On Tuesday, July 20, the 138th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) kicked off in Tokyo.
The event is traditionally held in the capital of the Games before the start, and the very first day brought a lot of interesting events.
For example, the committee accepted into its family the International Sambo Federation (FIAS), headed by Russian Vasily Shestakov.
And ski mountaineering was included in the program of winter Olympic Games-2026 in Italy.
But, perhaps, the greatest discussion was caused by the change of the seemingly eternal Olympic motto "Faster, higher, stronger."
The word "together" was added to it.
Now the slogan completely sounds like "Faster, higher, stronger - together."
It is significant that the decision was taken unanimously.
IOC President Thomas Bach, who, according to Inside The Games, was the initiator of the innovation, called the session's verdict "a landmark event."
Later, the press attaché of the organization, Mark Adams, explained to reporters the meaning of the idea.
He stressed that an athlete cannot be faster, taller and stronger "without a team around him."
“I think the Olympic values are not only in individual excellence, which is very important, but also in the environment, the team around the athlete.
It can be a team of doctors, coaches, or a family.
The idea of changing the motto is that if in the modern world you want to go far, then you need to go with someone, "R-Sport quotes Adams.
The original version of the motto "Citius, altius, fortius" was approved at the first Olympic Congress in 1894.
It was written by French priest Henri Didon, who is believed to have pronounced it at the opening of a sports competition in his college.
The phrase was so liked by the initiator of the modern Olympic Games and the first President of the IOC, Pierre de Coubertin, that he decided to make it the slogan of the Games.
The words "Citius, fortius, altius" even appeared on the title page of the first IOC Official Gazette in July 1894.
According to the functionary, they perfectly reflected the goals of athletes from all over the world.
“In the Olympic Games, the most important thing is not victory, but participation;
the main thing in life is not to overcome, but to fight with dignity, "Coubertin said at the same time.
The decision to supplement the previously unchanged Olympic motto was received ambiguously in the world.
However, most of the experts interviewed by RT, nevertheless, reacted calmly to what happened.
For example, the Olympic speed skating champion and State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova called the word "together" correct.
“Athletes get faster, taller and stronger through teamwork.
This is not only about the coaches, but also about the family, fans, and the country.
In my understanding, this word applies to everyone who helps an athlete at the Olympic Games.
It also refers to the friendship between the competitors.
Plus, the IOC has special programs, for example, for the purity of the planet.
These are common problems that unite everyone.
Finally, athletes are engaged in the development of sports on the planet and do it together, too, "Zhurova said to RT.
In her opinion, in this case, we are hardly talking about the IOC's desire to support the rights of various minorities and, among other things, strike a blow at racism.
“For me, the word“ together ”is still associated with other, more positive things, although everyone is also struggling with this problem.
But here you can rather think of some general points, rather than private ones.
About what brings everyone together, not separates.
Then it is no longer together.
For some reason, many saw in the change in the motto the desire of the IOC to stand up for representatives of sexual minorities, but I did not see this.
So you can interpret any word incorrectly, ”added Zhurova.
Nor did the Olympic champion in volleyball Taras Khtey see anything wrong with the IOC's decision.
According to him, only joint work is the key to success in everything.
“Team spirit is very important.
Only together we are strength.
The word "together" is very good and has a place to be.
Together we win, together we lose and together we support the athletes.
Therefore, the IOC, adding to the slogan, wants countries to unite and support their athletes, since it will be very difficult for them.
So the Russians should unite and root for the guys so that they feel emotions at a distance.
After all, the Olympic Games this time will be held with empty stands, ”explained Khtei.
At the same time, he, like Zhurov, did not see in the IOC's decision a desire to support representatives of minorities.
“Rather, there is an idea to help the athletes who went to Tokyo.
The country has prepared athletes and believes in its team.
It is very difficult for them now.
People are in difficult conditions.
I know what the Olympic Games are, because I myself have taken part in several.
The guys were placed in small rooms where they sleep on cardboard beds.
Moreover, the Russian national volleyball team has lived there for almost a month.
Plus, we must not forget about coronavirus restrictions, there is nowhere to go out too much.
All this presses, although people are on an equal footing, ”Khtei added.
But the famous figure skating coach Nina Moser was unhappy with the changes.
According to the expert, the addition of a new word to the version that had been established over the years "did not inspire her."
“Pierre de Coubertin also gave us the motto of the Olympic Games.
I was always inspired by it.
And these people from the IOC undertake to change it.
I don’t understand at all what is happening in the world.
Some kind of nonsense ... What do you mean "together"?
With who?
With people of different colors?
With the team?
I didn’t hear this in the new slogan, ”explained the coach.
She also lamented that the change in the slogan can be seen as a political subtext.
“I think this is horror.
Certainly, I didn’t have an association with teamwork in my head.
Rather, I heard a desire to fight for the rights of various minorities.
You'd think we were apart before.
We cannot now all stand on the pedestal together.
What does this word have to do with it and how does it relate to the Olympic motto?
I have a feeling that they just brought in politics, ”added Moser.