Olympic honour for the Bambisanani Partnership
David Geldart, Founder and CEO of the Bambisanani Partnership was recently invited to speak at the International Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece.
David Geldart (centre) Professor Jan Tolleneer K.U.Leuven University, Belgium, (left) Ms Dionysia Giannara, International Olympic Academy (right) with some of the Postgraduate students on the course.
The Bambisanani Partnership is a multi-award-winning charity that has gained international acclaim for its work using sport to positively change lives in one of South Africa’s most deprived and challenging rural areas.
The International Olympic Academy (IOA) is the main educational and cultural institution of the International Olympic Committee. Established in 1961, The IOA is located near the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia and aims at studying, enriching and promoting Olympism and its values in relevance with current issues of Olympic interest and in conformity with the principles laid down by both the ancient Greeks and the revivers of the contemporary Olympic Movement.
“The Academy lays the intellectual foundation for preserving our heritage and the Olympic Spirit to inspire the next generation of leaders in sport and society.” Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee
The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised in accordance with Olympism and it values. Olympism is a philosophy of life which places sport at the service of humanity. This philosophy is expressed through actions that connect sport to education and culture. The three values of Olympism are excellence (striving to be the best that you can be), friendship and respect. The constitute the foundation on which the Olympic Movement builds its activities to promote sport, culture and education with a view to building a better world. The fundamental principles of Olympism are applicable to sport and everyday life.
Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the modern Olympic Games in 1896, had always envisaged an institution for Olympic Education, promoting Olympism as a way of life, integrating Olympic Values into modern societies worldwide. Coubertin believed that it was necessary to internationalise sport as a vehicle for World Peace, Democracy and Mental and Physical Well-being.
At the Global Sport for All Summit held at the Vatican in 2022, Thomas Bach described the work of the Bambisanani Partnership as ‘an outstanding example of Olympism in action’.
David Geldart: At the IOA Conference Centre with the statue of Pierre de Coubertin.
David Geldart spoke at the prestigious IOA 30th International Seminar on Olympic Studies for Postgraduate Students regarding the work of the Bambisanani Partnership in South Africa contributing to the main theme of ‘Innovating Physical Education and Olympic values education to build a better world’. The three-week programme attracted a multicultural body of international Masters and PhD students who wish to enrich their knowledge on Olympic and sports subjects as well to expand their research on related topics.
The presentation was very well received and David was clearly delighted with the whole experience: “I have long wanted to visit the site of the Ancient Olympics and visit the world leading International Olympic Academy. It was therefore a great honour to receive an invitation to speak at such a prestigious event. To visit the spiritual home of both the Ancient and Modern Olympics was a real ‘pilgrimage’ for me and something that I will never forget. The heart of Pierre de Coubertin is buried in a monument at this most remarkable site of Olympic learning and at the start of each course students and tutors lay a wreath at the monument in his honour. The event is as moving as it is inspirational. It is always a privilege to meet students from around the world who are interested in our work. A key aim of this programme is that students not only study Olympism in an academic context but also that they go on to put ideas into action thus developing Olympic values and virtues globally. These are the international sports and physical education leaders of the future: they will carry the Olympism torch forward. Long may the vitally important work of the International Olympic Academy continue.”
Aerial view of the International Olympic Academy – note top left: running track of the Ancient Olympics. Photo courtesy of the International Olympic Academy. All rights reserved.
David added, “There is something very special, if not unique, about the power of sport and physical education when they are driven by positive values and good people. It is essential that these positive values prevail over more negative traits that are all too prevalent in sport today. Positive values can lead to positive virtues that enrich the lives of individuals and communities alike. Every teaching or coaching session is an opportunity to create the environment and encounters to promote values education and positive experiences for all involved. When we put this into an international context, as we do with the Bambisanani Partnership, the evidence is clear that the possibilities are endless. Olympism offers both a philosophy and a framework for all those involved in physical education and sport - what a wonderful challenge (and responsibility) this is - the opportunity to positively shape young lives and create a better world.”
Over the past 17 years, more than 15,000 young people from South Africa and the UK have engaged in the pioneering programmes and projects of the Bambisanani Partnership that use sport to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership. Earlier this year the partnership was named as International Sport and Physical Education Charity of the Year.
Pot depicting athletes from the Ancient Olympics which took place circa 776 BC to 393 AD.
Coubertin Grove with Coubertin Monument honouring the man who revived the forgotten Olympic Games.
Steps within the IOC grounds outlining the Olympic values.
Published: 17/10/2023
Olympic honour for Menston based Bambisanani Partnership [WHARFEDALE OBSERVER]
You might also be interested in:
1. Conferences, Programmes and Courses are run throughout the year by International Olympic Academy; Core Programmes include:
Master’s Degree Programme in “Olympic Studies, Olympic Education, Organization and Management of Olympic Events”
International Seminar on Olympic Studies for Postgraduate Students
International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors
International Session for National Olympic Association’s and National Olympic Committee’s delegates
International Session for Educators of Higher Institutes of Physical Education
International Session for Olympic Medallists and Olympians
International Session for Sport Journalists
For further information see IOA website: https://www.ioa.org.gr
2. The International Olympic Committee has created the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) for children and young people. The programme is a series of free and accessible teaching resources which is based on the Olympic philosophy that learning takes place through the balanced development of body and mind. Adopting the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship means striving for these in all fields of life. The OVEP programme is based on these cornerstones; using the universality of sport to support delivery of the curriculum inside and outside of the classroom. Participants are encouraged to experience values-based learning and to assume the responsibilities of good citizenship. OVEP communicates the long-term benefits of sport and physical activity through an understanding of Olympism and its impact on individual health, enjoyment and social interaction. The OVEP Toolkit provides a set of FREE TEACHING RESOURCES designed to enrich any educational curriculum with Olympic-themed activities, teaching strategies and inspirational materials. Other resources include the ‘Sports Values in Every Classroom’ framework for teaching transferable life skills to 8-12-year-olds, in any subject area.
For further information see OVEP webpage: https://olympics.com/ioc/education/olympic-values-education-programme
