OLYMPIC SYMBOLS, IDEALS, OBJECTIVES AND VALUES  The Olympic Symbol: 1. The five rings Olympic rings  The five rings on the Olympic flag repr...

OLYMPIC SYMBOLS, IDEALS, OBJECTIVES AND VALUES 

The Olympic Symbol:

1. The five rings

Olympic rings 

The five rings on the Olympic flag represent the five continents. The, are interlinked to show the universality of Olympism and the meeting of the athletes of the world during the Olympic Games. 

On the “Olympic flag the rings appear on a white base which is a symbol of peace. Combined in this way, the six colours of the flag (blue, yellow, Yellow Green, black, green, red and white) represent the unity of the nations. 

2. The Olympic Flag 

The Olympic flag is made of white silk cloth that has no border. The Olympic symbol is placed in the centre of the flag.

3. The Olympic moto

The Olympic moto comprises three Latin words- Citius, Altius and Fortius. It means faster, higher and stronger’. The motto is an inspiration to every athlete to give his/her best in the competition. 

4. The Olympic Flame

The Olympic flame is lit at the ancient site of Olympia (Greece) a few months before the beginning of the games. It is carried to the venue of the modern Olympics by a relay of torch bearers. The torch carrying the flame is created anew for every editions of the games. Each relay runner has hrs own torch. It is the flame that is passed on. The purpose of the relay run covering the countries and continents is to announce the upcoming Olympic Games.

The flame is lit in the memory of the ancient origins of the Games. The Olympic flame is lit by the sun’s rays. It cannot be extinguished till the closing ceremony. 

The Olympic Oath

The modem Olympic oath was written by Pierre de Coubertin. The taking of the Olympic oath by an athlete has been a part of the protocol of the opening ceremony since the 1920 Games in Antwerp. 

Now, referees and coaches are also required to take the oath , Athletes take the Olympic oath at the opening ceremony by holding the Olympic. 

He/She undertakes, in the name of all the other competitors, to abide by the rules an  competitions in a spirit of sportsmanship. 

The current oath, which refers to doping and drugs was sworn for the first time at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

“In the name of ail the competitors, I promise we shall take part in these Olympic Games respecting and abiding by rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the tiny spirit of sportsmanship for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams 

6. The Olympic Anthem

The Olympic anthem has been composed by Spiros Samaras and Kostis Palamag, It was played for the first time in 1896 at the first modern games in Athens. It becames the IOC s official anthem in 1958. It is played when the Olympic flag is hoisted at the opening ceremony as well as when it is lowered at the closing ceremony. 

Olympic Ideals 

The Olympic motto and the creed - "The most important thing in life is not the triumph. but the fight, the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well,” represent the Olympic ideals.

It means that every individual must strive for personal excellence. This ideal is not applicable only to sports and athletes but to every individual for every task performed. 

Olympic Objectives

Prerre de Coubertin was an educationist and a visionary. He strongly believed in the ideals of the ancient Olympic. In order to promote international harmony and understanding through sporting competitions, he revived these games. His main aim was to use sports for the harmonious development of mankind with a view to promote a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity. In such a society every individual has an opportunity to practise sports without discrimination of any kind. He put forward certain objectives which are as follows:

1. To bring solidarity and fraternity among various countries along with a strong sense of unity.

2. To develop patriotism and brotherhood among various sportsperson.

3. To bring vast changes in the character, physical fitness, personality as well as citizenship among sportsmen.

4. To help in decreasing the sense of racism, gender discrimination, caste discrimination, etc.

5. To develop friendship between sportspersons of different countries and nations. 

6. To build a peaceful and better world by educating the youth through the Practise of sports without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding and a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. 

7. To link sports with the social movement of spreading friendship and fraternity among, the youth of the world.

8. To create international fnendship and goodwill that can lead to a happier and peaceful world.

Thus, the main aim behind these objectives is to inculcate the sportsman spirit among the youth and nations. As quoted in The Olympian (1984) by Peter L. Dixon. 

"The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing m lite is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Olympic Values 

The IOC has identified the following three Olympic values:

1. Excellence : This value stands for giving one’s best on the field or off it. It inspires every individual to perform to the best of their abilities without comparing themselves to others.

2. Friendship : The Olympics bring together people of different religions, cultures and nationalities on one platform. They give them an opportunity to interact and form lifelong bonds. In this way, the Olympics promote friendship.

3. Respect : This value of the Olympics inspires athletes to display sportsmanship. They must respect themselves and their body, for example, they must avoid doping. They must also respect their opponents, the rules of the game and the environment. 

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) 

The efforts to revive the Olympic Games led to the formation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It was constituted on 23rd June 1894 to spread the Olympic movement and organise the modern Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee is the supreme authority of the Olympic movement which aims to build a peaceful and better world through sports.

The International Olympic Committee works jointly with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of different nations, the International Sports Federations, the athletes, the organising committees for the Olympic Games and many agencies such as the United Nations.

The IOC is headquartered at Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Executive Board executive board of the IOC consist of 18 members These are :

1. President : The President represents the IOC and presides over all its activities. The term of the President is fixed for eight years but he she can be re-elected once more for additional four years.

2. Four Vice- Presidents 

3. Ten members

Role of the IOC 

According to the Olympic Charter the role of the IOC is: 

To choose the hast cities of the Games and the composition of the sports programmes as well as elect new members

2. To encourage and support the promotion of ethics in sports as well as the education of youth through sports and to dedicate its efforts to ensure that in sports the spirit of fair play prevails and violence is banned. 

3. To encourage and support the organisations, development and coordination of sport and sports competitions.

4. To ensure the regular celebration of the Olympic Games. 

5. To act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement.

6. To encourage and support the promotion of women in sports at all levels and in all structures with a view to implement the principle of equality between men and women.

7. To lead the fight against doping in sports. 

8. To oppose any political or commercial abuse of sports and athletes. 

9. To encourage and support the efforts of sports organisations and public authorities to provide for the social and professional future of athletes. 

10. To encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues to promote sustainable development in sports and to see that the Olympic. Games are held accordingly. 

11. To encourage and support activities of the International Olympic academy (IOA) and other institutions which dedicate themselves to Olympics education. 

INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION (IOA) 

The Indian Olympic Association was formed in 14927 Sir Dorabp Tata was its first President and Dr Nochren was the Secretary General Since 1927, this body has been recognised as Indian's National Olympic Organisation. This association plays main role in fostering the Olympic movement in india. 

The Indian Olympic Assocation is responsible for the preparation and participation of competitors in the Olympic Games as well as in regional events like the Commonwealth and the Asian Games Other sports federations for each sport at the national level assist the IOA in this work. Apart from the National Federations for each sport. there are State Olympic Associations in various states of the country. The state bodes controlling different sports are affiliated to the National Federations and the State Olympic Associations. The aim of the State Olympic Associations is to ensure the promotion of sports in their respective states. 

Other activities of the IOA include: 

1. To organise inter-state and national championships in all events. 

2. To work as a coordinating body between the Government of India and the member National Federations. 

3. To recommend or sponsor selected competitors for participation in the Olympic Games. 

4. To promote the Olympic movement. 

Office Bearers and Executive Council Members 

1. President 

2. Secretary General 

3. Treasurer 

4. Senior Vice President 

5. 8 Vice-Presidents 

6. 6 Joint Secretaries 

7. 10 Executive Council Members 

Objectives of the IOA 

1. The Indian Olympic Association is a non Which exercises its jurisdiction over the for which the society is registered are a 1 The Indian Olympic Association, undertakes to respect the provisions  of the Olympic character,  The Olympic movement and the World Anti-doping code as well as well as to abide by the decisions of the International Olympic Committee These provisions are as follows: 

(i) To participate in events at the national level, to enhance and to promote peace and the participation of women in sports 

(ii) To develop, promote and protect the Olympic movement in India i.e. accordance with the Olympic Character. 

(iii) To support and encourage the promotion of sports ethics to fight against doping and to demonstrate a responsible concern for environmental issues 

2. To promote and encourage the physical, moral and cultural education of the youth of the nation for the development of character, good health and good citizenship 

3. To be the official organisation that has the complete and sole charge of all Olympic matters in the country. 

4. To maintain the highest ideals of sports. 5 To have full and complete jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the Participation of India in the Olympic Games and other games under the Patronage of the IOC as well as the IOA. 

6 To assist the National Sports Federations in the selection, training and coaching of the teams that will represent India in the Olympic /Asian/Commonwealth , South Asian Games and other international competitions and tournaments. 

7. To recast and oppose any form of discrimination on grounds of race, religion, law politics, gender or otherwise and to resist violence in sports.