Olympic Ideals as a Component of social Consciousness

Abstract

Olympic ideals are the component of social consciousness, all its forms and principles of practical activity. The vitality of Olympic ideals is predetermined by the international recognition of Olympic sport, its universal significance, expressing both everyday and prospective interests of society and a person. The Olympic ideals form views on the desired type of society, on the desired type of society, on the ideas and goals shared and aspired by people as well as on the principal means to achieve these goals. Olympic ideals also form conceptions objectives and norms of people’s behaviour. As social values, the Olympic ideals are defined in social norms which ensure the maintenance of Olympism. Olympic ideals have existed as universal values and standards. Indeed the ideals of physical perfection, beauty, mutual respect, honesty and justice, maintenance of peace on the planet, friendship, cooperation, prohibition of political, race and religious discrimination are the values of the Olympic sport which don’t belong only to Olympic movement. Private interests of any particular group can come into conflict with Olympic ideals, violate them, and create conflict situations in the Olympic movement. But within the bounds of social consciousness, a conflict situation is interpreted as the result of imperfection of humanity, Olympic ideals remain to be the aim for the realization of man’s and society’s perfection. As a rule, Olympic ideals become the principles of practical activity when they agree with the ideology of the country or the epoch. The contemporary era of development is characterized by three main ideologies: liberalism,
conservatism and socialism. Olympic ideals are closely interwoven with all of them.