Olympism — Class 9 Physical Education

This unit explains Olympism — a philosophy of life that blends sport, culture and education to promote peace, unity and personal excellence by balancing body, mind and willpower. Its goal is to put sport at the service of human development, encouraging fair play, friendship and respect across nations. The unit presents three core Olympic values — excellence (giving one's best and always improving), friendship (built on trust, respect and kindness) and respect (for oneself, others and the rules) — together with educational values such as the joy of effort, fair play and the balance of body, mind and will. It traces the Olympic story from the ancient Games at Olympia in Greece (first recorded in 776 BCE, held to honour Zeus, with winners crowned with an olive wreath called the kotinos), through their decline and ban, to the modern revival led by Pierre de Coubertin, whose vision brought the first modern Olympic Games to Athens in 1896. It follows the Games' growth — the inclusion of women, the Winter Olympics, the Paralympics and the Youth Olympics — as steps toward equality and inclusion, and notes India's journey, including the men's hockey golden era. Finally it explains the symbols and identity of the Movement — the five-ringed flag, the motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together", the creed, oath and anthem — that unite athletes worldwide.