OLYMPIC VALUE EDUCATION 13

OLYMPIC VALUE EDUCATION

SYLLABUS
 Olympics, Paralympics and Special Olympics
 Olympic Symbols, Ideals, Objectives and Values of Olympism
 International Olympic Committee (IOC)
 Indian Olympic Association (IOA)

2.1. Olympics, Paralympics and Special Olympics

Olympics
The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are leading international sporting events featuring
summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world
participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games are considered the world's foremost
sports competition with more than 200 nations participating. The Olympic Games are held every four
years, with the Summer and Winter Games alternating by occurring every four years but two years
apart.
Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece,
from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, leading
to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896.
The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic
Movement, with the Olympic Charter
defining its structure and authority.
The evolution of the Olympic Movement
during the 20th and 21st centuries has
resulted in several changes to the Olympic
Games. Some of these adjustments include
the creation of the Winter Olympic Games
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for snow and ice sports, the Paralympic Games for athletes with a disability, the Youth Olympic Games
for athletes aged 14 to 18, the five Continental games (Pan American, African, Asian, European, and
Pacific), and the World Games for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. The Deaflympics
and Special Olympics are also endorsed by the IOC. The IOC had to adapt to a variety of economic,
political, and technological advancements. The abuse of amateur rules by the Eastern Block nations
prompted the IOC to shift away from pure amateurism, as envisioned by Coubertin, to allowing
participation of professional athletes.
Paralympics
The Paralympics is a major international
multi-sport event involving athletes with a
range of disabilities, including impaired
muscle power impaired passive range of
movement, limb deficiency, leg length
difference, short stature, hypertonia,
ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and
intellectual impairment. There are Winter
and Summer Paralympic Games, which
since the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul,
South Korea, are held almost immediately
following the respective Olympic Games.
All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The Paralympics has grown from a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948 to
become one of the largest international sporting events by the early 21st century. The Paralympics
has grown from 400 athletes with a disability from 23 countries in 1960 to thousands of competitors
from over 100 countries in the London 2012 Games. Paralympians strive for equal treatment with
non-disabled Olympic athletes, but there is a large funding gap between Olympic and Paralympic
athletes.
The Paralympic Games are organized in parallel with the Olympic Games, while the IOC-recognized
Special Olympics World Games include athletes with intellectual disabilities, and the Deaflympics
include deaf athletes.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual
OLYMPIC VALUE EDUCATION 15

disabilities and physical disabilities,

providing year-round training and
competitions to 5 million athletes and
Unified Sports partners in 172 countries.
Special Olympics competitions are held
every day, all around the world—including
local, national and regional competitions,
adding up to more than 1,00,000 events a
year. Like the International Paralympic
Committee, the Special Olympics
organization is recognized by the
International Olympic Committee;
however, unlike the Paralympic Games,
Special Olympics World Games are not held in the same year or in conjunction with the Olympic
Games.
The Special Olympics World Games is a major event put on by the Special Olympics. The World
Games alternate between summer and winter games, in two-year cycles, recurring every fourth year.
The first games were held on July 20, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, with about 1000 athletes from the U.S.
and Canada. International participation expanded in subsequent games. In 2003, the first summer
games held outside the United States were in Dublin, Ireland with 7000 athletes from 150 countries.
The most recent World Summer Games were held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from March 14
to 21, 2019. This was the first Special Olympics World Games to be held in the Middle East. The next
World Summer Games will be held in Berlin, Germany in 2023. This will be the first time that Germany
has ever hosted the Special Olympics World Games.
The first World Winter Games were held in 1977 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Austria hosted
the first Winter Games outside the United States in 1993. The most recent Special Olympics World
Winter Games were held in Graz, Schladming and Ramsau, Austria from March 14, 2017 to March 25,
2017. During the World Winter Games of 2013 in Pyeongchang, South Korea the first Special Olympics
Global Development Summit was held on "Ending the Cycle of Poverty and Exclusion for People with
Intellectual Disabilities," gathering government officials, activists and business leaders from around
the world. The next World Winter Games will be held in Åre and Östersund, Sweden between February
2 to 13, 2021. This will be the first time that Sweden has ever hosted the Special Olympics.
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2.2. Olympic Symbols, Ideals, Objectives and Values of Olympism

Olympic Symbols

(i) Olympic flag : The Olympic flag is made of white silk cloth and has no border which symbolizes
peace truth. In the centre it has five interlinked rings mentioned below:
(i) Blue ring : It represents American Continent.
(ii) Black ring : It represents African Continent.
(iii) Red ring : It represents Australian Continent.
(iv) Yellow ring : It represents Asian Continent.
(v) Green ring : It represents European Continent.
The five rings linked together symbolizes the unity of five continents of the world.
The blue ring is high on the left nearest to the flagpole. The flag as used in Antwerp (1920 Games)
is the regulation model.
Olympic Flame
It is a symbol of knowledge, life and happiness. It also symbolises peace. This flame or torch is
lighted in Olympic village of Greece and is them carried by the runners to the place where the Olympic
Games are going to be organised. During this process it keeps burning. At the end of closing ceremony
of these games this flame is extinguished.
Olympic Motto
The Olympic motto is made up of following three Latin words :
CITIUS Faster
ALTIUS Higher
FORTIUS Stronger
This motto inspires the human spirit to move faster, jump higher and become stronger through
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sports. To better understand the motto, we can compare it with the Olympic creed:
“The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to
have won, but to have fought well”. The three Latin words became the Olympic motto in 1894, the
date of the IOC’s creation. Pierre de Coubertin proposed the motto, having borrowed it from his
friend Henri Didon, a Dominican priest who taught sports close to Paris. The inspiration for the creed
would come later, following a sermon given by the Bishop of Pennsylvania, Ethelbert Talbot, during
the Games of London in 1908.
Olympic Oath
The athlete to recite the oath is a member of the host team, and proclaims the oath while holding
a corner of his national flag. The Olympic oath was first taken during the 1920 Olympic Games by
Belgian fencer Victor Boin.
The Olympic Oath as instituted in 1920 was as following :
"We swear. We will take part in the Olympic Games in a spirit of chivalry, for the honour of our
country and for the glory of sport."
New Oath Effective From 2002
"In the name of all the competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games,
respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without
doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour
of our teams."
Olympic Awards :The winners in all competitions are awarded gold medals for the first position,
silver medals for the second position and bronze medals for the third position. All of these are given
certificates with the medals. A medal ceremony is held after each Olympic event. The winners, standing
at the second and third are made to stand on the top of a three-tiered rostrum in order to award their
respective medals. After the medals are given by an IOC member, National Flag of three medalists are
raised while the National Anthem of the gold medalist’s country is played.
Ideals and Objectives of Olympism
Ideals of Olympism
The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part with true spirit of
sportsmanship. The important thing in life is not the triumphs but the struggles. The essential thing is
not to have conquered but to have fought well.
The main idea is that ‘How you have played’ whether you have won or lost, it does not matter. If
you have played well that is the ideal of sports.
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Objectives of Olympism
According to Coubertin, following objectives can be achieved through Olympic Games :

1. To pay attention towards physical education and sports competitions in all the countries of
the world.
2. To develop the personality, character, citizenship, qualities and health among the youth.

3. Formation of good habits among sportspersons so that they could lead a healthy and
prosperous life.

4. To develop patriotism and fraternity among sportspersons.

5. To develop international fraternity and peace.

6. Not to have any discrimination on the basis of caste, race and religion.

Values Through Olympism

The 1st Baron Pierre de Couertin of France revived these games in 1896 with great difficulty. The
Modern Olympic Games, as they are called now, were revived with the objectives of popularising
games and sports and inculcating the higher values of friendship, solidarity, fairplay and indiscrimination
among the youth.

1. Friendship : It is a hard fact that games and sports develop social qualities like friendship,
fraternity, mutual assistance and co-operation among the athletes because they bring with them
different cultural backgrounds on one platform and give them the opportunity to interact with one
another and develop such qualities. Athletes who have come from different parts of the world try to
learn many things from each other. They generally develop friendship with each other. Sometimes,
their friendship converts into relationship.

2. Solidarity : Olympic games provide the feeling of brotherhood or oneness among each other
even though they come from different countries with difference of religion and nationality. People
cooperate with each other and take part in the games and spread the ideals of Olympics in the world.
They participate in the games and forget their differences. Therefore they develop the sense of solidarity
and help in spreading the real motto of Olympic games.

3. Fair Play : Up to some extent it canbe said that Olympic Games enhance the chances of fair
play. Fair play is based on justice. There should be justice to each player as well as team. There should
not be any favour or inclination towards a team. Rules and regulations must be applied fairly to each
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team. But in fact, there is a big gap between words and actions of the officials. Nowadays every team
wants to win by hook or crook. The slogans like “stay out for sports and stay out of courts” and “live by
code or get out” have become useless as these are not found in practice. Therefore, it can be said that
Olympic movement in this respect is not so successful as it should have been.

2.3. International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The IOC was created by Pierre de Coubertin
on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its
first president. As of June 2017, its membership
consists of 95 active members, 41 honorary
members, an honorary president (Jacques
Rogge) and one honour member (Henry
Kissinger). The IOC is the supreme authority of
the worldwide modern Olympic movement.
The IOC organises the modern Olympic
Games and Youth Olympic Games, held in
summer and winter, every four years. The first
Summer Olympics organised by the IOC was held
in Athens, Greece, in 1896; the first Winter
Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Until 1992, both Summer and Winter Olympics
were held in the same year. After that year, however, the IOC shifted the Winter Olympics to the even
years between Summer Games, to help space the planning of the two events from one another, and
improve the financial balance of the IOC, which receives greater income on Olympic years. The first
Summer Youth Olympics were here in Singapore in 2010 and the first Winter Youth Olympics were
held in Innsbruck in 2012.
Functions of I.O.C.
(i) To encourage and support the promotion of ethics in sports as well as education of youth
through sports and to dedicate its efforts in ensuring that, in sport, the spirit of fair play
prevails and violence is banned.
(ii) To act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic movement.
(iii) To lead the fight against doping in sports.
(iv) To take action in order to strengthen the unity and to protect the independence of the
Olympic movement.
(v) To encourage and support the efforts of sports organisations and public authorities to
provide for social and professional future of athletes.
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(vi) To encourage and support the organisation, development and co-ordination of sports and
sports competitions.
(vii) To ensure regular celebration of the Olympic Games.
(viii) To promote a positive legacy from Olympic Games to the host cities and host countries.
(ix) To encourage and support initiatives blending sport with culture and education.
(x) To elect the host city of the Olympic Games. The I.O.C. executive board consists of the
president, four vice presidents and ten other members. All members of executive board
are elected by the session, in a secret ballot, by a majority of votes cast. The I.O.C.-executive
board assumes the general overall responsibility for the administration of I.O.C. and the
management of its affairs.
2.4. Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
Indian Olympic Association : It plays a key role in the selection
and participation of Indian sportspersons in the Olympic Games as
well as Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Sir Dorabji Tata along
with YMCA India Director Dr. A.G. Noehren, played a pivotal role in
fostering the Olympic ; movement in India as well as in the formation
of I.O.A. In 1927, the I.O.A. was constituted with Sir Dorabji Tata as its
first president and Dr. Noehren as secretary. In the same year, the
International Olympic Committee officially recognised I.O.A. as India’s
National Olympic Organization. In addition to the national federations
for each sport, there are State Olympic Associations in various states in the country. The Indian Olympic
Association is entrusted with the overall responsibility for India’s participation in the Olympic Games.
Besides the world events, I.O.A. also decides the organisation of National games.
Functions of I.O.A.
(i) To develop and protect the Olympic movement and amateur sports.
(ii) To enforce and defend the exclusive rights of the Association to the use of Olympic flag and
Olympic insignia.
(iii) To stimulate the interest of the people of the country in the promotion of sports and to
work for the formation of State Olympic Associations for the development of sports and
games.
(iv) To enforce all rules and regulations of the I.O.C.
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(v) To certify the amateur status of the competitors from India for international competitions.
(vi) In co-orperation with national sports federations/association, organize and control selection,
training, coaching of the teams that will represent india.
(vii) To have full and complete jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the participation of India
in Olympic games and the games under the patronage of I.O.A. and I.O.C.
(viii) To undertake with assistance of the National Sports Federations (NSFs), the financial
management transportation, maintenance and welfare of teams from India taking part in
Olympic games and other games, under the patronages of the I.O.C.
(ix) To promote and encourage physical, moral, cultural education of youth of the nation for
the development of character, good health and good citizenship.
(x) To admit the membership of State Olympic Associations and National Federations which
shall be required to submit their annual reports and audited statement accounts to I.O.A.
for information.
(xi) To take disciplinary action against any federation for misbehaviour or any other undesirable
activity bringing discredit to the country.
(xii) To be the official organisation in complete and sole charge of all Olympic matters in the
country.
(xiii) To maintain the highest ideals of amateurs and to promote interest in sports particularly in
connection with Olympic games and other games under the patronage of the I.O.C. and
I.O.A.

EXERCISE

Multiple choice questions

1. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in :
(a) 1804 (b) 1834
(c) 1894 (d) 1884
2. All Paralympic Games are governed by the :
(a) Internal Paralympic Committee (b) Intellectual Paralympic Committee
(c) Individual Paralympic Committee (d) International Paralympic Committee
3. The Olympic Flag was designed in :
(a) 1903 (b) 1913
(c) 1923 (d) 1943
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4. The Olympic Flag is made up of :

(a) White silk (b) White cotton
(c) White wool (d) White paper
5. In Olympic Flag how many interlinked rings are there in the centre ?
(a) 3 (b) 5
(c) 2 (d) 4
6. In Olympic Flag yellow ring represents :
(a) American Continent (b) African Continent
(c) Asian Continent (d) Australian Continent
7. In Olympic Flag green ring represents :
(a) European Continent (b) African Continent
(c) American Continent (d) Australian Continent
8. In Olympic Flag blue ring represents :
(a) African Continent (b) Australian Continent
(c) American Continent (d) Asian Continent
9. In Olympic Flag black ring represents :
(a) African Continent (b) American Continent
(c) Australian Continent (d) European Continent
10. In Olympic Flag red ring represents :
(a) Asian Continent (b) American Continent
(c) African Continent (d) Australian Continent
11. In Olympic Flag which ring is nearest to the flag pole ?
(a) Red (b) Blue
(c) Green (d) Black
12. The Olympic motto is made up of word/words :
(a) CITIUS (b) ALTIUS
(c) FORTIUS (d) All of the above
13. The Olympic oath was first taken during :
(a) Olympic games of 1916 (b) Olympic games of 1920
(c) Olympic games of 1924 (d) Olympic games of 1928
14. Who was the first president of Indian Olympic Association ?
(a) Sir Dorabji Tata (b) Dr. A.G. Noehren
(c) Jacques Rogge (d) Mintu Rao
15. Who was the first secretary of Indian Olympic Association ?
(a) Mintu Rao (b) Jacques Rogge
(c) Dr. A.G. Noehren (d) Sir Dorabji Tata
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Short Answer Type (I) Questions

1. What is the Olympic Motto ?
2. Write down the Olympic Oath.
3. How many rings are there in Olympic Symbol ? Mention their colours also.
4. Mention the role of rings in Olympic Flag.
5. Describe the functions of IOA and IOC.
6. Mention the Ideals of Olympism.
Short Answer Type (II) Questions
1. Explain any one Olympic Symbol.
2. Briefly describe the International Olympic Committee.
3. Explain the development of values through Olympism.
4. Explain the objectives of Indian Olympic Association.
5. Briefly describe Olympics.
6. Describe Paralympics.
7. Explain Special Olympics.