Since the press and its leading journalists have been reviled over the last few years by various political and business figures, it seemed appropriate to recall that Baron Pierre de Coubertin was a great proponent of a free press and expressed his appreciation for its recognition and coverage of the Olympic Congress at the Sorbonne in June of 1894.  At the closing banquet of that Congress, during which the Olympic Games were resurrected after a 1,500 year absence, the Baron took his critics to task and praised the press for their support of another ‘beneficial revolution.’

“Those of the old school have groaned at seeing us hold our Sessions in the midst of the Sorbonne. They realized that we were in revolt, and that we would end up destroying the edifice of their worm-eaten philosophy. This is true, Gentlemen. We are rebels, and that is why the press, which has always supported beneficial revolutions, has understood and helped us. In passing, let me thank the press wholeheartedly for this support.”

Today’s quote comes with a special shout out to Alan Abrahamson, Ed Hula and Duncan Mackay, three outstanding journalists dedicated to covering the daily machinations of the worldwide Olympic Movement.