Olympic education in Singapore

Abstract

The inauguration of the Singapore Olympic Academy brought with it the challenge of introducing and promoting Olympic Education in Singapore. Olympic Education focuses on the intellectual, moral and physical development of the individual, and therefore generates close links between the respective learning environments of the classroom and the playing field. On a broader level, it looks beyond the school to spread its philosophy to the general public as a whole and to specialist groups engaged in sport. This paper outlines the origins of Olympic Education, its objectives as a philosophy of life, and the issues and problems that are its main concerns. Consideration is given to the challenge of adapting Olympic Education to the Singapore environment. Is there really a place for the promotion of a distinctive philosophy, and, if so, how can its ideals best be introduced to the prevailing system.