St. Lawrence High School (SLHS), Kolkata, India, in association with their alumni St. Lawrence Old Boys’ Association (SLOBA) are organising an international drawing and painting competition ‘Expression 2017’ on Olympic Day, Friday, 23 June 2017. Participants from St. Lawrence High School and other Jesuit schools worldwide will take part in ‘Expression 2017’. This international event for Jesuit Schools is being partnered by Peace and Sport (Monaco) and Educate Magis.
Olympian and artist Mr Roald Bradstock, who is better known as the “Olympic Picasso” is the ambassador for ‘Expression 2017’ and will be in the city from Atlanta, GA, USA for the event. On April 25, 2017, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, appointed Mr. Bradstock to IOC Culture and Heritage Commission.
The theme for the competition is ‘Olympic Games and Peace’. At a young age children need to be encouraged to participate in games and sports thus enabling them to become beacons of CHANGE in our society. A sound mind in a sound body ought to bring about change in attitude for a more peaceful coexistence in our world. The intention is to nurture children through this medium to grow into responsible citizens.
The first idea is to know what kids think about when we say peace through sports. The best way to read their minds is through their own illustrations. Second, the output of this project to the institutions working for peace and development through sports, so that they can implement and improve their future projects from any ideas and solutions coming out of the artwork.
To initiate this process, we need to tap into a child’s thoughts in respect of the theme “Peace through Sports”. Thus, the idea was conceived to hold a drawing and painting competition as means to harness children’s creativity and perception of this theme through illustrations and sketches. From this vantage point one can proceed with mentoring and finding ways by which we can move forward in this noble cause of bringing Peace to our world through art inspired by sport. If we succeed in covering adequate ground with this event we can find newer avenues to promote and encourage children in the future. The Jesuit network is a stepping stone by which many more children can be propelled towards becoming ‘ambassadors’ of Peace!
Dr. Maylon Hanold, associate director of sport administration and leadership programme at Seattle University (a Jesuit University) will conduct a talk on Sport, Peace and her Olympic experience through a virtual interactive session with our senior students and students from the invited schools in Kolkata on June 23 morning. Dr Maylon has represented the USA in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
‘Expression 2017’ is supported by Ambassador to Greece in India, The Olympic Museum (IOC, Lausanne), The Olympic Studies Centre (IOC, Lausanne), Olympic Channel, Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Committee, sportanddev.org, The International Olympic Truce Centre, Truce Foundation of the U.S.A, Art of the Olympians, Seattle University, International Hockey Federation (F.IH), Hockey India, Bengal Hockey Association, Air India and Dr. Shashi Tharoor (former Under Secretary General in UN).
The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, has confirmed tokens of encouragement for winners and participants.
The Olympic Study Center has sent books on Olympics, Olympism and Olympic values for children. An ‘Olympic Corner’ will be installed in the school library with these wonderful books.
“St. Lawrence High School and the St. Lawrence Old Boys’ Association have this embassy’s support for the initiatives they plan to take and the actions they envisage concerning the drawing competition for the school’s students”, said H.E. Mr Panos Kalogeropoulos, ambassador, Embassy of Greece in India.
“It is with great pleasure that we endorse this initiative and we would be happy to offer our help in order to make it a success … We look forward to cooperating with you on the goal which we appear to have in common; introducing young students to the value of Olympism and the Olympic Truce.” said Dr. Constantinos Filis, Director, International Olympic Truce Centre.
“As you know, the Olympic Movement is not about sport, rather it is about educating the youth of the world through sport and culture. Your project bringing sport and art together is in the true, authentic spirit of Olympism. In fact, the very early [Olympic] Games and also the Games at the turn of the 20th Century incorporated competitions in the fine arts, such as poetry, visual art, and recitation”, said Mr Hugh T. Dugan, founder of the Truce Foundation of the USA.
“I’m honored to talk with and share insights about the intersections of sport, peace and inclusion with youth in India. What I’m most excited about is being able to learn from these kids as we connect virtually on Olympic Day! How we create sport experiences makes a difference in what sport teaches. Here’s to listening, learning, and collaborating in making a positive difference!” wrote an excited Dr. Maylon Hanold on her Facebook page about our event.
