Tribune News Network
Doha/Paris
Following the opening of Olympism: More than a Dream exhibition in Le Royal Monceau-Raffles Paris Hotel in Paris, on July 30, Qatar Museums presented on August 1 for the first time Pierre De Coubertin: Textes Choisis, Volume 1, the first translation from French into Arabic of selected writings by Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games. This came as part of Team Qatar Reception by Qatar Olympic Committee held in Paris during the Summer Olympic Games opening.
The reception was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, president of Qatar Olympic Committee, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, vice chairperson and chief executive officer of Qatar Foundation, and Abdulla Yousuf Al Mulla, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum director among other notable dignities.
During the lively reception, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind and His Excellency Sheikh Joaan delivered speeches to the attendees, which were followed by a film presentation of Pierre De Coubertin, the visionary and founder of modern Olympic Games, followed by the introduction of Textes Choisis, Volume 1 by his great great granddaughter and President of Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, Alexandra de Navacelle de Coubertin, who officially launched the book. The book was realized through a collaboration between Qatar Museums, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Qatar Olympic Committee, and the International Olympic Committee.
The book will become available to the public through In-Q’s website and Qatar Museums’ gift shops. The publication, which draws on his voluminous archive of writings (totalling some 500,000 words) collects some of Coubertin’s most important essays on the power of sport to bring people together. With the Games opening in Paris, it serves as an introduction to Arabic-reading audiences of the values that undergird the modern Olympic movement.
