Internationalism in the Olympic Movement – A Symposium

Abstract

The Olympic Movement is well known in connection with its credo “All games, all nations”, which has become a synonym for intercultural contact and international relations. Historically, Pierre de Coubertin defined the term “Internationalism” and other fundamental norms (principle of equal opportunities, Fair-Play, Peace) as part of the Olympic Idea. Today the idea of “Internationalism” has been manifested in the intercultural dialogue within the Olympic Movement, not only at the Olympic Games as the sportive, cultural, and media peak of the four-year-circle. The aspect of Internationalism also plays an important role in many national and international Olympic programs as well. For example, it is institutionalized in the International Olympic Academy (IOA), situated next to the historical site of the ancient Olympic Games, where a continuous cultural dialogue of more than 100 nations is organized in different sessions each year.