Pierre de Coubertin is largely credited as 'the father of the modern Olympics' for his work in establishing the International Olympic Committee, and with good reason. An educated man from an aristocratic family, Pierre de Freddy, Baron de Coubertin gravitated to the studies of education, and particularly physical education. That, combined with an interest in ancient Greece led him to try to incorporate more sport into French schooling. Eventually, he extended that thinking into a presentation at the Societes Francais de Sports Athletiques convention on this date in 1892, in which he pleaded:
"Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into Europe the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally. It inspires me to touch upon another step I now propose and in it I shall ask that the help you have given me hitherto you will extend again, so that together we may attempt to realise [sic], upon a basis suitable to the conditions of our modern life, the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games."
Although this didn't immediately spur any action, he tried again at organized meeting of 79 delegates from nine countries two years later, in which he did succeed in receiving support to further organize a 'Games' and what would be the original Olympic Committee.
Although others had presented Olympic-inspired competition since, the world 1st saw a glimpse of de Coubertin's own Olympic vision back in 1892, and although it took a while and a lot of persistence, he made it happen. I wonder what he would think today of the Games, and their magnitude and splendor. Do they today fulfill his vision? "Free Trade of the future"? "The cause of peace will have received a new and strong ally."? Amen.
"Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into Europe the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally. It inspires me to touch upon another step I now propose and in it I shall ask that the help you have given me hitherto you will extend again, so that together we may attempt to realise [sic], upon a basis suitable to the conditions of our modern life, the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games."
Although this didn't immediately spur any action, he tried again at organized meeting of 79 delegates from nine countries two years later, in which he did succeed in receiving support to further organize a 'Games' and what would be the original Olympic Committee.
Although others had presented Olympic-inspired competition since, the world 1st saw a glimpse of de Coubertin's own Olympic vision back in 1892, and although it took a while and a lot of persistence, he made it happen. I wonder what he would think today of the Games, and their magnitude and splendor. Do they today fulfill his vision? "Free Trade of the future"? "The cause of peace will have received a new and strong ally."? Amen.
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