Learning from the history of the Olympics
While the Olympics are still fresh in our minds, I thought it timely to share with you an interesting story which I also shared with staff a couple of weeks ago. It centres around innovation and change and how change can impact lives in ways we hadn’t anticipated. Many of you would have heard of Pierre de Coubertin, the co-founder of the International Olympics Committee (IOC). Each year in schools and colleges, you’ll often see a Pierre de Coubertin award presented to a student who has actively participated in and represented their school in a sport, demonstrating a consistently positive attitude, aligned to that much celebrated Olympic spirit.
In 1894, de Coubertin was pivotal in the return of the Olympic Games, after a 1500 year hiatus. Remarkably, he was met with some resistance yet he persisted with his proposal until the rest of the IOC finally gave in and the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, in 1896. Now, this is where the story becomes interesting. There were more changes to come. Were you aware that Pierre de Coubertin had also included the Arts in his original vision and what happened was that Arts competitions became a part of the Olympic Games from 1912 until 1948 featuring architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. Over time, the IOC awarded 146 medals for the Arts. Sneakily, de Coubertin decided he would also participate (under two separate pseudonyms) and he won the gold medal in the literature category at the 1912 Summer Olympics. Visual, performing and literary artists had been able to sell their works during the course of the Games but this became to be seen as tarnishing the Olympic spirit so much so that in 1948, the IOC put a stop to Arts competitions and the rest, as they say, is history. Segue to GYC in 2024 to a celebration and acknowledgment of the extraordinary contributions we see from students and staff in the Arts and in Sport; from “Legally Blonde” (the Musical) right through to the many sporting teams and individual successes we see throughout the year.
As you would be aware, there are also changes ahead for GYC in 2025. A move to formal uniform is a significant one which will be challenging but achievable if everyone is on board. I believe there are more challenges for students than wearing the uniform: classes, assignments, work placements, assessments, along with balancing busy, full lives and commitments. I cannot emphasise enough the value of resilience, collaboration and self-care. There will be opportunities and challenges ahead of us all which will require any and all of these. At this stage of the academic year, working together has never been more important. Our shared commitment to creating a positive learning environment is what enables us to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. Balancing academic demands with personal wellbeing is key to maintaining our overall health. I urge students to stay mindful of their mental and physical health, to seek support when needed, and to celebrate the small victories along the way.
Jo Legosz – Principal
