INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

BUILDING VALUES THROUGH OLYMPISM
SRI LANKAN PERSPECTIVE
Mr Maxwell DE SILVA (SRI)
The National Olympic Academy in Sri Lanka was born three years
ago by the initiative of the current NOC Sri Lanka President Mr
Hemasiri Fernando’s untiring efforts. Since then every year in the
picturesque Bandarawela Town was the venue for the gathering of 60
undergraduates from all the universities in Sri Lanka.
Why Undergraduates? They form the cream of the intellectuals in
our country, as the university entrance examinations are very
competitive and the intake is limited, hence students entering the
universities are the very best in Sri Lanka. On passing out of the
University they hold high posts in society, hence we thought it is
prudent to target this group of young intellectuals in our society to
promote Olympism, as they are the group who could make an impact
in the society.
The Issues highlighted at the Sessions are:
1. Fairplay
2. Ethics
In Sri Lanka education is a must and society emphasizes on good
and sound education from the primary level in Schools, as such there
is a severe competition in the Country to do better at Examinations.
Due to the intense rivalry in EXAMINATIONS leading to University
Education, students tend to focus more on their individual
performance and to enhance it at any cost. Having seen this, we felt
that they require to be exposed to Olympic Principles of Fair Play and
High Ethics leading to life.
I would like to quote from Olympic Charter (1995)
Quote:
Fundamental Principle 2 (p. 7)
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