Olympic oath

1920 Olympic Games

The Olympic Oath is presented by an athlete during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The athlete, from the team of the host country, holds up a corner of the Olympic flag and, while reading the oath, says:

On behalf of all competitors, I promise that we will participate in these Olympic Games, fulfilling and respecting their regulations, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, with real sports spirit, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.

The judge, also from the organizing country, says something similar, but adapted to his role:

On behalf of all judges, arbitrators and official staff, I promise that we will offer these Olympic Games without prejudice, respecting and in keeping with the rules that govern them with true sports spirit.

The coach also makes use of his own oath, this one held since London 2012:

On behalf of all the trainers and members of this athletes' show, I promise that we will commit ourselves to ensuring that the sporting spirit and the clean game are fully respected in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Olympic Games.

Starting with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the oath was modified to reinforce the commitment to gender equality and non-discrimination. This is the same for athletes, judges and coaches:

On behalf of athletes/judges/trainers, we promise to participate in these Olympic Games, respecting and fulfilling the rules and spirit of clean play, inclusion and equality. Together we are solidarity and we commit ourselves to sport without doping, without traps, without any discrimination. We do this for the honor of our teams, in respect of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism and to make the world a better place through sport.^{[chuckles]required]}

History

The Olympic Oath, written by Pierre de Coubertin, was taken by an athlete for the first time at the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games. As for the judges, their first oath took place at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.^{[citation required]}

The text of the oath has changed slightly over the years. The oath taken by Victor Boin in 1920 reads as follows:^{[citation required]}

We swear that we will take part in the Olympics in loyal competition, respecting the rules that govern it and the desire to participate in it with true sports spirit, for the honor of our homeland and for the glory of sport.^{[chuckles]required]}

Later, "swear" for "promising" and "patria" by "team". The part concerning doping was added at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.^{[citation needed]}