INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

athletes, coaches and spectators towards athlete professional
development, but not the harmonious development of their physical
and mental values; the victory at any price (also at the cost of one’s
health, violating moral norms and principles), is not a noble action. On
the contrary, it promotes the expression of violence, roughness,
aggression and nationalism.
Of course, among athletes there are the ones who show a
chivalrous, noble behaviour (I mean the laureates (winners) of fair
play) who have great achievements not only in sport, but also in other
spheres of life. But apart of the winners and record holders, we know
little about them.
All these conditions indicate the necessity to provide young people
with Olympic education. It is necessary to explain and disseminate the
ideas of Olympism and Olympic movement. It should be taken into
account that children and adolescent behaviour depends not only on
their knowledge, but mainly on competition organization. Therefore a
stimulation system should be developed to create interest about these
ideals and values in youth in order to promote them to be like these
athletes. Olympic education facilitates the studying of Olympic ideas,
educates honest and sportsmanlike behaviour not only in sport, but
also in everyday life.
In recent years the development of the Olympic system is being
paid a great attention to. The Latvian Olympic Academy does a
serious work every year organizing sessions for pupils and students,
organizing children festivals and many other events. LOC issues
books and informative material about the Olympic Movement. The
organized competitions for schoolchildren are: the Olympic Runner
Day, since 1992 the Latvian Youth Olympic Days in summer sports
are held, and since 1994 – also in winter sports. In 2002 the Latvian
Youth Olympic Days became the Latvian Youth Olympiade.
In many countries for several years the Olympic education
programme is realized at schools and is being improved from year to
year. The Olympic education programme, as some authors point out,
is realized and has proven its necessity in many countries in the world
– in Canada, Russia, the USA, Greece, Australia, France, Spain and
Norway.
The acquiring of theoretical knowledge at sports classes at school
was not paid enough attention to till the renewal of Latvia
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