The Implementation of the National Activities in Reference to Tolerance, Fair Play

INFORMATION

on

the implementation of the national activities in reference to tolerance, fair play, non-discrimination and integrity of sport in the Republic of Slovenia

The Republic of Slovenia is pleased to present its activities regarding the question of the integrity of sport in the last two decades as follows:

1.  Sport and health – The government of the Republic of Slovenia started in 2008 to implement the Strategy in the Area of Physical Activity for the Promotion of Health adopted in 2007, which endorsed measures for healthy lifestyles of the Slovenian Citizens from early childhood up to old senior ages. The strategy has been aiming at the fight against obesity and increased inactivity of the citizens due to modern technology lifestyles. This activity is combined with the healthy nutrition and diet campaigns brought forward also by the Government of the RS within the designed strategy of the European Union. Slovenia actively participated in the preparation of the so called “European Guidelines for Physical Education” which are due to be put in place by the end of November 2008. It is a political and practical document giving guidelines to various institutions and organisations at all levels on how to increase physical activity of all groups of society form pre- school period through schooling period up to the senior citizens.

2.  Sport tolerance and Fair Play - Through the activities of The Slovenian Ambassador for Sport, Tolerance and Fair Play, Mr. Miroslav Cerar, and the Slovenian Olympic Academy we have been since 1997 implementing annual programmes in the area of fight against violence, discrimination, social exclusion, mutual understanding and intercultural and interreligious dialogue within sports movement (associations and clubs) as well as within the extracurricular and in some cases also in the curricular activities in the Slovenian primary and secondary schools. Funds for that purpose have been provided mostly from the central budget and a small proportion form the Foundation for the financing of sport organisations (money from games of chance).

3.  The S.P.O.R.T.I.C.U.S Project – The main aim has been to give full recognition and promotion of socially responsible role of sport and the main goal has been split into two parts:

a.  Overall goal: Development Education based on SPORTIKUS principles that follow MDGs

School for Life, Play Fair, Obey the Rules, Respect Others,

Tolerate and Appreciate, Improve Your Skills, Know the Limits,

Unite in Fun, Support Green Sport

b.  Specific goals:

§  Sustainable development of and through sport

§  Raising awareness on social role of sport

§  Empowerment of youth

§  Educational quality standards

§  Advocacy (social justice, human rights, conflict resolution, global citizenship, social-ecology)

Agenda 21 and United Nations MDGs (among others) are common humanity declarations that need to be adapted to our everyday life by each individual. Sport, as a physical activity, and as play and game is common human activity as well, and very attractive to children and youth especially. Sport embodies a value system, and as such sport can be regarded as a symbol of life in general; a school of and for life. The structure of the game (rules, roles, values, goals, meanings etc.) gives us the opportunity to address very serious and very real problems of social and environmental nature in a convenient context, and through the attractive sport and sport related activities.

The core idea of Sportikus has been to promote physical activity in a socially responsible manner. In fact, the goal is to recognize our mutual dependency, our environmental responsibilities and our own social reproduction or re-creation through sport. Therefore the reflection on sport is needed, and the phenomena in sport are to be translated and compared to real world situations. Playing fair for example is not only a value in sport, the same is for respect, tolerance, and other given issues. It is very easy and relatively safe (game context, play attitude) to show and experience the lack of those values when playing sport or competing. The main event of the campaign is the annual gathering of all the citizens of the Republic of Slovenia at the sport for all event called “The Heart of Sport – The Day of Fair Play” were all participants are “all different and all equal”.

4.  Fair Play Call of the Month

Each month of the year people from sport (players, coaches, teachers, spectators etc.) can send a proposal for Fair Play award. Expert commission critically examines the cases and then publicly announce the “winner.”

Objectives:

- Promotion of common moral values of sport in public by the exposition of

(sports) persons involved in the action, that is worth of exposure.

- Mobilization of the 'sports world' to recognize the moral (fair play) nature of sport (not only competitive, achievement oriented) and so to stimulate the positive sport experience.

- Restoration of the value balance between the competitive outcome (result) and spirit of the sport.

- Opposition to the media exposition of the non-sportsmanship cases. Re-directing the public attention also to positive acts that are worth following them.

- Public and media attention was gained as anticipated.

5.  The collection of educational publications:

So far the following educational kits have been published:

-  Fair play kit for young athletes

-  Doping? No, thanks!

The aim of the kits was to provide athletes, parents and coaches with didactical tools to address common moral values of sport. The distribution of publications was supported by national funds and was free of charge for targeted groups, if followed by workshop or other educational activity.

6.  Fair Play School

The project has aimed at learning European social values that ensure basic social safety, communication and democratic cohabitation through sport. It has been in accordance with declarations and strategies of EU Council and UNESCO. Efficient informal learning has been done through carefully considered workshops and lectures that promote multiculturalism, tolerance, social inclusion with positive discrimination, and personal actualization.

Special modules of Sport Ethics Seminar have been designed for PE teachers, and Coaches.

Objectives:

-  Informal education and youth empowerment for active participation in social dialogue.

-  Social animation and ethical sensibilization through moral dilemmas in sport.

-  Education for tolerance and nonviolent communication.

-  Focusing on positive sports values

-  Restoration of the value balance between the competitive outcome (result) and spirit of the sport.

-  Promotion of proper fan culture, sport without doping and other drugs.

-  Inclusion of PE teachers, coaches, and parents as multipliers of social values.

More then 20 workshops of Fair Play school have been introduced in so far at primary and secondary school level, as well as for the coaches, trainers and parents.

7.  European Fair Play Song

In 2003 the Council of Europe adopted, on the proposal of the Republic of Slovenia, the “European Fair Play Song” originally written and composed by Adi Smolar and in English version adapted by Aleksander Mežek, a songwriter and composer living and working in London. The song is traditionally played just before the beginning of sports matches and other competitions and sports events to remind spectators, supporters and other general public of the important social values of tolerance, fair play and mutual understanding.