The Olympism of Coubertin (2012)
CEO-UAB had the honour of receiving Dr. Norbert Müller as invited professor of the International Chair in Olympism for 2012. As part of the programme of activities during his stay at the UAB a conference entitle The Olympism of Coubertin was organised as part of the programme Aula de Historia, which followed the presentation of the book Pierre de Coubertin 1863-1937: Olimpismo: selección de textos, Spanish edition of Coubertin’s works published by the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee,
During almost one hour, Dr Müller related the ideological goals and sport pedagogy of Coubertin and how the French pedagogue promoted the reestablishment of the modern Olympic Games and the constitution of the Olympic International Committee and the modern Olympic Movement. Pierre de Coubertin conceived sport “as common good shared by all social strata that should serve the cause of social peace” and “it must have permanent factories”. In this point, professor Müller stand out the role that Olympic studies play in maintaining the Olympic flame alive.
Dr. Müller is Emeritus Professor in Sport Sciences at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), founder of the group of research in olympic studies in the same university and Senior Professor at the University of Kaiserslaute. He is also President of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee and member of the IOC Commission of Culture and Education. His work on Coubertin goes back to the 70s, when he wrote his dissertation on this subject. Since then, he has edited several editions of the works of the French pedagogue in different languages. Dr. Norbert Mller, invited professor of the International Chair in Olympism (IOC-UAB) presented the Spanish edition of Coubertin’s works published by the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, Pierre de Coubertin Pierre de Coubertin 1863-1937: Olimpismo: selecci¢n de textos, on Tuesday 13, in the auditorium of the Olympic and Sport Museum JA Samaranch, and in front of a public friend of the Olympism.
The Director of CEO-UAB, Emilio Fernández Peña, considered the book as a key element for the diffusion of the origins of Olympism, global sport and the Olympic spirit, and a great contribution to the development of Olympic studies in Hispanic-speaking territories. The founder and honorary director of CEO-UAB, Dr. Miquel de Moragas, glossed the extraordinary and valuable contribution of Professor Müller to Olympic studies, with more than 40 years of dedication to the study of Olympism. Mr. Poyan also took part in the event on behalf of the translation team.
Aula d’Història is a platform born with the objective of promoting the history of the sport promoted by the Center of Studies Olympic and of the Sport J. A. Samaranch of the Olympic Barcelona Foundation, with the collaboration of the universities CEO-UAB, UVIC, INEFC and Blanquerna.
