Pierre de Coubertin Medal

Pierre de Coubertin Medal
Awarded forInstitutions with a pedagogical and educational role and to people who, through their research and the creation of intellectual works in the spirit of Pierre de Coubertin, contribute to the promotion of Olympism.
Presented byInternational Olympic Committee (IOC)
First awarded1997
Websitehttp://www.olympic.org/ Edit this on Wikidata
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The Pierre de Coubertin Medal is a special decoration awarded by the International Olympic Committee that "pays tribute to institutions with a pedagogical and educational role and to people who, through their research and the creation of intellectual works in the spirit of Pierre de Coubertin, contribute to the promotion of Olympism."[1] It was designed by André Ricard Sala, with one face featuring a portrait of Coubertin and the other showing the Olympic motto and rings.[1]

The medal is not the same award as the Pierre de Coubertin World Trophy, which was inaugurated in 1965 and is awarded by the International Fair Play Committee,[2][3] although the two are often confused. For example, some news media reported on 22 August 2016 that Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D'Agostino had received the medal after colliding with each other on the track during the 5000 m event and assisting each other to continue the race.[4] The New Zealand Olympic Committee said that no such award had yet been made,[5] and The Guardian later corrected their report confirming "the award was the International Fair Play Committee Award rather than the Pierre de Coubertin award".[4] It is also regularly mentioned that the first winner of the Pierre de Coubertin Medal was the Italian bobsledder Eugenio Monti in 1964, although in fact he became the first winner of the Pierre de Coubertin World Trophy. Lawrence Lemieux didn't receive the medal either.[6]

A medal awarded since 1969 "for outstanding merits in the Olympic Movement" by the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC) called the Pierre de Coubertin-Medaille, 'Pierre de Coubertin Medal' has given rise to further confusion. The first recipients at a ceremony held on 23 June 1969 at the Museum of the 20th Century in Vienna were Austrian President Franz Jonas, IOC President Avery Brundage, IOC member Manfred Mautner Markhof [de], the Minister of Education Theodor Piffl-Perčević [arz; de; no; uk], the ÖOC President Heinrich Drimmel [de], and the ÖOC Hon. Secretary-General Edgar Fried [de].[7] Later recipients include Rudolf Sallinger [arz; de],[8] Pat Hickey,[9] and Dieter Kalt Sr..[10]

  1. ^ a b 106th IOC Session Meeting Minutes, Lausanne: International Olympic Committee, 3–6 September 1997, p. 68
  2. ^ "Angel or Demon? The Choice of Fair Play". International Olympic Committee. 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. ^ "World Fair Play Trophy". International Fair Play Committee. 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "New Zealand and US runners awarded for sportsmanship". The Guardian. 21 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Rio Olympics: Kiwi runner Nikki Hamblin in line for rare Pierre de Coubertin honour". Stuff. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  6. ^ Praderio, Caroline (23 August 2016). "There are 2 prestigious awards named for the founder of the modern Olympic movement – here are 8 athletes who have won them". Business Insider. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  7. ^ Fried, Edgar (July 1969). "Olympic Days throughout the world – In Austria". Olympic Review Newsletter (22). International Olympic Committee: 402–404. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024 – via Olympic World Library.
  8. ^ "Austria and Olympism". Olympic Review (84). International Olympic Committee: 529. October 1974. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024 – via LA84 Digital Library Collection.
  9. ^ "ÖOC feierte 100 Jahre mit eindrucksvoller Gala". vienna.at (in German). 7 November 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Standing Ovations für Dieter!". Österreichisches Olympisches Comité (in German). Retrieved 25 August 2024.