The Annual World Cultural Heritage Youth Symposium, organised by the European Centre for Open Innovation, Science and Culture in partnership with Absolute Value International Consulting Group Ltd, under the auspices of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, takes place on April 19-23 2018 in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on the occasion of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The Symposium is a contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) promoting the “Education 2030” agenda, focused on SDG target 4.7, Education for sustainable development and global citizenship, and SDG target 17, Partnership for the goals.
The Symposium will be hosted at the International Olympic Academy, a venue directly linked to a historical landmark, hosting a series of international events every year. The choice of this particular location was made with the aim of bringing students from all over the world in contact with the ancient Greek culture and civilisation, while the events broader goal is to help them meet and understand different cultures while at the same time present their, expose their ideas and be exposed to the ideas of others, so as to turn cultural diversity into a power for peace, security and development for all.
Activities
“This is my heritage”: All the delegations participating in the Symposium are expected to prepare a presentation regarding the cultural heritage of their country. A Digital Exhibition of all the presentations of the delegations under the title: “This is my Heritage” will be organised in the Conference Hall of the International Olympic Academy.
“Experiencing the Greek heritage”: Participants will come in contact with the history of the site hosting the event; “Olympic Games: A journey to the past” features a tour of the Ancient Stadium of the Olympic Games, providing information about its cultural significance, followed by a visit to the other archaeological sites of Olympia and, most importantly, the Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Greece. It holds the sculptural decoration of the Temple of Zeus, once home to the statue of Zeus which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is also houses a wide collection including the famous Hermes of Praxiteles and the Nike of Paionios.
The participants will also have the opportunity to take part in the reenactment of running races that used to form part of the ancient Olympic Games: stadion (180 m), diaulos (360m) and dolichos (1400m). The delegations can also choose if they want to present a short play based on a Greek tragedy, or to perform traditional songs, music and dances of their countries. During the Closing Ceremony, Greek traditional music and dances will also be performed.
International Olympic Academy
The International Olympic Academy is a cultural and educational centre whose objective is to disseminate the values and principles of Olympism and to broaden the knowledge on the subjects of this humanist philosophy. The convention centre, fully equipped with conference halls, teaching rooms, a sports complex and accommodation facilities, hosts each year at its premises in Ancient Olympia a series of international sessions attended by young people from all over the world, representatives of sports institutions and special courses on peace, international relations, humanitarian law and other scientific subjects related to the social impact of the Olympic spirit on the modern world.
N.M.
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