Physical Education · Ch 2 — Olympic Value Education
Summary
Summary
This unit has shown how the Olympic Movement uses sport not merely to crown winners but to educate people and build a more peaceful world. Here are its key ideas, in the textbook's order.
Olympism and the three core values
Olympism is a philosophy of life that blends sport with culture and education to build a balanced, peaceful way of living founded on the joy of effort, good example, social responsibility and respect for ethical principles; the Olympic Charter sets out its seven Fundamental Principles. Its three core values are Excellence (doing your best and making progress, not just winning), Friendship (sport as an instrument of mutual understanding) and Respect (for yourself, others, the rules and the environment).
Olympic Value Education (OVE)
OVE turns these ideals into lessons learned through sport, drawn from the Mental, Emotional and Physical domains, around five themes: Joy of Effort, Fair Play, Respect for Others, Pursuit of Excellence, and Balance between Body, Will and Mind - each illustrated by a real Olympic story (Keino, Monti, Owens & Long, and Coubertin's whole-person ideal).
Ancient and modern Olympic Games
The ancient Games were held at Olympia in honour of Zeus from 776 BCE, open only to free Greek men, every four years (an Olympiad), and were abolished by Emperor Theodosius I in 393/394 AD. The modern Games were revived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the IOC in 1894, with the first modern Games at Athens in 1896; they differ from the ancient Games in participation, gender inclusion, team events, purpose and scale, and now include the Winter Games (from 1924).
Olympic symbols and ceremonial elements
- Creed - take part, not just win; the struggle, not the triumph.
- Symbol - five interlaced rings (blue, yellow, black, green, red) for the five continents united.
- Flag - the rings on a white background (peace); first hoisted 1920, Antwerp.
- Motto - Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger); Communiter (Together) added in 2021.
- Emblems - each Games' own design, approved by the IOC.
- Anthem - the Olympic Hymn, played when the flag is raised.
- Flame & Torches - lit at Olympia, carried by relay; only the flame is passed on.
- Doves - released as a symbol of peace after the cauldron is lit.
- Athletes' Oath - the pledge of fair, clean, sportsmanlike competition.
- Awards - gold, silver and bronze medals; diplomas to the top eight.