Johann's accomplishments on the ice have since been obscured by his endeavors for the benefit of Right To Play, an athlete‐driven global philanthropic association that utilizations game and play as an apparatus for advancement of youngsters and youth in the most impeded regions of the world.
Johann initially got engaged with Right To Play (at that point known as Olympic Aid) in 1993 when he visited the African nation of Eritrea. He was significantly moved by ! the situation of the youngsters. At Lillehammer, Johann gave the prize cash from his 1500m triumph to Olympic Aid and moved different competitors to do likewise.
Since Lillehammer, Johann has committed himself to developing Right To Play into a universally perceived non‐government association (NGO) and an innovator in Sport for Development. Game for Development utilizes game and play to improve the sound physical and psycho‐social advancement of youngsters and fabricate more grounded networks.
Today, Right To Play creates and actualizes kid and local area improvement programs in excess of 20 nations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, working with the UN and different organizations, including UNICEF, UNHCR, GAVI and WHO. Outside his part as President and CEO of Right To Play, Johann is dynamic in various game and Olympic causes.
In 1997, Johann was named Chairman of the Norwegian Government Forum against Drugs and Doping. He is likewise on the leading group of an association called “MOT” (Courage) that activates Norwegian competitors in the battle against drugs and doping.
He was an individual from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athlete's Commission from 1998 to 2002 and was on the Medical Commission and the chief leading body of the IOC 2000 Commission taking care of issues of change.
He likewise filled in as an establishing board and leader board individual from the World Anti‐Doping Agency (2000 to 2002) where he started the Athlete anti‐doping identification. In 1994, Johann was named Special Representative for Sport for UNICEF International.
The individuals of Norway granted Johann the qualification of “Best Norwegian Olympian Ever” in 1994 and he got the Norwegian Olympic Committee's most elevated honor ?" The Fearnleys Honorary Award.
Johann is likewise a beneficiary of various worldwide honors including Spor!tsman of the Year by USA Sports Illustrated, the Jesse Owens Award, the International Athletic Foundation Award in Los Angeles, and the Jackie Robinson Humanitarian Award.
Johann was given the Child Survival Award in 1996 by the Carter Center in Atlanta and, soon thereafter during the festival of UNICEF's 50th commemoration, he was given UNICEF's Honorary Award. Johann was proclaimed “One of 100 Future Leaders of Tomorrow” by TIME Magazine and “One of 1,000 Global Leaders” by the World Economic Forum.
Johann finished his undergrad clinical preparing at the University of Queensland, and as of late finished his leader MBA at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
In June 2005, Johann got a Doctor of Laws Honorary Degree from Brock University, and in 2009 he got a second Doctor of Laws Honorary Degree from the University of Calgary. In January 2006, the World Economic Forum named Johann a Young Global Leader.
Option To Play's International Headquarters are in Toronto, Canada, with National Offices in Canada, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
