Pierre de Coubertin

Hello. My name is Pierre de Coubertin, and I had a very big dream. I was born in a beautiful city called Paris, in France, on January 1st, 1863. When I was a boy, I loved to play all kinds of sports and learn new things. Running, jumping, and playing games with friends was my favorite thing to do. I noticed something special when people played together. Playing games didn't just make them strong and healthy; it also taught them how to be fair and kind to one another. That’s when a wonderful idea popped into my head. I though, what if I could bring people from all over the world together to play sports and be friends?

As I grew older, I read many books and learned about the ancient Olympic Games. They happened a very, very long time ago in a special place in Greece called Olympia. The athletes competed to see who was the best, and it was a time of peace. I dreamed of bringing those amazing games back for everyone in the modern world to enjoy. It was not an easy job. I had to talk to many important people and persuade them that my idea was a good one. Finally, in 1894, we had a big meeting in Paris. At that meeting, we created a group called the International Olympic Committee to help plan everything. My hard work paid off. Just two years later, in 1896, my dream came true. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece. Athletes came from many different countries to compete, just as I had imagined.

For me, the Olympics were always about more than just winning a shiny medal. I wanted the games to be about friendship, respect, and always trying your best. It was important to celebrate the effort everyone put in. I helped choose a special motto for the Olympics that explains this idea perfectly: 'Citius, Altius, Fortius.' In English, that means 'Faster, Higher, Stronger.' It’s a reminder to always push yourself to be a little bit better. I also had another idea. I designed the five colorful Olympic rings that you see everywhere today. Each ring stands for one of the continents of the world, and they are linked together to show that we are all joined in friendship through sport.

I spent many years of my life helping the Olympic Games grow bigger and better. I wanted to make sure my dream would continue for a long, long time. I lived to be 74 years old. Today, my dream lives on every time the Olympic flame is lit to start a new games. People remember me as the person who brought the world together through the power of sport. The Olympic Games still inspire people everywhere to be their very best, and that makes me very proud.