Olympics: "The only event that brings the world together in peaceful competition" (T. Bach, IOC)

"The Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. The Olympic athletes send this powerful message: yes, it is possible to compete fiercely against each other and at the same time live peacefully together under one roof. The athletes will shine and show us what greatness humans are capable of with all their excellence, determination and resilience," said Thomas Bach (GER), president of the IOC, on the occasion of the Olympic Torch lighting ceremony at the archaeological site of the Temple of Hera in Greece, on 16/04/2024.

"This power of sport will make the Olympic Games Paris 2024 a great symbol of human excellence and unity of all humankind in all our diversity. These expectations are shared by billions of people around the world. In these difficult times we are living through, with wars and conflicts on the rise, people are fed up with all the hate, the aggression and negative news they are facing day in and day out. In their hearts - in all our hearts - we are longing for something which brings us together. We are longing for…