EXCELLENCE AND THE EXCELLENCE AND THE VALUES OF OLYMPISMVALUES OF OLYMPISM

The First University of Leeds Student The First University of Leeds Student Education ConferenceEducation Conference

66thth January 2012 January 2012

Prof Jim ParryProf Jim Parry

Charles University in PragueCharles University in Prague

s.j.parry@leeds.ac.uks.j.parry@leeds.ac.uk

'Olympic' - the Olympic Games, 'Olympic' - the Olympic Games, ancient or modern.ancient or modern.

a two-week festival of sporta two-week festival of sport

held once in every four years held once in every four years

between elite athletes representing their between elite athletes representing their countries or city-statescountries or city-states

in inter-communal competition.in inter-communal competition.

'Olympiad''Olympiad'

a four-year period, during which a Games a four-year period, during which a Games may or may not be held.may or may not be held.

so: the Athens Games are properly so: the Athens Games are properly referred to not as the XXVIII Games (since referred to not as the XXVIII Games (since there have been only twenty-five, three there have been only twenty-five, three having been cancelled due to World Wars) having been cancelled due to World Wars) but as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.but as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.

'Olympism''Olympism'

not just the elite athlete, but everyonenot just the elite athlete, but everyone

not just a short truce period, but the not just a short truce period, but the whole of lifewhole of life

not just competition and winning, but also not just competition and winning, but also the values of participation and co-the values of participation and co-operationoperation

not just sport as an activity, but also as a not just sport as an activity, but also as a formative and developmental influenceformative and developmental influence

'Olympism''Olympism'

a universal social philosophy which a universal social philosophy which emphasises the role of sport:emphasises the role of sport:

in world developmentin world development

international understandinginternational understanding

peaceful co-existencepeaceful co-existence

social and moral education.social and moral education.

THE OLYMPIC CHARTERTHE OLYMPIC CHARTER

Fundamental Principle 2 (p7) says:Fundamental Principle 2 (p7) says:

Olympism is a Olympism is a philosophy of lifephilosophy of life, exalting and , exalting and combining in a combining in a balancebalanced whole the qualities d whole the qualities of of body, will and mindbody, will and mind. Blending . Blending sport with sport with culture and educationculture and education, Olympism seeks to , Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the create a way of life based on the joy found in joy found in efforteffort, the educational value of good example , the educational value of good example and and respect for universal fundamental ethical respect for universal fundamental ethical principlesprinciples..

THE OLYMPIC CHARTERTHE OLYMPIC CHARTER

Fundamental Principle 6 (p7) says:Fundamental Principle 6 (p7) says:

The goal of the Olympic Movement is to The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a contribute to building a peacefulpeaceful and better and better world by world by educating youth through sport educating youth through sport practised practised without discrimination without discrimination of any of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual requires mutual understandingunderstanding with a spirit with a spirit of of friendshipfriendship, , solidaritysolidarity and and fair playfair play. .

THE OLYMPIC CHARTERTHE OLYMPIC CHARTER

Chapter IV states the duties of NOCs with Chapter IV states the duties of NOCs with regard to Olympic education (p31):regard to Olympic education (p31):

The The mission of the NOCs mission of the NOCs is to develop and is to develop and protect the Olympic Movement ... (and to) protect the Olympic Movement ... (and to) propagate the fundamental principles of propagate the fundamental principles of Olympism Olympism at national level … and otherwise at national level … and otherwise contribute to the contribute to the diffusion of Olympism in the diffusion of Olympism in the teaching programmes of physical education teaching programmes of physical education and sport in schools and university and sport in schools and university establishments establishments ... (and to) see to the creation of ... (and to) see to the creation of institutions which devote themselves to Olympic institutions which devote themselves to Olympic education.education.

Philosophical anthropologyPhilosophical anthropology

The philosophical anthropology of Olympism The philosophical anthropology of Olympism promotes the ideals of:promotes the ideals of:

individual all round harmonious development individual all round harmonious development towards excellence and achievementtowards excellence and achievementthrough effort in competitive sporting activitythrough effort in competitive sporting activityunder conditions of mutual respect, fairness, under conditions of mutual respect, fairness, justice and equalityjustice and equalitywith a view to creating lasting personal human with a view to creating lasting personal human relationships of friendship; relationships of friendship; international relationships of peace, toleration international relationships of peace, toleration and understanding;and understanding;and cultural alliances with the artsand cultural alliances with the arts

Concept of SportConcept of Sport

• physical (effort)physical (effort)

• contest (‘contract to contest’ - competiton contest (‘contract to contest’ - competiton and excellence)and excellence)

• rule-governed (fair play, equality and justice)rule-governed (fair play, equality and justice)

• institutionalised (‘lawful authority’)institutionalised (‘lawful authority’)

• shared values and commitments (respect)shared values and commitments (respect)

LiberalismLiberalism

Does not tell you what is the Good LifeDoes not tell you what is the Good Life

Sees itself as neutralSees itself as neutral

Citizens free to choose their own GoodCitizens free to choose their own Good

Sees itself as multicultural and universalSees itself as multicultural and universal

Why Be Multiculturalist?Why Be Multiculturalist?

Values diversityValues diversity

Tolerates differenceTolerates difference

Promotes democracyPromotes democracy

This means we must:This means we must:

Defend the liberal rights of the individualDefend the liberal rights of the individual

Defend liberal societies Defend liberal societies (politics is necessary!)(politics is necessary!)

Is Universalism Ethnocentric?Is Universalism Ethnocentric?

Is liberalism a western product? (yes)Is liberalism a western product? (yes)

Does this mean it’s ethnocentric? (no)Does this mean it’s ethnocentric? (no)

Are all values culturally relative (no)Are all values culturally relative (no)

Cultural RelativismCultural Relativism

It says, It says, “all values arise within cultures and they “all values arise within cultures and they can only be judged from inside; therefore there can only be judged from inside; therefore there are no universal values”are no universal values”

Cannot account for cultural criticismCannot account for cultural criticism

Is in fact disrespectful to othersIs in fact disrespectful to others

Is self-refutingIs self-refuting It says, It says, “there are no cross-cultural truths”“there are no cross-cultural truths”

(a) if that’s supposed to be a ‘not-truth’, why believe it?(a) if that’s supposed to be a ‘not-truth’, why believe it?

(b) or: if it’s supposed to be true, it says it’s false!(b) or: if it’s supposed to be true, it says it’s false!

Rejects possibility of UN and Human RightsRejects possibility of UN and Human Rights

Tolerance is a universal (liberal) principle!Tolerance is a universal (liberal) principle!

Is liberalism a western product?Is liberalism a western product?

A series of European inventions (17-18 century)

The constitution of the individual

Scepticism as to the truth

Self-criticism

Separation of church and politics

Separation of church and knowledge

Does this mean it’s ethnocentric?Does this mean it’s ethnocentric?

Geometry arose in Ancient GreeceGeometry arose in Ancient Greece

Is geometry some kind of Greek ideology?Is geometry some kind of Greek ideology?

Later developments in maths came from Later developments in maths came from medieval Arabs (‘Arabic’ numerals)medieval Arabs (‘Arabic’ numerals)

Should we see maths as an Arabic Should we see maths as an Arabic imposition on European society?imposition on European society?

No: that’s the ‘Genetic Fallacy’No: that’s the ‘Genetic Fallacy’

Origins are distinct from validityOrigins are distinct from validity

Back to OlympismBack to Olympism

Modern sport developed in parallel with 19Modern sport developed in parallel with 19thth century liberalism. They are isomorphic. century liberalism. They are isomorphic. ‘Sport’ had to be ‘Sport’ had to be universaliseduniversalised..

Concepts of Olympism (and sport) are at a Concepts of Olympism (and sport) are at a high level of generality - set out a range of high level of generality - set out a range of ‘thin’ liberal values to which all can agree‘thin’ liberal values to which all can agree

But those values admit of contesting But those values admit of contesting interpretations (a range of ‘thick’ values) interpretations (a range of ‘thick’ values) as the concept of Olympism finds different as the concept of Olympism finds different expressions in time and place, history and expressions in time and place, history and geography.geography.

Olympism (2)Olympism (2)

The ‘thin’ values underpinning the rule The ‘thin’ values underpinning the rule structures of sport include:structures of sport include:

fairnessfairnessequalityequalityexcellenceexcellencerespect for othersrespect for othersrule-adherencerule-adherencecontract-keeping contract-keeping

Olympism (3)Olympism (3)

In addition, the ethos of Olympism emphasises values of:In addition, the ethos of Olympism emphasises values of:

friendshipfriendshipmutual understandingmutual understandingpeacepeacerespect for others’ culturesrespect for others’ cultures

And sporting practices bring awareness of possibilities of:And sporting practices bring awareness of possibilities of:

international co-operationinternational co-operationmutual respect and mutual valuingmutual respect and mutual valuing

A Philosophical Anthropology of A Philosophical Anthropology of OlympismOlympism

each society (and each ideology) has a political and each society (and each ideology) has a political and philosophical anthropology - an idealised conception of the philosophical anthropology - an idealised conception of the kind of person that that society (or ideology) valueskind of person that that society (or ideology) values

a philosophical anthropology of Olympism as a contribution a philosophical anthropology of Olympism as a contribution to a theory of physical educationto a theory of physical education

basis for the world-wide development of sport and physical basis for the world-wide development of sport and physical education as a valued element in everyone’s general education as a valued element in everyone’s general education, and as a contribution to multicultural dialogue.education, and as a contribution to multicultural dialogue.

One ‘Olympic’ Value - ExcellenceOne ‘Olympic’ Value - Excellence

Excellence in SportExcellence in Sport

Purposive Sports Purposive Sports (in which the end can be specified (in which the end can be specified

independently of the manner or means)independently of the manner or means)

Aesthetic Sports Aesthetic Sports (in which it can’t)(in which it can’t)

In AS, style and success go together.In AS, style and success go together.

In PS, they may not.In PS, they may not.

So what is the relation between style and success?So what is the relation between style and success?

Kinds of ExcellenceKinds of Excellence

AbsoluteAbsolute - achieved only by the highest quality- achieved only by the highest quality

DistributionalDistributional - achieved by those who reach standards- achieved by those who reach standards

previously reached only by somepreviously reached only by some

Relative Relative - achieved by those who exceed the standards- achieved by those who exceed the standards

of some othersof some others

PersonalPersonal - achieved by those who beat their own best- achieved by those who beat their own best

Excellence – the Gold Medal?Excellence – the Gold Medal?

10,000 athletes make it to the Games10,000 athletes make it to the Games

Less than 10% get a medalLess than 10% get a medal

Less than 3% get a goldLess than 3% get a gold

Why do the others bother turning up?Why do the others bother turning up?

Because excellence lies in qualifying!Because excellence lies in qualifying!

Just being part of it is an honour.Just being part of it is an honour.

I felt like that as a member of staff at LeedsI felt like that as a member of staff at Leeds

I know many students feel the same.I know many students feel the same.