Impact of Olympic Value Education Program on Sri Lankan Youths Sport Involvement and Pro-Social Behavior

Abstract

For the first time in the history of Olympic Solidarity, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC SL) launched the Olympic Value Education Program – Debater (OVEP Debater) in 2017. 20 schools including different ethnicities, religions, and language groups participated in the program. Compared to other integrated Olympic value education programs, this was specifically a knowledge-based approach held in a structure of a debate.

Since there is no research to be found on OVEP Debater, this study addressed the impact program left on youth along with a comparison between OVEP participants and non-participants. The focus was set on sport involvement and the prosocial behavior of youth to support the comparison.

The researchers objective was to evaluate the pilot project of OVEP Debater. The evaluation can assist to foster future Olympic value education within the country. Further, it can help to improve youths motivation into sport involvement. It will also address the importance of OVEP to inculcate values into the youth. These objectives are supported throughout the research from the perspective of both OVEP participants and non-participants.

Data for this study were analyzed in a quantitative method. An online survey was used for data collection. 50 OVEP participants out of 60 were part of the sample of the research, while 63 were non- participants. Results from multiple regression analysis showed knowing Olympic values can predict more sport involvement. Furthermore, gender alone was a unique predictor of sport involvement and OVEP participation.

This study provides recommendations for project organizers such as the National Olympic Committees, National Federations, Ministry of Education, and schools to spread the Olympic ideals among society.

The absence of a pre-evaluation of OVEP Debater was a major limitation in this study. Further, a low number of the target population was another restraint of this study. It cannot be generalized as the research is set in the Sri Lankan context. Thus, this research is not without limitations.

This research on OVEP Debater can set an example for future stakeholders, who intends to implement OVEP, to assess their approach to promote Olympism among the youth through sport involvement.