The Olympic oath was first recited at the Opening Ceremony of the 1920 Antwerp Games. The 1920 text was written by the founder of the modern Olympic Games Baron Pierre de Coubertin, words fitting for those times “We swear. We will take part in the Olympic Games in a spirit of chivalry, for the honour of our country and for the glory of sport.”
The oath has evolved over time to reflect the changing nature of competition. The new wording of the Olympic oath is:
"We promise to take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules and in the spirit of fair play, inclusion and equality. Together we stand in solidarity and commit ourselves to sport without doping, without cheating, without any form of discrimination. We do this for the honour of our teams, in respect for the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, and to make the world a better place through sport."
IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair, Kirsty Coventry said of the changes “We Olympians are role models and ambassadors. We stand together to send out to the world a powerful message of equality, inclusion, solidarity, peace and respect.”
These values belong to us all as Rotary strives to put them into practice.
