French Pierre de Coubertin Committee (CFPC) celebrated its 70^th anniversary at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne on 6^th November 2021. The CFPC was constituted in 1950, but the restrictions imposed owing to COVID-19 did not allow the Committee to celebrate their anniversary in 2020. This was an occasion for the delegation to visit the Olympic Museum and all its exhibits.

On 5 November the delegation of the French Pierre de Coubertin Committee first paid tribute to Pierre de Coubertin, placing a wreath of flowers on his grave at the cemetery Bois-de-Vaux in Lausanne followed by the speech given by the CFPC President, Mr. André LECLERCQ. A special guest on this occasion was Mrs. Agnès GUHL, daughter of Mr. Jacques GUHL, one of the founders of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee. Mrs. GUHL read the poem that her father wrote for Pierre de Coubertin: “The Soul of Coubertin”.

After the visit of Coubertin’s grave, the CFPC delegation was invited by the International Olympic Committee to visit its headquarters, the Olympic House. They were welcomed by the IOC President, Thomas BACH.

We are proud to announce that President André LECLERCQ, who is also a member of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee (CIPC) and a former Vice President of the French NOC, was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal by IOC President Thomas BACH.

On this occasion, President BACH underlined the need for France to promote Pierre de Coubertin and his legacy. President LECLERCQ referred to the CFPC motto, “Olympism: a universal culture of fraternity” and the theme of the CFPC project on which they will be working during the 2021-24 Olympiad entitled “In the footsteps of Pierre de Coubertin”.