Teaching Values- An Olympic Education Toolkit - International ...

TEACHING VALUES AN OLYMPIC EDUCATION TOOLKIT
SOLVING YOUR
PROBLEMS OLYMPIC
CHALLENGES
LIKE EVERY ORGANISATION, THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC MOVEMENT HAS HAD ITS SHARE OF PROBLEMS. SOME OF
THESE CHALLENGES ARISE BECAUSE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES’ PRESTIGE AND POPULARITY. THESE PROBLEMS
SOMETIMES AFFECT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ORGANISATION BECAUSE THEY INCLUDE ACTIONS THAT ARE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE VALUES OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT. USE THIS ACTIVITY AS A PLACE TO DISCUSS
THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE FACED THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT IN ITS 100-YEAR HISTORY.
“THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT HAS SURVIVED MANY CRISES IN ITS MORE THAN 107 YEARS OF
HISTORY: IT SURVIVED THE INTERRUPTION OF GAMES DURING TWO WORLD WARS; IT SUR-
VIVED BOYCOTTS; IT SURVIVED THE TRAGEDY IN MUNICH; IT SURVIVED DOPING SCANDALS;
IT SURVIVED ITS OWN CORRUPTION. EACH TIME THE IOC TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION. WE
SHOULD, HOWEVER, AVOID ANY COMPLACENCY.”
(JACQUES ROGGE, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, 2004. OLYMPIC REVIEW)
FOR DISCUSSION
Identify the value conflict for the Olympic
Movement in each of the following
situations.
[The Olympic Movement] “survived
the interruption of Games
during two World Wars.”
In 1916, 1940 and 1944 the Olympic
Games were not held because of war
in Europe.
How is this in opposition to the values
of the Olympic Movement?
[The Olympic Movement] “survived
boycotts.” What is a boycott?
Investigate the reasons for the
boycotts of the Olympic Games by
certain nations, e.g. in Montreal
1976, Moscow 1980 and Los
Angeles 1984. How would you feel if
you were an athlete who was
expected to win a medal at the
Olympic Games, and because your
country decided to boycott the
Games, you could not participate?
[The Olympic Movement] “survived
the tragedy in Munich.” What
happened at the 1972 Munich
Olympic Games? What was the IOC’s
response? The consequence of this
event is that the IOC and Organising
Committees have to spend a lot of
money and pay very close attention to
the security of participants at an
Olympic Games. Investigate the
complex procedures for Olympic
Games security.
[The Olympic Movement] “survived
doping scandals.” What is doping?
What kinds of substances are illegal?
Why are they illegal? Why is doping in
opposition to the Olympic values?
Why do athletes use illegal substances?
Investigate the procedures used
to test athletes for illegal substances.
What are the penalties?
[The Olympic Movement] “survived
its own corruption.” In Salt Lake
City prior to the 2002 Winter Games
it was discovered that a number of
IOC members had accepted favours
in return for voting for Salt Lake City
during the bidding process.
Below Salt Lake City
2002: Military
personnel inspect
vehicles before
allowing them to enter
the athlete’s village.
This is just one of the
many safety
precautions that are
now in place at the
Olympic Games.
An investigation by the IOC uncovered
a number of examples of inappropriate
behaviour by IOC members. A number
of them resigned or were expelled.
How was this behaviour by IOC
members in opposition to the Olympic
values?
What problems or challenges will you
have as you plan and organise your
community event? Do you think there
will be opposition? From whom?
How will you handle this conflict?
SECTION 3 SHARING THE VALUES THROUGH SPORT AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES
TEACHING VALUES 63