At a meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) this week, the same one that appointed Brisbane as the host of the 2032 Olympics, the IOC approved a change to the Olympic motto. The previous Latin Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, which translates to “Faster, Higher, Stronger”, has been revised to also include the Latin word “Communiter”, which translates to “Together”. This change was made to show the need for solidarity during more difficult times including the COVID-19 pandemic. The IOC announced the change on July 20th.
The Olympic motto originates from the beginning of the Olympic Movement in 1894, two years before the Modern Olympics began in 1896. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the IOC, wanted to express excellence in sport and proposed the Latin phrase “Citius, Altius, Fortius”. He borrowed the phrase from Henri Didon, a friend of de Coubertin’s and a Dominican priest who was teaching sport near Paris. The phrase was adopted and first used in the 1924 Paris Games.
In March 2021, IOC President Thomas Bach made the suggestion for the motto to be changed to “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” during the virtual meeting. Before the vote on July 20th, Bach said “Solidarity fuels our mission to make the world a better place through sport. We can only go faster, we can only aim higher, we can only become stronger by standing together — in solidarity.”
The vote was unanimous for approval of the change, and the Olympics announced the change on Twitter.
We move forward when we move together.
Introducing the new Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together. #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/r87Ce99S4k
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 20, 2021
The IOC also has launched a global campaign titled “Stronger Together”. Announced on June 22, 2021, the campaign displays and celebrates athletes by showing their journey to the Tokyo 2020 Games, even when the world was put on pause due to COVID-19. View the “Stronger Together” video below.
After a garbage 2020, maybe we can take a moment and try to be a little bit better to one another. I like the addition of togetherness. Life is too darn short!
« Altius, citius, fortius, communis »
It sounds better in Latin
Pretty hard to do when all the liberals are trying to divide us
As soon as I saw that new motto it was obvious who had prompted it. What a tremendous save that we avoided a Summer Oympics during the prior administration. Imagine the nonstop lies and filth from that mouth and Twitter feed during the Games.
I remember The winter games in Sth Korea & VP Pence 1 metre from Kim’s sister. There were no dramas & things went smoothly because US leaders always have a lot of threatening words but off home soil, they are pussies. .