INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

the questions, in the dialogue between our bodies and minds and the
Earth. Because ‘all things refer to something (their context) and this
connection of the references is the world’(Hogenova, 2000).
ARETÉ, the idea of the Olympic Games appears through the ritual
of physical and spiritual achievement - in competition of the best
athletes. This is the way to get the honour of the whole of the world,
which the ancient Greeks called Ιερόs Γάµοs. The Olympic Games
had a meaning of sacred honour for the whole - what is its meaning
today?
One Czech philosopher (Jan Patočka) approached the idea of
ARETÉ: ‘ARETÉ is…a penetration of the whole to every single
situation and activity in human’s life (Patočka, 1996). ARETÉ can be
found as effort at insight the whole to every concrete situation. This
effort must be addressed to something higher, transcend. Without
transcend target there is not ARETÉ. When somebody says that only
things are important – he is not right. Therefore, what could happen?
The way would be blind, without any direction and the virtues,
meanings of things would not appear to him. So he would go nowhere.
3. ARETÉ - harmony between the mind and body
‘τέχνη (the care of the body) is the origin of καλόs and επιµέλεια
(the care of the mind) is the origin of αγαθόν’ (Hogenova, 2000). Both
cultivations have to be harmonized into καλοκαγαθία. The harmony
between the body and the mind, also the measure, is the ideal of
ancient Greece (Aristotle’s concept).
The care of the body
The care of the body (τέχνη) is expressed in two types. The first is
Gymnastics (to form the body in the right shape thanks to movement)
and the second one is Medicine (to maintain the body shape). To take
care of the body means to open new spaces for opportunities for our
bodyness. How can we take care of our body? Through Gymnastics –
it does not mean to attend sport’s gym but to go through the school of
sports (sport as a philosophy of life). It means to do some physical
exercises (for example running, playing the games, artistic
gymnastics) – but not only for ηδονή (own delights) or for our own
health but also for our spiritual enjoyment. If we keep our body and
our mind clear through the top personal sports achievement we will
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