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Quotes Baron Pierre de Coubertin Initiator of modern olympism France, 1896 – 1925 Why did I restore the Olympic Games? To ennoble and strengthen sports, to ensure their independence and duration, and thus to enable them better to fulfill the educational role incumbent upon them in the modern world. For the glorification of the individual athlete, whose muscular activity is necessary for the community and whose prowess is necessary for the maintenance of the general spirit of the competition. (1984). The Lord Killanin, A former distinguished IOC President. Ireland, 1972 – 1980. There is a very large gulf between the high performance athlete who stands on the podium to receive his gold medal and the school child emulating him on a tarmac yard in the back street of a city or the sands of a desert. However, it is our ideal that from the most difficult beginnings it should be possible for everybody to have equal opportunity to eventually reach world high competition standards, although naturally it is only a small fraction who will stand on the Olympic podium. Mario Vazquez Rana, President of The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) The Games do not only belong to the International Olympic Committee, but to the whole of humanity. For this reason, participation is an obligation for all of us. As leaders and sports men, we consider it unfair that all those athletes who would have merited it, are not able to be present for reasons which are beyond their control. The non-respect of the "Olympic Charter" is a provocation of the Olympic movement. Mr. Avery Brunage, Former IOC President USA, 1952-1972 The Olympic Games must be an end in itself, they must a means of creating a vast program of physical education and sports competitions for all young people. The sportsman knows that sport is a recreation, a game, an amusement and a pastime, but his eyes are fixed on a higher goal, on the most important thing in his life, which is his education or his vocation. Teofilo Stevenson Lorenzo Former IOC President Cuban Olympic Champion I am devoted to, love and advocate boxing. This sport has attracted me ever since I was a child, but my parents disliked my involvement. For me, boxing is very far from the perception some people have. There are two kinds of boxing; Amateur Boxing, is the one I practiced. Amateur boxing is a great school; it strengthens the character, it teaches habits of behavior; it contributes to shaping a strong fighting spirit. A champion is forced to cultivate these virtues. Cuba features a long and rich history of this manly sport. James F. Marshall President- Amateur Boxing Association of Barbados. Amateur boxing is practiced by the poorest of the poor in Barbados. It is the direct result of the frustrations and restlessness of the youth in our midst, who seek an avenue to channel their energies. It is a revelation to witness the emergence of natural talent as these youngsters are introduced to the game. It is necessary to direct these charges into an organized program, which takes into account their full potential and development as human beings. |
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