In the run up to any Olympic Games, there's lots of talk about the so-called Olympic spirit. This is a wonderfully vague term that's

usually used to conjure all the

virtues of peaceful international competition.

This also gets conflated with the very clunky

sounding term olimpism, olimpism.

Olimpism. The International Olympic Committee defines olimpism as, quote, a philosophy of life,

exulting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will, and mind."

End quote.

In their estimation, the Olympic spirit, quote, requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play, end quote.

This is the Olympics at their most warm and fuzzy.

The idea is that Olympic greatness comes not from achieving gold,

but rather in demonstrating virtue through an honest effort and sportsman-like disposition.

In the late 19th century, the chief Olympic revivalist Baron Piel de Coubertin, once wrote, quote,

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." This sentiment was echoed years later by the Australian gold medalist Herb Elliott who said,

quote,

It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives people not only to compete but to improve

and to bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and inspiration to those lucky enough to witness

the athletic dedication."

The ideals being expressed here by de Coubertin and Herb Elliot are often presented as ancient virtues.

It's sometimes suggested that the Greeks were the first to articulate these values at ancient Olympia.

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