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CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF THE FIRST CYCLE
OF GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Question 1: What are the fundamental principles of the Olympic
Movement?
The Olympic Movement is a pedagogical movement, which aims to educate
through sport. It was conceived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in the late
19 th Century as the humanistic ideal for the forthcoming 20 th Century. While
all groups agreed that Olympism is a philosophy of life that aims to balance
body, will and mind, it was also agreed that Olympism is interpreted differently
by each individual. Hence, the concept of Olympism should be broadly defined.
If we are too concise in our definition of its principles, then they may not be
acceptable or adaptable to the cultural, social, or religious parameters of each
country.
The fundamental principles are the vision, structure and origins on which the
Modern Olympic Movement is based. Values such as the pursuit of excellence,
friendship, tolerance, unity, peace, universality, mutual respect, fair play, and
solidarity, are reflected in these fundamental principles.
While the Games are limited to the world's best athletes - merely the tip of the
iceberg, the Olympic Movement is for everyone. The practice of sport is a human
right that helps with the development of men and women regardless of their age,
culture, religion, etc.
The principles must:
• Focus on Fair Play.
• Create better relationships through an international understanding using
sport and cultural exchange.
• Combine body and mind with culture, art, and music.
• Bring the world together for the goodwill of youth and the athletes -
countries should work together using Olympians to promote peace.
• Strive for universality, providing the possibility of participation according
to the needs of all athletes/participants (there are too many disparities
between countries participating in the Olympic Games — resources,
geography, etc. - to state that the current Olympic Movement is universal
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