The Paris Olympics are just around the corner, giving the whole world the chance to marvel at international athletes as they compete over the few weeks of the Games. Given the scale of this global celebration, it can be interesting to look at its social importance and the way it interacts with physical education, the most closely related school subject.
Turning excitement into lasting commitment
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, sees participation in sports as a very low-cost, yet high-impact, tool to promote healthy, active living. He also believes that the Paris Games will leave a lasting sports legacy far beyond 2024 thanks to the numerous initiatives to increase physical activity among people of all ages and skill levels.
It’s true that participating in sports is the best way to promote a healthy, active lifestyle. However, the legacy of the Games is less clear. Studies seem to show that there is an increase in sports participation in Olympic host countries for 2 years, but it tends to fade after that. The same is true for participating countries, but the increased sports participation there is usually measured in weeks. This highlights the universal challenge of promoting physical activity for all, even though all nations can produce top-level athletes.
Discover the Lü athletes for the Paris Olympic Games → Olympic Athletes
It begs the question: what opportunities can be seized and what measures can be put in place as part of the Olympics to get youth moving more?
The Olympic Games as a model of excellence
For students, the Olympic Games are an opportunity to come into contact with a variety of sports and to learn about the values promoted by athletes, like sportsmanship, the pursuit of excellence, leadership, and perseverance.
By watching the Olympic Games, young people can see athletes surpassing themselves and be exposed to exceptional feats of athletic ability in different sports. What’s more, the Games raise students’ awareness of a wide range of skills needed for sports, such as strength, dexterity, strategy, and intelligence.
Finally, students watching the Olympics also get to witness inspiring stories: the rookie who wins against the veteran, the athlete who sets a new record, or the unexpected friendships between athletes like that of Jesse Owens and Luz Long.
A holistic approach to health in physical education
While the Olympic Games showcase top-level athletes, physical education is really for everyone. That means it needs to be accessible for all students, from the most athletic to the least athletic and even those at risk of dropping out.
Use the Dojö app to put yourself in the shoes of an Olympic athlete as he or she warms up → Athletes’ Training
Physical education programs are changing all over the world. More and more physical education programs are including a health aspect. Physical education teachers are focusing less on the sports component of their subject and specializing more in physical, mental, and social well-being.
As part of their job, physical education teachers need to develop their students’ physical literacy: the skills, confidence, and motivation they need to engage independently in physical activity for the rest of their lives. This helps to keep the cycle going (young athlete → adult athlete → parent athlete → young athlete), allowing everyone to reap all the benefits of physical activity such as personal fulfillment, ability to learn, and disease prevention.
From stadium to gymnasium
As mentioned above, the Games provide students with an opportunity to see high-level athletes truly pushing their limits. That can transfer to physical education classes, where they’re encouraged to take on different types of challenges:
- the environment (the event)
- their own limits
- opponents
The Lü interactive system is a top-choice tool for physical educators to create a wide variety of motivating challenges for students!
The Paris Olympics will also be the first Olympic Games to have gender parity. This can be an opportunity for physical education teachers to discuss equality, inclusion, and community with students. It’s no secret that men’s and women’s sports don’t have the same prestige, but the Olympic Games can be an opportunity to address that inequality and give female athletes more visibility.
Find out more about the Olympic and Paralympic Games with our interactive quiz → What do you know about the Olympic and Paralympic Games?
In conclusion, the Olympic Games offer an unparalleled opportunity to showcase the multitude of values that can be linked to sport, while motivating young people to get moving. That said, we can’t forget the central role that physical education teachers play in educating the citizens of tomorrow and giving students the tools and experiences they need to adopt healthy, active lifestyles for their entire lives.
Search the “Olympics” tag to discover all our Lü Community content for this special event!
