Although Baron Pierre de Coubertin wrote this quote in 1901 in hopes that the first Olympic Games in the United States—in 1904 in St. Louis—would help advance the great cause and unify the world in friendship, it is a timeless expression that can be applied to any upcoming Olympic festival. So today’s quote, which first appeared in the Olympic Review in 1901, is aimed at Tokyo 2020, which will undoubtedly carry the Baron’s message forward and advance the Movement in remarkable ways.

“May the 1904 Games advance the work of restoring the Olympic Games, winning over more and more youth around the world and enabling the Olympics to serve the cause of international peace and friendship better and better.”