Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 24 (ANI): Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched the "Olympic Values Education" Programme (OVEP) into the curriculum of 90 schools of Odisha, in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust.

It has been started as a pilot project in schools of Rourkela and Bhubaneswar. It will be expanded to other schools in the coming days.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Patnaik said, "This will be the beginning of a new Olympic movement in the country. He said, through this program, our children will experience and benefit from the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect."Stating that Sports is an important part of our vision for education and personality development of students, the chief minister said his government has always strived to achieve excellence in the education sector as well as in Sports.

He underlined that Odisha is emerging as a major sports hub in India and will continue to lead in the sports sector through its partnerships.

He further said that it's a privilege to engage with the IOC to launch this program. We thank IOC for partnering with us in this endeavour to excel in sports.

He expressed confidence that these partnerships will make a significant contribution towards the impactful holistic development of our young school children.

Joining the programme, IOC Education Commission Chairperson Mikaela C. Jaworski said that Sports is a powerful tool of change that formal education may not necessarily bring about. The Olympics movement can contribute significantly to society. This programme will be integrated in the school syllabus, she added.

Director of IOC Culture and Heritage Committee, Angelita Teo said that Olympics education will enhance the philosophy of life. It will help students to lead a peaceful, better life. Olympism will focus on value-based learning, she added.

IOC Member Neeta Ambani said that though every child cannot be an Olympian, all can learn, powered by Olympism. Odisha has been a hub of sport in recent times. She is happy to be associated with this movement in the country, she added.

Olympian Abhinav Bindra said that core values of life are learned outside the classrooms. The Olympic movement has the potential for social change.

President of Odisha Hockey Promotion Council, Dillip Tirkey said that he has learnt the values of self-discipline, respect and confidence by playing in Olympics.

Indian Olympic Association Chairperson Narendra Batra said this movement will instil the values of sports in education, and will create respect for cultural diversity. With this unique movement, Odisha will create examples for other states, he added.

The Olympic Values Education Programme is a series of free and accessible teaching resources created by the IOC, to complement academic curricula using the context of Olympic sports and the core principles of Olympism.

OVEP communicates the long-term benefits of sport and physical activity through an understanding of Olympism and its impact on individual health, enjoyment and social interaction. (ANI)