Spreading knowledge on Pierre de Coubertin

The IOC Olympic Studies Centre (OSC) published on its website on 25^th November the OSC Reference Document “Pierre de Coubertin – Life, Vision, Influences and Achievements of the Founder of the Modern Olympic Games”. Stephan Wassong, President of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee (IPCC), was the main editor of the Coubertin Reference Document. He shared this responsibility with his colleague Gilles Lecocq from the French Pierre de Coubertin Committee (CFPC).

Without a doubt, the person of Coubertin as a private person, educator, historian, journalist, politician, author, founder of the Olympic Movement, sport official and IOC President is a well-researched research field. More than 842 publications are listed in the IOC Olympic World Library. The academic literature available focuses on special topics which are all valuable of course. But quite often they are focusing on one or two aspects of Coubertin`s initiatives and ideas only. In addition to the existence of these publications, concise knowledge on Coubertin has however not been easily accessible for broader public until now.

This gap is filled by the Reference Document which is published online in English and French.

Pierre de Coubertin : life, vision, influences and achievements of the founder of the modern Olympic Games / The Olympic Studies Centre – Olympic World Library

Pierre de Coubertin : vie, vision, influences et réalisation du fondateur des Jeux Olympiques modernes / Le Centre d’Etudes Olympiques – Olympic World Library (olympics.com)

In short and concise entries all facets of Coubertin`s life and works have been analysed. 40 authors from the IPCC and the CFPC have written 61 entries between 500 and 1000 words depending on the complexity of the topic. To stimulate further reading and also to avoid a too biased positions of the contributors selected references are listed at the end of each entry. The 61 articles are allocated to the following seven main chapters displaying the multi-layered profile of Coubertin.

1. Pierre de Coubertin`s Life – Early Education Stimuli and Initiatives
2. Founding the Olympic Movement
3. Pierre de Coubertin`s IOC Presidency (1896 – 1925)
4. Pierre de Coubertin Vision and Support for the Olympic Movement after his Presidency (1925 – 1937)
5. Promoting Education, Physical education, Sport and Physical Activity through and beyond the Olympic Movement
6. Political orientation, his Interests and Writings
7. Coubertin Places of Memories.

With the editing and publishing of the Reference Document a significant contribution has been made to analyse the relevance of Coubertin`s ideas and initiatives even for today`s Olympic Movement and the fields of education and physical education. The publication has already received impressive public attention in the run-up of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. But even beyond Paris the Reference Document will be used for cultural, historical and educational purposes in future editions of the Olympic Games and Olympic Winter Games.