You cannot read the writings of Baron Pierre de Coubertin or consider the major initiatives of his life and not recognize that he was fully engaged with his times.  He was a true citizen of the world, using his imagination, his energy and his resources to draw the people of every nation into his vision of a better world.  As a young man, he positioned himself at the forefront of international sport, identified the emerging trends, created a framework for global standards and rules of competition, looked to the future of democracy and social equality and designed an inclusive worldwide event and movement to serve the cross-cultural needs of each new generation of athletes. In his 1908 article for the British Fortnightly Review, “Why I Revived the Olympic Games,” he proclaimed that in creating his great modern edifice of sport, he was acting in response to the rising demands of youth for international competition and a place to test themselves against the world.

“The athletic life of modern youth demanded the revival of the Olympic Games; fully convinced I called for their revival.”