Nestled in the heart of Greece, just beyond the borders of the revered site of the ancient Olympic Games, a marble monument stands beneath the moonlit canvas of the night sky. Free of all but the watchful eyes of owls hooting in the silence of the night, the monument holds within it a poignant reminder of the stunning determination and vision of one Frenchman – Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
A century ago, the late Baron served as the driving force behind the resurgence of the Olympic Games, leading the International Olympic Committee to the last Olympic event to be held in his beloved Paris. Now, as Tuesday approaches, the time-honored flame that will preside over the upcoming summer Olympics, the third to be hosted by the French capital, awaits its ceremonial lighting. The auspicious event will unfold amongst the timeworn ruins of athletic temples and stone-paved sports venues in the bucolic setting of Olympia in southern Greece.
Under the vast expanse of the night sky studded with myriad stars, the 5th century B.C temple of Zeus, the very cradle of the Olympic Games, beams with celestial grandeur. Here, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the distinct honor of commencing the flame’s relay journey to the July 26 opening ceremony will fall upon the shoulders of a torchbearer. This first crucial pitstop – a memorial wreathed by cypress trees, dedicated to Coubertin – awaits the touch of fire on an altar raised in his honor.
According to Spyros Capralos, head of Greece’s national Olympic committee, the homage paid at each lighting ceremony takes on an added significance in this cycle. As the flame first dances through the monument of Coubertin, the legacy of the games returns to Paris, the birthplace of their modern inspirer, 2800 years after the first games were established.
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, distinguished French aristocrat, was spurred by a desire to revive the spirit of the ancient games and foster contemporary sporting culture. His efforts crystallized in the inaugural modern Olympics held in Athens in 1896. His deep-rooted connection to the Greek city is manifested in the ancient marble stadium’s carefully preserved seat, bearing engravings of his name.
When Coubertin breathed his last in 1937, his body was laid to rest in Lausanne, Switzerland, with one exception – his heart. His final wishes dictated a unique resting place for his heart – within the memorial erected in his honor, a decade prior, just outside ancient Olympia.
His dedication to the Olympic Games bore the marks of personal tragedy. Coubertin’s only son suffered severe brain damage at a young age, and his daughter battled mental health issues throughout her life. His family line ended in tragedy, with his two close nephews losing their lives in World War I.
Despite personal afflictions, love for the Games remained steadfast. Born in 1863, Coubertin served as the second president of the IOC, following Greece’s Demetrios Vikelas. His tenure, spanning from 1896 to 1925, saw the Games hosted twice in his home city, Paris, in 1900 and 1924. Now, as Paris prepares once again to take to the global stage, the spirit of its favorite son, immortalized in the heart nestled in Greece’s soil, joyously reverberates through the hallowed grounds of ancient Olympia.
