On April 29th, in the morning, Professor Lamartine Pereira da Costa honorary member of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, received the Doctor Honoris Causa distinction at PUCRS.

Lamartine da Costa dedicated six decades of his life on Olympic Studies, Sciences and Sports History.

On this occasion, Professor Nelson Todt, Brazilian Pierre de Coubertin Committee’s President and also Coordinator of the Olympic Studies Research Group at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), made the Laudatio speech about Lamartine da Costa’s influence on his students supervision and research initiatives nationally and internationally: “We tried to highlight not only his professional career, but also his human side, which refer to  Pierre de Coubertin, Olympic Games’ renovator and his famous quote: “look far, speak frankly, act firmly”.

In an emotional speech, Da Costa thanked PUCRS and his wife for this moment. He also highlighted the importance of his national and international partnerships for the sports development, and the inversion of roles between student and professor, since he became an admirer of his students.

In the end of the event, PUCRS’ Dean, Brother Evilázio Teixeira, spoke about the legacy and example of inspiration from Professor Lamartine to the future generations, and ended his speech with a Bertold Brecht quote: “there are men who fight one day and are good. There are men who fight a year and are better. There are men who fight for many years and are very good. There are, however, those who fight a lifetime, these are indispensable”.  “You are one of these men, Professor Lamartine”.

On behalf of the CIPC Prof. Dr. Stephan Wassong delivered a video message to congratulate Professor Lamartine Pereira da Costa for the honorary academic title.