Promotion of Culture and Olympic Education

With all the controversy really kicking up about the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I thought it would be interesting to see and read what some of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Mission Statements are. The particular one I copied and pasted here is how the Olympics are “to contribute to building a peaceful and better world”. Seems like a few groups out there are not truly doing so.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has played an important role in the development of the culture and Olympic education agenda, by establishing a policy that seeks to provide greater resources to their promotion in and through sport at national, regional and international level, and particularly at the Olympic Games.

This policy has two main objectives:

• It strives to develop the link between sport and culture in all its forms, encourages cultural exchange and promotes the diversity of cultures.
• It also aims to promote Olympic education and supports other institutions which prone the values of Olympism.

It is based on the principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter (Fundamental Principles):

• Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles
• The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

This is a Link to the Mission Statement on IOC Website