Conclusion of the First Community Olympic Education Workshop at the Qatar Olympic Academy
Doha, October 24 – The first Community Olympic Education Workshop held by the Qatar Olympic Academy concluded today. This workshop is held periodically in collaboration with the International Olympic Academy and Olympic Solidarity at the International Olympic Committee, both at the Qatar Olympic Academy’s headquarters and various event locations and schools.
Dr. Ali Al-Bakri, Director of Sports Management Programs and Qatar’s National Representative in the International Olympic Academy, conducted the workshop. It saw participation from over eighty students from various disciplines and professional fields.
The workshop covered several important topics, including the origins of the ancient Olympic games and the Olympic values associated with the Olympic Games. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Olympic Games, emphasized that the aim of the games is not just to excel in performance but to advance ideas, enhance educational values, and promote human ethics. It underscored the importance of equality and respecting others, values that have persisted for nearly 3000 years in the history of the Olympic Games.
The workshop also discussed the significance of social responsibility, which is at the core of the International Olympic Committee’s work. All activities in Olympic education programs are based on the three fundamental principles outlined in the Olympic Charter and the basic principles of the Olympics, which are considered a philosophy of life. The ultimate goal of the Olympic Games is to put sport at the service of harmonious human development, with the purpose of promoting the establishment of a peaceful society that values human dignity, as exercising sports is a human right without discrimination.
The lecturer then defined Olympic values concerning excellence, respect, and friendship, which are the core values of the Olympics and the central focus of the Olympic Games. Excellence means giving your best effort in sports or in one’s professional life. Respect encompasses self-respect, respect for others, respect for rules, regulations, sports, and the environment. Friendship encourages seeing sports as a tool for mutual understanding among individuals worldwide.
The lecturer also highlighted five educational topics for the Olympic Games from the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Values Education Program, which is a series of educational resources created by the International Olympic Committee. These topics include fair play, respect for others, striving for excellence, balancing body, will, and mind.
The lecturer referenced what Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee, said about the goal the Committee seeks to promote: global participation in sports and physical activities, as well as developing appropriate educational tools for engaging and empowering youth.
The workshop concluded by discussing the main objectives of Olympic education programs, which include establishing a school Olympics to increase physical activity and sports among students, benefiting their academic achievements. It will also inspire future generations by empowering young people to realize their potential and shaping leaders who make a positive contribution to society.
