Over the years Dr Edward de Bono has shared great insights through his messages. This series of blogs revisits some of those highlights.

Olympic Games

London and Paris are full of notices promoting the 2012 Olympic Games. I wonder how many people seeing these notices know that the continuation of the Olympic Games is due in part to me. The 1976 Games were held in Montreal and lost a huge amount of money. After Montreal no city in the world wanted the Games. Fortunately, Moscow agreed to host the 1980 Games because they had a different accounting system. After Moscow there was again the problem of finding a city to host the Games. Finally, Los Angeles agreed to host the Games. For the first time in history the Games made a considerable profit. After Los Angeles, cities round the world compete strongly to get the Games. So much so that bribes are even alleged. When Peter Ueberroth, the organiser of the successful Los Angeles Games, was interviewed by the Washington Post he was asked how he had made such a success of the Games. He told how he had used ‘Lateral Thinking’ to generate the new ideas and concepts that were needed. Someone sent me this cutting. I wrote to Peter Ueberroth and asked him where he had learned his Lateral Thinking. He reminded me that he had been my host when I talked to the Young Presidents Organisation in Boca Raton Florida in 1975. From that ninety minute talk he took some of the principles and tools of lateral thinking and applied them nine years later to the design of the Los Angeles Games. That says much for his leadership and ability. For this reason when I was in Beijing two years ago, the Olympic Committee asked for a special meeting with me. We generated some interesting ideas which may be used in 2008.

Edward de Bono 20th April 2005

  Dr Edward de Bono is a world leading authority on thinking skills. Creator of the famous Six Thinking Hats ®, Lateral Thinking and many other workshops he has authored over 80 books published in 35 languages. Holst is Dr Edward de Bono’s partner in Europe. Click here for more information about Dr de Bono and his tools. Would you like to change how people think? Consider adding Dr Edward de Bono’s tools to your portfolio and become a certified de Bono trainer. [traininglist slug=”six-thinking-hats-accreditation-3-days”] [traininglist slug=”six-thinking-hats”] [traininglist slug=”lateral-thinking”] [traininglist slug=”power-of-perception”] [traininglist slug=”power-of-perception-2-days”] [traininglist slug=”focus-on-facilitation”]    ]]>