The changing nature of our athletes
In the recent past the National Olympic Academy, NOA, the educational arm of the St Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee, NOC, has introduced a television series entitled: ‘Olympism.’
The television series carries the same name as the radio series that has been in existence for over 10-years.
The objective of both programmes is to sensitise the nation, all sectors of Vincentain society without discrimination, to the concept of Olympism and hopefully, engender a culture of sport that impacts positively the human personality of every Vincentian.
The television programme has thus far featured outstanding sports personalities in the personages of Orde Ballantyne, Thaddeus Michael Findlay and Gloria Ballantyne.
Over the next several months the NOA plans to interview many more sports personalities to allow Vincentians to become better informed of the nations rich sporting history.
Olympism
Olympism is that concept which the International Olympic Movement has developed to embody all of the lofty ideals and principles associated with sport, particularly discipline, caring, sharing, camaraderie, friendship, peace and love. Since the establishment of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, in 1894, there has been some effort made to encourage its members across the world (now 202) to see their involvement in sport as being much more than participation in the quadrennial Olympic Games.
The Olympic Games are to be a celebration of human effort, the culmination of an undertaking in respect of the wholesome development of mind, body and spirit. But the Games bring people of diverse cultures, ethnicity, race, religion and class together for an extended period during which time they get to know and appreciate each other. The intention was to show the extent to which sport can facilitate human understanding and engender peace among nations.