Monday, September 21
Saving the Banner of the Youth Forum
Liang tells how the artwork came into Semir`s bathroom
Liang Qian, a Chinese participant of the Youth Forum 2009, wrote down her story about the saving of the „Forum Banner“: „All legends begin with WATER and this is how our story starts, too. The students from all countries were creating the Forum Banner when suddenly it started to rain.The unfinished banner was moved into a nook under the stairs and the painting work carried on successfully until someone noticed water coming from above their heads. Soon a small waterfall formed in the nook. Franzis came up with the idea to move to the nearest room and Semir showed up just in time half naked.After a one-two-three-run, the canvas, together with some painters were all in Semir´s restroom. It took forever for Semir to attach a stick to the flag while three students held the banner with one hand. But it didn´t really work. So he fetched a rope and several clips and finally succeeded hanging the painting up.The funniest thing is, that the rain stopped precisely at the moment we finished working. But anyway, in the end everyone benefited from this incident. For the students, they enjoyed the excitement of teamwork. And for Semir, he got a chance to appreciate a masterpiece half way through a shower.”
“Communication is the Key to Friendship“
They were sitting on the stairs, in the grass or under trees of the Olympic Academy: The students of the Youth Forum met for the first task of the Coubertin Award to have lively discussions about friendship and solidarity. “Communication is the key to friendship”, was the statement of one of the groups. “And you have to be open to find new friends”, said an other participant. The young people were surprised, how easy it was, to have a discussion, even though, they were all from different countries and had a different cultural background.
Morning Run
Citius! Altius! Fortius! To chase away the prints of the pillows in the participants´ faces, Semir and Fabian motivate them from 7.15 to maximum output.
FunnyNews
· Singing Chinese participant sighted on top of a hill.
· Australians slowly recover from jet lag. · Venomous snake sighted in the meadows.· Local newspaper agent interviewed the participants.· Chinese students took the chance to revise their notes for the knowledge test during the Morning Run.
2nd Event of the Pierre de Coubertin Award: Standing the “Knowledge Test”
Would you have kown which city has hosted the Olympic Games twice? We talked to Carolis from Erfurt/ Germany to solve the mystery of the terrifying knowledge test.Were you frightened of the questions before hand?Our preparation was demanding. Mrs. Blümel told us:“ The test will be as hard as nails!“ Therefore we expected the test to be as difficult as the preparation time. How did you cope with the test?I was one of the first being ready and had quite a good feeling.What was the hardest question and how did you deal it?We were given a card of Greece with four cities on it and had to write down where the Ancient Olympic Games were held. I found the answer by eliminating the wrong ones. Be honest, how did you prepare yourself for the test?We got our material from our teacher, learned the facts by heart and met twice a week to discuss the important facts in the team.How did the other participants seem to you?Some of them were looking like rabbits in the footlights.