Since jetlag managed to make my sleep rhythm resemble way too close the one of my grandma (Going to bed at 8, getting up at 6), I decided it might be time for a new blog entry. Yesterday, I told you some stuff about the YOG in general and said that my job was to promote the Olympic Values. Now when I was giving presentations in local schools and asked the kids, what Olympic Values are, the first two answers (apart from IDK) usually were "No doping" and "Fair Play". While those are of course perfectly good values, they in my humble opinion focus too much on the sports aspect of the Olympics. "Wait a second - is there another aspect to the Olympics than sport", you might exclaim now. Well, there is! Let me explain:
In the Olympic Charter (which is like the IOC's constitution), the first paragraph of the chapter "Fundamental Principles of Olympism" reads
"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."
The first thing I find interesting is that Olympism is a philosophy of life. As you might know, the ancient Olympic Games were religious events to render homage to the Gods. I know that nowadays, it might be difficult to grasp the philosophy underlying Usain Bolt running 100m in 9.69. However, at this point, I'd like to point out that Mr. Bolt trashing his opponents or Michael Phelps (Who is an ambassador for the YOG btw!) making a clean sweep are far more interesting than something intangible as an Olympic philosophy. However, if you take a look behind the scenes, of athletes coming to the Games and living in the Olympic Village together, you will immediately notice that there is a certain spirit in the air. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure yet to go to traditional Olympic Games, but allow me to take the YA seminar as an example: There, 29 YAs (We really missed you Maysam!) from all around the globe and 60 local CEP champs were united for the first time in their lives. And although their backgrounds were so diverse, ranging from Olympic champions to amateur just-for-fun athletes (like me ;)), you knew that they were united by something. I can't point my finger on it, but uniting factor might as well have been their shared philosophy of Olympism.
The point I probably like most is when it says "combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind." When I tell people that I study psychology in order to one day become a sport psychologist, they immediately think I will be the guy curing them from their drug problems since they can't cope with their stardom. Most people fail to understand that the body is granted, an important, but only one factor of sports. An example: Imagine that, through lucky genes, you only have to look at a weight and gain 3 pounds of muscles. Unfortunately, you are a little shy and the simple thought of performing before an audience gives you stage fright. Do you think that you'll ever win a competition? So in order to really be successful, you need to have the body (i.e. working out), the will (i.e. perseverance) and the mind (i.e. mental strength).
The point I probably like most is when it says "combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind." When I tell people that I study psychology in order to one day become a sport psychologist, they immediately think I will be the guy curing them from their drug problems since they can't cope with their stardom. Most people fail to understand that the body is granted, an important, but only one factor of sports. An example: Imagine that, through lucky genes, you only have to look at a weight and gain 3 pounds of muscles. Unfortunately, you are a little shy and the simple thought of performing before an audience gives you stage fright. Do you think that you'll ever win a competition? So in order to really be successful, you need to have the body (i.e. working out), the will (i.e. perseverance) and the mind (i.e. mental strength).
Last but not least, I would like to focus on the "blending sports with culture and education" part, since it is probably the most important one for the YOG. As you can see here, the CEP is not just an idea Mr. Rogge had to prevent the athletes from getting bored in Singapore (A highly unlikely thing). Combining sports with culture and education has from the start always been an important principle of the Olympic Movement. If you read the Fundamental Principles of Olympism and scroll down a bit, you'll find the goal of Olympism:
So, the way I see it, Olympism seeks to give athletes the means to promote a peaceful society, since culture and education are indispensable goods for the development of man. Or, a little less abstract: With the CEP, the YOG try to live up to the Fundamental Principles of Olympism by shaping young athletes not only to become champions on, but also off the field. They want young athletes to reach out to their communities and act as role models and living examples of how much you can achieve if you only believe in yourself, work hard an shape your life by the values of Friendship, Excellence and Respect.
The latter are the three Olympic Values, which I will write about in detail tomorrow!
So long
"The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity."
So, the way I see it, Olympism seeks to give athletes the means to promote a peaceful society, since culture and education are indispensable goods for the development of man. Or, a little less abstract: With the CEP, the YOG try to live up to the Fundamental Principles of Olympism by shaping young athletes not only to become champions on, but also off the field. They want young athletes to reach out to their communities and act as role models and living examples of how much you can achieve if you only believe in yourself, work hard an shape your life by the values of Friendship, Excellence and Respect.
The latter are the three Olympic Values, which I will write about in detail tomorrow!
So long
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