In these hallowed days, the City of Lights dazzles the World with the splendor of the Paris Olympic Games, an event marked by such grandeur and flamboyance that only the French could orchestrate. If you have not yet witnessed the spectacle of these myriad competitions, you are surely far removed from the usual paths of society or secluded on a remote isle, untouched by the pulse of global media.
Yet, while the world’s gaze is transfixed on these magnificent Summer Olympics, it is crucial to remember that the heart of the Olympic spirit pulses strongly from its headquarters by the serene shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland. This was not always so. The visionary Baron Pierre de Coubertin convened the first Olympic Congress in Paris in 1894. In 1908, he contemplated Lausanne as a potential venue for a future congress. However, the outbreak of World War I compelled him to relocate the headquarters from a France imperiled by conflict to the politically neutral haven of Switzerland.
Paris, the cradle of the modern Olympic movement, hosted the 8th Summer Olympics in 1924 and, exactly a century later, reclaimed her role as the epicenter of this global festival of peace and unity through sport.
Baron de Coubertin, often hailed as a prophet of modern athletics, surely his spirit endures, permeating the Games and inspiring the entire Olympic movement.
Amidst the tumult of current global conflicts, his prophetic words echo with renewed urgency: "Should the institution of the Olympic Games prosper, it can become a potent factor in securing universal peace."
As we reflect on the Baron’s timeless message on this balmy summer afternoon, we are poised to embark on our next #learnywhere session, inspired by the ideals that have long championed harmony and understanding across nations.
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Retired writer, trained in PR, marketing and communications, and Author at WestBow Press, “A Journey With God, under the direction of God”, derived through the study of John, 1st John and Mark. Now studying for book 2.
2moWorth the watch!!!