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When i have been asked to write an article for the Olympic and Paralympic website paralympicus.gr, i was really excited and had many things in my mind… Sport in Turkey, Turkish Women in Olympics, Olympic Education Projects, Sports Culture and Legacy etc…
But at the moment… in the morning of a unbelievable inhumanly terrorist attack in Paris… I can not think of anything else but PEACE….
stop war! stop terrorism! stop killing innocent people! call for PEACE! take ACTION!
During the Panhellenic games in Greece the term peace was not used, instead there was a Greek word “Ekecheiria” which etymologically meant “truce”. During “Ekecheiria” before and after Greek festivals, the territory of the host city was safe to all competitors, spectators and others… call for PEACE! take ACTION!
In the 19th century Coubertin had the idea of renewing the ancient Olympic Games and internationalizing his educational visions which at first was the idea of peace among nations. He quoted;
“Wars break out because nations misunderstand each other. We shall
not have peace until the prejudices which now separate the different races
shall have been outlived” (1892, Coubertain).
Coubertain followed his dream and started the Modern Olympic Games… call for PEACE! take ACTION!
In the 21st century, nowadays the society, the world, international relations, ethical norms, politics, strategies of week and strong countries etc. have changed radically. But the Olympic Charter of today still comprises Coubertin’s philosophy. According to the olympic Charter;
Art 3; “The goal of Olympism is to place everywhere sport at
the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to encouraging
the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with the preservation
of human dignity”.
Art. 6; “The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to
building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport
practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit…”.
As we can see from the Olympic Charter, it is trying to build a peacefull and better world through olympic education… The charter is Calling for PEACE… But is it really taking ACTİON?
Sports… Olympics… We are a big family… We have greater power then any other phenomen… We should come together and unite for the same ideal… It is time for helping world peace and humanity… It is time to TAKE ACTION!
The World Needs Olympic Help! Call for Peace! Take Action!
