Teaching Values:

An Olympic Education Toolkit

OVEP Educators Symposium
Based on a presentation by Deanna Binder

Olympism
is a philosophy of life,
balancing the qualities of
body, will and mind. By
blending sport with culture
and education, Olympism
seeks to create a way of life
based on: the joy of effort,
the educational values of
good examples, and respect
for universal fundamental
ethical principles

Source: The Olympic Charter

2

What is a value?
A value is what is
considered important in life;
what makes life worth
living.
A value is also something
that helps people decide
what is right or wrong in
moral terms.
Source: Olympic Museum Lausanne,
Educational Services

The 5 Educational Values of Olympism

Joy of effort
Fair play
Respect for others

Pursuit of Excellence
Balance between
body, will and mind

Pursuit of
excellence
Helps young people to
become the best that
they can be, in
whatever they do.

Joy of Effort
Motivates children
and youth to pursue
excellence in sport
and physical activity,
and develops skills
to enjoy an active,
healthy lifestyle

Fair Play

Respect for others

Teaches children and
youth to accept and
respect diversity,
practice personal
peaceful behaviours,
and promote peace in
their homes and
communities.

Balance between
body, will and mind

Reinforces fair play

behaviour in sport,
in life and in the
community.

Through active
participation in sport and
physical activity important
cognitive, emotional and
life skills are developed
and practiced.
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Joy of Effort

Young people develop

and practise physical,
behavioural and
intellectual skills by
challenging
themselves and each
other in physical
activities, movement,
games and sport.

Fair Play

Fair play is
not caught,
it must be
taught.

Learning fair play

behaviours through
physical activity and sport
can help in the
development of fair play
behaviours in the
community and in life.

Respect for Others

Learning to accept and

respect diversity, and
practise personal
peaceful behaviours can
promote peace and
international
understanding.

Pursuit of Excellence
Among athletes
excellence is often
considered doing your
personal best.
This concept can help
young people to make
positive, healthy choices,
and strive to become the
best that they can be in
whatever they do.

Pierre revival of the

Balance Between Body, Will and Mind

Current research
suggests that learning
takes place in the whole
body, not just in the mind.
Physical activity and
learning through
movement contributes to
the development of both
moral and intellectual
learning.

Pierre de Coubertins revival of

the Olympic Games was
based on a similar concept of
body and mind.
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Educational Questions

HOW are the educational values

of Olympism learned? How can
they be taught? What are the
best methods?

HOW can the teaching of

Olympic principles be supported
by Olympic Organizing
Committees, the IOC, the
National Olympic Committees
and sport and educational
organizations?

Pierre de of the
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How to achieve our objectives?

Through:

Activity being physical!

Being natural
Having fun
Being creative
Individual/group work
Stimulating your imagination

Develop a resource portfolio to

promote the Olympic Values
This may include:
Games / sport activities
Mini Olympic day plans
Competitions to build team spirit
Fair play rules
Discussion topics /role plays
Using champions as role models
Olympic theme day / week / month

Enjoy the experience - its over to you!

Olympic Educational Values in Daily

Practical School Life
PE Classes
Breaktime Activities
Sports orientated Project Work
Sports orientated Excursions
School Competititons
Other Subjects
Partly in Subject Combined Projects