Pierre de Coubertin will be immortalized at the Musée Grévin before the Paris Olympics

Pierre de Coubertin, considered the father of the modern Olympic Games, will be immortalized at the Musée Grévin before the Paris Olympics. Born in 1863, the French baron will be represented by a wax statue, despite controversies surrounding his racist and sexist remarks reported by historians.

Convinced of the benefits of sports, Pierre de Coubertin had the idea of reintroducing the Olympic Games of ancient Greece. It is worth noting that the first edition of the modern Olympics took place in Athens in 1896, with 300 athletes, 14 countries, and nine sports on the program. Two years earlier, he had founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The famous maxim "The important thing is not to win but to take part" has often been wrongly attributed to him, as in reality, it seems that this phrase is a simplified interpretation of his ideas. Coubertin expressed similar ideas, but the exact phrase as it is known today seems to have been popularized after his death and is now associated with the Olympic spirit.

However, Pierre de Coubertin is now criticized for his racist and misogynistic views. He died in Switzerland in 1937, a year before the Berlin Olympics organized by the Nazi regime, which he supported without attending.

Over the years, his opinions have been controversial, although they were widely accepted in his time. He believed in the superiority of the white race and thought that the Olympic Games should be reserved for men.

Pierre de Coubertin devoted much of his life to promoting Olympic ideals. In addition to founding the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he was the main architect of the modern Olympic Games and played a crucial role in their initial development.

He also contributed to the creation of the Olympic Charter, which sets out the fundamental principles and values of the Olympic movement. Among these principles are the promotion of excellence, friendship, and mutual respect among peoples, as well as the fight against all forms of discrimination.

Despite the controversies surrounding his personal views, Pierre de Coubertin remains an important figure in Olympic history. His vision of the Olympic Games as a means of promoting peace and unity among nations continues to inspire future generations.