A Drug-free 2010 Olympics — Vancouver’s Role Models

Olympic dreams are about striving to overcome all obstacles toward the goal of victory. What might our youth be like if they were encouraged and pushed to achieve great goals, instead or aiming only at mediocrity and sometimes missing that.

“Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”
Olympic Charter, Fundamental principles

Great achievements and the competitive spirit fuel Olympians to accomplish more than even they thought possible.

The Olympic motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius.” These three Latin words mean “Swifter, Higher, Stronger.” Baron de Coubertin

Metro Vancouver has an opportunity to carry the Olympic Flag proudly and rise above pettiness. Grand standards bring great achievements. Metro Vancouver drug prevention programs could implement these principals into their programs and thus save lives. Adults could rapidly advance a youth movement fostering character development based on Olympic ideals.

A simple yet effective program developing integrity could do more to sway kids away from gang violence and encourage drug-free and healthy living. The Olympics should promote a Golden Age of physical and ethical achievement.

Ethical Principals:

Ethics are long-term survival concepts towards the highest level of survival for all parts of life. Ethics are reason. Ethics consist of the personal actions and choices made by an individual. Ethics assist one to achieve the best possible harmony, communication and interdependence with all of life. Ethics helps people achieve the highest levels of survival and success.

Drug-free Achievement

Drug abuse has resulted in great misery, death and family destruction.

Achieving drug-free standards of excellence in sports and in one’s personal life, one sets a better standard for others to aspire to. Doping is an easy and often dangerous way to attempt momentary gain and risk long-term damage.

Olympic competition selects out the best athletes in the world. These competitors are leaders and role models representing outstanding achievement in athletic performance.

Being the drug-free, living in harmony with natural and breaking through limitations sets the hallmarks of the Olympics.

Honesty, integrity and being drug-free set some of the standards of Olympic virtue and ethics. The Olympics are far more than a two week sports competition. The Olympics are a celebration of people’s indomitable spirit to achieve greater accomplishments despite limitations that other’s might succumb to.

The founder of the Narconon program, William Benitez said this about overcoming temptations to run away from the difficulties in living.

“I found that if a person rehabilitated and applied certain abilities, that person could persevere toward goals set, confront life, isolate problems and resolve them, communicate with life, be responsible and set ethical standards, and function within the band of certainty.” Benitez

Drug Prevention Education

When kids and young adults have goals they truly want to achieve and are assisted in arriving at those objectives, a flame of passion is lit underneath them. Setting big goals, especially in athletic achievement, gives kids something to keep them on the right track.

No one should ever say keeping one’s word and integrity is an easy task. Yet character is determined by being true to ones goals and oneself. Weakness may make us more acceptable to those who fail in achieving tough targets, but who wants to fail?

The Vancouver / Whistler Olympics in 2010 should be a held up as a torch to guide anyone who wants to be more than ‘normal’ or ‘average’. The Olympics are truly about overcoming obstacles toward goals set.

I wish all young people the opportunity to develop and achieve happiness. Setting standards for their own conduct leads to personal triumph.

Tibor A. Palatinus

Drug Prevention Specialist

PS to book a series of talks or purchase videos on prevention call 604-873-1762