Swimming towards Olympic values in Peru

3 | 3 | 2014

Children of all ages have been taking part in a swimming programme in Lima, Peru, aimed at teaching the Olympic values of fair play and respect.

Under the guidance of Walter Ledgard Jr, an Olympic Swimmer in Tokyo in 1964, and his son, Tony Ledgard, an Olympic Cyclist in Barcelona in 1992 and current WOA Secretary General, the children competed in 25 metre races and received certificates for taking part.

Following the races, the children received lessons about the values of OIympism, the importance of giving their best in order to achieve their goals while adhering to the ideals of fair play, honour and respect.

The Ledgard family have a long history with the Olympic Games with Walter Jr's Father and Tony's Grandfather, Walter Ledgard Sr, having competed as a Freestyle Swimmer at the Berlin Games in 1936.

Speaking about the swimming initiative, Tony Ledgard, said: "It was great to share with these children what the essence of Olympism really means. It's an honour for me and my family to be able to share our Olympic experiences with them and it was particularly pleasing to see the respect they had for their peers alongside their excitement and competitiveness. The programme has been a great learning experience for all concerned."