Talking Points: Bob Walsh

Bob Walsh got mixed reviews for
the Goodwill Games he organized in Seattle in 1990. Now, he’s taking on an even
more ambitious task with One World 2011, a series of sports, academic, arts and
business events he plans to hold during a month-long period beginning on
September 11, 2011-the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack-with the goal of
building a bridge to the Muslim world.

Genesis: Thanks to the Goodwill
Games, close to $1 billion in investments occurred here. A lot of personal and
business relationships were established with the [former] Soviet Union.
Aeroflot started flying to Seattle and the Russian consulate was established.
The games contributed to the thawing of the Cold War. I thought it would be a
good idea to do the same thing with the Muslim world.

Organization: We’ve been
working on this for two and a half years. We have an office in Amman [Jordan]
and in Dubai [United Arab Emirates], and we are setting one up in Istanbul [in
December]. We’ve hired Blue State Digital, which did the Obama campaign, to
design strategic marketing on the internet [to reach participants from 38
countries].

Support: We have received money
from the Gates Foundation and from George Russell. We are looking for funding
from other foundations, individuals and the United States government. We are
also supported by the Russian Federation, which has three republics that are
Muslim. The president of Azerbaijan is very much behind this project. And we
are meeting the president of Turkey.

Youth Program: The focus is on
youth and women’s empowerment. Sixty-five percent of the Muslim population is
under 25. We want to bring over thousands of high school and college students
who would never have an opportunity to travel. We’re working with Queen Rania
Al-Abdullah [of Jordan]. She is one of the real focal points, because she is
noncontroversial. Students will stay at homes in Seattle or on university
campuses. The University of Washington is on board as well as Evergreen State
[College] and Bastyr.

Sports: We’ll bring over boys
and girls who will play soccer against local teams. We’ll also have rhythmic
gymnastics, which is very popular in the Muslim world among girls. We are in
the process of securing the Saudi Arabian women’s basketball team to come here
and play. We’ll have a women’s swimming team. They won’t swim in the presence
of men; we are not shying away from cultural differences. … We’re also
working with [Seattle Sounders FC CEO] Tod Leiweke to come up with an agreement
whereby they will bring over at least one top Muslim [soccer] team.

Trade Fair: We’re planning a
bazaar that will include Washington’s Muslim trade partners. There are a lot of
airlines that are interested. Agriculture will be big. There will also be
something on real estate and tourism.

Conferences: There will be an
interfaith conference that will bring over high school and college students to
discuss faith. Children’s Hospital is working on the possibility of a major
medical conference focused on pediatrics and women. We’ll also do something in
the arts. We want to get the whole community involved. We hope this event will
be a real catalyst for change.