This is not a history book.

The chapters emphasise the need for a contemporary understanding of Coubertin’s pedagogical, social and ethical approaches to Olympism in order to apply them in our world today. The concept of Olympism has the potential to make a significant contribution to education, but only through this approach. It must address the needs of modern societies.

On behalf of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, we would like to express our gratitude to the editors and writers of this publication for undertaking this significant endeavour and ensuring its accessibility to the general public.

Moreover, we would like to congratulate the initiative that resulted in the creation of the Centre of Latin American Coubertinian Studies (CLEC) in 2020. The establishment of this centre was driven by two key factors. Firstly, there was a pressing regional need to express and demonstrate a sense of identification with and dedication to Pierre de Coubertin’s principles. Secondly, it was essential to provide a contemporary and localised interpretation of his pedagogical legacy, which would enable us to engage with it in a meaningful way.

The establishment of the CLEC has led to a number of valuable developments, including work on interpreting the values of Olympism, the importance of faith among young people, educational tools, human resource training, selfless participation, and collective production. All of these developments are based on the motto ‘Intellectual honesty above all’.