CLASS XI OLYMPIC VALUE EDUCATION Olympic movement is a term which provide us with the understanding of the development of Olympic Games since their beginning to the present. ANCIENT AND MODERN OLYMPICS (SUMMER AND WINTER) Ancient Olympic Games When and how did the Ancient Olympic games begin? There is no authentic information or definite fact about their origin, but there are various tales about the origin of these games in Ancient Greek stories. Whatever the reason behind the beginning of Olympic Games was, it is certain that these games were organised in the beautiful Valley name 'Olympia'. Therefore these games were called Olympic games. The Ancient Olympic games continued for approximately 1000 years. Rules For Competitions The competitor must be only a Greek, completely from a Hellenic Race and must be physically fit. Savages and punished persons were not allowed to participate in this games. The competitive had to stay in Olympia for one month before the beginning of Olympic games. They had to take an oath that they had already taken the training for 10 months in their state. Women were not allowed to participate in competitions or see these games. For participation in games ,participants had to practice for one month Only amateur sports persons could participate in these games and not the professionals. Opening Ceremony of Games On the day of opening ceremony, all the players, their brothers, fathers and trainers used to assemble in the auditorium. The expert of sports and games made them to take the Oath that they were participate in the games according to rules had got the training of 10 months. After that, a pig was killed and offered to the God name Zeus Harikos. After this ritual one by one, all the players used to come out of the sports Arena. Exactly at the time the players were introduced to the spectators. If one of the spectators had any objection against any player, he was not allowed to participate in the competitions. Rest of the players, who faced no objection against them, were allowed to participate. After that the declaration was made to start the games. On the first day, only religious functions were performed. The second day was reserved for march past and introduction and after that chariot race ,horse race and Pentathlon were held. In the morning of 3rd day the ritual of sacrifice of animals was performed. After that, competition of races, wrestling and boxing were held. The four day was fixed for the athletic events, wrestling and boxing. And on the fifth day recreational programs were organised. Awards Less attention was paid to awards in the Ancient Olympic Games. Only food grains and animals were given as a reward. After that, a crown made of olive leaves was given to the winners. More stress was laid on respect and honour, instead of awards to the players in these games. Statues were also made of the winners. Poems were also composed in praise of winners and their names were recorded in the annals of history. Even the players used to participate in these game for respect and Honour and not for the sake of awards. MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES The credit to start the modern Olympic Games goes to Pierre,Baron de Coubertin of France. Coubertin was born in Paris on 1st January 1862. His family members wanted him to join the army so he joined the Sainik Academy. But after some time, he left it and started studying political science. Having studied political science, he came to know about the national and international problems. He thought National and international problem could easily be solved through Olympic games. It was his idea to restart the Ancient Olympic games at World level. For this purpose he called a meeting of various countries Italy, Greece, Spain and Sweden in favour of commencing these games in 1893. On 16 June 1894, a meeting of 13 countries was held in Paris in which 75 representatives participated. In this meeting it was resolved sports competition should be held every fourth year on the line of Greek Olympic games. First modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, only 9 countries participated. This number gradually increased and in the 1972 Munich (West Germany )Olympic Games 122 countries participated. Three Olympics could not be held during the two world wars. OLYMPIC MOTTO Olympic Motto comprises three Latin words Citius- Altius- Fortius which means faster- higher- stronger respectively. The Motto was coined by a French educator father Didion in 1895. OLYMPIC FLAG Olympic flag was created in 1913 at the suggestion of Baron De Coubertin. It was first inaugurated in Paris in June 1914. But it was hoisted for the first time in the Olympic Stadium at the Antwerp Olympic Games which were held in 1920. Olympic flag is made of white silk and contain five interlocking rings/ circles in five colours representing , five continents America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. The five rings have five different colours yellow, green, red ,blue and black . Interlocking of rings/ circles symbolises cooperation and friendship. OLYMPIC FLAME The Olympic flame is a symbol of knowledge, life and happiness. It also symbolises peace. This flame or torch is lighted or kindled in Olympic village of Greece and it is carried by the runners to the place where the Olympic games are going to be organised. During the process it keeps burning. At the end of the closing ceremony of these games this flame is extinguished. OLYMPIC AWARDS The first, second and third position holders are awarded with gold ,silver and bronze medals and a certificate respectively. The next five position holders are also awarded with certificates only. OLYMPIC OATH During the opening of Olympic games, oath taking ceremony is held by the athletes who assemble in the sport stadium. A representative of the host country comes forward holding the flag. The flag bearers of the competing Nations also take up their positions. The representative takes oath on the behalf of all the athletes who was their right arm and repeat the oath after him or her. "We swear that we will take part in the Olympic Games in loyal competition, respecting the regulations which govern them and desirous of participating in them in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the honour of our country and for the glory of sports." Rules for competitions All males and females participate in Olympic games if they are amateur. But nowadays professionals are also allowed to participate in some of the sports. These Sportspersons are sent by their National Olympic Committee. No sportsperson can participate in these days without the approval as well as Recommendation of National Olympic Committee. Opening ceremony of Olympic Games First of all, Olympic torch or flame is Lit through sunrays in Olympic village (Greece) and it is brought to that city where the Olympic games are going to be held. The president or the prime minister declares the games open in the stadium. Before this process all the sport persons take part in the march past and take oath. Later on recreational and cultural programs are organised Olympic flag is hoisted and Olympic flame of the stadium is Kindled by the torch. Closing ceremony of Olympic games Sports person from all the countries assemble in the stadium for closing ceremony. The mayor of that city and the president of the Managing committee escort the president of the International Olympic Committee to the stadium. He /she declares the games closed. After that, Olympic flag is lowered and is given to the mayor of the city. Various cultural programs are organised. Olympic flame is extinguished. At last the games comes to then end with Olympic song. SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES The first Summer Olympic games were held in Athens in 1896 Summer Olympics is a multi sports event that is hosted by different countries once in four years. The International Olympic Committee organizes these games and inspect or supervises the host city preparations. In each Olympic event gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for the first, second and third places respectively. The tradition to award the medals was started in 1904 Olympics which were held in St. Louis (USA). The first Summer Olympic Games witnessed 245 sports person, of whom more than 200 were Greeks and 14 countries took part in this games. In these games female athletes were not allowed to participate. However only one woman named Stamata Revithi run the marathon race unofficially. She was not allowed to participate by the committee. WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES Winter Olympic games are also a part of major International Sporting events. These games were also held in once in 4 years. These games are practiced on snow and ice. The first winter Olympic games were held in Chamonix (France) in 1924. These games were held continuously between 1924 to 1936. Then these Olympics were interrupted by the Second World War. But according to the decision taken by the International Olympic Committee, the winter Olympics were held in 1994 instead of 1996. The two year gap between summer and winter Olympics was fixed by IOC. The Winter Olympic Games have been hosted in three continents of the world by 11 different countries. United States of America has hosted these games four times , France 3 times, where as Austria, Canada ,Japan ,Italy, Norwayand Switzerland twice each. Germany ,Yugoslavia and Russia organised winter Olympics only once. 12 countries of the world have sent their sports person to participate in every winter Olympic games. There are six countries who have won medals at every winter Olympics. Norway has secured the maximum number of gold medals for the maximum number of times.