Pierre de Coubertin

Hello, my name is Pierre de Coubertin, and I had a dream that changed the world of sports. I was born in Paris, France, on January 1st, 1863. As a boy, I had three great loves: sports, reading, and history. I spent hours learning about the past and playing games, and I soon began to connect them in my mind. I saw that sports were more than just fun. They were a way to learn important lessons that you could use your whole life. I believed that through sport, people could learn about fairness, the importance of teamwork, and how to respect their opponents. My biggest idea was that if sports could bring friends together, maybe they could also bring people from different countries together in friendship and peace.

To learn more, I traveled to England and America in the 1880s. I visited many schools and saw how important sports were to the students there. It confirmed my belief that physical education was just as important as learning from books. My most important journey, however, was to Greece. I visited a place called Olympia, which was the site of the ancient Olympic Games. As I walked among the old, crumbled ruins, I felt a powerful connection to the past. I learned that these incredible games, where athletes competed for honor, had not happened in over 1,500 years. Standing there, I was filled with a great inspiration. I decided that I would bring the Olympic Games back for the modern world, so everyone could share in their spirit.

Getting people to believe in my dream was a huge challenge. Many people thought it was an impossible idea. But I was determined to make it happen. I spent years writing and speaking to anyone who would listen, sharing my vision for a new, international celebration of sport. The turning point came when I organized a large meeting, called a congress, at the Sorbonne in Paris. On June 23rd, 1894, representatives from many countries gathered to hear my proposal. I explained how the modern games could promote peace and understanding. After my speech, the room filled with excitement. To my great joy, everyone agreed with my idea. That very day, we formed the International Olympic Committee, or IOC, to organize the games. We all decided that the perfect place to hold the first modern Olympics would be Athens, Greece, in 1896, as a way to honor where the original games began.

The day I had dreamed of finally arrived on April 6th, 1896. I stood in the stadium in Athens and watched the opening of the first modern Olympic Games. It was an incredible feeling to see athletes from 14 different nations marching together and competing peacefully. My dream was no longer just an idea; it was real. I served as the president of the International Olympic Committee from 1896 until 1925, working hard to help the games grow. During that time, I helped create some of the most famous symbols of the Olympics. In 1913, I designed the five interlocking rings, which represent the continents coming together. I also helped choose our motto, 'Citius, Altius, Fortius,' which is Latin for 'Faster, Higher, Stronger.' It was a call for athletes to always do their best.

I dedicated my life to the Olympic movement and its ideals of friendship and respect. I lived to be 74 years old. My dream did not end with me; it continues to grow stronger with every passing year. Today, every time the Olympic flame is lit, my vision is remembered. Athletes from all around the globe still gather to celebrate sport, friendship, and peace, just as I hoped they would.