Citius – Altius – Fortius

“Citius – Altius – Fortius” means “faster – higher – stronger.” And it’s one of the guiding principles established by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games.

There’s a really nice article about the Olympic tradition from LiveScience.com that walks through Olympic values.

Coubertin considered respect, fair balance, pursuit of excellence, joy in effort, and balance between mind, body and will as the most essential Olympic values.

Nice.

Coubertin believed that sport, which enhances one’s ability to think and concentrate, can and should play a formative role in human development on par with science, literature and the arts. The self-control, adherence to rules, and respect for others necessary in athletic pursuits, are also necessary off the playing field, whether in the classroom, at work or at home.

And:

“The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight,” said Coubertin. “The essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.”