The Athens Olympics

Citizenship 11-14/KS3/Levels E&F
The Olympics

Overview

The Olympic Movement was set up to work towards a more peaceful world by bringing countries together through sport.

Look at the values expressed in the Olympic creed.

Learning aims

The history of the Olympics

The values behind the movement

Icebreaker

LONDON HANDS IN 2012 OLYMPIC BID Click here to read story

Read out this story about London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

Ask students:

What does IOC stand for? International Olympic Committee.

How often are the games held? Every four years

Why are there Summer and Winter Olympics?

When and where did they start? They originally took place at the village of Olympia, in ancient Greece - 776 BC.

How did the modern Olympics start? Thanks to Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin the first modern Olympics Games took place in Athens in 1896.

Warm up

Read out the Olympic Creed:

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

Working in pairs, students re-write the creed to apply to studying at their school. What is the most important outcome of an education? Qualifications, learning, growing as a person, trying your hardest?

Main activity

The thoughtfulness Olympics: A new event on the international calendar, competitors from around the world gather to display how polite and considerate they are. What would the events be?

Working in groups, students brainstorm a series of events and produce an aerial view of the arena where they would take place.

Students come up with a creed for the competition. It should start with "At the thoughtfulness Olympics the most important thing is..."

Extension activity

Studnts come up with a plan for TV coverage of the thoughtfulness Olympics. Who would the pundits be? What would the studio look like, what would be a suitable logo?

Plenary

Students read out their suggestions for creeds and events to the rest of the class. The class comment on opinions expressed and the language used.

Teachers' Background

MORE OLYMPIC GAMES Click here for the history of the Olympic Games Click here for Olympic sports

The Summer Olympics happen every four years in between the Winter Olympics.

The Olympic Movement groups together all those who agree to be guided by the Olympic Charter and who recognise the authority of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC was created on 23 June 1894; the 1st Olympic Games of the modern era opened in Athens on 6 April 1896; and the Olympic Movement has not stopped growing ever since.

The Olympic Oath states: "In the names 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, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams."

The Olympic Motto is: "Swifter, Higher, Stronger."

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