INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

world champion in swimming) career to the Olympic Games in
Athens.
The Olympic Education Program can be realised in many ways
and through many different subjects such as history, geography,
music, arts, handicraft, languages, religion, environment education,
drama, health and physical education. A school can organize Olympic
Games of its own, with opening and closing ceremonies and with
different kinds of competitions. Our cooperation with Estonian
Olympic Academy was highlighted by the School Olympic games, a
joyful event held in Helsinki last May involving two elementary
schools from Estonia and four from Finland. We will continue and
promote this international cooperation. During this European theme
year the Finnish Olympic Academy will continue to promote the
cooperation with schools and sports organizations and discuss
problems concerning education of youth involved in competitive
sports.
Fair play is basic value in sport and life. We have to continue the
discussion about the problems of the Olympic Movement. What will
be the future under pressures of doping, violence and excessive
commercialisation? Will National Olympic Academies be able to
uphold their humanitarian principles in these circumstances? I believe
that the sooner we are able to influence the values and attitudes of
young people through education the better results we will achieve and
our future will be brighter, especially if we all keep working together
to the same direction.
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