Hosted by the IOC Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH) and organised by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA), the First OVEP Train the Trainer Workshop was successfully held at the Beijing Olympic Museum from 24 to 26 April 2024. The training session received support from the Chinese Olympic Committee. Frédérique Jamolli, Head of International Cultural Affairs and Xenia Kourgouzova, Senior Education Manager at the OFCH, served as instructors. Gao Yunchao, Deputy Secretary-General of BODA, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Yue Hongyan, Chief of the Sport and Culture Division of the Communication Department at the General Administration of Sport of China, was also present at the workshop.

 (Gao Yunchao delivers a speech)

Gao Yunchao noted at the opening ceremony that the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) is a profoundly significant non-profit programme and is of vital importance to disseminate the Olympic spirit, spread the Olympic culture and promote the physical and mental health of people, especially youngsters. He hoped the participants could take up the training opportunity, listen attentively in class and actively communicate with one another to draw on international experience in OVEP and apply it in practice to promote the Olympic values in China.

During the three-day session, the two instructors delivered the curriculum based around the educational themes including the joy of effort, fair play, respect and pursuit of excellence. They introduced to the participants the purpose, implementation methods and concepts, and scenarioses of OVEP. Different instructional strategies were adopted in the training course, such as lecturing, case study, Q&As, discussion, skills competition and practice.

 (Frédérique Jamolli instructs in class)

  (Xenia Kourgouzova instructs in class)

 (Participants interact in class)

 (Xenia Kourgouzova instructs in class)

 (Participants take part in interactive activity)

 (Participants take part in physical activity)

 (Participants interact with instructors)

At the closing ceremony, participants received the Certificate of Participation from the OFCH, becoming certified trainers who are well equipped and qualified to implement Olympic values-based education in their communities.

(A participant holds her Certificate of Participation)

 (A participant holds his Certificate of Participation)

The OFCH highly values the implementation of Olympic education in China. The workshop is the first OVEP initiative organised by the IOC in China. During the training session, the OFCH and BODA signed a cooperation agreement, in which they agreed to strengthen long-term cooperation in various areas such as Olympic culture and heritage, Olympic education, Olympic research and Olympic museum operations. As part of the cooperation framework, the workshop aims to implement OVEP activities at the Beijing Olympic Museum to promote and disseminate the Olympic spirit and values and train OVEP trainers for China. Ultimately, this will enable more Chinese youngsters to be familiar with the Olympics, practice the Olympic spirit and benefit from OVEP.

The workshop welcomed 37 participants, including representatives from BODA, the Beijing Olympic Museum, Olympic venue owners, universities and schools in Beijing, Olympic education sponsors, other Olympic cities, Olympic museums outside Beijing, and Olympic related foundations, as well as athletes.