Review of the Hungarian University of Physical Education 1989. [antikvár]

ARDAY, LászlóTHE 0LVMP1C IDEA AND COUBERTINIn the title of this lecture there are a concept and a family name, which has alsó become a concept. We may state: these concepts are inseparable now. The Olympic Idea had been born many centuries earlier, Coubertin, the great educator however was attached to this treasury of ideas in so many respects, making it richer with so many new colours, rendering it suitable for modern mankind, that for us, for the people of today, the two concepts are almost identical.Coubertin had started from far away, before he arrived at the Olympic idea. As a member of a highly respected aristocratic family, he got a very good education. As a child, he hecame familiar with riding, fencing and tennis. However, his father was not quite satisfied, because he devoted little time to hunting and much more to books.In his years at Sorbonne University he w?s interesteri mostly in history, especially in Greece and her cultural heritage.With his aristccratin origin he could have chosen an ecclesiactical , militry or diplomatic career. However, these possibilities were not attractive for hím. He was much more interested in pedagogical problems.The 19th century, especially its last period had a lot of problems. A committed educator always believes that the problems of mankind can be solved by proper education.Coubertin believed in mankind. This trait of his is typical for an educator. Giving up the possibility of educability,