Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
_______Unit 8 – Page 1
UNIT 8 – OLYMPISM : IS IT FULFILLED?
The core value represented by the Olympic Games is known as Olympism. It includes some
respectable ideals sought by people. In this unit, you’ll study (i) what these ideals are; (ii) what
Olympic symbols convey these ideals, and (iii) some issues about the fulfillment of these ideals.
8.1


OLYMPIC SYMBOLS
The meaning and the values of Olympism are conveyed by symbols. Among these are the
rings, the motto and the torch relay. These symbols transmit a message in a simple and
direct manner.
From the sources listed below: (i) find the pictures of these symbols and stick them in the
boxes below, and (ii) learn what meaning and values are conveyed by these symbols.
The rings
The motto
The torch relay
The rings:
http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_672.pdf
http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_672.pdf
http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_655.pdf
(p.3)
(p.6)
(p.4)
The torch relay:
The motto:
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
_______Unit 8 – Page 2
The rings : What meaning and values do they convey?
The five colours mean the five continents.
The rings are interlaced to show the universality of Olympism.
The motto : What meaning and values does it convey?
It means the athlete to give his or her best during competition,
and to view this effort as a victory in itself.
It also means being first is not necessarily a priority but that giving
one’s best and striving for personal excellence is a worthwhile goal.
The torch relay : What meaning and values does it convey?
The torch relay heralds the Olympic Games and transmits a message of
peace and fraternity amongst peoples.
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
8.2
_______Unit 8 – Page 3
OLYMPISM
In simple words, Olympism is a philosophy of life founded on the education of the body
and mind through sport.
Olympism advocates a certain number of values. At an individual level, this implies:

knowledge : discovering one’s abilities and limits



competitive spirit : pitting oneself against others
excellence : giving the best of oneself
fair play : respecting one’s opponents
At a more global level, is based on:


access to the practice of sport for all, without distinction of race or religion
building a better and more peaceful world
Source: The Olympic Movement, the International Olympic Committee
8.3


FULFILLMENT OF THE OLYMPISM
Olympism represents the ideals that many people seek. But how far is the Olympism fulfilled?
People have very different answers to this question.
Here are four issues (Case One to Four) which were related to the fulfillment of the Olympism.
Examine these issues. For each of the issues, please think about these questions:
1.
2.
3.
What was the background of the issue?
Was the issue a violation of the Olympism? Why / Why not?
What was the possible impact of the issue on the Olympic Games?
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
_______Unit 8 – Page 4
CASE ONE : THE BOYCOTT OF 1980 MOSCOW OLYMPIC GAMES
Background: There was rivalry between Communist bloc and the capitalist bloc /
the ex-Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979/
Was it a violation of the Olympism?
Yes - The boycott prohibited athletes from attending the Games for political reason.
Therefore it violated the ideal “access to the practice of sport for all”.
No - The aim of the boycott was to protest against the invasion of Afghanistan,
therefore the boycott is a way to uphold the ideal “building a better and more
peaceful world”
Possible impact: It might cause more boycotts later as revenge / the Games might
be viewed by some people as a place for political struggle.
CASE TWO : THE BLACK POWER SALUTE IN THE 1968 MEXICO CITY
OLYMPICS
Background: There was the “Black Power Movement’ in the USA / the two athletes
agreed that there was racial discrimination against black people
Was it a violation of the Olympism?
Yes - Olympism is “a philosophy of life founded on the education of the body and
mind”. Civil right has no place in it.
No - The aim of the Black Power Salute was to strive for equality, it is a way to
uphold the ideal “building a better and more peaceful world”.
Possible impact: It might encourage more people to use the Games as a way to
voice their grievances / the organizing committees might take more actions to
prevent similar activity.
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
_______Unit 8 – Page 5
CASE THREE : PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES JOIN THE GAMES
Background:
Professional athletes were banned from the early Olympics / but
the ban was lifted in the 1980s
Was it a violation of the Olympism?
Yes - The main concern of professional athletes is income, not “the education
of the body and mind through sport”.
No - Accepting professional athletes is a way to uphold the ideal “access to the
practice of sport for all”.
Possible impact: More top athletes can join the Games / because of the presence of
the top athletes, the Games may become more attractive to spectators / the Games
may become more important economically and politically / the Games may
become more profitable.
CASE FOUR : FASTSKIN SWIMSUIT IN THE OLYMPICS
Background: There was long research into sharks skin and movement / there
was keen competition among top swimmers
Was it a violation of the Olympism?
Yes - Olympism is about “discovering one’s abilities and limits” and “pitting
oneself against others”. The emphasis on new technology distracts the concern
from body and mind.
No - Technology improvement does not necessarily mean distraction from the Olympic
ideals. “Education of body and mind” can go hand in hand with new technology.
Possible impact: Technology and fund become more decisive in Olympic
competitions / the link between athletes and sports product suppliers become
closer.
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
_______Unit 8 – Page 6
CASE ONE : THE BOYCOTT OF 1980 MOSCOW OLYMPIC GAMES
After the Second World War, there was the long-term rivalry between the Communist
bloc, led by the Ex-Soviet Union, and the capitalist bloc, led by the U.S. In 1979, the
Ex-Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. To protest the invasion, some countries, including
the U.S., Great Britain, Australia and China, boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics held
in the Ex-Soviet Union. Some governments, like those of Great Britain and Australia,
supported the boycott but allowed the athletes to decide for themselves whether to go to
Moscow. No such freedom of choice was allowed to U.S. and Chinese athletes. In the
end, 65 nations turned down their invitations to the Olympics. Eighty nations did
participate - the lowest number since 1956.
The withdrawal of the Soviet army
from Afghanistan
(Photo source : http://www.spieg
el.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,
449326-5,00.html)
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
_______Unit 8 – Page 7
CASE TWO : THE BLACK POWER SALUTE IN THE 1968 MEXICO
CITY OLYMPICS
In the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, U.S. athletes Tommy
Smith and John Carlos demonstrated against racial discrimination in
their country. In the 200-meter race, Smith won the gold medal and Carlos the bronze.
As the American flag rose and the national song played, they stood on the victory stand
and raised black-gloved fists and bowed their heads. This was their way of showing their
support for the “Black Power” movement. The movement protests racial discrimination
against black people.
Smith and Carlos were met with such anger that they were suspended from their national
team and banned from the Olympic Village. They also lost their medals.
Some people thought that political
statements had no place in the Olympic
Games. Supporters, on the other hand,
were moved by their actions and praised
them for their bravery.
The Black Power Salute
(Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute)
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
_______Unit 8 – Page 8
CASE THREE : PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES JOIN THE GAMES
Professional athletes were banned from the early Olympics. For
example, in the 1912 Olympic Game held in Sweden, Thrope, an US
athlete had his 2 medals stripped off. It was because the International
Olympic Committee discovered that he had played semi-pro baseball
for $25 a week in 1909 and 1910.
In the 1980s, the reference to amateur athletes was deleted in the Olympic rules and
nowadays, professional athletes can compete with only a few restrictions. Some people
consider that amateurism ended when the ‘Dream Team’ (with professional players
from the National Basketball Association of the U.S.) won the basketball gold medal at
the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
For the professional athletes, winning medals is strongly linked to money from various
sponsors. Many people argue that this relationship devalues the spirit of the Games.
However, some people think that earning money by sports does not violate Olympism.
The Dream Team in a game against the
Angolan team at the 1992 Olympic Games
in Barcelona, Spain
(Photo source : http://www.britannica.com
/eb/art-69503/Michael-Jordan-center-a-me
mber-of-the-US-Dream-Team)
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games________________________________________________________________
_______Unit 8 – Page 9
CASE FOUR : FASTSKIN SWIMSUIT IN THE OLYMPICS, SINCE
2000
A high-technology swimsuit, imitating the skin of sharks, has been
worn by top swimmers since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The new
swimsuit, known as the Fastskin, is the result of years of research that began with the
study of sharks skin. The research into sharks skin and movement through water was
carried out under the guidance of scientists and fish experts. The resultant swimsuit has
tiny 'teeth' on its surface. The shape and positioning of these 'teeth' vary across the body
to reduce the drag from water. According to the producers, the Fastskin increases a
swimmer's speed by up to four per cent more than the next best swimsuit.
Australians Ian Thorpe and Susie O'Neill wore the Fastskin as they set new world
records. Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands wore the Fastskin while setting three world
records over two weeks. The world governing body of swimming, however, ruled that
Fastskin does not make swimmers any faster. Therefore swimmers can wear Fastskin
during international competitions.
The coach of the U.S. swimming team said that Fastskin made his team faster, but he
wasn't sure if that was because of the suit or because team members believed that the
suits might make them faster.
Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section,Education Bureau