Launching of Olympic clubs by Snoc and NOAS-Eleven schools log on to Olympic education |15 March 2005

After head teacher Odile Octave had welcomed all the guests to the Plaisance Primary School for the occasion, Snoc president Antonio Gopal said that the Commonwealth Day theme goes well with the objectives of the Olympic clubs whose programme of education will help students to not only develop academically but physically.

Mr Gopal said “the purpose of the Olympic Clubs in schools is to assist students in their development by offering them opportunities to venture in a field which is relatively new to them.”

“They can gain insights, acquire knowledge and develop skills by learning about Olympism and start practising sports at a very young age. These can be achieved by understanding the fundamental principles of Olympism and the roles that sports can play in their lives. There is no better way of promoting the fundamental principles of Olympism than to start with children and youths in schools,” said Mr Gopal.

Termed a philosophy of life, Olympism brings about in a person determination, perseverance and the will to succeed. It also brings unity of thoughts among people as they share common objectives in the world arena.

“As they vie with each other in a spirit of friendship to achieve their goals, they also develop moral values and enrich their characters,” added Snoc president Gopal, who had words of thanks for the Ministry of Education and Youth, the Plaisance Primary School, schools head teachers for their cooperation, facilitators who have volunteered to work with the students, the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada for its contribution, the steering committee which prepared the handbook to be used by club members.

Jeanne Siméon, director general for schools in the Ministry of Education and Youth, commended Snoc and the National Olympic Academy of Seychelles (NOAS) for this initiative aimed at educating the youths on the ideals and principles of Olympism.

“Sharing such a programme with young children is a sure way of building for the future by instilling in our young students important life lessons and values to live or aspire to. We acknowledge that the principles of Olympism do not focus only on sports and physical education but cover global issues such as protection of the environment, HIV/Aids education, health, nutrition,” said Mrs Siméon, who urged the participants to be serious and to have a sense of pride.

She then wished the club participants “success and fruitful exciting and educative experiences” to “become living examples to others in your school and community of the values and lessons you will be taught to cultivate.”

A handbook to facilitate Olympic education

To facilitate Olympic education, a facilitator’s handbook has been compiled and representatives of 11 schools received a copy each on Tuesday.

The book has been designed and compiled by experienced local teachers and sports administrators. They are Anna Barra, Marcella Belle, Doreen Mirabeau, Yoga Ravindran, Justin Zélime and Alain Alcindor.

Since arriving here in September 2004, Canadian Katie Brambley from the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada was the backbone behind the realisation of the handbook.

Seen as one of the tools which club facilitators will use to conduct their weekly activities, the handbook is divided into various sections covering topics like General Olympic education, Mass participation, Sport as education, Fair play, Harmonious development of the whole person, International understanding and contribution to world peace, and Excellence.

Mr Gopal explained that the handbook offers knowledge ranging from ancient to modern Olympiad and provides opportunities to students to learn about scientific and technological methods of sports, the structure of the Olympic movement, the International Olympic Committee, international sports federations, national Olympic committees and national sports federations.

Fifteen schools – 11 on Mahe and four on Praslin and La Digue – have Olympic clubs and all 33 schools are expected to be logged on by March next year.

Clubs will be run as part of extra-curricular activities.

During yesterday’s launch, Snoc also brought its 20-panel exhibition to the Plaisance Primary School. The exhibition, highlighting various dimensions of both ancient and modern Olympic Games as well as aspects of Olympiad since 1980, was first exhibited at the National Library last month as part of activities to mark Snoc’s silver jubilee.

NOAS director Alain Alcindor asked the students to take good care of the exhibition which is expected to visit all schools in the country.

It is to note that Plaisance Primary School students read out reflections about Olympism and Verona Boniface of the Grand Anse Mahe School took the Olympic Club oath on the part of the participants.

G. G.