“Coubertin transferred the idea of the World Fairs as a platform for international exchange in the fields of technology, science and culture and the educational intentions of World Peace Congresses to the life of sport. For Coubertin it was worth turning to sport as a means to foster international understanding.

Sport enjoyed a high popularity in societies in Europe and even beyond; it was already an international phenomenon in the fading years of the 19th century and technical innovations in communication and transport had tentatively promoted the organization of international sport meetings. The invention of the modern Olympic Games should further promotethis development and should also link it with the development of an educationally motivated internationalism.

According to Coubertin the competition at the Olympic Games should provide the chance of presenting one’s own nation with dignity as well as getting to know the characteristics of other nations. Coubertin supposed that this would contribute to the development of mutual respect which he regarded as a central vehicle for the prevention of conflict.”

“By having analyzed Coubertin’s appreciation of an educational internationalism he can be portrayed as a far-sighted and progressively minded educator. Of course, sport was always in the center of his educational thinking.

Coubertin transferred to sport the concept of the World Fairs and the educational initiatives of the World Peace Congresses to strengthen respect between the nations as a possible contribution to conflict resolution. It has been a central basis of the Olympic Movement from its beginning. One hundred twenty-five years after its founding congress at the Sorbonne in 1894, it is still visible today and even coins the uniqueness of the Olympic Movement.”“Educational Internationalism was a central objective of Coubertin for the founding of the modern Olympic Movement. It has developed into a central pillar of the Olympic Movement`s importance as a sustainable platform for civil society exchange processes. This platform retains its impact even if dialogues at the political level tend to counter the expansion of rapprochement processes. One has to give credit to this as it demonstrates the global value of the Olympic Movement and its strength to act autonomously.”