IOC remembers founder of mordern Olympics at 78th anniversary of his death

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday paid tribute to the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, Pierre de Coubertin, on the 78th anniversary of his death.

According to “Insidethegames,’’ an online portal said that Bach laid a wreath at Coubertin’s statue at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, during a small ceremony.

The statement quoted Bachas saying: “we owe Baron Pierre de Coubertin a great deal. It is thanks to him that we exist as an organisation.

“It is also thanks to him that we have our headquarters here in Lausanne, where this year, we celebrate 100 years since he made the Olympic Capital our home,” he said.

It stated that Coubertin established the Olympic Movement and the IOC on June 23, 1894.

The statement said that Coubertin was IOC President from 1896 to 1925 and in 1915, he moved the administrative offices of the IOC to Lausanne from Paris.

It said that celebrations marking the 100-year bond between the IOC and the city of Lausanne have taken place throughout 2015.

It recalled that Coubertin died on Sept. 2, 1937.

The statement said that in accordance with “his final wishes, his body was buried at the Bois de Vaux cemetery in Lausanne.

“His heart was placed in a marble steel commemorating the revival of the Olympic Games in Olympia,’’ it added.