“Olympic Diplomacy and Peace” was the special topic of the 26th International Seminar on Olympic Studies for Post-graduate Students that was held in Ancient Olympia from May 8 to 30, 2019.

The 26 selected participants arrived in Athens on May 8 and had their first, introductory meeting with the IOA Honorary Dean, Professor Konstantinos Georgiadis.On the following day, they visited the Acropolis, Zappeion Μegaron and the Panathenaic Stadium. In the afternoon, after leaving Athens they were guided at the impressive site of Epidaurus and in the evening, they arrived in the beautiful city of Nafplion.The next morning, sightseeing began at the fortress of Palamidi, situated above the city of Nafplion. Next, the group visited Nemea, one of the four places of the ancient Panhellenic Games where they met Professor Stephen Miller who has devoted his life and professional career to the excavations and the archaeological works at Nemea since the 1970s. In theevening, the students arrived at the premises of the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia.                                                                                                                                                                                              

The lectures began with Peter Mauritsch (AUT),Professor at the University of Graz, who gave a brief overview of the history of the Olympic Games in Antiquity. The Professor shared basic information regarding the Olympic Games, such as their mythology, as well as the four Panhellenic Games.The Opening Ceremony of the 26th International Seminar was jointly held with the Opening Ceremony of the 15th International Session for Presidents or Directors of National  Olympic Academies in the afternoon of May 11 at “Dimitrios Vikelas” lecture hall. After the ceremonies, the participants laid wreaths at the commemorative monuments of Pierre de Coubertin, John Ketseas and Carl Diem.On May 12, the whole group had a guided tour at the archaeological site and the museum of Ancient Olympia.

The first lecture on May 13th was conducted by Dr Erofili Kollia (GRE), Director at the Ephorate of Antiquities in Ilia, who talked about the sacred truce during the Olympic Games in Antiquity.Professor Mauritsch continued his lectures by talking on sources for sport in antiquity: literature – art– epigraphy, ancient politics and Olympia, events at Olympia, victors and heros, Olympic diplomacy and peace and concluded the first cycle of lectures “The Ancient Olympic Games and their Philosophy” that he supervised by speaking on “A Man’s World”.

The second cycle of subjects entitled “The modern Olympic Movement and the socio-political aspects of the modern Olympic Games (media and communication, management, organisation and marketing)” was supervised by Professor Dr Norbert Müller (GER), President of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, who has dedicated his life to researching the work of the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, Pierre de Coubertin, Professor Dr John MacAloon (USA), anthropologist and historian whose research focuses on cultural performance theory and on the modern Olympic Movement and Olympic Games, and Professor Dr Konstantinos Georgiadis (GRE), IOA Honorary Dean and Professor at the University of Peloponnese, whose expertise is on the revival of the Olympic Games.The main subjects discussed during this cycle were the history of the Olympic Games and the Olympic ideals, the historical dimensions of the Olympic Games, the importance of hosting the Olympic Games, the coverage of the modern Olympic Games as well as the ethical and educational aspects in the Olympic Charter and in the Agenda 2020.Professor Dr Irena Martinkova (CZE), Professor Dr Matthew Llewellyn (USA) and Professor Dr Yiannis Theodorakis (GRE) supervised the third cycle of subjects “The ethical and philosophical issues of Olympism as well as the athletes’ rights in the modern Olympic Movement”.

The main topics discussed were: instrumentality of sport and its values, sport competition – war or peace?, Coubertin on sport and peace, choices athletes make, nationalism – amateurism – race and the modern Olympic Games, Olympic education, ethics in Sports and the role of the Olympic Movement against doping and changing attitude towards doping, what we learnt for Rio 2016, the role of the Olympic Movement in social inclusion – an exercise programme for refugees.Apart from attending the lectures, the students presented their Seminar papers, visited the IOA library and participated daily in various sports activities and social events.Overall, the 26th International Seminar was successfully conducted offering the students not only the opportunity to expand their knowledge on Olympism but also to make true and solid friendships.