Sport, Human Rights and the Legacy of Pierre de Coubertin

Abstract

This text seeks to consider the relationship between Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Olympic Games in the Modern Era and the promotion of human rights. After an introduction, the text will try to understand how the legal background of Pierre de Coubertin - a reluctant jurist – has influenced his precursory approach of the law-base “Olympic Ethics”, being that “ethical asset” inherent in the nature of sport as a human right and the consequent idea of Coubertin to achieve ‘sport for all’. The analysis of the legacy of Pierre de Coubertin will then be focused on the following angles: (i) the right to sport as a human right; (ii) the role of sport in the promotion of other human rights (education via sport; sport as a promoter of the right to health; sport and the right to culture; sport and the right to a fair and equitable trial; sport and the right to peace).