Syracuse

When Pierre de Coubertin developed the idea of reviving the Olympic Games in the late 19th century, he had already been advocating for the inclusion of physical education in French high schools for a number of years. In 1894, when the first Olympic Congress met in Paris, resulting in the creation of the International Olympic Committee, De Coubertin’s motivations and vision were therefore much broader than “simply” recreating the Olympic Games of the Antiquity. He saw the exceptional educational potential of sport and culture and he strived to promote their virtues in society through the celebration of the Olympic Games.

“When I restored the Olympiads, I did not look to what was nearby; I looked to the far-off future. I wanted to give the world, in an enduring way, an ancient institution whose guiding principle was becoming necessary for its health.” (Olympism: selected writings / Pierre de Coubertin, IOC, Lausanne, 2000, p. 550).

Though it may seem difficult to imagine today, reinstating the Olympic Games proved to be a real struggle for de Coubertin, especially in his own country of France. It took a lot of convincing and overcoming of obstacles in order to get the project off the ground and to eventually make it sustainable. These difficulties weren’t anything new for de Coubertin who had faced similar oppositions when he had pushed for the introduction of physical education in French schools. De Coubertin was not deterred because his vision of the Olympic Games was about much more than just a sporting event. He recognized the Games as being an excellent vessel and platform for disseminating the Olympic values we know today: excellence, respect and friendship.

Whether you are interested in going deeper into Pierre de Coubertin’s vision of the Olympic Games, his idea regarding the role of sports in society, or the struggle that the creation of the modern Olympic Games really was, you will find on this page our selection of the most relevant publications and other recommended resources depicting the fascinating visionary that was Pierre de Coubertin.