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

SECTION 4 THE FIVE EDUCATIONAL VALUES OF OLYMPISM
“I didn’t have to think. Our policy of the
Norwegian team, and my policy, is that we
should help each other. We should
compete on the same ground. Everybody
should have two skis and two poles.”
For Håkensmoen, lending Renner a
spare pole was a simple act. To others, it’s
an example of the Olympic spirit that
sometimes gets lost in the quest for
medals.
FOR DISCUSSION
What seemed to be more important
to the Norwegian coach than winning
an Olympic medal?
The Norwegian team finished fourth
in the race – with no medal. Is it fair
to help another team if they will beat
you out of a medal?
READING
Fair Play on the High Seas
It was Saturday, 24 September, 1988.
Lawrence Lemieux, a Canadian, was in
second place in his small yacht during the
Olympic competitions of the Seoul Olympic
Games. The race was taking place in
confusing high winds and rough waves off
the coast of Korea. These were conditions
that Larry knew well. He was an
experienced rough water sailor. He was
almost in a position to challenge the
leader for the gold medal.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye
he saw an empty boat in the waves. A
man was in the cold waters near the
empty boat and waving his arms. An
unexpected wave had flipped him out of
his boat.
Without hesitation, Lemieux veered
from the course to come up beside the
drowning sailor. He pulled the man from
the water. Then he headed his yacht
toward shore to get help. After the rescue,
Lawrence re-entered the race, but he
finished well behind the leaders. In the
true spirit of Olympic competition,
Lawrence gave up his chance to win the
race in order to assist a fellow competitor.
In recognition of his action, the
International Olympic Committee
presented Lawrence with a special
Olympic award. Lemieux was both happy
and surprised when the media fussed over
what he says any sailor would have done.
Said Lemieux, “The first rule of sailing is,
if you see somebody in trouble, you
help him.”
Left Turin 2006: Sarah
Renner (CAN)
competes during the
Women’s Cross
Country 10km.
Below Left Norwegian
ski coach Bjørnar
Håkensmoen.
FOR DISCUSSION
What is the similarity between the
Norwegian coach’s ideas and
Lemieux’s ideas about winning.
Do you agree with them? Why or
why not?
84 TEACHING VALUES