Greece's new concept of "Cultural Olympics"

The 28th Olympic Games will be held in Athens in p>24, and the most important sports event today-the Olympic Games has finally returned to its hometown. The Greek government attaches great importance to this, and various preparations are being actively carried out. The Greek government carefully planned and made a big fuss about culture, and put forward the concept of "cultural Olympics" for the first time, so as to embody its own characteristics and publicize the Athens Olympic Games.

first, the concept of "cultural Olympics"

At the 29th plenary session of UNESCO held in Paris in October p>1997, the concept of "cultural Olympics" was first put forward by Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek minister of culture. The Greek government believes that to make the Athens Olympic Games different from any previous Olympic Games, the main feature lies in taking culture as an integral part of the Olympic Games, and holding a "cultural Olympic Games" in the four years between the two Olympic Games. The first "Cultural Olympics" began in 2 to celebrate the new century and ended in 24. During this period, a series of cultural activities will be held, which will focus on four major themes of common concern in today's society.

1. Advocate peace, survival and reconciliation. Culture is a bridge to promote peace, which is the most important message to be conveyed by the "Cultural Olympics". It advocates a truce during the Olympic Games with the support of the United Nations.

2. Promote international solidarity. Agree with cultural pluralism and oppose unification. In 1997, the Greek Ministry of Culture and European universities jointly held an international seminar in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, european capital of culture, and reached the Thessaloniki Charter on cultural and social solidarity in the 21st century.

3. Promote the culture of the information society. The information society has eliminated obstacles for people to obtain cultural information and consume cultural products equally.

4. Advocate the organic combination of tradition and innovation. A series of "Cultural Olympics" held in 2-24 should reflect this theme.

In a word, the "Cultural Olympics" is to use a series of cultural activities to convey and revive the Olympic spirit, promote people's understanding of ancient Greek civilization and modern culture, and enhance mutual respect and understanding. The Olympic Games is not only a sports event, but also an important cultural activity and cultural forum. "Cultural Olympics" should combine sports with culture and education to express the attitude towards peace, equality, cultural diversity, inheritance and innovation. In the end, the concept of "cultural Olympics" will be deeply rooted in people's hearts and passed down forever.

second, the specific content of "cultural Olympics"

1. According to the geographical points, "cultural Olympics" can be divided into the following four items.

"New Balkan Peninsula" project

This project is to hold various cultural activities in Greece and other Balkan countries, and only artists and scholars from Balkan countries can participate. The contents include concerts, art exhibitions, theatrical performances and literary and artistic seminars of composers in the Balkans, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and exchanges among Balkan countries.

"Agora" project

This project is jointly organized by the Cultural Olympic Organization and some local governments. "Agora" means ancient market in Greek. This project is mainly to build some huts in some walkways and squares in Greek cities to display and sell the works of folk arts and crafts artists. During the Olympic Games, large screens were erected in some public places such as squares to facilitate people to watch the Olympic Games. It also includes activities such as window display, exhibition, concert, drama and dance performance.

"Mediterranean Port" project

This project is to hold exhibitions, conferences, artistic performances and other cultural activities in many Mediterranean port cities such as Thessaloniki, Alexandria, Spain, Marseille, France, Naples and Venice, Italy, so as to emphasize the cultural ties along the Mediterranean coast.

"Cultural Tour" project

With the help of Greek embassies in various countries around the world, this project sends art groups representing Greek culture to visit some important cities on five continents, such as London, Paris, Moscow, Oslo, Berlin, Warsaw, Belgrade, new york, New Delhi, Tokyo, Beijing and Sydney, and holds small art festivals in these cities.

2. According to the content, it mainly includes concerts, dances, operas, theatrical performances, exhibitions (photography, fine arts, archaeological exhibitions), seminars, movies and publicity websites.

Third, the characteristics of the "Cultural Olympics"

1. Many activities of the "Cultural Olympics" have been merged into some existing art festivals. For example, many activities in Greece are classified as Thessaloniki Art Festival, Ismia Art Festival and Nimini Art Festival. This enriches the content of the festival and saves money.

2. Various art forms require representativeness and nationality to show that they support and carry forward cultural diversity.

3. The positioning of the program should not be high and low, but should be refined and popular.

4. The performance and exhibition venues mainly use the existing ancient theaters, castles and some famous archaeological sites in Greece. For example, many performances were held at the ancient theater of Harold at the foot of the world-famous Acropolis and the ancient theater of Epidavos in the Peloponnesus.

5. Control the number of performances to ensure the performance quality.

IV. Enlightenment

The 29th Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in p>28. How to publicize the Olympic Games through cultural activities and China culture through the Olympic Games, the Greek government's "Cultural Olympics" activities should have a lot to learn from.

1. Culture is the best way to publicize the Olympic Games. Greece, known as the cradle of western civilization, is not an economic power, but a cultural power. The Greeks are most proud of their long history and splendid culture. Holding the "Cultural Olympics" is to make full use of cultural resources. Use culture to promote the Olympic Games, and use the Olympic Games to promote culture, killing two birds with one stone.

2. Combination of government management and commercial operation. The activities of "Cultural Olympics" are rich in content, long in time and large in span, so it is impossible to operate them only by the government's cultural departments. The Greek government adopted the way of government management and commercial operation. The Ministry of Culture is in charge, and some existing cultural institutions, such as the Greek Cultural Heritage Organization and various cultural institutions under the Ministry of Culture, as well as some institutions specially established for the "Cultural Olympics", such as the Cultural Olympics Organization, the Cultural Olympics International Foundation and organizations in the cultural field, operate together, and these institutions entrust some Greek cultural companies with specific operations.

3. Pay attention to the use of various publicity methods and means to form an all-round and three-dimensional publicity network. Geographically speaking, from big cities to small towns in China, from Balkan Peninsula and Mediterranean coast to five continents in the world; In terms of content, it involves almost all aspects of cultural activities; In terms of propaganda means, all media means, such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio and websites, have been used to form a powerful propaganda network.