Olympic values education programme

Activity Sheet 01
Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the Olympic Movement
Olympic educational themes:
Respect for others, balance, fair play.
Suggested activities:
Adaptations for different age groups from Primary ages 5-8 to Senior ages 15-18.
^3 Suggested teaching strategies and learning skills
Question and answer, circle of sharing, round table, inquiry.
E3 Learning outcome
Learning about the life and achievements of the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, Pierre de Coubertin.
Q Download
Activity Sheet 01 from The Resource Library.


The Olympic oaths
“In the name of all competitors, I promise that we will take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams.”
At the opening ceremony there are always three oaths taken: one by an athlete on behalf of all athletes; one by a coach on behalf of all coaches; one by a judge/official on behalf of all officials. The Olympic oath was first used at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp. (Learn more on page 46.)
The medal ceremony
At the ancient Olympic Games, only the first place winners received awards—a simple wreath made from an olive tree branch that was cut with a gold-handled knife from a wild olive tree. The Ancient Greeks believed that the vitality of the sacred tree was transmitted to the recipient through the branch.
At the modern Olympic Games, medals are presented to the first, second and third placed athletes. A GOLD medal is presented for first place, SILVER for second and BRONZE for third. The host city is responsible for designing the medals within the guidelines set by the IOC. The national anthem of the first place winner is played as each medallist’s national flag is raised.



Linked by the rings: the Olympic symbol


Linked by the rings: the Olympic symbol
This section looks at the iconic Olympic rings and explains how the Olympic symbol can be used to introduce and explore the values of the Olympic Movement.
Q Before you read—questions to ask
Have you seen the Olympic rings before? Where? How would you describe them to someone who hasn’t seen them? What do you think they mean?
ДД Reading
Look at the five rings pictured above. They are joined together like a chain. You will see them everywhere on TV during an Olympic Games. The five Olympic rings are referred to as “The Olympic symbol” and are recognised throughout the world. The colours of the top three rings—from left to right—are blue, black and red; the bottom rings are yellow and green.
Some people say that the five rings represent friendship among the people on the five large continents of the world.
What do you think?

London 2012: Great Britain’s men’s cyclists post a new world record time during the qualifying event of the team pursuit at the velodrome


Linked by the rings: the Olympic symbol


For discussion