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The Olympic Creed Inspired by a Sunday Sermon

By Trent Gilliss | Friday, July 27, 2012 - 11:54am

2012 Marine Corps Trials Day 2 [Image 9 of 18]

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.
— The Olympic Creed

Attributed to Pierre de Coubertin, the creed was inspired by a sermon given by the Bishop of Pennsylvania on the first Sunday of the London Olympic Games in 1908. During a religious service in St. Paul's Cathedral, the bishop delivered these words, "The important thing in these Olympiads is not to win, but to take part."

The creed has been displayed during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games ever since.

Olympics, sport, sportsmanship, sermon, Christianity, Creed

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2 Comments

Submitted by Tamsen Whistler on Fri, 2012-08-03 17:32

I have just read about this sermon in a link from our diocesan newsletter in Misssouri. The preacher was a bishop of The Episcopal Church, the Right Rev. Ethelbert Talbot, of the Diocese of Bethlehem (PA).

Submitted by Bob Haile on Sat, 2012-08-04 20:43

I have been listening to the olympics on the BBC rather than US news services. They seem to embrace all the athletes, not just their own, and root for the person in fourth place and not only first. I have not heard ridiculous questions such as: " are you disappointed you only won a silver. "

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