Athlete Honor

Recreational Activities

Requirements

1. Learn about the ancient and modern Olympic Games. Tell the story of a modern Olympic hero and of an ancient Olympic hero.

   Answer: The Olympic Games of ancient times began in Greece, in the city of Olympia, more than 2,700 years ago, to honor the Greek god Zeus. The modern Olympic Games were created in 1896, in Athens, by a Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin, and today they bring together athletes from all over the world. Hero of ancient times: Leonidas of Rhodes, a Greek runner who won many running events. Modern hero: Usain Bolt, from Jamaica, the fastest man in the world, who won several gold medals running. — The Games were born in ancient Greece and were brought back in 1896, and each era had famous athletes who went down in history.

2. Present the location and year of the last five Olympic Games.

   Answer: The last five Summer Olympics were: 1) Beijing, in China, in 2008; 2) London, in England, in 2012; 3) Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, in 2016; 4) Tokyo, in Japan, in 2020 (which took place in 2021 because of the pandemic); 5) Paris, in France, in 2024. — The Summer Olympics happen every 4 years in different cities around the world.

3. Take part in an event typical of the modern Olympics, organized by a public agency, school, sports club, gym, Club, etc.

   Answer: How to do it, with the help of an adult: 1) Choose an Olympic event you like, such as running, long jump, swimming, or shot put. 2) Look for an event near you (at school, at the Pathfinder club, at a gym, or in a town activity). 3) Wear comfortable, light clothes, and remember to drink water. 4) Do a little warm-up before starting. 5) Take part in the event with joy, doing your best, without worrying about winning or losing. 6) At the end, give thanks and celebrate for having taken part! — Taking part in an event helps you feel what sport is really like and take care of the body God gave you.

4. Memorize 2 Tim. 4:7.

   Answer: The verse in II Timothy 4:7 says: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." The apostle Paul wrote this when he was already old, comparing the Christian life to a race: he fought for what was good, went all the way to the end, and kept on trusting in God. To memorize it, repeat the short phrase several times: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." — Paul compares life with God to a race that is worth finishing all the way to the end, just like an athlete.

5. Know the stories of at least two famous biblical "athletes" whose abilities would be useful in today's Olympics.

   Answer: Two "athletes" from the Bible: 1) Samson, who was very strong (he had enormous strength given by God) and would be great at weightlifting or wrestling. 2) David, who had very good aim with the sling when he faced the giant Goliath, and would be great at the throw or target shooting. Another example is Asahel, who the Bible says ran very fast, "as swift of foot as a gazelle," and would make a good runner. — The Bible tells of strong and skillful people who used their gifts with God's help.

6. Tell your father, mother, or teacher about the meaning of the text in 1 Cor. 9:24-26.

   Answer: How to do it, with an adult: 1) Read together with your dad, mom, or teacher the passage in I Corinthians 9:24-26. 2) This passage says that in a race everyone runs, but only one wins the prize - so we should run to win. 3) Tell in your own words that, just as the athlete trains and works very hard, we too should work hard to live well with God. 4) Explain that the athlete's prize is a crown that wears out, but the prize God gives lasts forever. 5) Say what you learned: that it is worth truly dedicating yourself to the things of God. — This passage compares the Christian life to a race in which we work hard to win a prize that lasts forever.

7. Explain what the five rings of the official Olympic Games logo mean.

   Answer: The five interlocking rings represent the five continents of the world (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) united by sport. The colors are blue, yellow, black, green, and red, on a white background. These six colors (counting the white of the background) were chosen because, together, they appear in the flags of every country in the world. The linked rings show the friendship and unity among peoples during the Games. — The linked rings symbolize the union of the five continents and the friendship among all peoples.