Commencement of the M.A. Olympic Studies Intake 6

From 25 February – 3 March 2018, the Olympic Studies Centre (OSC) of the German Sport University Cologne (GSU) played host to the first module week of the 6th intake of the M.A. Olympic Studies. The week began with an opening ceremony which brought together the 25 new participants, coming from 22 different countries, alongside guests of the GSU’s OSC. Prof. Stephan Wassong commenced the evening’s proceedings with a delivery welcoming the new participants to the programme and providing them with information on their upcoming studies. This was followed by an address from the GSU’s Vice-President Prof. Stefan Schneider on the university’s profile. Gratitude must also be given to Dr. h.c. Klaus Schormann, President Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne and Member IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Heritage, and Yvan de Navacelle de Coubertin, Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, as well as to Elvira Ramini and Annett Chojnacki-Bennemann, M.A. OS Alumni Circle, for accepting the invitation to deliver an opening address.

Under the title Ethics, Values and Olympic Education, the first module saw the return of Prof. Norbert Müller and Prof. Karen Joisten from the University of Kaiserslautern as module leaders and lecturers. Covering such topics as the Dimensions of the Olympic Movement and Virtue Ethics and Olympism, the participants greatly benefitted from both Prof. Müller and Prof. Joisten’s expertise. In addition to the first module, the GSU’s OSC was delighted to welcome back Prof. Jens Flatau (University of Kiel) to hold day one of the third module (Research Methodologies), which is taught over the five on-site module weeks. Beside the tremendous learning and teaching environment, the group quickly came together and formed a social bond during the organised sports evening and social gatherings.