Olympics / Paralympics / Special Olympics

whats the difference and why does

it matter?
Olympics, Paralympics and Special
Olympics are three different international
sport competitions. Especially the
Olympics and Paralympics are very similar
as they are held in the same locations and
organized together. But let me explain
some more:

Olympics and the number of countries and

sports involved.
As athletes continually strive to do better,
events such as these are vital as they
serve as a proving ground for the athletes
and a chance to try and beat personal or
world records. Factors such as these are
vital to the athletes as records and results
from events all play a part in future
selection processes and sponsorship
deals.

The Paralympics take place about three

weeks after the Olympic Games and
include almost the same competitions.
The only difference is that it is for disabled
athletes. Many think that the disabled
cannot perform as able-bodied athletes
but its not true! Disabled athletes perform
and work just as much, if not more
physically, the difference is that many use
more tools, e.g. a sprinter doesnt need
anything but apparel and a start block for
his competition while a disabled sprinter
may need a prosthetic.

Briefly putting the social and economic

factors to one side, from a sports aspect,
what are the benefits?
Well, the Olympics are undoubtedly a
fantastic international proving ground for
athletes. It gives them the opportunity to
compete against athletes of a similar level
on an international stage. This gives them
the opportunity to compare themselves
against each other and to determine how
good they are internationally. This is only
achievable through the sheer scale of the

Its possibly a clichd phrase but the

Olympics are truly a stadium of dreams,
its a place where athletes and aspiring
youngsters alike have the chance to see
their idols perform and gives them
something to aspire to.
The Olympic Effect and the Inspire a
Generation slogan is something thats
been reported a lot in the press lately.
Aided immensely by campaigns run by
Sport England, statistics clearly show that
in the lead up to the Olympics there has
been an increased interest in sport and
an increase in the number of people
participating in sports on a leisure basis.
The amount of youngsters interested in
sport has also increased and seeing all the
publicity about the Olympics has given
many future Olympic hopefuls a spark in
life and provided them with something to
aspire to. The most important thing in the
Olympic Games is not winning but taking
part!

Amended Constitution
and By-Laws

education, such as the National

Olympic Academy, Olympic Museum
and cultural programmes related to
the Olympic Movement.

Under the terms of the Olympic Charter there

is hereby constituted and ordained the
Philippine Olympic Committee hereinafter
referred to by its abbreviated title POC under

d. To ensure the observance of the

Olympic Charter in the Philippines.

the Constitution and By-Laws herein

promulgated.

e. To disseminate among young people

PREAMBLEARTICLE I - AIMS

an interest in sports and a sporting

spirit.

Section 1. The POC shall have the following

aims:
f.

To encourage the development of

high performance sports as well as
sport for all.

a. To develop and protect the Olympic

Movement in the Philippines in
accordance with the Olympic Charter.

g. To help in the training of sports

administrators by organizing courses
and ensure that such courses
contribute to the propagation of the

b. To propagate the fundamental

Fundamental Principles of Olympism.

principles of Olympism at the national

level within the framework of sports
activity and otherwise contribute,
among other things, to the diffusion of
Olympism in the teaching

h. To guard and take action against all

form of discrimination and violence in

programmes of physical education

sports.

and sport in schools and universities.

c.

To see to the creation of institutions

that devote themselves to Olympic

i.

To fight against the use of substances

and procedures prohibited by the
International Olympic Committee or

the International Sports Federations,

in particular by approaching the
competent authorities in the country
so that all medical controls may be
performed in optimum conditions. To
adopt and implement the World AntiDoping Code, thereby ensuring that
the Philippine Olympic Committees
anti-doping policies and rules,
membership and/or funding

l.

To undertake the organization of

these Games when they are held in
the Philippines. It shall have the
exclusive authority to select and
designate the city which may apply to
organize Olympic Games in the
Philippines.

requirements and results

management procedures conform
with the World Anti-Doping Code and
respect all the roles and
responsibilities for NOCs that are
listed within the World Anti-Doping
Code.

j.

To safeguard its absolute autonomy

and to resist all pressures of any kind,
including those of political, religious or
economic nature that may prevent it
from complying with the Olympic
Charter.

m. To submit proposals to the IOC with

regard to the Olympic Charter, the
Olympic Movement in general as well
as the organization and conduct of the
Olympic Games.

n. To work in concert with private or

governmental bodies concerning the
promotion of a sound sports policy.
However, it shall not associate itself
with any activity which would be in
contradiction with the Olympic
Charter.

k.

To organize, together with the

respective National Sports
Associations, the preparation and
selection of athletes, thereby ensuring
that the Philippines is represented at
the Olympic Games as well as at
regional, continental and
intercontinental games having the
patronage of the International
Olympic Committee.

o. To help in the training of sports

administrators and athletes coaches
by organizing courses to ensure the
further development of sports in the
country and the uplifting of the level
of performance of Filipino athletes in
international competitions.

The approved budget will augment the

National Sports Development Fund,
roughly P50 million monthly and
which bankrolls the training and
international exposure of PH athletes.
The Philippine Sports Commission will
operate on a P187-million budget next
year.

PSC chair Richie Garcia said the

appropriation would be intended for the
government agencys various sports
programs such as the Batang Pinoy and
the expanded version of the Philippine
National Games beginning 2015.
-inquirer