Working Together is Success – Expression 2019

As the submission date for Expression 2019 comes closer let’s not forget, Coming Together is a Beginning; Keeping Together is Progress; Working Together is Success.

Recognizing the shared responsibility all entities with a vested interest in keeping the Earth habitable possess, this work proposes ways in which sport organizations can take action by incorporating ecocentric management principles within their organizational practices and thus becoming more ecologically just.  First, by drawing upon the tenets of the systems thinking paradigm and the four levels of thinking model, the underlying beliefs and values guiding current practices within sport organizations are identified.  Next, a series of propositions are offered to suggest that by adopting an equity-based perspective, recognizing the interdependent relationships between humans and the natural environment, and acknowledging the manner in which sport organizations hinder the opportunities of the natural environment to thrive, sport organizations can contribute to the health of the planet and all of its inhabitants through their own organizational practices.  Additionally, sport organizations can also serve as ecologically just exemplar for organizations in other industries to emulate.

As the leader of the Olympic Movement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provides education, support and guidance to the International Sports Federations (IFs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs), helping them to address today’s sustainability challenges.

The UN Environment Clean Seas Initiative in June 2018, the IOC has brought 11 IFs, four NOCs and three of its commercial partners – Coca Cola, Dow Chemicals and Procter & Gamble – on board the programme, to take on the challenge of marine litter. Ichinomiya city in Japan, which will host surfing competitions during the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, has also joined the initiative. « Tokyo 2020 reveals progress on sustainability from recycling electronic devices into olympic medals, to reducing and offsetting CO2 emissions to promoting Human Rights. The Tokyo 20202 Sustainability Progress Report highlights susbstantial progress made towards the delivery of the Tokyo 20202 Sustainability Plan. »

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto commented,

With about one year and four months left until the Games, the year 2019 will see Tokyo 2020 undergo a sea change as we transition from the planning phase to the operations phase, which will entail a shift in focus to the respective Games competition venues. This year will be extremely important in our efforts to ensure that sustainability is given adequate consideration. All members of Tokyo 2020 will work as one to cultivate a deeper awareness of their respective roles and ensure that sustainability is incorporated into all of our activities as we look toward 2020 and beyond.” https://www.olympic.org/news/tokyo-2020-reveals-progress-on-sustainability

In our global network of Jesuit schools students who are often so enthusiastic about their favorite sport can be educated towards the conservation of the environment. These can be instrumental in paving the way for a more sustainable future. To initiate this process, this year’s Expression 2019 is focusing on holding a Drawing Competition as a means to harness a child’s creativity and perception of bringing environmental sustainability through Sports.

Have you submitted your students’ drawings yet? You still have time! Artwork may be submitted up until midnight of June 16, 2019 Indian Standard Time.

How to participate?

The competition has 3 simple steps.

1. Give your students 1 hour 30 mins to paint a picture on the Theme ‘Sport-Environment-Peace’. 

2. Scan or photograph these paintings and submit to expression@sloba.net before July 16th, 2019. [Deadline has been extended!]

3. Winners will be announced on Educate Magis at the end of August 2019.

What are the prizes?

(1) Best Artist (2) First Runner-Up (3) Second Runner-Up

In case of a tie at any stage, the judges will break the tie by consensus.

For more information on how to participate please follow this link: Expression 2019 – Achieving Peace and Environmental Sustainability through Sports

Please contact us at expression@stlawrencehighschool.edu.in for any further information or suggestions in this regard.