TEACHING VALUES AN OLYMPIC EDUCATION TOOLKIT C hildren need safe social and physical surroundings in order to become the best that they can be, and to make good choices. A healthy school or a healthy sports programme makes the welfare of young people its number one priority. A healthy school or sports facility: is clean and safe attends to the needs of all children and youth – girls and boys, children with learning disabilities, and children with hearing, vision and other " EDUCATION MUST BE A PREFACE TO LIFE. THE MAN WILL BE FREE; THE CHILD MUST BE ALSO. THE POINT IS TO TEACH THE CHILD TO USE HIS FREEDOM AND TO UNDERSTAND ITS SIGNIFICANCE." PIERRE DE COUBERTIN15 physical disabilities provides daily opportunities for children and youth of all ages to participate in physical activity provides an environment free from discrimination, harassment and intimidation is a place in which individual differences and cultural traditions are valued and respected recognises that parents and the community play important roles in helping to develop healthy children and young people. " THE GOAL OF EDUCATION [ IS] THE ' DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPLETE HUMAN BEING, ORIENTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ADAPTED TO HIS OR HER TIME, PLACE AND CULTURE'. THIS ADAPTATION INVOLVES THE CAPACITY TO MEET NEW SITUATIONS AND TO HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE AND COURAGE TO TRANS-FORM THEM WHEN CHANGE IS NEEDED." MARIA MONTESSORI16 BelowA young gymnast training in a sports school in China. D: PURSUITOF EXCELLENCE SECTION 4 THE FIVE EDUCATIONAL VALUES OF OLYMPISM TEACHING VALUES101 A FOCUS ON EXCELLENCE CAN HELP YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE POSITIVE, HEALTHY CHOICES AND STRIVE TO BECOME THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE IN WHATEVER THEY DO. 15 in Müller, N. ( Ed.). ( 2000). Pierre de Coubertin: Olympism, Selected Writings. Lausanne, Switzerland: International Olympic Committee, 16 in Lillard, P. 1996. Montessori Today: A Comprehensive Approach to Education from Birth to Adulthood. NY: Schocken Books, p. 3).

102TEACHING VALUES SECTION 4 THE FIVE EDUCATIONAL VALUES OF OLYMPISM BEFORE YOU READ How do athletes become excellent in their sports? READING Meet China's Female Athlete of the Century – Deng Yaping In China, table tennis is a very popular sport, and Deng Yaping is one of the world's greatest players. She started when she was five. By the time she was nine she had won her provincial junior championship. At the age of 13, she had won her first national championship. This was a young lady with huge talent. But she was short – less than 1.5 metres tall. Because she was so short, and in spite of her talent, she was at first rejected as a candidate for the national team. But her talent, her confidence and her perseverance finally won her a spot on the national team in 1988. She won her first international doubles title in 1989 when she was only 16, and her first singles title two years later. " Even from an early age, I dreamed of being world champion," she said. In 1989, she won the Asian Cup and the following year clinched three titles at the 11th Asian Games. Her breakthrough at the highest level came in 1991 when she captured the world singles title in Japan, and that began her domination of the sport for the next seven years. By the time her career was over in 1997 she had won 4 gold medals and 9 world championships. Twice elected to the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee, Deng has gone on to support women's participation in the sport of table tennis. Her Master's thesis is titled " From Bound Feet to Olympic Gold: The Case of Women's Table Tennis". FOR DISCUSSION What does the photo of Deng Yaping tell you about the spirit of sport? Set up your own table tennis playing area, and find out what kind of skill it takes to be a superb athlete in this sport. " I'VE MISSED MORE THAN 9,000 SHOTS IN MY CAREER. I'VE LOST ALMOST 300 GAMES. TWENTY- SIX TIMES I'VE BEEN TRUSTED TO TAKE THE GAME- WINNING SHOT AND MISSED. I'VE FAILED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE. AND THAT IS WHY I SUCCEED." ( MICHAEL JORDAN, USA, BASKETBALL) AboveBarcelona 1992: Michael Jordan ( USA) shoots during a match against Croatia in the Men's Basketball. LIVINGEXCELLENCE! THE ATHLETES IN THE FOLLOWING STORIES ARE WONDERFUL ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.