Olympism
The definition of olympism is hard to put into words. To me, it is the description of a spirit or being. To demonstrate olympism, a person must compete for the love of the sport, hold upmost respect for all people and ideas, be dedicated to increasing the education of the next generation, and live a wholesome lifestyle. The International Olympic Committees and National Olympic Committees are dedicated to promoting further education and olympism values through athletics.The IOC oversees the organization for the Summer and Winter Olympics and has several governing bodies dedicated to keeping the games in line with olympism values. The World Olympians Association was set up to allow past Olympians opportunity to stay involved in promoting olympism, and have representation with the IOC for future Olympics. I had the opportunity to see the goals of the WOA in action while volunteering at the Olympic Reunion Center in London. All of the past Olympians present were passionate about promoting better health and lifestyles to the youth, and were excited about the opportunity to interact with and inspire the next generation. Even something as simple as the mock medal ceremony following the fitness competitions was really important to the WOA members. They all tried to make that moment really special for the young adult receiving the medal, whether that was through a firm handshake, a pat on the back or whispering a few congratulatory words. That was olympism in action.