Physical Education

Unit 2 Olympic Movement

Pre Reading-Material
Session 6
Olympic Symbol
This is made up of five rings which are interconnected. These rings
represent universality of athletes of various nations of the world.
These five rings stand for five continents—America, Africa,
Australia, Asia, and Europe. Each ring represents a particular
continent which was suggested by P.B. De Coubertin.
(i) The blue ring represents the continent of America. (ii) The
black ring represents the continent of Africa.
(iii) The red ring represents the continent of Australia. (iv) The yellow ring represents the
continent of Asia.
(v) The green ring represents the continent of Europe.
Olympic Motto
Olympic motto consist three Latin words:
Citius Altius Fortius
Faster Higher Stronger

These words mean that a person should always strive for faster, higher, and stronger level.

Olympic Flame
The Olympic flame symbolizes knowledge, life, and happiness. It is a sort of
symbol of peace. This flame is ignited in the Olympic village of Greece and
various players while running pass it on to one another and carry it to the
place where Olympic games are being held. This flame is not allowed to
extinguish. The flame keeps on burning till the Olympic games last.
Olympic Flag Olympic Award

The first winner in Olympic games is given a gold medal; the

Second one a silver medal and the third one a bronze medal.
Apart from this each of the three players is given a diploma. The
Next five winners are given one diploma each. There are some
Games in which joint 3rd place get bronze medal such as Wrestling,
Boxing etc.

Olympic Ideal
On Baron de Coubertin’s suggestion Olympic flag was made in 1913. It was inaugurated in Paris
on 19 June 1914 and it was first waved in Antwerp Olympic games during 1920. It is made of
white silk wherein 5 rings are interconnected. These rings represent the world’s five continents
—America, Europe, Australia,
Asia and Africa. Each ring has a different colour—yellow, green, red, blue, and black. Their
interconnection symbolizes cooperation and friendship. The white colour represents peace. The
Olympic flag suggests that the games should be played peacefully.
Before the start of the Olympics everybody remembers the famous quote of Bishop
Pennsylvania— “The important thing in Olympics is not to win, but to take part. The important
thing in life is not the triumph, but struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to
have fought well”.

Olympic Oath
This oath was initially written by Pierre De Coubertin which became apart from 1920 Antwerp
Olympics. To participate in Olympic games all athletes get together in the
stadium and take oath in the opening ceremony of Olympic games. The country
which hosts Olympic games, one of its representatives holds the flag and comes
forward. All participants including the athletes who hold their respective national
flags come to their respective places. The athlete (representative) takes oath on
behalf of all athletes and all the athletes lifting their right hands repeat the words
of oath taken by the representative athlete. In the name of all competitors, “We
swear that we shall take part in these Olympic games, respecting and abiding by
the rules that govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and
without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our
country.”
First time the oath regarding Doping and Drugs was taken in 2000 Sydney Olympic games.
Oath for Officials: In the name of all the judges and officials, “We swear that we shall
officiate in these Olympic games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules
which govern them in the true spirit of sportsmanship.”

Objectives of Olympic Games

The following objectives can be achieved through Olympic games:
(i) Developing the spirit of patriotism and brotherhood in players.
(ii) Diverting the attention of all countries towards physical education and sports
competitions.
(iii) Developing personality, character, social qualities, and health among youth.
(iv) Formation of good habit among young so that they may lead a happy and prosperous
life.
(v) No discrimination based on caste, colour, and creed.
(vi) To develop the unity, brotherhood, and coordination amongst the different nations.
(vii) To make a peaceful and good universe.

Olympic Values
If we look at the objectives of Olympic games, we come to learn that Baron De Coubertin
wanted to develop values through Olympic games. The following values can be developed
through Olympic movement:
Brotherhood: Olympic movement is instrumental in developing brotherhood when
players of different countries play together, come together, sit together, dine together—
they develop unity among themselves. Thus, brotherhood develops.
Impartial game: The Olympic games provide opportunities for impartial games. These
games are based on justice. So, each player and each team should be judged fairly.
Rules and regulations should be applied to each team. There should be no partiality
towards a specific team or player. The sports officials should be true to their words and
actions. “Live by code or get out”—such slogans should be raised.
No discrimination: According to the suggestion of Mr. Coubertin, there should not be
any discrimination based on caste, colour, and creed. Olympic games promote the spirit
of brotherhood and try to abolish discrimination. The players of different countries,
cultures, tradition, and caste— take part. They should not treat unfairly. The players
forget their background or roots and they help promote Olympic values. But exceptions
are always there. In 1972, Olympic games in Munich, Israelli players were killed
ruthlessly. In 1936, Berlin Olympic Jesse Owens bagged four gold medals but on the
grounds of racial discrimination. Adolf Hitler refused to honour Jese Owens, some
countries have vested interest in these games. They want to prove that they are a better
than the other countries. But it can’t be stated that Olympic movement has failed to
promote values, we should have positive outlook so that values may be promoted
through Olympic movement.
 Friendship: Olympic movement presents such opportunities as instrumental in
developing friendship not only among players but also among countries. Players of
different countries come to take part in Olympic games. When they get together, they
become friends. Even when there is tension going on between two countries, they come
close to one another through Olympic games.
Respect: This value motivates the players to show sportsman spirit. Every player
should retrospect and respect the opponents, rules of game and environment.

Values—friendship, brotherhood, unbiased sports, and partiality free: It can be

said that Olympic plays an important role in development of these values, but a dark
side of Olympics is also seen. Many countries participate in Olympics just to show their
superiority on other countries. This is also a downfall of these values that many
countries of the world boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics and 1984 Los Angeles
Olympics. The Olympic movement fails to develop the above said values. There should
a positive thinking towards these values so that these values can be developed.
Excellency: This value motivates a person to give the best performance on field and
outside the field.