For too long the world has failed to recognise that the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement are about fine athletics and fine art.

The Olympic Games belong to the athletes and not to the politicians.

As soon as you take money for playing sport, it isn't sport, it's work.

The Olympic Movement is a 20th century religion. Where there is no injustice of caste, of race, of family, of wealth.

Sport is an international phenomenon, like science or music.

The ancient Greeks kept women athletes out of their games. They wouldn't even let them on the sidelines. I'm not sure but that they were right.

The Olympic Games must not be an end in itself, they must be a means of creating a vast program of physical education and sports competitions for all young people.