OLYMPISM: ETHICS AND POLITICS

1. OLYMPISM: ETHICS AND POLITICS The first of a series of three Gresham lectures, in the run-up to the London Olympic Games 2012, that will consider the ethical and political values of the Olympic Movement, and their educational application. Prof Dr Jim Parry Charles University in Prague

2. 'Olympic' - the Olympic Games, ancient or modern. • a two-week festival of sport • held once in every four years • between elite athletes representing their countries or city-states • in inter-communal competition.

3. 'Olympiad' • a four-year period, during which a Games may or may not be held. • so: the London Games are properly referred to not as the XXX Games (since there have been only twenty-seven, three having been cancelled due to World Wars) but as the Games of the XXX Olympiad.

4. 'Olympism' • not just the elite athlete, but everyone • not just a short truce period, but the whole of life • not just competition and winning, but also the values of participation and co-operation • not just sport as an activity, but also as a formative and developmental influence

5. 'Olympism' a universal social philosophy which emphasises the role of sport: • in world development • international understanding • peaceful co-existence • social and moral education.

6. THE OLYMPIC CHARTER Fundamental Principle 2 (p7) says: Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.

7. THE OLYMPIC CHARTER Fundamental Principle 6 (p7) says: 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, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

8. THE OLYMPIC CHARTER Chapter IV states the duties of NOCs with regard to Olympic education (p31): The mission of the NOCs is to develop and protect the Olympic Movement ... (and to) propagate the fundamental principles of Olympism at national level … and otherwise contribute to the diffusion of Olympism in the teaching programmes of physical education and sport in schools and university establishments ... (and to) see to the creation of institutions which devote themselves to Olympic education.

9. Philosophical anthropology The philosophical anthropology of Olympism promotes the ideals of: • individual all round harmonious development • towards excellence and achievement • through effort in competitive sporting activity • under conditions of mutual respect, fairness, justice and equality • with a view to creating lasting personal human relationships of friendship; • international relationships of peace, toleration and understanding; • and cultural alliances with the arts

10. Concept of Sport • physical (effort) not chess • contest (‘contract to contest’ - competition not mountaineeringand excellence) • rule-governed (fair play, equality and justice) not field sports • institutionalised (‘lawful authority’) not hula-hooping • shared values and commitments (respect)

11. Liberalism • Does not tell you what is the Good Life • Sees itself as neutral • Citizens free to choose their own Good • Sees itself as multicultural and universal

12. Multiculturalism (1) Has liberal democracy won the battle for global political hegemony? Multicultural ideals such as: • recognition • respect • equal status for all cultures

13. Multiculturalism (2) Multiculturalism, says Raz, ‘requires a political society to recognise the equal standing of all stable and viable communities existing in a society.’ However, some of these may be: • authoritarian • illiberal • oppressive Does ‘multiculturalism’ apply equally to all communities?

14. The Law of Peoples Rawls: Law of Peoples acceptable to liberal and illiberal societies, introducing the idea of ‘reasonable societies’ who, though illiberal, follow certain core principles: • Peace (gain their ends through diplomacy and trade) • Common Good (a conception of justice) • Consultation (a reasonable hierarchy thereof) • Responsibility (citizens accept obligations and take part in social life). • Freedom (some freedom of conscience/thought) ‘Reasonable societies’ could agree to a Law of Peoples based on a ‘thin liberalism’. But liberal democracy is (still) an exclusionary system!

15. Why Be Multiculturalist? • Values diversity • Tolerates difference • Promotes democracy • This means we must: • Defend the liberal rights of the individual • Defend liberal societies (politics is necessary!)

16. Is Universalism Ethnocentric? • Is liberalism a western product? (yes) • Does this mean it’s ethnocentric? (no) • Are all values culturally relative (no)

17. Cultural Relativism It says, “all values arise within cultures and they can only be judged from inside; therefore there are no universal values” • Cannot account for cultural criticism • Is in fact disrespectful to others • Is self-refuting It says, “there are no cross-cultural truths” (a) is that supposed to be true, or what? (b) if it’s true, it says it’s false! • Rejects possibility of UN and Human Rights • Tolerance is a universal (liberal) principle!

18. Is liberalism a western product? A series of European inventions (17-18 century) • The constitution of the individual • Scepticism as to the truth • Self-criticism • Separation of church and politics • Separation of church and knowledge

19. Does this mean it’s ethnocentric? Geometry arose in Ancient Greece So is geometry some kind of Greek ideology? Later developments in maths came from medieval Arabs (‘Arabic’ numerals) So should we see maths as some kind of Arabic imposition on European society? No: origins are distinct from validity Beware the Genetic Fallacy!

20. Back to Olympism Concepts of Olympism (and sport) are at a high level of generality - set out a range of ‘thin’ liberal values to which all can agree But those values admit of contesting interpretations (a range of ‘thick’ values) as the concept of Olympism finds different expressions in time and place, history and geography.

21. Olympism (2) The ‘thin’ values underpinning the rule structures of sport include: • fairness • equality • respect for others • rule-adherence • contract-keeping

22. Olympism (3) In addition, the ethos of Olympism emphasises values of: • friendship • mutual understanding • peace • respect for others’ cultures And sporting practices bring awareness of possibilities of: • international co-operation • mutual respect and mutual valuing

23. A Philosophical Anthropology of Olympism • each society (and each ideology) has a political and philosophical anthropology - an idealised conception of the kind of person that that society (or ideology) values • a philosophical anthropology of Olympism as a contribution to a theory of physical education • basis for the world-wide development of sport and physical education as a valued element in everyone’s general education, and as a contribution to multicultural dialogue.

24. Organizational Ethics • There is a close relationship between ethics and structures, inasmuch structures encapsulate and express values. • It is possible to “read off” working values from structures and compare them with professed values. • Conversely, the test of the sincerity with which professed values are held is whether or not they are represented in working practices.

25. Corporate Culture “The way we do things around here …” So what is a morally excellent organization? (How to promote an ethical culture?) 1. Identify issues as moral issues 2. Engage everyone actively in moral thinking 3. Translate decisions into moral actions

26. Ethical Issues for Organizations • Corporate Governance Ethics • Anti-Doping and Drugs Education • Participant Rehabilitation • Privacy and Data Protection issues • Justice and Human Rights • Fair Play and Equality of Opportunity • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (especially age and disability issues) • Equality and anti-Discrimination (class, race, ethnicity, religion and gender issues) • Child Protection and Children’s Rights • Violence and Harm • Pain, Injury and Medical issues

27. IOC Ethics Commission 1. to develop a framework of ethical principles, including a Code of Ethics, based upon the values and principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter 2. to develop and promote best practice 3. to provide assistance to bid cities, in order that the ethical principles are applied in practice 4. to help ensure compliance with the ethical principles in the policies and practices of the IOC, the NOCs, the OCOGs etc 5. to assess the extent to which the ethical principles are being reflected in practice 6. to investigate complaints 7. to review guidelines within the IOC

28. Our duty ... Our duty within liberal society (and liberal organizations) • to be aware • to take a critical interest • learn to understand the issues • express a point of view • contribute to the formation of judgement • preserve liberal institutions

29. ……... And that is why we are here! ………