Coubertin was born in Paris, France in 1863 to an aristocratic family that believed in Catholicism. His father was a royalist bureaucrat, and his mother was engaged in charity and a devout Christian. Coubertin was the youngest child in his family. From his youth, he had a wide range of interests in sports, including boxing, rowing, fencing, and horse riding. He has been smart, diligent and studious since he was a child. After studying abroad, he admired the erudite rhetoric teacher Father Caron. For this reason, he had a strong interest in literature and history courses, and dabbled in the splendid culture of ancient Greece with great interest. After graduating from high school, he attended the Military Academy and then studied education. In order to pursue further studies, he went to the UK to study. There, he devoted himself to studying the history of British education and wrote academic papers on the educational thoughts of Thomas Arnott, a British child educator in the 18th century. Arnott once said: Sports is an activity for young people to educate themselves. This famous saying aroused the spark of devotion to physical education in Coubertin's mind. At that time, he also examined the current situation of education and sports in the UK, and expressed great appreciation for the physical education classes, extracurricular sports activities and regular outings in schools there. He hoped that physical education classes could also be set up in French schools to cultivate students' collectivism and hard work. The spirit of exercise and strengthening the body. At that time, he was deeply saddened by France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, and hoped to revitalize France by reforming education and enhancing people's physical fitness.
Under the influence of ancient Greek culture and the influence of the British bourgeois education at that time, he gradually developed the idea of ??reforming the French education system and advocating sports. After graduating from college, Coubertin did not listen to his parents' advice and got involved in the military and legal circles, and resolutely chose the path of education and sports.
After returning to China, he successively published "History of France after 1870", "Reform of the Education System", "Guiding Principles of Sports", "Ideals of Sports Psychology", "Memories of Britain and Greece" A series of works such as "British Pedagogy" and "British Pedagogy" put forward many suggestions for reforming education and developing sports, which attracted the attention of the French people and had a certain international influence.
Between 1875 and 1881, with the efforts of European archaeologists, the ruined and immortal ruins of the ancient Olympic Games were continuously excavated, and the results of the excavation were quickly announced every year. . Therefore, Coubertin, like other people interested in Olympia, could listen to the announcement in time and detail. In this regard, he proposed a very valuable excavation plan. At that time, he wrote: "The Germans excavated the ruins of Olympia, but why can't France begin to restore her ancient glorious history?"
In order to realize his ambition, Coubertin crossed the English Channel westward, An examination of the development of sport in the UK. In 1887, he made a report on "A Comparison of the Secondary Education Systems in France and the United Kingdom". He spoke highly of the British inclusion of outdoor competitive games into educational content, and advocated that competitive games should also be carried out among French students and reformed with a focus on sports. educate. In May 1888, Coubertin proposed in response to the problem of students being overworked due to overworked studies: "The only solution is to let the children play." That year, Coubertin became the secretary-general of the French School Sports Training Preparatory Committee. The following year, under the promotion of Saint Clair, the "French Sports Federation" was established. In the same year, Coubertin represented France at the Sports Training Conference held in Boston, USA. During the meeting, he further understood the dynamics of world sports development and keenly felt that the development of modern sports is moving towards internationalization, and a number of international individual sports federations have been established one after another. For example, the "International Gymnastics Federation" was established in 1881, and the "International Rowing Federation" and "International Skating Federation" were established in 1892. These organizations laid the foundation for the birth of the modern Olympic Games.
In order to further investigate the development of sports in various countries, Coubertin took great pains to visit some European countries. In 1890, he visited Olympia, Greece, for the first time in his life, the birthplace of the Olympic movement. When he saw the ruins of the ancient Olympic Games, he was very moved and came up with the idea of ??holding an Olympic Games participated by all countries, hoping to enhance the friendship between athletes from various countries.
This year, Coubertin was entrusted by the French government to investigate and study the sports work of universities. Therefore, he took the opportunity to send a sports status survey to many countries in the world.
Through investigation, he found that various international sports organizations are full of contradictions and confusions, the antagonism is very serious, and sports are becoming increasingly commercialized. This made him realize that the historical experience and traditional influence of ancient Greek sports can be used to promote international sports. At the same time, he deeply felt that the modern Olympic Games should be founded as soon as possible in the spirit of the ancient Olympics, with "unity, friendship, and peace." "" spirit to guide the competition in order to eliminate all kinds of chaotic and unhealthy tendencies in the field of sports. As a result, he actively embarked on the work of creating the modern Olympic Games.
In 1891, Coubertin reorganized the "Uly Simon Committee" into the "High Council of Sports". In the same year, he also founded the magazine "Sports Review", which he used as a basis to enthusiastically promote his sports ideas. At that time, Father Didon, an admirer of Coubertin, founded an academic club and put forward the slogan "Faster, Higher, Stronger". Coubertin admired and agreed with this slogan very much, and later used it as the slogan of the International Olympic Games. Because it embodies the human spirit of always improving and making progress.
On November 25, 1892, Coubertin delivered a speech entitled "Revival of the Olympics" at a meeting commemorating the third anniversary of the establishment of the "French Sports Federation". He formally proposed for the first time Initiative to create the modern Olympic Games.
In order to realize this initiative quickly, Coubertin proposed that the "French Sports Federation" initiate and convene an "international sports conference" attended by representatives of important "sports federations" from all over the world. Specifically, Negotiate the revival of the Olympic Games. To this end, a "preparatory committee" was established headed by Coubertin and composed of celebrities from the UK, the United States and France. Afterwards, he traveled across the oceans to Britain, the United States and other countries to further publicize his ideas for reviving the Olympic Games. . Under his promotion, an international sports consultative conference was held in Paris in 1893 to discuss the establishment of the modern Olympic Games.
After years of hard work and careful preparation by Coubertin and his colleagues, the "Congress for the Restoration of the Olympic Games" was successfully held in Paris from June 18 to 24, 1894. 79 official representatives from 12 European and American countries attended the meeting. At this historic meeting, the Charter for the Restoration of the Olympic Movement was unanimously adopted, defining the purpose of the modern Olympic Games and stipulating that only amateur athletes were allowed to participate. In order to prepare for the modern Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee, the permanent leadership body of the Olympic Games, was also formally established. The famous Greek poet Ze Vikelas was elected as the first chairman, and Coubertin was elected as the secretary-general. The meeting also decided that the first modern Olympic Games would be held in Greece in April 1896. From now on, according to the tradition of the ancient Olympic Games, it will be held every four years.
In October 1894, Coubertin once again conducted an on-site inspection of the Olympia area. In order to save money and facilitate transportation, he canceled his plan to hold the Games in Olympia and decided to build a new stadium in Athens that could accommodate 5,000 spectators in the style of ancient Greece to host the first modern Olympic Games. After Coubertin's many efforts and efforts, and with the funding of the Greek businessman George Avirov, the first Olympic Games was successfully held in Athens on April 5, 1896.
Coubertin demanded that the Games be held around the world and opposed Greece as the permanent venue for the Games. He believes that the glorious history of the ancient Olympic Games belongs to the Greek nation and all mankind. Only by spreading it widely in different countries and regions and becoming an international event can the Olympic spirit be carried forward and become more vital.
In order to defend the purity of the Olympic spirit, Coubertin published his masterpiece "Ode to Sports" during the Stockholm Olympics in 1912. He sang about sports enthusiastically and expressed his Olympic ideals. For this, he won the gold medal in the literary and art competition of the Olympic Games.
In 1913, Coubertin carefully designed the flag for the International Olympic Committee, which is a white borderless flag with five colored rings of blue, black, red, yellow and green in the middle. . It symbolizes the unity of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from all over the world at the Olympic Games with fair, frank competition and a spirit of goodwill.
In addition, Coubertin also opened up the field of sports psychology in sports. He published famous works such as "Treatise on Sports Psychology" (1913) and "Pedagogy of Competitive Sports" (1919). He also published his opinions on sports classification and made his own contribution to academic research on sports.
From 1896 to 1925, Baron Coubertin served as President of the International Olympic Committee. Responsible for the leadership of the organization. During his tenure, the number of IOC members grew from 14 to 40. At the same time, with his support, more than 20 international special sports federations were established. In 1924, due to his old age, he voluntarily resigned from his 28-year position as president of the International Olympic Committee, but he was appointed as a lifetime honorary president.
Thirteen years later (September 2, 1937), Baron Coubertin died of heart disease in Lausanne at the age of 74. In accordance with his last wish, Coubertin's body was buried in Lausanne, Switzerland, and his heart was buried in Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Greek Olympics. He hopes that even after he is laid to rest underground, his heart can still beat with the pulse of the Olympic movement.
Olympics
Olympic is a translated word, which originally refers to the ancestor worship activities held in Olympia in ancient Greece to worship the god Zeus. The sports competitions in ancestor worship activities are called "Olympia Games". During the Renaissance, when people were studying ancient Greek culture, they began to call the "Olympia Games" also the "Ancient Olympic Games". Since other cultural activities such as academic discussions, poetry recitations, art exhibitions, etc. were also held during the ancient Olympic Games, people dubbed the entire event, including the Olympia Games, the "Olympics". In order to distinguish it from modern times, it is also called the "Ancient Olympics".
Ancient Greece is a kingdom of myths. Beautiful and moving mythological stories and twists and turns of folklore cast a layer of mystery on the origin of the ancient Olympic Games.
The ancient Olympic Games lasted 1,168 years from 776 BC to 394 AD, and were held for 293 times. According to its origin, rise and fall, it can be roughly divided into three periods. The competition schedule and events of the ancient Olympic Games and the awarding ceremony of the ancient Olympic Games are all unique.
Olympia is located in a hilly area 300 kilometers southwest of Athens, the capital of Greece, in the west of the Peloponnese Peninsula, on the north bank of the Alphios River (16 kilometers from the entrance of the cave). Since the 18th century, groups of scholars have come to Olympia one after another to inspect and search for the ruins of the ancient Olympic Games.
Coubertin, a famous French educator and founder of the modern Olympic movement. Born on January 1, 1863. His outstanding achievements are mainly in student education and social competitive sports.
In May 1888, Coubertin proposed that "the only solution is to ask children to play" in response to students' "academic overwork". In May 1889, he used the World Exposition to hold a sports meeting and student sports meeting. In 1892, he called for the revival of the Olympic movement. Later, the Olympic Committee was established in June 1894, and the first Olympic Games was held in Athens in 1896. Now the Olympics has become a world-scale sports event, and the Olympic spirit he advocated has spread all over the world. Because of his immortal contribution to the Olympics, he is known as the "Father of the Olympics".
Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympics and the founder of the modern Olympics, is known as the "Father of the Modern Olympics" and advocated the Olympic spirit throughout his life. Born in Paris, France on January 1, 1863, he served as President of the International Olympic Committee from 1896 to 1925 and was the designer of the Olympic emblem and Olympic flag. Coubertin was not only a world-famous international sports activist, but also an accomplished educator and historian. The former residence of Lebaron Pierre Coubertin, President of the Second International Olympic Committee, is at the Chateau de Millville in Normandy, France. There is a sign at the door of the castle that reads "Father of the Modern Olympics and Educator" , Historian Pierre Coubertin: 1863-1937. His seat is still reserved in the Acropolis of Athens, the main venue of the first Olympic Games.
Coubertin was born into a French aristocratic family and held the title of baron. Since childhood, he has been fond of aristocratic sports, such as fencing, rowing, horse riding, and boxing. His father, Charles de Coubertin, was a famous painter.
In 1913, Coubertin designed the emblem and flag for the International Olympic Committee.
The flag has a white background and is borderless with five interlocking colored rings of blue, yellow, black, green and red, symbolizing the unity of the five continents and the gathering of athletes from all over the world in the Olympic Games in a spirit of fair competition and friendship. In addition, he also advocated lighting the Olympic flame and establishing the Olympic Cup. On the issue of determining the slogan of the Olympic Games, Coubertin initially felt that the slogan of "unity, friendship, peace" should be used to guide the competition. Later, one of his friends, Father Didon, put forward the slogan "Faster, Higher, Stronger", which was praised by Coubertin. He believed that it reflected the great spirit of mankind's eternal improvement and continuous progress, and later advocated it as a slogan. The slogan of the International Olympic Games. In 1925, Coubertin resigned as president of the International Olympic Committee. During his tenure (1896-1925), the number of IOC members increased from 14 to 40, and more than 20 international special sports federations were established. After leaving office, he was appointed as the honorary president of the International Olympic Committee for life.
Coubertin has made outstanding achievements in social competitive sports. In 1892, he called for the revival of the Olympic movement. After that, the International Olympic Committee was established in June 1894, and the first Olympic Games was held in Athens in 1896, and he began his life as a sports activist. In 1924, Coubertin resigned from his position as chairman of the Olympic Committee after 28 years. On September 2, 1937, when this great heart stopped beating forever, the whole world was moved.
After briefly reviewing five years of history, Coubertin explained the differences between the Olympic spirit and the purely competitive spirit. He believes that the pure competitive spirit can only bring a sense of psychological self-satisfaction to athletes, while the Olympic spirit will bring people a sense of beauty and honor. This is exactly the spirit that Coubertin admired in his heart. In "Ode to Sports", he also sang enthusiastically, praising sports as the embodiment of beauty, art, justice, bravery, honor, fun, vitality, progress and peace.
Coubertin was an educator, and his educational thoughts were the core of his sports thoughts. In his speech, he explained "the reason for ringing the bell of reopening the Olympic era": based on the desire to reform education. He is dissatisfied with the current situation that "young people are often bound by old and complicated teaching methods, stupid and harsh preaching, and clumsy and superficial philosophy." Comprehensive, balanced and coordinated development. Coubertin once inspected the ruins of the ancient Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and believed that "the ancient Greeks organized competitions not only to exercise physical fitness and show a cheap spectacle, but also to educate people." It can be said that the fundamental purpose of Coubertin's revival of the Olympic Games was to educate young people through sports competition. Therefore, he was determined to "combine the Anglo-Saxon sports utilitarianism with the noble and strong concepts passed down from ancient Greece to create a new Olympic era." era".
How to turn the Olympic spirit into reality? Coubert put forward an important concept: "public" participation, even "citizens with the lowest status" should be able to "enjoy" this spirit . Coubertin's famous saying "It is more important to participate than to win" (also translated as "It is important to participate rather than to win") also emphasizes the essence of this Olympic thought. In another speech, he once pointed out: "Gentlemen, please remember these sonorous sayings. This argument can be extended to many fields. What is important in life is not victory but fighting. The purpose of spreading these maxims is to To create more robust human beings - thus making human beings more rigorous, prudent, brave and noble." It can be seen that Coubertin had a very broad mind in advocating and reviving the Olympic movement, and it was based on the continuous self-improvement of all mankind, and it was by no means a call. People simply fight to win laurels and gold medals.
So, what is the connotation of the Olympic spirit? In paragraph 5, Coubertin gave a detailed explanation. He believes that the Olympic spirit is one of the forces for mankind to absorb ancient traditions and build the future. This power is reflected in: although it is "not enough to ensure social peace", it can still promote peace; although it "cannot allocate production and consumption more evenly to human beings" "the right to obtain material necessities", but it can still promote fairness; although "it cannot provide young people with free opportunities to receive intellectual training", it can still promote education. Peace, fairness, and education are, in his opinion, the complete and democratic Olympic spirit.