To All Members of CIRPP
Budapest
2nd June 2015
Dear friends,
Once again with this letter I would like to call your attention to some
pedagogical aspects of the Games, sometimes repeating myself. I have collected
the information included in this letter from the website of the games (www.
fisecmalta2015.org.mt) and our Maltase friends. Please follow the website
closely. In this letter I have inserted some quotations from the minutes of our
CIRPP meeting in Lisbon, which took place on Thursday, 27th November 2014.
During the Games, on Thursday (9th July) our commission will have a
meeting at 10:00 in the morning at Santana Hotel. Room to be announced during
games. Besides our agenda during the games, I will report on the seminar
organized by the Holy See in May, in which I took part. The topic of the seminar
was: “Coaches: Educating People”. I think this theme is particularly important
also for our organization, because the coaches play a crucial role in educating
our young athletes.
The Opening Ceremony will be held on Thursday at 20:00. at Ta’ Qali . Fr
Paul Attard will say Mass. All the athletes should be well-informed about the
proper behaviour that is expected during this Ceremony. Please do not forget to
bring with them one or two characteristic objects as donations for the offertory.
Please tell participating athletes that nobody is obliged to receive the Holy
Eucharist just because he or she is present at the ceremony. So, whoever wishes
to communicate, he or she is asked by the Church to be well-prepared spiritually
(going to confession if necessary).
CIRPP meeting, Lisbon: „For the Mass, it was agreed that each country is to get some soil
from its land, which could be all mixed together in a large vase by the altar. Bidding
prayers are to be sent before Mass, both in each Country's language and in English.”
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The Bazaar will take place on Friday (10th), at 19:30. on the Qawra Church
Parvis. As always, I ask you to encourage the athletes to bring as many items for
the Bazaar, as possible. They should be characteristic of their countries, of
course.
CIRPP meeting, Lisbon:„The kids are to provide their own music for the Bazaar. The
Charitable Institution chosen by the Host Country is to relate to the Younger
Generation.”
The proceeds from the Bazaar are to be donated to the Parish Priest of Qawra
who will donate the money to the Refugee families.
The Youth Forum will take place on Saturday (11th July). It starts at
20:30. Location at Santana Hotel will be announced on the day.
CIRPP meeting, Lisbon: „Fr László suggested that the Youth Forum should discuss
’How to use Sport as a key to make a person whole’. As a general request, 4 athletes
shall be invited from each delegation to the Forum. The Title is to be put on the FISEC
website, asking the athletes to prepare a very short presentation themselves, if they so
wish.”
So I ask each of you to choose maximum 2 boys and 2 girls with adequate
knowledge of English and communication skills to take part in the Forum. We
can use our toolkit (Teaching Values: An Olympic Education Toolkit) again.
Section 4 (pages 65-122) is particularly useful for the topic. I suggest that in
preparation the participants of the Youth Forum should read this whole section.
We will be using particularly two pages (68-69.). Each delegation has already
received this toolkit in a printed form from Joao Graça in Lisbon years ago, but
you
can
find
it
also
on
the
following
website:
http://view.digipage.net/?userpath=00000001/00000004/00040056/. We will
talk again also on the values in sport in general, in order to keep helping CTI in
its work. The participants are asked to have a look in advance also at page 119.
Of course, I will distribute the relevant pages also at the meeting itself. As usual,
we will also evaluate the actual games from the point of view of our young
athletes.
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On Sunday (12th July) we have the Official Dinner at 20:30.
On Monday (13th July) the Closing Ceremony will take place at 20:30.
On Tuesday (14th July) the departure of delegations takes place after
breakfast.
For convenience’ sake I am quoting two other paragraphs of our Lisbon
minutes:
„For the 2015 Games in Malta, it was suggested that a map with all the sport venues be
available, together with transport information from one facility to another. Full address of
venues and hotels would be of great help to those who wish to use the Public Transport.”
„Free time in Malta is not a problem, as the athletes could spend some time on the
beach or in the Hotel's swimming pools. Each delegation is to be provided by an au pair
throughout the Games. Responsible teachers are to be with the delegation at all times,
especially in hotels. But, ultimately, it is the coaches' responsibility to see that the young
people do not break any rules. The Bureau is to approach the coach where bad behaviour is
reported. In case of repeated misbehaviour some points could be deducted from the FAIR
PLAY. In drastic instances, an athlete could be sent back home, as has already happened in
the past.”
As to the supervision of the athletes, may I repeat what I wrote last year and
before about this issue. VERY STRICT SUPERVISION IS A MUST. As it has
been pointed out on several occasions, the only way to prevent or reduce the
damages in the hotels is by constant supervision by coaches and other adults
concerned. There was an agreement that we all follow the procedures already
used by some countries that all participants should have references from the
heads of his or her school. Also a document should be prepared stating the code
of behaviour of our athletes and the consequence of failing to abide by these
rules of behaviour. This document should be signed by the athlete, and by
his/her parents. The possibility of participants being sent home has also been
considered several times. I hope that this year we do not have to have a
disciplinary meeting because of the behaviour in the hotel of some athletes, as
we had to do so on one or two occasions during the last years. We are obliged to
strengthen the reputation of FISEC and not to weaken it. The last night of the
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Games is always a problem, the euphoria of the Games could overcome good
sense, and so extra care should be taken. The rooms should not be vacated
before somebody has examined the premises totally with the inventory at the
start of the Games.
At our previous meetings it was also suggested that the CIRPP should play a
part in the decision as to who should get the Fair Play Trophy. It was agreed that
it is quite in its competence to advise and confer with CTI regarding the winner
of this trophy. It was also agreed that an explanation be given why the Trophy
was awarded to the winner. Since 2009 (Algarve), the president of CTI, Herman
Van Driessche has included in his evaluation the human values which were also
appreciated by the athletes at the Youth Forum. The meeting which decides to
award the Fair Play Trophy will take place on Monday (13th July) at 17:00.
During the last few years the question of “lights out” at night has been
brought up several times. I think all of us should agree that early sleepers,
especially those who have competitions the next morning, should be respected
by the ones who stay up late at night. This could be the result of culture bias,
and as such, respect is a must. We can agree also now that all athletes should be
quiet in their rooms by 12.00 pm the very latest. SUPERVISION BY THE
COACHES AND DELEGATES OF EACH COUNTRY AT NIGHT IS AN
ABSOLUTE MUST.
Your co-operation before and during the Games would be greatly
appreciated. As every year, may I remind all participating countries, especially
the host country, to brief all students and coaches about the FISEC code of
conduct in as many ways as possible. I am listing it down again this year to
refresh everyone’s memory.
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1. Follow the rules of the sport and treat opponents with respect.
2. Take every opportunity to show good sportsmanship and set a good example
for those who would hope to follow.
3. Don’t argue or show disrespect when decisions go against you.
4. Support other teams and athletes with good humour and the spirit of FAIRPLAY.
5. Don’t take part in aggressive or threatening behaviour when competing or
supporting.
6. Show high standard of behaviour when training and away from the sporting
arena.
7. Don’t take banned or prohibited substances.
As a general rule, there must be mutual respect both from the side of the
organizing country towards its guests and the guests towards the host country
and its citizens everywhere and at all times.
Thank you for patiently reading my letter. I shall be eagerly waiting any
feedback.
Fr. László Perendy
President CIRPP
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