Olympic Internationalism and Olympic Education

Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the Olympic Movement and re-established the Olympic Games in the modern era, considered himself an educator. It was his goal to reform the French education system, which he considered to be stagnant, by introducing competitive sports as part of the curriculum.

Sports, according to Pierre de Coubertin, is not to be regarded in and of itself, but rather as a way of life – a philosophy of life that encompasses a whole world of values upon which ​​we ought to educate the younger generation. This worldview is not confined by political boundaries, nor is it limited to a specific social or national identity, but rather embraces the entire world and advocates the creation of a transnational identity.

The success of the first Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896 "marked for Coubertin the internationalization of his educational vision" (Muller, 1994, p. 5) – no longer a reform intended for the French educational system but rather a philosophy of universal life.

The Olympism of the 21^st Century is therefore a philosophy of life that combines sport, education and culture, and aims to help create a peace-seeking society that emphasizes human dignity. The Olympic Movement is the executor of this philosophy and is spread across the five continents. Sport is sport for all. This basic right is reserved for every person regardless of age, profession, race, nationality or gender. Therefore, the sports organizations constituting the Olympic Movement must maintain autonomy and avoid any political, economic, religious or other intervention.