Evaluatieonderzoek naar Olympisch lespakket IK.JIJ.WIJ ‘Sochi 2014’ en de beleving van de Olympische waarden excelleren, respect en vriendschap

Abstract

Background: In addition to parenting and education, sport can be an environment in which positive values are taught. The Netherlands Olympic Committee * Netherlands Sports Confederations (NOC*NSF) have included three core values in the Olympic lesson package ‘Sochi 2014’: excellence, respect, and friendship, respectively translated into ME.YOU.WE, which are central to the package. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Olympic lesson package contributes to teaching and strengthening the Olympic core values excellence, respect and friendship at eight to twelve year old elementary school pupils in the Netherlands. Method: For the present study the documents of the Olympic package were analyzed, data was acquired from 164 pupils through questionnaires and 13 individual teachers and 77 pupils in focus groups were interviewed in depth. Results: The Olympic lessons are implemented in different ways by different teachers. The Olympic values are reflected in the sports experience of the pupils, however, they find the value pleasure the most important. In addition, the lessons turn out to have a certain influence on the knowledge of the pupils about the Olympic Games and values, but less on the transfer of these values to other domains in life then sports. This ties in with the fact that theories of behavioral change are missing in the design of the package. Conclusion: To accomplish a transfer of the Olympic values to other domains in life then sports, it is important to lay a foundation of theories of behavioral change at the core of the lesson package, to use more active and interaction methods in the lessons and to use sports heroes as role models, in order to let children experience the Olympic values.