa’s house.

The highlight of this PC-visit to Bahrain was meeting and being introduced to the King of Bahrain at the opening ceremony of the new Issa Cultural Center and library, which was another sign for the grand support and hospitality that IOV got from the King so far and will get in the future.



After this important meeting and decisions of the PC in Bahrain the work for a strong inner organisation and administration, for more service and new projects for our members will go on with a meeting of the Executive Board in the first half of 2009.



Finally we want to introduce the team of assistants at the general secretariat supporting the office work of IOV for its members, from left : Ingrid Zuniga, Helga Gruber and Jennifer Gahbauer.



Good luck for all your plans and activities connected to IOV in 2009!

Mag. Hans J. Holz, Secretary General