Page 25 - Olympism in Socialism
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OLYMPISM
Olympism refers to the philosophy of the
Olympic Games. The fundamental principles of
Olympism are outlined in the Olympic Charter.
Olympism seeks to create a way of life by
blending sport with culture, education and
international cooperation. It is based on the joy of
effort, the educational value of good example,
social responsibility and respect for universal
fundamental ethical principles. The main goal of
Olympism is to place sport at the service of the
harmonious development of humankind, with a
view to promoting a peaceful society concerned
with the preservation of human dignity.
According to the principles of Olympism, the
practice of sport is a human right. Every
individual must have the possibility of practicing
sport, without discrimination of any kind and in
the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual
understanding with a spirit of friendship,
solidarity and fair play.
A principle of non-discrimination is at the
heart of Olympism. Olympism says that the
enjoyment of rights and freedoms to practice
sport should take place without discrimination of
any kind, such as race, sex, sexual orientation,
language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth or other
status.
Olympists are adherents or advocates of
Olympism who commonly refer to their work as
“building better humans.”
Modern Olympism is rooted in the writings of
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founding father of
the first modern Olympic Games, 1896 in Athens.
Coubertin was a French aristocrat, who was
using his social status and the prevalent Zeitgeist
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